Senate passes stopgap measure in 88-9 vote, averting shutdown with three hours to spare

The U.S. Senate approved a stopgap spending measure to avert a government shutdown with just three hours to spare in a Saturday night vote. The final vote was 88-9.

The House passed the short-term spending bill to fund the government for another 45 days Saturday afternoon. The bill, also known as a continuing resolution (CR), passed the House 335 to 91, and caused lawmakers to break out into applause amid the pressure of a shutdown.

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) set up a roll call shortly after 8 p.m. on Saturday night. The Senate needed 60 yeas to pass the bill.

The fiscal year ends at midnight on Oct. 1. Had the Senate rejected the bill to extend funding past midnight, nonessential government programs would have paused and thousands of federal employees would have been furloughed.