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Lawmakers on Capitol Hill have met for a rare Sunday session this afternoon in their latest attempt to reopen the federal government, as the shutdown enters its 40th day. A deal to end the stalemate of shutdown is 'within reach,' according to a new report by Axios, citing sources on both sides of the political line. At least 10 Democrats are ready to vote for the package of bills that would end the longest shutdown in American history, the report said. This deal would include a vote on extending Obamacare tax credits in December. Republicans are cautiously optimistic that today could mark the first real step toward ending the ongoing government shutdown. However, major details still need to be resolved. Despite holding a majority in Congress, Republicans only have 53 seats in the Senate, falling short of the 60 votes needed to pass a funding bill. Both Senate Republicans and several Democrats are growing uneasy about the shutdown’s escalating consequences. They are eager to get the government running again before the situation worsens. Concerns range from delayed flights and unpaid federal workers to economic strain and suspension of food assistance for vulnerable families. The urgency has prompted a renewed push to strike a deal quickly. Senate Republicans are holding a closed-door meeting at 12:30 p.m. ET, followed by the Senate’s formal session at 1:30 p.m. ET. GOP lawmakers are working toward holding a procedural vote soon on a temporary funding measure, though the bill’s text has yet to be finalized. The proposal is expected to keep the government funded through January, while providing full-year funding for Congress, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, including military construction projects, through the next fiscal year. However, passing the measure needs 60 Senate votes, meaning Republican support from Democrats is crucial. Although GOP leaders believe they're close, health care subsidy issues under the Affordable Care Act remain unresolved. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told NBC's Kristen Welker on Meet The Press Sunday when asked if he ruled out supporting a potential funding bill that would 'include a promise to vote on Obamacare subsidies' that he doesn't 'think that the House Democratic Caucus is prepared to support a promise, a wink and a prayer, from folks who have been devastating the health care of the American people for years.' Senate Democrats are hesitant to back the plan without movement on health care provisions, the same issue that led them to oppose a stopgap funding bill in September. Still, once senators reach a consensus, the legislative process could advance swiftly, signaling that a breakthrough, while uncertain, remains possible. Republicans have supported a short-term measure to fund the government at generally current levels, previously approved under the Biden administration, through November 21, but Democrats have blocked it, insisting that the measure does not address their concerns regarding healthcare. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has given Senate Democrats 14 chances to vote to open the government. Public frustration with the prolonged shutdown is intensifying, increasing pressure on both parties to reach an agreement. Air traffic has been hit hard, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warning on CNN that staffing shortages are worsening, potentially reducing air travel to a trickle. Due to the shutdown, 42 million Americans missed their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits at the beginning of November. Other states, such as Hawaii, have since been able to pay the money to recipients in their states by tapping into a federal block grant program known as the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF. Amid negotiations, a high-ranking Democrat acknowledged the political leverage hardships caused by the shutdown create for her party. Massachusetts Congresswoman Katherine Clark, Minority Whip of the United States House of Representatives, admitted that she views families struggling during the shutdown as 'leverage' for her party to use in political games. 'Shutdowns are terrible. And of course, there will be families that are going to suffer. We take that responsibility very seriously, but it is one of the few leverage times we have,' Clark said. The House of Representatives has been in recess since Republicans passed their funding bill, leaving the resolution of the shutdown in the hands of their Senate colleagues.
