A budget that would end the longest shutdown in US history is heading to the House of Representatives for a crunch vote. On day 42 of the impasse, representatives are returning to Washington to decide whether to approve a Senate package that would fund federal agencies for two months.
Republican leadership expressed confidence that the spending plan would clear the lower chamber of Congress, despite their narrow majority. However, top Democrats vowed to oppose it. President Donald Trump indicated he would sign it into law, stating, We're opening up our country. Should have never been closed.
The shutdown, which began on October 1, has left a million federal workers unpaid, halted food stamps for low-income Americans, and delayed air travel just ahead of Thanksgiving. Unpaid air traffic controllers have called in sick, leading to the cancellation of nearly 1,200 flights on Tuesday.
Amid the funding deadlock, lawmakers are finding alternate ways to reach Washington, with some congressmen carpooling or taking long motorcycle rides.
The House Rules Committee advanced the bill in a procedural party-line vote of 8-4 in the early hours of Wednesday morning, marking only a brief but contentious session. Republican representatives rejected amendments from Democrats that sought to extend health insurance subsidies, a critical point of contention during the impasse.
The chamber is set to reconvene at 4 PM EST to hold a one-hour debate before the vote. Democratic minority leader Hakeem Jeffries expressed strong opposition to the bill, believing it would exacerbate the high cost of living for everyday Americans.
As the House prepares for the vote, the budget plan may keep contributing to the federal debt, projected to reach about $38 trillion.
Johnson, the House Speaker, has faced pressure from both sides and has noted the need to find a compromise to avert future shutdowns, with government funding set to expire again at the end of January.
