Senate reaches bipartisan agreement on disaster funds

Washington (CNN) -- The Senate on Monday night reached a bipartisan agreement intended to end a dispute over disaster relief spending that threatened to cause a partial shutdown of the government at the end of the week.

In two votes, the Senate approved short-term spending measures to fund the government for the first seven weeks of the new fiscal year that begins Saturday.

It passed the first measure on a 79-12 vote, then approved the second measure on a voice vote.

The measures now go to the House, which must approve them to ensure the government continues to be funded after the end of the current fiscal year at midnight Friday.  Read More

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