US-POLITICS-CONGRESS-ECONOMY

US Representative Thomas Massie, Republican of Kentucky, speaks to the press outside the US Capitol after the House passed legislation to fund the government through September 30 and avert a shutdown at the end of the week. The US House of Representatives voted to avert a government shutdown with just three days to spare, in a tight, mostly party-line 217-213 vote, with Massie the only Republican to vote against passing the legislation, to advance a funding bill keeping the lights on through September. The Republican-led House sent the package to the Senate, but the upper chamber only has until midnight on Friday night (0400 GMT Saturday) to follow suit or federal agencies will begin shutting. (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP) (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)