BEIJING, March 22 (Xinhuanet) -- The US House of Representatives has approved a stopgap spending bill to avoid a government shut-down.

The new 984 billion dollar bill keeps in place 85 billion dollars in automatic cuts. But it will fund the day-to-day operating budgets of every government agency through to the end of the fiscal year on September the 30th.

It also provides another 87 billion dollars to fund overseas military operations in and and will maintain a pay freeze for federal workers. Current spending authority was due to expire on March 27. The Republican-controlled House voted 318-109 to approve the legislation. Attention will now shift to a summer showdown over raising the federal debt limit.

(Source: CNTV.cn)