In brief
The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on a bill aimed at ending the longest federal government shutdown ever. The bill, previously passed by the Senate, has gained support from President Trump. However, Democrats are largely expected to oppose it due to the absence of provisions to extend healthcare subsidies. Concerns over travel delays and nearly perfect attendance from Republicans may complicate the vote. There’s a looming debate ahead on extending health care subsidies in the upcoming vote set for December.
House lawmakers will make a long-awaited return to the nation’s capital on Wednesday after nearly eight weeks away, potentially putting an end to the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history.
The House is scheduled to take up a bill to reopen the government that the Senate passed on Monday night. President Donald Trump called the measure a “very big victory,” and it’s expected to pass the Republican-led chamber. However, the prospect of travel delays due to the shutdown could complicate the vote, with Speaker Mike Johnson needing nearly perfect attendance from fellow Republicans to secure the bill's passage.
The last time the House was in session was September 19, when a short-term funding patch to keep the government open was approved. Johnson had sent lawmakers home post-vote, insisting that House Republicans had done their part as Senate leaders were urged to follow suit.
Democrats have criticized Republicans for taking an extended break while federal workers went without paychecks and travelers faced delays at airports. Many Democrats plan to vote against the measure, primarily because it lacks extensions for Affordable Care Act tax credits, which are set to expire at the end of the year.
“Our strong expectation is that Democrats will be strongly opposed,” Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries stated, anticipating a contentious voting process.
However, Johnson maintains that the bipartisan compromise is a substantial step forward, expressing gratitude at the potential end of what he termed a “long national nightmare.” The Senate-approved bill includes funding for three bipartisan annual spending bills and extends government funding through January 30, accompanied by a commitment from Republicans to hold a vote on health care subsidies by mid-December.
This legislation addresses ongoing furloughs of federal employees initiated by the Trump administration during the shutdown, ensuring they are protected against further layoffs through January and mandating full payment once the shutdown concludes. Future negotiations concerning the health care subsidies and budgetary allocations remain critical areas to watch as the political landscape evolves.
