Senate passes legislation to avert a shutdown Senate passes legislation to avert a shutdown, House expected to act later today By Kelsey Snell September 30 at 12:11 PM http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2015/09/30/congress-set-to-pass-legislation-averting-a-shutdown/ The Senate on Wednesday passed a short-term spending bill that would avert a government shutdown and fund federal agencies through mid-December.