Copyright Santa Clarita Valley Signal
By Jackson Richman Contributing Writer After 40 days, Democrats and Republicans have reached an agreement to reopen the government to end the longest shutdown in U.S. history. The Senate advanced the bill on Sunday, 60-40. Sens. John Fetterman, D-Pa., Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Tim Kaine, D-Va., Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., and Angus King, I-Maine, joined Republicans in reaching the 60-vote threshold to advance the legislation. There were mixed reactions to the agreement, with Republicans welcoming it. “I’m thankful to welcome you to what appears to be the beginning of the end of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, as shameful as that is,” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told reporters during a Monday press conference. “After 40 long days, I’m hopeful we can bring this shutdown to the end. I don’t need to go through the reasons why it’s imperative to get the government open as soon as possible,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said on the Senate floor ahead of the vote. “From the precarious situation we’re in with air travel to the fact that our staff have been working without pay for a full 40 days now, all of us, Republicans and Democrats who support this bill, know that the time to act is now.” Most Democrats criticized the agreement. “This health care crisis is so severe, so urgent, so devastating for families back home that I cannot, in good faith, support this (continuing resolution),” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said ahead of the vote. “That fails to address the health care crisis. But let me be clear, however this vote turns out, this fight will and must continue.” Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., wrote on X: “What’s clear is that the old way of doing business continues to fail America. Leadership is about changing and adapting when there is real need, and unless we hear that, we will fail to meet the moment.” Funds Government Through the End of January The deal funds the government through Jan. 30. This would give appropriators time to come up with long-term bills to fund the government through the end of the fiscal year, which is Sept. 30. The agreement includes three full-year appropriations bills wrapped into one, also known as a “minibus.” Funding through Sept. 30 includes the Department of Agriculture, Department of Veterans Affairs, military construction, the Food and Drug Administration, and the legislative branch. “This shutdown has gone on far too long,” said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “And I also think it’s highly significant that we’ll have three year-long appropriations bills attached. Veterans Day is coming very soon, and it would be wonderful if we get the full-year Veterans Affairs bill signed into law.” The bill funds the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children through Sept. 30. SNAP has been a major point of contention during the shutdown, as there has been a struggle to find funding for the program to feed those in need. The measure reverses cuts to the federal workforce that occurred during the shutdown. These are known as RIFs, or “Reduction in Force” notifications. These workers, in addition to being reinstated, will get back pay once the shutdown is over. The bill provides that a vote will be held in the second week of December to extend the subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. As a condition for ending the government shutdown, the Democrats wanted the extension of the subsidies to be included in the legislation. However, all they will get is a vote that is unlikely to reach the necessary 60-vote threshold to advance legislation in the Senate. Therefore, this was a major concession by the Democrats. “I don’t think that the House Democratic caucus is prepared to support a promise, a wing and a prayer, from folks who have been devastating the health care of the American people for years,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” as the deal was in the works. “The American people want us to stand and fight for health care,” said Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.
