House approves spending bill, prepares to leave for the year

The House on Thursday easily passed legislation that would keep the federal government funded until the end of April, allowing lawmakers to wrap up its most important work of the lame duck session and prepare to leave for the year.

The bill was approved with bipartisan support in the GOP-led chamber thanks to sweeteners that appealed to Democrats, including $170 million to help Flint, Michigan cope with lead-contaminated water, and $872 million to fund many of the programs in the medical innovation bill that cleared Congress on Monday.

The bill passed 326-96, and won the support of more than 200 Republicans and 100 Democrats.

The legislation passed with a critical provision aimed at speeding up the confirmation process for retired Gen. James Mattis, who is President-elect Trump's defense secretary nominee.

Mattis, a four-star general who retired in 2013, requires a waiver to serve in the Cabinet because he has not been out of the military for the requisite seven years. The spending bill includes a provision that would streamline the process of passing legislation to alter that requirement for Mattis.