The US Senate on Sunday took the first step toward ending the nation’s longest-ever government shutdown by advancing a stopgap funding bill.
In a procedural vote, eight Democrats broke ranks to support the Republican-backed measure, which would keep the government operating until January 30. The bill also provides funding for certain government functions, including food aid and the legislative branch, for the next year.
However, the plan does not guarantee an extension of expiring healthcare subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Centrist Democrats and Republicans agreed to hold a separate vote on the issue in December, a key priority for Democrats during the shutdown debate.
Al Jazeera correspondent Mike Hanna in Washington, DC, reported that the procedural “cloture” vote passed 60-40. “This vote allows the Senate to continue debate and begin introducing and passing legislation to end the shutdown,” Hanna said. “Once cloture is invoked, subsequent votes require only a simple majority, giving Republicans a clear path to pass the bill and reopen the government.”
Although the Senate has now moved forward, the measure must still be approved by the House of Representatives and signed by President Donald Trump, a process that could take several days.
With inputs from AL Zazeera