user: In this task, you are given an article. Your task is to summarize the article in a sentence.
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Question: The bill, which raises taxes for the wealthy, came after lengthy talks between Vice-President Joe Biden and Senate Republicans.
The House is due to consider it later. Spending cuts have been delayed for two months to allow a wider agreement.
Congress missed the deadline to pass a bill, but few effects will be felt as Tuesday is a US public holiday.
Tax cuts approved during the presidency of George W Bush formally expired at midnight (05:00 GMT).
Without approval in the House, huge tax rises for virtually all working Americans will kick in automatically.
Analysts warned that if the full effects of the fiscal cliff were allowed to take hold, the resulting reduction in consumer spending could spark a new recession.
By Mark MardellNorth America editor
The compromise deal reached on Monday seeks to avoid this by extending the tax cuts for Americans earning under $400,000 (£246,000) - up from the $250,000 level Democrats had originally sought.
A huge spending cut that would see $1.2tn shorn from the federal budget over 10 years has been deferred for two months, allowing Congress and the White House to reopen negotiations.
The Senate approved the compromise bill by 89-8. "If we do nothing, the threat of a recession is very real," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat, said. "Passing this agreement does not mean negotiations halt, far from it."
In addition to the income tax rates and spending cuts, the package includes:
What if the US goes over cliff?
•       Rises in inheritance taxes from 35% to 40% after the first $5m for an individual and $10m for a couple
•       Rises in capital taxes - affecting some investment income - of up to 20%, but less than the 39.6% that would prevail without a deal
•       One-year extension for unemployment benefits, affecting two million people
•       Five-year extension for tax credits that help poorer and middle-class families
'Imperfect solution'
President Barack Obama welcomed the Senate vote.
"Leaders from both parties in the Senate came together to reach an agreement that passed with overwhelming bipartisan support today that protects 98% of Americans and 97% of small business owners from a middle class tax hike," he said in a statement.
Jennifer Steinhauer in The New York Times writes: "The confusing struggle to head off a national fiscal crisis has made one thing crystal clear: The era of the Big Deal is over."
In The Washington Post, David A Fahrenthold says:"The New Year's Eve agreement between [Vice-President Joe] Biden and [Senate Minority Leader Mitch] McConnell provided a glimpse at the ways that personality quirks and one-to-one relationships can still change the course of Washington politics."
The Wall Street Journal says: "The wider deal doesn't do much to control the US's long-term budget woes, which are driven largely by entitlement spending, especially on health care, left untouched in this agreement."
"While neither Democrats nor Republicans got everything they wanted, this agreement is the right thing to do for our country and the House should pass it without delay."
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, said: "It took an imperfect solution to prevent our constituents from a very real financial pain, but in my view, it was worth the effort."
The BBC's Mark Mardell in Washington says many of the Republicans who dominate the House dislike the deal and may stand on their principle.
Speaker John Boehner said the House would consider the deal but left open the possibility of amending the Senate bill - which would spark another round of legislation.
"Decisions about whether the House will seek to accept or promptly amend the measure will not be made until House members... have been able to review the legislation," Mr Boehner and other House Republican leaders said in a statement.
The current House can legislate until Wednesday, when it is replaced by a new chamber chosen during last November's election.

Answer: The US Senate has approved a deal to avert general tax hikes and spending cuts known as the "fiscal cliff".


Question: Jones-Bishop's score came with Wakefield momentarily down to 11 men.
The hosts led 24-6 at the break, with tries from Matty Ashurst, Tom Johnstone and two from Craig Hall, while Joe Westerman responded for Wolves.
Ashurst went in again, only for Wolves to hit back with four unanswered tries before Jones-Bishop sealed victory.
Wakefield's sixth win in seven league games since Chester took over in March moves them up to sixth in the table.
Jones-Bishop's crucial score came two minutes from time, with two Wildcats, Anthony England and Danny Kirmond, in the sin-bin.
It was a dramatic and tense finish as Kirmond was shown a yellow card with five minutes remaining for a high shot on Morgan Smith, while England and Warrington's Kurt Gidley were sin-binned in the 68th minute for fighting.
Jones-Bishop himself was sin-binned earlier in the second half and Matthew Russell took full advantage for Warrington, running in the third of the visitors' second-half tries after Daryl Clark and Gidley crossed to revive Wire's hopes.
While Smith converted a second try from Westerman to get the visitors to within four points of Wakefield, Liam Finn's 12 points from the boot - including a second-half penalty - before that late Jones-Bishop try helped them move into the top half of the table.
Wakefield head coach Chris Chester: "I wasn't particularly confident with five minutes to go but we defended very well and deserved the win.
"I thought it was a very courageous performance. The amount of possession Warrington had in the second half really hurt us but my boys kept turning up for each other.
"We were very good without the ball in the last five or 10 minutes. I'm proud of the guys, it was the most spirited and courageous performance from a group of players I've seen in a long time."
Warrington coach Tony Smith: "The first half hurt. They started really enthusiastically and cashed in on a couple of our errors.
"We left ourselves a fairly hefty hill to climb up and we nearly got to the top and had a look over the other side.
"We had an opportunity to get our noses in front but it was not meant to be. We had a few boys off their best today."
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats: Jowitt; Jones-Bishop, Hall, Arundel, Johnstone; Miller, Finn; Scruton, Sio, Simon, Kirmond, Ashurst, Arona.
Replacements: Anderson, Annakin, England, A Tupou.
Warrington Wolves: Russell; Penny, R Evans, Atkins, Lineham; Gidley, Currie; Hill, Clark, Sims, Jullien, Westwood, Westerman.
Replacements: Cox, Philbin, G King, Smith.
Referee: Chris Campbell (RFL).

Answer: Ben Jones-Bishop scored a late try against Super League leaders Warrington to ensure Wakefield's resurgence under Chris Chester continued.


Question: Yamaha's Bradley Smith finished second amid changing weather that saw most riders forced to make two pit-stops.
Honda's Scott Redding claimed his first podium finish in third, despite sliding into the gravel early on.
All three capitalised after Valentino Rossi blew his chances with tactical errors and Jorge Lorenzo crashed out.
The last time two Britons shared a podium in a premier-class grand prix was in Venezuela 36 years ago when Barry Sheene won the race and Irishman Tom Herron came third.
Early rain proved crucial on Sunday, with Honda rider Marquez switching to slick tyres just as the Misano circuit started to dry.
Championship leader Rossi and his army of home fans were left frustrated after he led with seven laps to go but left the switch from wet tyres to slicks until too late, which handed the race to Marquez.
Rossi eventually finished fifth but thanks to Lorenzo's crash the 36-year-old still extended his championship lead to 23 points over his Yamaha team-mate.
Marquez, who sits in third spot 63 points behind Rossi with five races to go, explained that problems caused by the weather were made more difficult by the recently re-laid track surface.
The Spaniard added: "The asphalt is new here and very dark, so it was hard to tell if it was dry or wet. It was really difficult out there but we made the right decision with the tyres."
Smith was delighted to claim the second podium finish of his career after sticking with slick tyres at the right time.
The 24-year-old said: "I kept telling myself that luck favours the brave, went with my instincts and it turned out to be a good day."
Redding rode a remarkable race after sliding into the dirt, only to get back up and push his bike back on the track.
The 22-year-old said: "When I went into the gravel, the marshalls tried to hold me back but I was fighting to get on the track.
"It was an incredible race and the adrenaline was through the roof. We took a lot of risks and we got some rewards."
San Marino MotoGP results:
1. Marc Marquez (Spain) Honda 48 minutes 23.819 seconds
2. Bradley Smith (Britain) Yamaha 48:31.107
3. Scott Redding (Britain) Honda 48:42.612
4. Loris Baz (France) Forward 48:50.246
5.  Valentino Rossi (Italy) Yamaha 48:57.015
6.  Danilo Petrucci (Italy) Ducati 48:58.906
7.  Andrea Iannone (Italy) Ducati 49:0.346
8.  Andrea Dovizioso (Italy) Ducati 49:1.253
9.  Dani Pedrosa (Spain) Honda 49:3.335
10.  Aleix Espargaro (Spain) Suzuki 49:3.511
11. Cal Crutchlow (Britain) Honda 49:5.814
12. Jack Miller (Australia) Honda 49:9.894
13. Mike Di Meglio (France) Ducati 49:12.200
14. Maverick Vinales (Spain) Suzuki 49:16.144
15. Alvaro Bautista (Spain) Aprilia 49:17.167
MotoGP Standings after race 13 of 18:
1.  Valentino Rossi (Italy) Yamaha 247
2.  Jorge Lorenzo (Spain) Yamaha 224
3.  Marc Marquez (Spain) Honda 184
4.  Andrea Iannone (Italy) Ducati 159
5.  Bradley Smith (Britain) Yamaha 135
6.  Andrea Dovizioso (Italy) Ducati 128
7.  Dani Pedrosa (Spain) Honda 109
8.  Danilo Petrucci (Italy) Ducati 93
9.  Pol Espargaro (Spain) Yamaha 81
10. Cal Crutchlow (Britain) Honda 79
11. Maverick Vinales (Spain) Suzuki 69
12. Aleix Espargaro (Spain) Suzuki 66
13. Scott Redding (Britain) Honda 63
14. Yonny Hernandez (Colombia) Ducati 41
15. Loris Baz (France) Forward 28

Answer:

assistant: World champion Marc Marquez won a thrilling San Marino MotoGP at Misano as two British riders finished on the podium for the first time since 1979.