The Senate voted 77-19 to start discussing a measure that would fund the government until Nov. 17 and include about $<> billion for local disasters and nearly the same as aid for Ukraine.

However, the House of Representatives he controls intends to press ahead with its partisan approach, which is unlikely to have support in the Democratic-majority Senate.

The House of Representatives has held a procedural vote to debate four spending bills that reflect conservative priorities and have no chance of becoming law. Even if it becomes law, these measures only fund part of government spending and will not prevent the shutdown.

Fourth close in a contract?

The split between the two chambers suggests that the federal government is highly likely to shut down for the fourth time in a decade next Sunday.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, and Republican leader Mitch McConnell are seeking bipartisan agreement for a short-term extension of federal funding at current levels.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy told reporters on Tuesday he would try to get the approval of divided Republicans on a bill that would temporarily fund the government.

But he plans to add tough border and immigration controls that are unlikely to have enough support from Democrats in the House and Senate to become law.

Democratic President Joe Biden and McCarthy had aimed to avoid shutdown this year when they agreed in May to spend an estimated $1.59 trillion for the fiscal year beginning Oct. <>, at the end of a standoff over the federal debt ceiling.

The White House urged Republicans to respect the agreement.

But ultraconservative Republicans reject it and demand further cuts of $120 billion.

Ratings agency Moody's said on Monday that the U.S. government shutdown would hurt its sovereign rating, in a stark warning a month after Fitch downgraded the U.S. rating one notch against the backdrop of a debt ceiling crisis.