Senators Approve CR

The Senate has approved its version of a continuing resolution to fund the government through the end of the current fiscal year by a 73-26 vote.

In addition to including appropriations bills for defense, military construction and veterans affairs -- as the House version of the legislation did which passed last week -- the Senate version "expands on the House bill, adding three domestic bills, including: Agriculture; Commerce, Justice, Science; and Homeland Security. In addition, the Senate added a number of critical provisions to enable the government to meet its mission-critical obligations," according to a Senate Appropriations Committee statement.

"Working across the aisle and across the dome, the Senate has come together to prevent a government shutdown," committee Chairwoman Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) said in the statement, adding: "I am so proud the Senate bill protects national security while meeting compelling human needs. It makes investments in human infrastructure like early childhood education. And it creates jobs today and jobs tomorrow by supporting research and innovation. I thank my Vice Chairman, Senator Shelby, for his support and hard work. I look forward to swift action in the House so we can focus on passing a budget, ending sequestration, and getting back to regular order."

Committee Vice Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL) said in the statement that the vote was "an important step in breaking from crisis mode in Washington," adding: "Chairwoman Mikulski and I set out to prevent a government shutdown, provide flexibility for those implementing budget cuts, and produce a bill that both parties in both chambers can support. It is my hope that the tone we set in meeting these objectives for the current fiscal year will carry over to our work on subsequent appropriations bills. We must continue to work together to replace a last minute, shotgun approach to reducing spending with a deliberate, targeted process."

The bill now returns to the House for its consideration, according to the statement.