Yesterday, November 10th, the United States Senate passed a short-term government funding bill that would end the current government shutdown, which has been the longest in American history.
The bill has been sent to the House, and we are now waiting for the House to organize and vote on passing the bill. The earliest the bill is expected to be voted on is November 12th.
The bill would provide the funding necessary to keep the government in operation until January 30th and would provide funding for certain government agencies for the rest of this fiscal year.
The bill has received a mixed response, with some believing that agreeing to the bill would make the shutdown pointless as it does not guarantee the funding extension that the shutdown was started over. The main argument behind the shutdown was democrats wanting to make a deal to extend healthcare subsidies, while the Republicans wanted to proceed without any changes.
Some Democrats are disappointed with the results of the vote regarding the bill. Many wanted more guarantees for healthcare, which the bill does not have. Others are simply happy that progress is being made to reopen the government and ensure that millions of Americans can work again and receive the back pay they desperately need.
Senator Elissa Slotkin said in a statement: “I think that people did what they could to get us out of the shutdown, but what has worked in the past isn’t working now,” they continue, “And so, we need to meet the moment, and we’re not doing that.”.
It is relieving to hear that there are steps being made to end the shutdown and let the country go back to normal operations.
