The House on March 1 approved by a 335-91 vote a bill to fund federal agencies for two weeks, but with $4 billion in cuts. Construction reductions include: $650 million from highways, $293 million from other surface transportation projects and $341 million from Corps of Engineers civil works.

The stopgap would succeed a bill due to lapse on March 4 and give lawmakers time to work out a measure to last through Sept. 30.

The House had passed a nine-month extension on Feb. 19 that extends through September, with $61 billion in cuts. But Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) says those cuts are too drastic. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has indicated he will back the two-week House proposal.