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U.S. House passes federal funding extension

House lawmakers approved a one-week extension on government funding, moving the deadline for funding to Dec. 18. The extension buys more time for Congress to make a deal on an economic relief measure to address COVID-19 effects.

Congressional leaders moved on Wednesday to buy more time to strike an elusive deal on an economic relief measure to address the ruin wrought by the pandemic, but with time running short, it was unclear whether a compromise would pass.

The House overwhelmingly approved a one-week stopgap spending bill that would punt a Friday deadline for funding the government to Dec. 18, averting the immediate threat of a shutdown as negotiators continued to haggle over both a broader spending package and the pandemic aid bill.

The Senate was expected to approve the extension, which passed the House by a vote of 343 to 67.

But an agreement on providing billions of dollars in relief to families, businesses and hospitals remained out of reach.

On Tuesday, the Trump administration presented a $916 billion proposal, which Pelosi dismissed.

Offered by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, the plan would provide another stimulus payment of $600 per adult and $600 per child.

Pelosi and Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer have instead focused on a $908 billion outline offered by a bipartisan group of moderate lawmakers as a starting point for negotiation.