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US Senate approves spending bill to avoid another government shutdown

WASHINGTON, February 15. /TASS/. The Senate of the US Congress on Thursday approved a spending bill until September in a bid to avert the second government shutdown.

The legislation envisages the allocation of $1.37 billion for wall construction and other security measures along the border with Mexico, although US President Donald Trump initially insisted on $5.7 billion.

The legislation is yet to be approved by the lower chamber of the US Congress. After that, the document will be submitted to the president for signing. It is to be signed into law by Friday night. The White House press service said about an hour before the congressional vote that the president was ready to sign the document to avert another government shutdown, but will also announce the state of emergency on the Mexican border, in order to obtain the necessary funds without congressional approval.

"President Trump will sign the government funding bill, and as he has stated before, he will also take other executive action - including a national emergency - to ensure we stop the national security and humanitarian crisis at the border," White House Spokesperson Sarah Sanders said. "The President is once again delivering on his promise to build the wall, protect the border, and secure our great country."

US government shutdown started on December 22 when Republicans and Democrats failed to agree on ways to finance the wall on the border with Mexico. The record 35-day closure ended on January 25, when the US president signed a bill to finance the government’s work until February 15.