The Senate voted Thursday to pass a $1.1 trillion bill to fund the government until the end of the fiscal year, requiring help from Democrats in the wake of conservative backlash over the terms of the legislation.
The bill, which passed 79-18, now heads to President Trump, who will sign it ahead of a May 5 deadline.
“Because of hard work from both chambers and both sides of the aisle, we have a funding bill before us that can make many important and positive impacts in the lives of the people we represent,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said before the vote.
The Senate passed the bill a day after House lawmakers approved it with bipartisan support but heavy defections from the GOP who said it lacked conservative priorities such as a provision to defund Planned Parenthood.
Senate Democrats, indeed, appeared to take a victory lap before the vote, pointing out that it excludes money to construct a new southern border wall, which is one of Trump’s top priorities.
“Not only does it explicitly preclude funding for an unnecessary border wall, it excludes over 160 poison-pill riders,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said.
Conservatives voting against the measure included Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., who said he opposed a provision that increases the number of low-wage immigrant workers.
Cotton, in a Senate floor speech, said Trump’s recent election win came in part from his pledge to preserve more jobs for citizens. “Today is not the day Washington realizes just how out of touch they are,” Cotton said.
The bill includes funding and provision that reflect many GOP priorities, including a three-year extension of the D.C. school voucher program and an additional $1.5 billion for border security, the highest sum in a decade.
The measure adds $15 billion in defense spending. Republicans touted the extra funds did not require an equal boost in domestic spending that Democrats traditionally require.
The measure also provides funding to permanently extend health insurance for retired coal miners, and to fund programs aimed at stemming the opioid addiction epidemic, which had been sought by both parties.
The bill’s exit from Congress heralds the beginning of the fiscal 2018 spending negotiations, which must be completed by Sept. 30.
Schumer said he hoped the bipartisan deal “provides a blueprint for future budget negotiations between our two parties here in Congress.”
Conservatives and President Trump, however, have warned they want more wins in the fiscal 2018 deal or they won’t support it.
