Lawmakers also must pass a package of spending bills by Dec. 11 to keep the government funded, and extend dozens of expiring tax breaks, some dear to Democrats and others favored by Republicans.
The small federal agency that makes and guarantees loans to help foreign customers buy U.S. exports was allowed to expire over the summer as conservatives denounced it as corporate welfare.
Rural lawmakers have fought to protect crop insurance, saying it makes more sense than other farm subsidies since it pays out when farmers suffer losses.
The banking industry and its congressional allies like House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, suffered a bitter defeat.
Democrats claim McConnell refused to allow the provision in the highway bill unless they agreed in exchange to lifting the ban on oil exports.
House Judiciary Committee chairman Robert Goodlatte, R-Va., said in a statement that "we are close to a final deal" to provide a fully funded five-year extension of the compensation portion of the law, which provides payments to people who suffered physical harm after the attacks.
