The US Senate voted to move forward with a stopgap funding bill to end the nation’s longest government shutdown. On Sunday, eight Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the procedural measure, which passed 60–40.
The bill will fund the government until January 30 and provide full-year funding for food aid and the legislative branch. However, it does not extend the expiring healthcare subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. Instead, lawmakers promised to hold a separate vote on the subsidies by December.
Al Jazeera’s Mike Hanna reported from Washington, DC, that the vote was a cloture vote. This allows the Senate to begin debating and passing bills aimed at reopening the government. Once the cloture passes with 60 votes, future votes need only a simple majority.
Republicans, holding that majority, are expected to advance the bill smoothly through the Senate. If approved, the measure will move to the House of Representatives before reaching President Donald Trump for his signature. The process could still take several days before government operations fully resume.
