The Senate approved a stop-gap funding bill to avert a looming federal government shutdown .
Lawmakers voted 72-26 to adopt the short-term continuing resolution, or CR, that would keep federal agencies operating from Saturday to Dec. 9. The vote sends the measure on to the House of Representatives, which also was expected to approve it.
Without an extension, many government agencies would run out of money when the federal fiscal year ends at midnight EDT on Friday.
