The Senate voted 65-32 past midnight Friday to pass a $1.3 trillion omnibus bill to avoid a government shutdown and fund federal agencies through the end of fiscal 2018, Bloomberg reported Friday.The budget package is now headed to the White House for President Donald Trump’s signature.
Mick Mulvaney, director of the Office of Management and Budget, told reporters the president would sign the spending package since the measure backs his priorities.
The proposed legislation includes $1.6 billion for border security, $21 billion for infrastructure projects, $4 billion to address the opioid crisis and at least $600 million to set up a rural broadband network.
The upper chamber’s decision came hours after the House approved the omnibus bill through a 256-167 vote, Defense News reported Thursday.
Congressional leaders unveiled Wednesday the 2,232-page budget package that would authorize $654.6 billion in funds for the Defense Department, a figure that represents a $15.5 billion increase from the president’s spending request for fiscal 2018.
“This bill provides the largest increase in defense spending in 15 years,†said House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin).
“We’re boosting resources for training, equipment, maintenance, base operations. It means new naval ships, new fighters, new helicopters,†he added.
