After months of delay and infighting, a $1.7 trillion spending package passed in the Senate on Thursday with last-second amendments to extend health care for 9/11 survivors and boost compensation for victims' family members.
An effort to help victims and families of the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing could derail legislation to compensate certain families for the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
The measure passed on an overwhelming bipartisan vote, the last action in the House before lawmakers departed to campaign ahead of the November midterm elections.