After weeks of debate over whether the measure should be paid for, the Senate today approved an $18 billion short-term extension of unemployment and medical benefits that will affect hundreds of thousands of out-of-work Americans.

The legislation, approved 59-38, would extend through June 2 unemployment insurance for people who have been out of work for several months and have exhausted their state-paid unemployment program.

"We have a responsibility to make sure out-of-work Americans can still access the vital safety-net programs they need to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table while Congress works to pass a longer-term solution," said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont.

Action on the bill comes on the same day the Labor Department reported that first-time requests for jobless benefits rose by 24,000 to a seasonally adjusted 484,000, the highest level since late February, according to the Associated Press.

The measure also extends the COBRA program -- which allows people to continue to receive the health insurance they had from a former employer -- and delays a 21% cut in Medicare reimbursements to doctors.

The bill now heads to the House, which is expected to vote on it later tonight.

Some Republicans, including Sen. Jim Bunning of Kentucky, have opposed the legislation because the measure will add to the nation's budget deficit.

"We all want to make sure that the unemployed continue to receive these important benefits so they can make ends meet while they search for work, but we also need to make sure this spending is paid for," Bunning said in a statement.

Updated 7:27 p.m. ET. Three Republicans voted with Democrats on the bill: George Voinovich of Ohio and Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine. Three Democrats did not vote: Evan Bayh of Indiana, Bill Nelson of Florida and Mark Warner of Virginia. See the full roll call here.

(Posted by John Fritze)