U.S. House approves bipartisan budget deal

U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday approved a two-year budget plan crafted by negotiators from both parties in Congress, a further step toward removing the threat of a government shutdown early next year.

Lawmakers voted 332-94 in favor of the deal, which was unveiled Tuesday evening by Senate Budget Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray and her House counterpart Paul Ryan.

The modest accord sets spending levels above 1 trillion U.S. dollars for the next two fiscal years, eliminating 63 billion dollars in automatic spending cuts, known as sequester.

The bill now heads to the Democratic-led Senate for a vote expected for next week.