Washington [US], February 9 (ANI/Sputnik): The US House of Representatives passed a short-term spending bill to keep the US government open through March 11.

The House passed the measure on Tuesday with a 272-162 vote, sending it to the Senate for consideration.

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The current US government spending legislation is set to expire on February 18.

Both sides have expressed a desire to halt the continuous stop-gap funding process in order to pass a broader package.

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House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told CNN he is optimistic that Democrats and Republicans are getting closer to striking a funding deal agreement to vote on the week of March 7.

Last year, the US came close to a massive government shutdown until the last minute that was centred around a fight over whether or not to raise the debt ceiling. Congress in December voted to raise the federal government's USD 28.9 trillion debt limit by USD 2.5 trillion. (ANI/Sputnik)

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