Capitol Hill. (Photo by Jessika Walsten)

The legislation, which cleared the House of Representatives Tuesday, now heads to President Barack Obama's desk for his signature.

CNN reports:

Without the bill, much of the federal government would have shut down when the current spending resolution expires at midnight Friday.

While Obama is expected to sign the measure, top Democrats had indicated a preference for a month-long extension while legislators work on a more comprehensive spending plan for the rest of the fiscal year, which ends September 30. Among other things, they have argued that passing a series of short-term funding measures will create a climate of economic uncertainty.

"We cannot keep doing business this way," Obama said in a statement released immediately after the Senate vote. "Living with the threat of a shutdown every few weeks is not responsible, and it puts our economic progress in jeopardy."

Read more from CNN here.