Early Saturday morning, the US Senate approved critical legislation to fund the government through March 14, narrowly avoiding a government shutdown. The bill now heads to President Joe Biden's desk for his signature. The legislation, part of the American Relief Act of 2025, garnered broad bipartisan support in both the Senate and House of Representatives. "Tonight, the Senate delivers more good news for America. There will be no government shutdown right before Christmas," said outgoing Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. "This is a good bill. It will keep the government open and provide relief to Americans affected by natural disasters and support for farmers, while avoiding harmful cuts." The bill includes $10 billion for American farmers and $100 billion in disaster relief for storm-affected states. Provisions from earlier versions, including funding for pediatric cancer research, congressional pay raises, and restrictions on US investment in China, were removed. However, funding for children's cancer research was passed separately in a last-minute effort by Virginia Senator Tim Kaine. The legislation also omitted a controversial demand from President-elect Donald Trump to lift the debt ceiling, a measure that led to significant division within the Republican Party and the failure of a Trump-backed bill earlier in the week. The White House confirmed that Biden will sign the bill Saturday, ensuring federal agencies continue operations uninterrupted. — Agencies
