Washington ( CNN ) -- The House of Representatives approved $ 600 million in emergency funding Tuesday to help secure the U.S.-Mexico border . The measure , which passed in a voice vote , still needs Senate approval before being signed into law by President Barack Obama . Senators passed a similar plan last week , but must vote again on the House measure that includes the language on border funding . A top aide to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Tuesday that the chamber could be recalled from its August recess to take up the House-approved measure . `` In light of the voice vote in the House , it is our hope that we can do this by consent by the end of the week , '' said Reid 's spokesman , Jim Manley . `` The question is whether Republicans want to try and make this an issue or whether they will allow us to get it done quickly . '' Manley said Reid was waiting for word from Senate Republicans on whether they would object to approval by unanimous consent , which could be done without the return of the entire chamber . Otherwise , Reid could still bring back the full Senate for a formal vote . A Republican leadership source said Tuesday night that Republicans were likely to go along with passing the measure by unanimous consent . Among other things , the bill provides for roughly 1,500 new law enforcement agents , new unmanned aerial vehicles , new forwarding operating bases and $ 14 million in new communications equipment . The measure has attracted strong Democratic and Republican support . Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano praised the plan last week , saying it would `` add important , permanent resources to continue bolstering security on our Southwest border . '' `` These assets are critical to bringing additional capabilities to crack down on transnational criminal organizations and reduce the illicit trafficking of people , drugs , currency and weapons , '' she said . The bill is funded in part by imposing higher fees on personnel companies that bring foreign workers into the United States . CNN 's Brianna Keilar contributed to this report .
NEW : Senate could return from recess this week to give final approval to the bill . The House has approved a bipartisan measure to boost U.S.-Mexico border security . The $ 600 million bill provides funding for 1,500 new law enforcement agents . The bill also includes funding for unmanned aerial vehicles and communications equipment .