The Senate has voted to advance a $1.4 trillion government spending package in a last, bipartisan burst of legislating before the holidays.

The legislation gives President Donald Trump a victory on his U.S.-Mexico border fence and gives Democrats long-sought domestic spending increases and a repeal of Obama-era taxes on high-cost health insurance plans.

Thursday's 72-21 procedural vote foreshadows passage of the two-bill package later Thursday.

The compromise bill would forestall a government shutdown this weekend, and Trump is expected to sign it.

ORIGINAL STORY:

The Democratic-controlled House has passed a $1.4 trillion government-wide spending package, handing President Donald Trump a victory on his U.S.-Mexico border fence.

It also gives Democrats spending increases across a swath of domestic programs.

The 2,371-page legislation calls for $1.4 trillion in federal spending to head off a government shutdown that would otherwise take place this weekend.

Democrats and Republicans have been fighting for months over spending priorities.

The compromise bill gives both sides some of what they want as well as some of what they don't want.

President Donald Trump is expected to sign the two-bill package.

Representative Dina Titus of Nevada’s First Congressional district says H.R. 1865 includes no money to revive the dangerous Yucca Mountain project.

“I worked relentlessly with my colleagues in Nevada and in Congressional leadership to keep funding for Yucca Mountain out of these bills and we won that fight,” said Congresswoman Titus (NV-1). “The Trump Administration can keep trying to force Nevada to become the dumping ground for the nation’s nuclear waste, but we’ll keep pushing back harder.

“Meanwhile, I am pleased that this legislation extends funding for Brand USA to continue marketing Las Vegas to international travelers. We’ve also included provisions that safeguard families’ health care and economic security, promote the national defense, and protect animals.”

Congressman Mark Amodei (NV-2) released the following statement after voting in favor of H.R. 1158, and H.R. 1865.

“Look at what we can actually accomplish when we make it a priority,” said Rep. Amodei. “In terms of the reforms, funding priorities, and responsible spending reductions included in these bills, Nevadans can certainly claim a number of victories. More specifically, these packages will increase funding for Department of Interior (DOI) operations including wildland fire management, Lake Tahoe restoration efforts, hazardous fuels reductions, watershed restoration, and the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Wild Horse and Burro Program. The Interior portion of these bills also allocates $12 million for radium cleanup efforts, which the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) would be eligible to receive.

“In addition to providing funds to secure our Southern border, prioritize national security, and rebuild our military, other wins for the Silver State include funding for rural development programs, rural housing, Public Health Training Centers, and critical transportation and infrastructure programs.

“Amid all of the short-term continuing resolutions and recent disruptions we’ve encountered with regard to fully funding the federal government, I’m pleased to be entering the second session of the 116th Congress by providing certainty to our government agencies for the remainder of the Fiscal Year.”

U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV.) released the following statement 

“I’m proud to have worked to ensure the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act denies the authorization of funding for Yucca Mountain, funds Nevada’s military bases and includes my bipartisan legislation to help women veterans access VA benefits and to improve the quality of privatized military housing. These much-needed reforms will help improve the quality of life for the men, women, and families who sacrifice every day for our country. I’m also glad to see additional provisions in the NDAA which require the Department of Defense to seriously consider the national security threats of climate change, eliminate the military widow’s tax and ensure federal workers are able to receive paid family leave to care for themselves and their families. I’ll continue to fight for Nevada’s priorities and support our brave service members and their families.”

 

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)