WASHINGTON — Congress has sent President Barack Obama a short-term spending bill that will keep the federal government operating through Wednesday and avert a government shutdown.

Senate passage came Saturday with only hours to spare before an earlier stopgap measure was set to expire.

By a voice vote, senators approved the latest short-term funding bill as lawmakers continue to wrangle over a $1.1 trillion spending package and Obama's nominations.

That package would cover much of the government through most of 2015.