WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said on social media Thursday that he is directing the federal government to buy $200 billion in mortgage bonds, a move he said would help reduce mortgage rates at a time when Americans are worried about home prices.

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Trump and the White House have been trying to show they are responding to voter concerns about affordability ahead of midterm elections in November.

Trump last month said he planned to unveil housing reforms — and on Wednesday he said he wants to block institutional investors from buying houses.

This is a developing story; check back for updates.

LAAX, Switzerland — Two-time Olympic gold medalist Chloe Kim said Thursday that she dislocated her shoulder in training and doesn’t know whether she wil be able to compete at the Winter Games in Italy next month.

Kim posted footage of her fall on the halfpipe in Laax, where the world’s top snowboarders compete later this month in a key pre-Olympic tune-up.

She said she remains optimistic and has full range of motion in the shoulder and expects to know more after tests Friday.

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By KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House passed a bipartisan package of three spending bills on Thursday that would fund parts of the federal government through September, demonstrating the eagerness of lawmakers to avoid another government shutdown near the end of the month.

Congress has so far passed only three of the 12 annual spending bills that fund federal agencies for the current fiscal year. Failure to pass the remainder before a Jan. 30th deadline risks another shutdown just weeks after the record-setting, 43-day shutdown that occurred late last year.

Leaders from both parties endorsed the latest measure, signaling that passage is likely in the Senate as well, belatedly getting Congress halfway home in completing their work on this year’s spending bills. The White House also has endorsed the measure, calling it a “fiscally responsible bill.”

The package covers such agencies as the Interior Department, the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Departments of Commerce and Justice. It passed by an overwhelming vote of 397-28, an unusual display of unity when it comes to government spending.

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Both parties claim victories

The price tag of the bills, which Republicans put at roughly $175 billion, comes in below current levels, generating savings for taxpayers, GOP lawmakers said. Democrats countered that they were able to negotiate spending levels far above what the Trump administration had requested and removed scores of policy riders that they say would have weakened gun safety regulations, expanded oil and gas leasing on federal lands and took aim at LGBTQ and racial equity policies.

Importantly, Democrats said, the measure also includes legally binding spending requirements that restrain the White House’s ability to withhold or delay funds for programs Trump opposes. Trump’s first year in office was met with scores of lawsuits from states, cities and nonprofits who accused the administration of undertaking unlawful power grabs.

“This legislation is a forceful rejection of draconian cuts to public services proposed by the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee.

The Senate would also have to pass the measure before President Donald Trump could sign it into law. But the bill has bipartisan backing in that chamber, too.

“Republicans are strongest when we stay focused, Democrats are more effective when they negotiate in good faith, and the country is better off when Republicans and Democrats work together,” Rep. Tom Cole, the Republican chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, said in urging colleagues to vote for the bill.

Funding work is well behind schedule

In recent years, Congress has generally lumped all the spending bills into one or two measures, often voted on before lawmakers left Washington for the holidays. Lawmakers say such a process makes it easier to include provisions that couldn’t pass muster on their own.

Johnson has called for returning to a time when Congress takes up the 12 spending bills separately, though he’s finding it easier said than done. The fiscal year began Oct. 1 and Congress is still debating full-year funding for most federal agencies.

Democrats listed various priorities they were able to maintain or increase funding for, despite the administration’s opposition. For example, a program to make homes more energy efficient for low-income Americans got a $3 million boost, instead of being eliminated as proposed by Trump. The EPA, a frequent Trump target, gets $8.8 billion. That’s more than double what Trump sought.

Republicans had voiced concerns about some earmarks in the bill, now called community funding projects. To ease those concerns, a nearly $1.5 million earmark obtained by Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., was removed from the bill. It would have funded a Somali-led organization’s efforts to provide job training and peer support services for those struggling with addiction.

Republicans have been intensely focused on allegations of fraud by day care centers run by Somali residents. Those allegations are still being investigated. Omar has urged people not to blame an entire community for the actions of a relative few.

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love has done a great job of avoiding interceptions throughout this season.

However, he hasn’t been nearly as effective in that regard during his playoff career.

The Packers’ chances of extending their season beyond this weekend depend in part on how well Love can protect the ball against the Chicago Bears, who had an NFL-leading 23 interceptions and 33 total takeaways during the regular season.

Love was picked off on just six of his 439 passes this season, but he has thrown five interceptions in his past six postseason quarters. Love will try to change that recent playoff trajectory when the Packers (9-7-1) visit the NFC North champion Bears (11-6) in a Saturday night wild-card matchup.

“Every play is something to learn from and grow from,” Love said Wednesday. “That’s the mindset I’ve always taken. I think, like I mentioned going into the playoffs having to win and then having a couple tough losses, it all shapes you going into the offseason.”

Love’s three previous playoff starts have run the gamut.

He made his playoff debut two years ago and went 16 of 21 for 272 yards with three touchdown passes and no interceptions in a 48-32 wild-card victory at Dallas. Love threw for two more touchdowns to give Green Bay a lead at San Francisco the following week before getting intercepted late in the third quarter and again in the closing minutes of a 24-21 loss.

Last season, Love threw three interceptions without a touchdown pass in a 22-10 wild-card loss at Philadelphia while many of his top options got injured either before or during the game.

“You look at the way the 49ers game ended, throwing a pick to end it, it’s a tough way to go out,” Love said. “And I think in that situation, there’s so much good stuff to learn from in a two-minute situation, understanding what the situation is, how much time is left, what the down and distance is, how much we need. And trying not to force the ball right there and make that play. And then, you look at the Eagles game, I had a (few) turnovers in that game.

“So I think it just always comes down to taking care of the ball, playing your best as a quarterback, and then putting the team in the best position.”

Love completed 66.3% of his passes this season for 3,381 yards with 23 touchdowns. He threw multiple interceptions just once, when he got picked off twice in a 34-26 loss at Denver that started Green Bay’s four-game skid to close the regular season.

Saturday will mark the first time Love has played since absorbing a helmet-to-helmet hit from Bears defensive end Austin Booker in the second quarter of the Packers’ 22-16 overtime loss at Chicago on Dec. 20.

Although he missed Green Bay’s final two regular-season games, Love doesn’t expect rust to be an issue Saturday.

Love practiced fully throughout last week after getting cleared from concussion protocol, though the Packers chose to rest him for their 16-3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.

“When you’re practicing throughout the week, you still stay fresh,” Love said. “You’re missing some time playing in the game, but we played a lot of games this season. You’ve got banked reps.”

Love has a history of playing well against the Bears.

He threw for 234 yards with three touchdowns and an interception in the Packers’ 28-21 victory over the Bears in Green Bay. Love has nine touchdown passes with two interceptions in six games against Chicago.

“We talk about it whenever it’s Bears week, just understanding the history of the Packers and this and the Bears — the oldest rivalry in the NFL,” Love said. “It’s something that I wasn’t even too familiar with before I got here, and then I think since I’ve been here, it’s something you just learn about.”

The recent history of this rivalry — the past four Packers-Bears matchups have all gone down to the wire — and the circumstances of Love’s exit from the Dec. 20 game have increased the intensity even more.

Booker was penalized for roughing the passer on the hit that sent Love into concussion protocol. Asked whether he thought the hit was a clean play, Love simply replied, “It’s a hit. It is what it is.”

Packers running back Josh Jacobs was more forthcoming on the topic.

“He’s never really rattled in those situations, but I know a lot of guys took that hit that he took a little personal,” Jacobs said. “So I’m not saying we’re going to go out there and play dirty or nothing like that, but we’re definitely going to defend our brother.”

Briefly

WR/CB Bo Melton is going on injured reserve after hurting his knee in the Packers’ regular-season finale. Coach Matt LaFleur said it isn’t an ACL injury and shouldn’t impact Melton’s availability for next season. … Jacobs says he’s feeling “the best I’ve felt probably in the last six weeks” after being slowed by a knee issue late in the regular season. … Jacobs, WR Christian Watson and S Evan Williams received the Tom Mulhern Stand-Up Guy Award given annually to the Packers who best helped reporters during the season.