California representatives react to end of government shutdown

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill Wednesday to end the nation’s longest government shutdown, sending the measure to President Donald Trump for his signature.The historic 43-day funding lapse saw federal workers go without multiple paychecks, travelers stranded at airports and long lines at food banks. The shutdown magnified the stark partisan divisions within Congress, with lawmakers from each party pointing the blame at the other.Democrats wanted to extend an enhanced tax credit expiring at the end of the year that lowers the cost of health coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile, Republicans said Democrats sought to use the pain generated by the shutdown to prevail in a policy dispute. Messages from California representatives following the vote shared messages of relief but also highlighted the continued division between the nation’s two major parties. However, a notable exception is Republican Rep. Kevin Kiley, who criticized the House leadership, which includes members of his own party. “Neither party is emerging from this mess in a positive light,” his statement reads, in part.Here’s what representatives for the Sacramento region had to say following Wednesday’s vote:Rep. Ami Bera“I’m relieved the federal government is reopening.“Over the past few weeks, I’ve met with Sacramento County families who’ve been pushed to the brink. SNAP recipients waited in long lines at food banks to put food on the table. Working parents struggled to cover rent and mortgage payments. Young people worried about how they’d keep up with their student loan payments. And public servants — like our air traffic controllers — continued showing up for demanding, high-stress jobs, despite not knowing when they’d receive their next paycheck.“With the shutdown over, we must urgently act to extend the Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire at the end of the year. That’s why I signed a discharge petition tonight to force a vote on extending these subsidies by three years. While this step doesn’t guarantee a final outcome, it keeps the pressure on my Republican colleagues to act and prevent premium hikes that would impact more than 20 million Americans.“I remain committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get this done.”Rep. Doris Matsui“For 54 days, House Republicans refused to come to the table—let alone vote. And today, they jammed through a continuing resolution that ignores the reality facing millions of Americans: without extending the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits, health care costs will spike, coverage will be lost, and families will be left with impossible choices.“This crisis wasn’t inevitable, it was manufactured by Republicans’ indifference. Instead of negotiating to lower costs, they chose a bill that leaves people staring at higher premiums, fewer plan options, and mounting uncertainty about whether they can stay covered. Rising health care costs don’t just hit those whose premiums go up—they ripple across every community through reduced access to care. They shrink provider networks and cause clinic cutbacks, longer wait times, and delayed treatments that make people sicker and care more expensive.“Foundationally this is about whether families can afford groceries, rent, child care—and still see a doctor when they need one. It’s about whether Americans have the ability to live healthy lives. This bill undermines our health care system and raises the cost of living for families, that’s why I voted NO.“Democrats are still fighting. We will continue to take action to deliver relief and protect affordable coverage. The American people deserve stability and security. They deserve leadership that puts them first. And I will never yield to Republican cruelty, chaos, and indifference.”Rep. Doug LaMalfa“After forty-three days, I was pleased to vote in favor of H.R. 5371 to end this unnecessary government shutdown,” said Rep. LaMalfa. “This shutdown was entirely avoidable. Senate Democrats refused to act on the House’s clean funding bill and instead chose to hold the government hostage for political leverage. Because of their political games, millions of people—including many in District 1—experienced a lapse in SNAP benefits, critical disaster payments and agricultural loans were stalled, prescribed burns and hazardous forest fuels projects were delayed, and air travel spun into chaos. I appreciate our Congressional Leadership for getting the government back to work where we should’ve been all along. I’m looking forward to refocusing on the priorities that have sat in limbo over the last six weeks and resuming work on the issues that matter most to the people I represent.”Rep. Kevin Kiley”With today’s vote, we have thankfully closed one of the most regrettable chapters in the history of the U.S. Congress. The longest-ever government shutdown, lasting 43 days, has caused hardship and chaos throughout the country. And the baffling decision by House Leadership to cancel six straight weeks of session has left Americans without representation at a time when it was most needed. The gridlock and excessive partisanship in Washington has never been more clearly on display; neither party is emerging from this mess in a positive light.”I voted to avoid this shutdown from the beginning, and even with the House recessed I’ve been in D.C. working in every way I can to get the government open. I am grateful that has finally happened. It couldn’t come a moment too soon. “I’ll now be working harder than ever to advance the priorities for our district and for California that have been on hold the last two months: lowering the cost of living, securing education funding, managing our forests, preventing a rise in healthcare premiums, and much more.”Rep. Mike Thompson”The government funding bill passed tonight fails to stop health care premiums from skyrocketing, fails to undo the cruel cuts to Medicaid and SNAP in the Big, Ugly Law, and once again leaves our farmers and ranchers behind by punting on a new Farm Bill that actually meets their needs.”I voted NO because I refuse to support a bill that fails the American people. I’ll keep fighting for all Americans, while Congressional Republicans continue to exacerbate the healthcare crisis and enable the President’s ill-advised policies that are increasing costs across the board.”This story will be updated as more statements come in.–The Associated Press contributed to this report.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill Wednesday to end the nation’s longest government shutdown, sending the measure to President Donald Trump for his signature.

The historic 43-day funding lapse saw federal workers go without multiple paychecks, travelers stranded at airports and long lines at food banks.

The shutdown magnified the stark partisan divisions within Congress, with lawmakers from each party pointing the blame at the other.

Democrats wanted to extend an enhanced tax credit expiring at the end of the year that lowers the cost of health coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile, Republicans said Democrats sought to use the pain generated by the shutdown to prevail in a policy dispute.

Messages from California representatives following the vote shared messages of relief but also highlighted the continued division between the nation’s two major parties. However, a notable exception is Republican Rep. Kevin Kiley, who criticized the House leadership, which includes members of his own party.

“Neither party is emerging from this mess in a positive light,” his statement reads, in part.

Here’s what representatives for the Sacramento region had to say following Wednesday’s vote:

Rep. Ami Bera

“I’m relieved the federal government is reopening.

“Over the past few weeks, I’ve met with Sacramento County families who’ve been pushed to the brink. SNAP recipients waited in long lines at food banks to put food on the table. Working parents struggled to cover rent and mortgage payments. Young people worried about how they’d keep up with their student loan payments. And public servants — like our air traffic controllers — continued showing up for demanding, high-stress jobs, despite not knowing when they’d receive their next paycheck.

“With the shutdown over, we must urgently act to extend the Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire at the end of the year. That’s why I signed a discharge petition tonight to force a vote on extending these subsidies by three years. While this step doesn’t guarantee a final outcome, it keeps the pressure on my Republican colleagues to act and prevent premium hikes that would impact more than 20 million Americans.

“I remain committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get this done.”

Rep. Doris Matsui

“For 54 days, House Republicans refused to come to the table—let alone vote. And today, they jammed through a continuing resolution that ignores the reality facing millions of Americans: without extending the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits, health care costs will spike, coverage will be lost, and families will be left with impossible choices.

“This crisis wasn’t inevitable, it was manufactured by Republicans’ indifference. Instead of negotiating to lower costs, they chose a bill that leaves people staring at higher premiums, fewer plan options, and mounting uncertainty about whether they can stay covered. Rising health care costs don’t just hit those whose premiums go up—they ripple across every community through reduced access to care. They shrink provider networks and cause clinic cutbacks, longer wait times, and delayed treatments that make people sicker and care more expensive.

“Foundationally this is about whether families can afford groceries, rent, child care—and still see a doctor when they need one. It’s about whether Americans have the ability to live healthy lives. This bill undermines our health care system and raises the cost of living for families, that’s why I voted NO.

“Democrats are still fighting. We will continue to take action to deliver relief and protect affordable coverage. The American people deserve stability and security. They deserve leadership that puts them first. And I will never yield to Republican cruelty, chaos, and indifference.”

Rep. Doug LaMalfa

“After forty-three days, I was pleased to vote in favor of H.R. 5371 to end this unnecessary government shutdown,” said Rep. LaMalfa. “This shutdown was entirely avoidable. Senate Democrats refused to act on the House’s clean funding bill and instead chose to hold the government hostage for political leverage. Because of their political games, millions of people—including many in District 1—experienced a lapse in SNAP benefits, critical disaster payments and agricultural loans were stalled, prescribed burns and hazardous forest fuels projects were delayed, and air travel spun into chaos. I appreciate our Congressional Leadership for getting the government back to work where we should’ve been all along. I’m looking forward to refocusing on the priorities that have sat in limbo over the last six weeks and resuming work on the issues that matter most to the people I represent.”

Rep. Kevin Kiley

“With today’s vote, we have thankfully closed one of the most regrettable chapters in the history of the U.S. Congress. The longest-ever government shutdown, lasting 43 days, has caused hardship and chaos throughout the country. And the baffling decision by House Leadership to cancel six straight weeks of session has left Americans without representation at a time when it was most needed. The gridlock and excessive partisanship in Washington has never been more clearly on display; neither party is emerging from this mess in a positive light.

“I voted to avoid this shutdown from the beginning, and even with the House recessed I’ve been in D.C. working in every way I can to get the government open. I am grateful that has finally happened. It couldn’t come a moment too soon.

“I’ll now be working harder than ever to advance the priorities for our district and for California that have been on hold the last two months: lowering the cost of living, securing education funding, managing our forests, preventing a rise in healthcare premiums, and much more.”

Rep. Mike Thompson

“The government funding bill passed tonight fails to stop health care premiums from skyrocketing, fails to undo the cruel cuts to Medicaid and SNAP in the Big, Ugly Law, and once again leaves our farmers and ranchers behind by punting on a new Farm Bill that actually meets their needs.

“I voted NO because I refuse to support a bill that fails the American people. I’ll keep fighting for all Americans, while Congressional Republicans continue to exacerbate the healthcare crisis and enable the President’s ill-advised policies that are increasing costs across the board.”

This story will be updated as more statements come in.

–The Associated Press contributed to this report.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel