The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a Senate funding deal, effectively bringing an end to the nation’s longest government shutdown. The legislation, approved by a vote of 222-209, is now headed to President Donald Trump for his signature, allowing federal agencies to reopen after a six-week hiatus. This agreement funds the government through January 31, 2024, while certain programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, will receive funding through the end of the fiscal year in September.
The deal garnered significant bipartisan support, particularly from Texas House Republicans, with 24 of the 25 members voting in favor. Only Rep. Michael McCaul abstained from the vote. Conversely, the majority of Texas Democrats opposed the bill, with Rep. Henry Cuellar being one of the six who sided with Republicans. Cuellar justified his vote by highlighting the undue hardship the shutdown inflicted on his constituents.
Once signed, federal employees who worked without pay during the shutdown will receive back pay, and those who were laid off will return to their positions. This outcome was reached after negotiations that included a small number of Senate Democrats whose backing was crucial for passing the bill.
As part of the agreement, Senate Democrats secured a commitment for a vote on extending the Affordable Care Act subsidies, a contentious issue that has fueled much of the shutdown debate. However, the future of these tax credits remains uncertain, as Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana has not committed to bringing the matter before the House. Many House Republicans have expressed a desire either to reform or eliminate these subsidies altogether.
Democratic lawmakers criticized their Senate counterparts for agreeing to a deal that did not extend the health care tax credits, which are set to expire at the end of the year. Rep. Sylvia Garcia of Houston expressed her concern for the impact this will have on uninsured families, stating, “Every delay and every cut means more families lose coverage, more seniors skip medicine, and more children go without care.”
On the other side of the aisle, Rep. Morgan Luttrell condemned Democrats for their prior opposition to temporary funding measures, which also did not include the ACA credits. He accused them of prioritizing partisan politics over the immediate needs of military families and veterans.
Despite his bipartisan vote, Cuellar urged Congress to work towards extending the ACA tax credits to prevent rising health care costs. He stated, “I am ready to work in a bipartisan manner to protect affordable health care and deliver meaningful relief to the American people.”
Additionally, the funding package includes a provision that criminalizes the sale of most consumable hemp products nationwide. This measure reinstates a similar ban at the state level that had previously been vetoed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott. Rep. Pete Sessions, a proponent of the hemp ban, praised the legislation for closing loopholes that allowed potentially harmful high-potency THC products to proliferate. Critics of this provision warn it could jeopardize Texas’ $8 billion hemp industry and the jobs that depend on it.
The passage of this funding deal marks a significant moment in U.S. politics, reflecting the complexities and challenges of bipartisan governance. With the government set to reopen, many are now looking ahead to the upcoming discussions surrounding health care and other critical issues facing the nation.
