The U.S. Senate has reached an agreement to end the seven-week government shutdown, following intensive negotiations between the Democratic and Republican parties.
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According to Politico, the agreement was facilitated by several senators, including Angus King, Jeanne Shaheen, and Maggie Hassan, along with a number of Republicans, and received sufficient Democratic support to move forward to a vote.
The agreement is expected to gain Republican backing in the Senate. A vote on a temporary funding bill previously approved by the House of Representatives is scheduled for Sunday evening, serving as a basis for a broader budget agreement.
The bill covers funding for the Department of Agriculture, FDA, Department of Veterans Affairs, military construction projects, and congressional operations through the end of the fiscal year, while extending funding for other federal agencies until January 30.
The deal also includes reinstating federal employees who were furloughed during the shutdown and paying their back wages. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has pledged to allow Democrats a vote in December to extend healthcare tax exemptions under the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), which are set to expire at year-end unless Congress takes action.
However, some progressive senators and House Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries opposed any agreement that does not include an immediate extension of the healthcare tax exemptions in the funding legislation itself.
Jeffries stated: “We will not support any Republican spending legislation in the Senate that does not extend the Affordable Care Act tax exemptions. We will continue opposing the Republican House bill, where Speaker Mike Johnson must end the taxpayer-funded seven-week recess.”
Source: Agencies
