House approves spending deal that would avert government shutdown, raise tobacco age, research gun violence

WASHINGTON – The House passed a $1.37 trillion spending package that includes money for President Donald Trump's border wall, funding for gun violence research and increasing the age for purchasing tobacco products from 18 to 21.

The approval Tuesday could avert a government shutdown that would begin Friday, when the government is set to run out of funding. The package will go to the Senate for approval before being sent to Trump for his signature.

The votes on the spending package, which was broken up into two bills, marked the first of three monumental votes scheduled in the House this week. The others include a historic vote on two articles of impeachment against Trump and a new North American trade deal.

Trump has yet to weigh in on the spending deal, reached after months of discussions between House and Senate leaders. Trump and Congress are wary of another government stoppage after last year's 35-day shutdown over disagreements on the president's desire to build a wall along the southern U.S. border.