(Reuters) – The United States House of Representatives approved on Tuesday, by a narrow margin, a bipartisan agreement that should end the partial shutdown of the U.S. government and sent it to President Donald Trump for signature.
The legislation would restore funding that had already expired for defense, health, labor, education, housing and other agencies, and temporarily extend funding for the Department of Homeland Security while lawmakers negotiate possible changes in the enforcement of immigration law.
Funding for these agencies expired on Saturday, as Congress did not act in time to avert the shutdown, which did not result in major disruptions to government services.
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The agreement had already been approved by the Senate by a wide bipartisan margin and now goes to Trump, who is expected to sign it.
Republican-controlled House approved the proposal by 217 votes to 214, with 21 Republicans voting against and 21 Democrats voting in favor.
Democrats have demanded new restrictions on Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement tactics after the killing of two U.S. citizens by federal agents in Minneapolis last month.
Some Republicans on the party’s far right tried, unsuccessfully, to modify the bill to include a provision that would tighten the voting requirements.
The last shutdown lasted a record 43 days in October and November, sidelining hundreds of thousands of federal workers and costing the U.S. economy about $11 billion.
