A deal struck by President Barack Obama and Republicans to extend expiring tax cuts for millions of Americans and stimulate the sluggish U.S. economy passed the U.S. Senate on Wednesday.

The bill, which passed 81-to-19, now goes to the House of Representatives, where a push by some Democrats to tighten an estate tax provision is seen as likely to fail, paving the way for potential passage this week.

(Reporting by Richard Cowan, Andy Sullivan, Kim Dixon and Thomas Ferraro; editing by John O'Callaghan)

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