The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote early Wednesday evening to end the longest government shutdown in history, said Rep. Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana).
“We’ll probably start the process around 4 o’clock or 5 o’clock. The actual vote on the government funding bill will probably be after that, around 7 o’clock,” the House Majority Leader told CNBC. “I’m sure there will be a robust and thorough discussion, but it is very important that it is completed.”
If the spending bill passes as scheduled, it would end an impasse that has lasted more than six weeks and resulted in furloughs of government workers, a shutdown of all federal government operations, a suspension of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and increased delays at airports ahead of the holiday travel season.
The Senate on Monday approved a package that would reopen government agencies through Jan. 30, provide funding for agriculture, military programs and legislative bodies, and provide back pay to workers affected by the shutdown.
President Donald Trump has indicated he intends to sign the bill into law.
Although the House majority is expected to be very small, Scalise said he hopes to pull together enough Democrats to pass the package.
“Some Democrats are still trying to play games and cause pain to families across America, but we’ve had enough,” he said. “We might have a few more members in the House who want to end this madness and get people back to their normal lives.”
The two countries have been exchanging responsibility over who should be responsible for the shutdown. Polls have shown voters are placing more burden on Republicans, but an NBC News poll earlier this month showed Democrats are at their highest level of responsibility in 30 years compared to past government shutdowns.
“It’s crazy, but I hope it ends today. Let’s move on,” Scalise said.
