Congress seeks to ward off government shutdown as Biden agenda at risk

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Democratic divisions were imperiling President Joe Biden’s agenda to invest in infrastructure, expand social services and address climate change as the U.S. Congress simultaneously faced a Thursday deadline to avert a government shutdown.

Congress was poised to approve new government funding through Dec. 3 while moderate and progressive Democrats battle over spending trillions of dollars to finance expanded family leave, medical care for the elderly and improved supports for children.