House returns for vote to end the government shutdown after nearly 2 months away
House lawmakers are set to return after an eight-week absence to vote on a bill aimed at ending the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history, which has lasted 43 days. The Senate has passed a stopgap funding bill, but the House's passage is complicated by the need for near-perfect attendance from Republicans. While Speaker Mike Johnson touts the bill as a resolution to the 'national nightmare,' Democrats are poised to oppose it due to the absence of an extension for Affordable Care Act tax credits, which are set to expire. This legislation also includes provisions to protect federal workers and secure food assistance funding until January 30. The future of health care subsidies remains uncertain as both parties prepare for a vital December vote.
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The House has not been in session since September 19, when it passed a short-term funding patch to prevent a shutdown at the start of the fiscal year. After that, Speaker Johnson returned lawmakers to their districts, arguing that the Senate needed to take action.
The Senate's compromise bill, which was passed with bipartisan support, includes funding for three annual spending bills and provisions to reverse layoffs of federal workers instituted during the shutdown. It also guarantees that federal employees will be paid once the shutdown concludes.
Democrats, led by Hakeem Jeffries, are expected to vote against the bill primarily because it does not extend health care tax credits that are crucial for affordable coverage. Many in the party are framing the Republicans' absence during the shutdown as neglect of their responsibilities.
The legislation allocates $203.5 million for Congressional security and an additional $28 million for the security of Supreme Court justices. It also includes language allowing senators to sue if their electronic records are searched without notification, a provision seen as a response to past investigations involving Trump.
The upcoming vote on health care subsidies is uncertain, with some Republicans indicating openness to extending COVID-19-related tax credits but with proposed restrictions. This debate reflects ongoing tensions as the parties grapple with health care policy amidst the shutdown crisis.
Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins has expressed support for extending tax credits with new income limitations, while Democratic leaders criticize the compromise, highlighting potential voter backlash from constituents who supported them in recent elections.