Congressional leaders released a massive $1.3 trillion government spending bill on Wednesday night after striking agreement on some major points of contention. Lawmakers will now rush to pass the legislation to keep the government running through September by the midnight Friday deadline to avoid the third government shutdown this year. The House Rules Committee was set to meet Wednesday night, setting up a possible Thursday vote on the more than 2,200 page bill in the chamber. Earlier Wednesday, a GOP aide was noncommittal when CNBC asked whether the House would vote on the measure Thursday. The proposal would boost funding for the military and border security technology, two major Republican priorities. It would also increase funds to fight the opioid epidemic and improve U.S. infrastructure. Other provisions include measures meant to improve gun sale background checks and school safety.

Easing Trump's concerns

President Donald Trump, who was hesitant to support the proposal entering Wednesday, backs the spending bill, the White House said in a statement earlier Wednesday. He talked Wednesday afternoon with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan, who aimed to ease his concerns. The GOP leaders discussed the "shared priorities secured" in the legislation, such as defense spending and funding for fencing on the U.S. border with Mexico, the White House said.



In a statement earlier Wednesday, Ryan spokesman Doug Andres reiterated the president's support, saying the Wisconsin Republican and Trump "had a good conversation about the wins delivered for the president." After the bill's release, Ryan promoted it as a boost for the military, saying it "fulfills our pledge to rebuild the United States military." In another sign of Ryan's effort to win support from the president and his conservative members, his office said he would appear Thursday morning on "Fox and Friends," a show Trump watches and famously tweets about.

Democrats claim victory, too