The United States House of Representatives prepares this Wednesday for vote on a key bill which seeks to end the longest government shutdown in the country’s history, after six weeks of paralysis and clashes between Republicans and Democrats.
The bill, which would extend federal government funding until January, arrives in the House after the Senate approved the initiative on Monday with the support of eight Democratic senators who broke ranks to support the president’s Republicans donald trump.
During a speech by Veterans Day at Arlington National Cemetery, Trump used the occasion to congratulate Republican leaders for what he called a political victory.
“Congratulations to you and John and everyone on a great victory.”said the president when he saw the president of the House in the audience, Michael Johnsonand the Senate majority leader, John Thune.
“We are reopening our country, it should never have been closed”he added.
Trump later expressed confidence that the House would pass the measure. “Only people who hate our country want to see it closed”declared to ESPN.
Today’s vote represents the outcome of a six-week political standoff that left more than a million federal employees without pay, affected food assistance programs and caused thousands of airline cancellations and delays on the eve of the Thanksgiving holiday.
The Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffywarned on Tuesday that the situation could worsen if the project is not approved. “Airlines will have to make serious calculations about whether to continue flying or not, it’s that simple”he said at a press conference at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, warning about delays and lack of payment to air traffic controllers.
Democratic leaders have reiterated their opposition to the spending projectwhich does not include the extension of health insurance subsidies, a central point of his platform.
“Health care for people across this country is on the verge of becoming unaffordable.”stated the Democratic leader in the House of Representatives, Hakeem Jeffrieswho promised to continue the fight to reduce health costs.
Despite the resistance, the text has a chance of being approved, since it only requires a simple majoritywhich Republicans hold by a narrow margin.
However, today’s vote has deepened divisions within the Democratic Party. Many leaders maintain that their party should have maintained pressure until reaching an agreement that guarantees the extension of health subsidies, which expire at the end of the year.
“Pathetic”he wrote online x the governor of California, Gavin Newsomconsidered one of the main Democratic presidential candidates for 2028, by criticizing the agreement reached in the Senate.
The Democratic minority leader in the Senate, Chuck Schumerfaced questions within his own party for failing to maintain a united bloc in Monday’s vote.
(With information from AFP)
