US House to vote on bill that could end longest-ever government shutdown

"The House speaker, Mike Johnson, has instructed lawmakers to return to Washington after keeping the chamber out of session for more than 50 days. On Monday, a splinter group of Senate Democrats joined with Republicans to advance legislation that would fund the federal government through the end of January, without extending the tax credits. The move sparked a furious backlash among Democrats, many of whom have called the plan a betrayal."

"The expected House vote, on day 42 of the shutdown, comes as hundreds of thousands of furloughed federal workers miss paychecks, millions of Americans risk losing food assistance and airlines warn travelers to brace for continued disruptions. On Tuesday night, the House rules committee voted 8-4 along party lines to advance the Senate package, setting the stage for it to come to the House floor on Wednesday."

"At the start of the hearing, the panel's top Democrat, Jim McGovern, welcomed Republicans back to Washington, decrying their absence during the shutdown. Where the hell have you been? he asked, during in his opening remarks adding later: Republicans quiet quit their jobs. They disappeared. Virginia Foxx, the committee's chair, blamed Democrats for causing the shut down, and noted sharply they walked away empty handed after insisting they would not relent until securing an extension of the enhanced healthcare subsidies."

The House prepared to vote on a Senate-brokered funding measure intended to end the longest federal shutdown in US history while leaving expiring healthcare subsidies unextended. Speaker Mike Johnson ordered lawmakers back after keeping the chamber out for over 50 days. A coalition of Senate Democrats and Republicans moved the bill to fund the government through January without tax-credit extensions, triggering furious Democratic criticism and calls for leadership accountability. All Republicans but Rand Paul supported the measure, joined by eight moderate Democrats. The vote arrives amid missed paychecks for furloughed workers, threats to food assistance and potential travel disruptions.

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