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The U.S. Congress will consider extending unemployment benefits after it returns in September to help 1.5 million Americans who risk exhausting them, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said on Friday.

The U.S. Senate on Thursday passed a $106 billion spending bill that includes about $80 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, sending the bill to the White House for President Obama's signature.

Growing concerns about consequences and a cool reception from the White House prompt delay.

The plan is budgeted at $789 billion, which is smaller that original bills passed by each chamber. It could be sent to President Obama for his signature by the end of the week.

House and Senate negotiators have struck a deal on a final version of a sweeping economic recovery package.

House, Senate leaders scale plan down to $789.5B, a net reduction of almost $40B from what the Senate approved yesterday, senior adviser says.

After a 61-to-37 vote that was largely along party lines, negotiations with the House over the $838 billion bill will begin.

The House version of the stimulus bill emphasizes helping states and localities avoid wide-scale cuts, while the Senate plan focuses more on tax cuts.