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WASHINGTON (CNN) — The U.S. Senate approved a measure on Thursday aimed at ending budget-related air traffic controller furloughs that have been blamed for widespread flight delays this week.

A bipartisan agreement giving the Transportation Department budget new flexibility on spending cleared the chamber unanimously.

The House was expected to take up the proposal on Friday.

Furloughs impacting some 15,000 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic controllers began this week in response to forced, government-wide spending cuts that took effect in March.