WASHINGTON (Dec. 19, 2013) — By a 64-36 vote, the Senate has approved the bipartisan federal budget agreement previously passed in the House.
The legislation approved Dec. 18 rolls back the sequester cuts by about $63 billion over two years, offset by approximately $85 billion in spending cuts and new revenue.
The agreement sets parameters for federal spending, but leaves the details to the House and Senate appropriations committees. There is a Jan. 15 deadline to complete and approve the full package, leaving open the possibility of another government shutdown similar to the 16-day closing last October.
President Barack Obama is expected to sign the bill before leaving this weekend for Christmas vacation in Hawaii.