The Senate took the first step to end the government shutdown on Sunday after a group of moderate Democrats agreed to proceed without a guaranteed extension of health care subsidies, angering many in their caucus who say Americans want them to continue the fight.
00:00On this vote, the yeas are 60 and the nays are 40, three-fifths of the Senate duly chosen and sworn, having voted in the affirmative, the motion upon reconsideration is agreed to.
00:15Today, the Senate voted to start reopening the government.
00:19We took a big step forward to protect the health care of tens of millions of Americans in exchange for funding through January 31st.
00:28This agreement will give Democrats control of the Senate floor for a vote on one of our top legislative priorities, extending the Affordable Care Act premium tax credits.
00:38This is important when Republicans control every branch of government.
00:43This agreement funds SNAP and food assistance programs, ensures that law enforcement, air traffic controllers, and other federal workers get paid, reverses the president's recent reckless layoffs, and prevents them from happening in the future, and crucially, gives Congress a clear path forward to protecting people's health care.
01:05But here's the thing.
01:07We can open the government, and we can still fight to address this looming health care crisis.
01:14It is true.
01:15Right now, in our states and across the country, Americans are seeing higher costs, higher premiums for their Affordable Care Act.
01:24These are people that need access to health care.
01:27I have families that rely on the Affordable Care Act and these subsidies so that their children, who have a rare disease, can access their medication.
01:36I expect Republicans to be at the table in the next few weeks.
01:39I expect the White House to be at the table.
01:41And if they do choose not to come to the table, they can own the disastrous premium increases that will continue to rise.
01:49I'm thankful to welcome you to what appears to be the beginning of the end of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, as shameful as that is.
01:59I don't think it's coincidental.
02:01You know how I think.
02:02But it's after 40 days of wandering in the wilderness and making the American people suffer needlessly, some Senate Democrats finally have stepped forward to end the pain.
02:13It appears to us this morning that our long national nightmare is finally coming to an end, and we're grateful for that.
02:19The Senate's vote late last night of 60 to 40 opens the door now.
02:24The Senate is moving forward on an amended House CR, a continuing resolution, that will reopen the government until January 30th.
02:33Added to that are provisions to fully fund SNAP provisions through the end of the next fiscal year, which is September 2026.
02:40Guaranteed back pay for all federal workers who have been made to endure these hardships over the last several weeks.
02:47The Senate will be back in session this morning to finish their job, and we're certainly praying that they do.
02:53They'll need unanimous consent from all senators to fast-track their final vote.
02:57As you know, there are some procedural hurdles that one or more could throw in the way, but we certainly hope that they won't do that because so many people across this country are desperate for the government to reopen.
03:08At the very moment that they do that final vote, I will call all House members to return to Washington as quickly as possible.
03:17We'll give a 36-hour formal and official notice so that we can vote as soon as possible to pass the amended CR bill and get it to the president's desk.
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