WASHINGTON (AP) - The top Republican and Democrat on Capitol Hill have announced an agreement to keep the government running on autopilot for six months when the current budget year ends on Sept. 30.

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The announcements by Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and GOP House Speaker John Boehner are aimed at averting any chance of a government shutdown this fall. The legislation will pass in September.

It would also lighten the crush of business in a post-election congressional session agenda that's already overloaded.

The agreement would fund the government at levels called for by last summer's budget and debt pact between Boehner and President Barack Obama.

The agreement embraces spending at a total annualized rate of $1.047 trillion for the day-to-day operations of Cabinet departments like the Pentagon and other federal agencies.