The US Senate voted on Monday (Nov 10) night to approve a compromise that will end the longest government shutdown in the country's history, breaking a weeks-long stalemate that has disrupted food benefits for millions, left hundreds of thousands of federal workers unpaid and snarled air traffic.
00:00On this vote, the ayes are 60, the nays are 40. The bill, as amended, is passed.
00:07Under the previous order, the motion to reconsider is considered made and laid upon the table.
00:30Mr. President, I just want to reiterate my gratitude for my colleagues, our staff who have worked night and day, literally, and all of those who have brought us to this point.
00:49We are going to reopen government. We're going to ensure that federal employees, whether they were furloughed or laid off or forced to work without pay, will now receive compensation that they've earned and deserve.
01:09And we will also be able to celebrate on Veterans Day tomorrow the fact that we have passed the appropriations bill for the VA.
01:23I want to thank our House counterparts, particularly Chairman Cole, who worked night and day with us on getting conference agreements,
01:35and our Democratic colleagues, who courageously realized that we could not let this shutdown continue to go on,
01:47with the harmful consequences growing worse with each passing day.
01:54Again, I think this is a great victory for the American people, and it shows that the Senate can work,
02:02that we can produce the results that are needed.
02:08I know that the strain of these weeks has been immense, that you all have families, rent to meet, bills to pay, car and mortgage payments.
02:20And I'm grateful for all you have done to keep the Senate running.
02:25And for all that you do every day, shutdown or no shutdown, to serve the Senate and to serve our country.
02:32And with that, after six excruciating weeks, I will stop talking and let all of you get some rest.
Be the first to comment