The US Senate on Monday moved forward on a measure aimed at reopening the federal government and ending a 40-day shutdown that has sidelined federal workers, delayed food aid and snarled air travel.
In a procedural vote, senators advanced a House-passed bill that will be amended to fund the government until 30 January and include a package of three full-year appropriations bills.
If the Senate eventually passes the amended bill, the package still must be approved by the House of Representatives and sent to President Donald Trump for his signature, a process that could take several days.
In a significant development on Capitol Hill, Republicans have reached an agreement with a faction of Democrats to hold a vote in December concerning the extension of subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. This agreement emerged from ongoing negotiations over the bill and was confirmed by a source privy to the discussions. The extension of these subsidies has been a key focus for Democrats amid the funding debates.
The resolution would also reverse at least some of the Trump administration’s mass layoffs of federal workers during the shutdown and fund Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for a year.
“All federal employees, including members of our military and Coast Guard, the Capitol police officers, Border Patrol agents, TSA screeners, air-traffic controllers, will receive their back wages” under the deal, Republican senator Susan Collins, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said of the measure.
The negotiation, which proved pivotal in reaching this consensus, was spearheaded by two Democratic senators from New Hampshire, Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen, alongside Angus King, an independent senator from Maine. Despite the collaborative effort, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, the leading Democrat in the chamber, cast a vote against the measure.
Sunday marked the 40th day of the shutdown, which has sidelined federal workers and affected food aid, parks and travel, while air traffic control staffing shortages threaten to derail travel during the busy Thanksgiving holiday season late this month.
Should the government remain closed for much longer, economic growth could turn negative in the fourth quarter, especially if air travel does not return to normal levels by Thanksgiving, White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett warned on the CBS “Face the Nation” show. Thanksgiving falls on 27 November this year.
