WASHINGTON – Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., introduced legislation late Wednesday night that would pair a $15.25 billion disaster aid package with an agreement struck by President Donald Trump and congressional Democrats to raise the federal borrowing limit and keep the government open until mid-December.

The package includes $450 million for the Small Business Authority disaster loan program and $7.4 billion in Community Development Block Grants, in addition to $7.4 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency that was approved in the House earlier in the day. The legislation sets a Dec. 8 deadline for Congress to negotiate a new spending agreement and increase the debt limit.

McConnell announced his support for the package Wednesday afternoon following the surprise announcement from Democrats that Trump had accepted their request that any deadline for extending the federal borrowing limit line up with a short-term spending package. If approved, the legislation is expected to set the stage for a bruising year-end fiscal battle.

“The president agreed with Senator Schumer and Congresswoman Pelosi to do a three-month [funding extension] and a debt ceiling into December, and that’s what I will be offering, based on the president’s decision, to the bill,” McConnell told reporters after the meeting. “The president can speak for himself, but his feeling was that we needed to come together to not create a picture of divisiveness at a time of genuine national crisis.”

The Senate is expected to approve the package when it comes up for a vote, which could happen as early as Friday. The bill would then be sent to the House for final approval as leaders rush to approve FEMA money before emergency funds run out, possibly as early as this weekend.

“The legislation before the Senate would address the nation’s most pressing needs,” said Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Cochran, R-Miss., in a statement. “The serious nature of the natural disasters and fiscal commitments before us demand the Senate and House act without delay. We need to act to support the victims, volunteers and first responders on the ground.”

Several details of the legislation, including the length of the spending and borrowing agreement, changed through the day Wednesday as GOP leaders finalized the details. Cochran said the final package was reached with support from the White House.