The U.S. Senate has approved a short-term spending bill designed to avert a government shutdown ahead of November's midterm elections, excluding President Donald Trump's requests for Iran war funding and new voter identification requirements, Bloomberg reported.

Senators passed the measure in a 90-6 vote. The bill would fund federal agencies from the start of the new fiscal year on October 1 through December 11. The legislation now advances to the House of Representatives, where it is expected to be taken up after lawmakers return on August 31.

Continuing resolutions such as this one generally extend existing funding levels rather than authorizing new spending, which means the December 11 deadline will force lawmakers into another negotiation during the post-election lame-duck session before a second funding cliff hits.

Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins described the passage as a "major step toward averting a damaging shutdown that only harms vital programs and federal workers."

Lawmakers rejected Trump's demand to include voting restrictions, which Republican leaders acknowledged lacked sufficient support to pass. The Senate is also expected to begin its summer recess without acting on a separate White House request for approximately $70 billion in emergency funding for the Iran war.

The bill does include some administration-backed provisions that allow military hardware projects to proceed during the temporary funding period.

Senators removed a proposed one-month delay to new hemp regulations following objections from conservative lawmakers. The White House had supported the extension, which would have benefited companies producing hemp products containing small amounts of intoxicating chemicals.

The measure also blocks a proposed White House rule that critics said could direct federal grants toward Republican-supporting states. Additionally, it prevents the Border Patrol from securing higher funding through a legislative loophole.

The bipartisan vote marks a contrast with earlier spending disputes that led to a record government shutdown last year and a narrower shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security this spring.

Democrats provided the votes necessary to overcome a filibuster after concluding that another shutdown offered little political benefit ahead of the midterms. Party leaders aim to focus the election campaign on Trump's management of the U.S. economy.

House approval will be required before the measure can be sent to the president.

Source: Investing.com