WASHINGTON, Safar 21, 1436, Dec 13, 2014, SPA -- The U.S. Congress, hobbled all year by partisan infighting, was struggling to pass basic measures such as funding the government and extending popular tax breaks, Reuters reported. With its back up against a midnight Saturday deadline for paying for government programs for the next nine months, lawmakers held a rare weekend session to try to advance the must-do measures. The spending bill would fund activities ranging from Pentagon weapons purchases to federal aid for community law enforcement and education programs. Progress was so slow that lawmakers were forced to pass spending bills lasting for mere days to avoid government shutdowns like the one that rocked Washington in October 2013. -- SPA 20:00 LOCAL TIME 17:00 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/1305466