Congress is passing a new six-month spending bill necessary to avert a government shutdown.

The fiscal year ends Sept. 30, meaning the current budget will expire on that date.

A vote on the temporary bill is expected Thursday afternoon. The measure would continue a freeze on federal worker pay but give federal agencies a 0.6 percent increase in funding.

Republicans are against the spending increases but chose to pass the bill so that Congress doesn't have to pass another spending bill in the post-election lame-duck session.

The spending measure is the last major piece of pre-election legislation likely to be enacted into law from Congress.