Nov. 9 (UPI) — The U.S. Senate on Sunday night voted to advance a proposal that, if passed by Congress, would fund the federal government through the end of January, marking an important step toward ending the nation’s longest shutdown.<\/p>\n
The Senate advanced the continuing appropriations bill in a 60-40 vote<\/a>, with seven Democrats and one independent joining their Republican colleagues, after the Democratic caucus had maintained a strong resistance to passing a bill to reopen the government during 14 previous votes.\n<\/p>\n The bill was advanced as the 40-day government shutdown strained the United States, with many airports facing significant delays and flight reductions due to worker shortages and the food supplies of low-income households threatened by a lack of federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.<\/p>\n Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin<\/a> of Illinois, who was among those who voted in favor of the resolution, said in a statement Sunday that the bill is not the same as the one Democrats rejected 14 previous times.\n<\/p>\n “Republicans finally woke up and realized their Groundhog Day needed to end. This bill is not perfect, but it takes important steps to reduce their shutdown’s hurt,” he said<\/a> on X.<\/p>\n “Not only would it fully fund SNAP for the year ahead, but it would reverse the mass firings the Trump administration ordered throughout the shutdown.”<\/p>\n Along with Durbin, the other Democrats who voted in favor of the bill are: Sens. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Sens. Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen<\/a> of New Hampshire and Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen of Nevada.<\/p>\n Sen. Angus King, an independent from Maine but who caucuses with the Democrats, also voted “yes” to the resolution.<\/p>\n Explaining his vote, King said the bill will “alleviate the crisis that is now occurring in SNAP, in food insecurity across the country.”<\/p>\n “Food pantries can’t do it by themselves,” he said in a video message<\/a> published late Sunday to his X account.<\/p>\n The resolution still needs to be debated and passed by the Senate and House and then be signed by President Donald Trump<\/a> for the government shutdown to end.<\/p>\n The resolution included a “minibus” package of legislation, which, if it is approved by the Senate, would then be amended to include a full year of government funding.\n<\/p>\n The deal also includes a vote<\/a> on extending tax credits for people who buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act<\/a> — agreement on which has been the linchpin in the 40-day federal government shutdown.<\/p>\n Durbin, in his statement, said it was now up to Senate Majority Leader John Thune<\/a>, R-S.D., to schedule the promised vote on the ACA tax credits for next month.<\/p>\n “And we will see to it that he makes good on his word for the millions of Americans worried they won’t be able to afford healthcare in January,” he said.<\/p>\n The resolution was advanced after it was reported Sunday afternoon that the Republicans had secured enough Democratic votes to advance it.<\/p>\n Some lawmakers had expressed hope that they might be able to end the shutdown after Senators discussed three bills<\/a> that would fund the government for a full year.<\/p>\n Programs for veterans affairs and agriculture subsidies were released early Sunday, and a more complete funding measure for the legislative branch was released later in the day<\/a>.<\/p>\n The extended shutdown has put SNAP benefits on hold<\/a> and snarled air traffic at the nation’s busiest airports<\/a> amid the ongoing impasse, which has stretched well into its second month.\n<\/p>\n Staffing shortages and flight cancellations have caused travel disruptions and forced many air traffic controllers to work without pay.<\/p>\n Senate Democrats have been holding out for a one-year extension of Biden-era subsidies for health insurance premiums for people who buy coverage on the federal Marketplace under the Affordable Care Act.<\/p>\n The shutdown also prompted the Trump administration to cancel scheduled military flyovers<\/a> at a handful of NFL games, including at the Washington, D.C., area stadium that hosts the Washington Commanders, where Trump attended the game Sunday between the Commanders and Detroit Lions<\/a>.<\/p>\n