The Latest: House approves bill to keep US government open
Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, R-Wis., left, and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., arrives for a news conference to talk about a defense funding bill moving in the House today, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
The Latest on a spending bill that averts a federal government shutdown (all times local):
5:25 p.m.
The House has given final legislative approval to a bill keeping the government open through Dec. 7. The $854 billion bill also funds the military and a host of civilian agencies for the next year.
The measure includes $675 billion for the Defense Department and boosts military pay by 2.6 percent, the largest pay raise in nine years. The bill also increases spending for Health and Human Services, Education, Labor and other agencies, including a 5 percent boost for the National Institutes of Health.
Lawmakers approved the bill, 361-61 on Wednesday, a week after the Senate approved it, 93-7.
It now goes to President Donald Trump, who said Wednesday he will sign it. Trump's signature would avert a looming government shutdown set to begin Monday.
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2:30 p.m.
President Donald Trump says he will sign a spending bill to avert a looming government shutdown set to begin Monday.
Speaking at the United Nations, Trump told reporters Wednesday, "We're going to keep the government open."
Trump's remarks came at the House was set to vote later Wednesday on a bill that funds the military and many civilian agencies for the next year and provides a short-term fix to keep the government open through Dec. 7.
The bill does not pay for Trump's long-promised wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, a fact Trump calls "ridiculous."
House Speaker Paul Ryan said earlier Wednesday he was confident Trump will sign the bill.
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1:45 p.m.
House Speaker Paul Ryan says he's confident President Donald Trump will sign a spending bill that averts a looming government shutdown, even though the bill does not pay for Trump's long-promised wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Ryan, a Wisconsin Republican, said he and other GOP leaders have spoken to Trump in recent days, adding, "I'm confident he will sign" the spending bill.
The House is set to vote Wednesday on a wide-ranging, $854 billion bill that funds the military and many civilian agencies for the next year and provides a short-term fix to keep the government open through Dec. 7.
The Senate approved the bill last week. Trump's signature would avert a partial government shutdown that would begin Monday, weeks ahead of midterm elections that will determine control of Congress.