News brief

United States Congress unveils funding deal. Congressional leaders unveiled legislation Dec. 17 that will keep the federal government funded through March 14 and provide over $100 billion in emergency aid to states and local communities recovering from Hurricanes Helene and Milton and other natural disasters. The measure prevents a partial government shutdown set to begin after midnight Dec. 20. It also kicks final decisions on this year’s spending levels to a new Republican-led Congress and President-elect Donald Trump. Passage of the measure is one of the final bills that lawmakers will consider before adjourning for the holidays and making way for the next Congress.