Washington ( CNN ) -- A short-term spending measure to fund the federal government into next week won approval Thursday from the U.S. House and now goes to President Barack Obama 's desk . The measure was part of a bipartisan agreement intended to end a dispute over disaster relief spending that threatened to cause a partial shutdown of the government when the current fiscal year ends at midnight Friday . Congressional approval of the measure keeps the government funded through October 4 . The House will then have to consider a more comprehensive measure that would keep the government funded through November 18 . With most House members away from Washington on a one-week recess , Thursday 's approval took place at a `` pro forma '' session involving just three House members using a procedure known as `` unanimous consent . '' Republican Reps. Andy Harris of Maryland and John Culberson of Texas conducted the House business , including the request for the chamber 's unanimous consent of the spending plan , while Democratic Rep. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland kept an eye on the proceedings . The Senate approved both measures Monday . Together , they would fund the federal government for the first seven weeks of the new fiscal year . The spending proposals contain an additional $ 2.65 billion in disaster relief needed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to replenish coffers depleted partly by the federal response to Hurricane Irene , Tropical Storm Lee , and a series of tornadoes and wildfires this year . The new emergency disaster funding will kick in Saturday . Democrats and Republicans had been at odds over a GOP demand to cut spending elsewhere to offset increased disaster relief funding in the current fiscal year . FEMA ended that standoff Monday when it indicated that it has enough money to get through the final few days of the current fiscal year . If Congress had failed to reach a new spending agreement , a partial government shutdown would have occurred with the onset of the new fiscal year on Saturday . Government shutdowns were also threatened during budget talks in the spring and the debt ceiling debate over the summer . The short-term funding measures were necessary because Congress has failed to complete its full budget appropriations process in recent years due to a sharp partisan divide over government spending issues . The November 18 extension expected to win final approval next week was intended to provide time to debate and pass appropriations bills for the remainder of fiscal year 2012 . However , it 's been more than 15 years since both chambers of Congress passed the full range of appropriations bills . Instead , they have relied on other ways to extend spending authority , such as continuing resolutions or omnibus measures that bundle together multiple appropriations bills . CNN 's Tom Cohen and Deirdre Walsh contributed to this report .
Just three House members attend the pro ##cedural meeting . The budget approved by the House funds the government through Tuesday . A labor dispute and a possible government strike . A bipartisan agreement includes an additional $ 2.65 billion in disaster relief needed by FEMA .