Negotiations yield progress on $1.1T spending bill topping agenda of lame-duck Congress

Lawmakers are finalizing a sweeping $1.1 trillion spending bill to fund the government through September and prevent a shutdown later this week.

The measure is the main piece of business facing the lame-duck Congress that hopes to adjourn this week. Republicans will take over the Senate when the new Congress reconvenes next month.

Also on this week's packed agenda is renewing the government's terrorism insurance programs, which is eagerly sought by the construction industry. There's also a one-year renewal of a package of expiring tax breaks for both individuals and business. Also on the agenda is a defense policy measure that renews the Pentagon's authority to train Syrian rebels to battle Islamic State militants that control large swaths of Iraq and Syria.