Washington DC - The US House passed a stopgap appropriations bill Tuesday evening to extend current federal agency funding rates through March 11 and avoid a government shutdown.

The move came as Democrats and Republicans continue to trade offers on topline spending levels for the fiscal year that began October 1.

Both sides claim they’re "close" to a framework deal on the fiscal 2022 omnibus and predict this latest continuing resolution (CR) – the third one this fiscal year – will be the last stopgap. The previous CR is set to expire February 18.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in floor remarks Tuesday morning that his chamber will take up the stopgap measure "quickly" after House passage, "in time before the February 18 deadline." The House vote was 272-162, indicating likely bipartisan support in the Senate as well.

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The New York Democrat added that he’s "more confident than ever before" that appropriators and party leaders can agree on an omnibus bill before the new March 11 deadline.

That "is far more preferable to the alternative, a CR for the rest of the year," Schumer said.