House passes $1.7tn spending bill to avert US government shutdown

A $1.7tn spending bill financing federal agencies through September and providing more aid to a devastated Ukraine cleared the House of Representatives on Friday as lawmakers raced to finish their work for the year and avoid a partial government shutdown.

Biden on Friday signed into law a separate short-term spending bill aimed at giving Congress more time to pass the legislation funding the federal government through the summer, White House officials said in a statement.

He is seeking support from staunch conservatives in his caucus who have largely trashed the size of the bill and many of the priorities it contains. He spoke with a raised voice for about 25 minutes, assailing the bill for spending too much and doing too little to curb illegal immigration and the flow of fentanyl across the US border with Mexico.