WASHINGTON (Reuters) — U.S. Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell said on Tuesday the Senate would vote on a stop-gap government funding bill this week that aimed at averting a shutdown of federal agencies at the Oct. 1 start of the new fiscal year.

The measure would fund government agencies through Dec. 11, congressional aides said. Senate Republicans initially will seek to pass a version of the spending bill that cuts off all federal funds to Planned Parenthood, a non-profit women’s healthcare group now embroiled in an abortion controversy.

(Reporting by Susan Cornwell; Writing by David Lawder; Editing by Sandra Maler)

Photo: U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) gives a wave to staff members as he walks to the senate floor at the U.S. Capitol in Washington September 8, 2015. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst