The threat of a federal government shutdown is over for now.

Late Saturday night, just hours before the midnight deadline, Congress approved a temporary funding bill to keep federal agencies open until November 17th.

The bill drops aid for Ukraine, but adds money for U.S. disaster assistance.

President Joe Biden said he expects House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to keep his commitment to the Ukrainian people and push for aid in the war with Russia.

Senate minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky is encouraging his colleagues to do the same.

As I've said for weeks, the clearest path forward has been to pass a straightforward short term funding extension that gives us time to continue a number of important discussions about outstanding priorities from securing supplemental relief for victims of natural disasters to restoring security and sanity at the Southern border that the Biden administration has dragged into chaos to put stronger restraints on the president's reckless spending to supplying Ukraine with even more of the lethal assistance it needs to repel Russia's invasion.

On that particular point, Madam President.

Most Senate Republicans remain committed to helping our friends on the front lines through investing more heavily in American strength that reinforces our allies and deterring our top strategic adversary, China.

I'm confident the Senate will pass further urgent assistance to Ukraine later this year.

The U.S. has approved four rounds of aid to Ukraine in response to Russia's invasion, totaling about $113 billion.

But Kentucky's other U.S. senator, Rand Paul, thanked members of Congress who voted to keep the government open without sending more money to Ukraine.

On social media, Senator Paul said, quote, We cannot continue to put the needs of other countries above our own.

The battle to fund our government isn't over yet.

The Forever War crowd will return, end quote.

Paul was one of nine Republican senators to vote against the spending bill.

Congressman Thomas Massie was the only member of Kentucky's congressional delegation to vote against the bill in the House.