| The Senate approved a stopgap funding bill Thursday night for President Joe Biden's signature, thwarting a partial government shutdown on Saturday and buying more time to finalize half a dozen spending bills that congressional leaders aim to pass next week. Congress now officially has until March 8 to clear that initial six-bill bundle, which leaders struck a deal on earlier this week. But they're still working on an agreement to fund the rest of the government, including the military and some of the biggest domestic programs, before a second deadline on March 22. The upper chamber cleared the measure in a 77-13 vote, following votes on four Republican amendments that were defeated on the floor. Read the latest | 
