U.S. House of Representatives passes bill to fund govt.

The U.S. Congress moved one step closer to avoiding a government shutdown after the House of Representatives approved a USD1.2-trillion spending bill to fund the government through September.

The 309-118 vote on Wednesday now sends the legislation to the Senate, local media reports said.

The Senate is likely to pass the spending bill before a midnight Friday deadline.

There would be rise in defense spending if the bill gets the approval of the Senate.

The approval of this legislation by the House marks a first legislative victory for Republican President Donald Trump as this was the major bill to pass the House this year with bipartisan support.

Earlier, Trump had called for a 'good shutdown' in September to fix the "mess" in the Senate.

He said that legislation needs 60 votes in the Senate because of the filibuster and suggested that it would be necessary to elect more Republicans or "change the rules."

"The reason for the plan negotiated between the Republicans and Democrats is that we need 60 votes in the Senate which are not there! We.... either elect more Republican Senators in 2018 or change the rules now to 51%. Our country needs a good "shutdown" in September to fix mess!" Trump said in a series of tweet.