House Votes To End Shutdown: See How MA Delegation Voted

MASSACHUSETTS — Returning to Washington on Wednesday after a nearly eight-week absence, the Massachusetts delegation voted against a stopgap funding bill to reopen the government after the longest shutdown in U.S. history.

The House narrowly passed the spending package to reopen the government in a 222-209 vote. President Donald Trump signed the bill Wednesday night, ending the 43-day impasse, the longest shutdown in U.S. history, that left millions of federal workers without paychecks, delayed food assistance, and caused massive air travel disruptions.

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The measure funds much of the government through Jan. 30 and provides funding for some agencies through the end of next September.

It doesn't include the key demand of Democrats, an extension of subsidies for Affordable Health Care Act Premiums that will expire later this year. Republicans said that was a separate policy fight to be held at another time.

"We told you 43 days ago from bitter experience that government shutdowns don't work," Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Cole said. "They never achieve the objective that you announce. And guess what? You haven't achieved that objective yet, and you're not going to."

The entire Bay State delegation voted against ending the shutdown.

U.S. Rep. and Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA) condemned the vote that did not include extending the health care subsidies.

"The American people are simply not making it," she said on the House floor. "Not only is that crisis real. It is a crisis Republicans that promised to solve. Voters believed them. And now after a 54-day hiatus, what are Republicans doing? They've voting to raise the cost of living. They're voting to make it even harder to get by. Not by some marginal amount — they are doubling, tripling, and quadrupling monthly premiums."

U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) called the funding bill "a fundamental betrayal of the people."

"Shame on every member of Congress who voted to deny a child their medication or to tear away life-saving cancer treatment," she said on the floor of Congress. "The people deserve so much better. And this fight isn't over."

U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) called the version of the spending bill "corrupt, cruel, cowardly."

"Republicans took an 8-week vacation — then came back to screw working people," he said. "They voted against feeding hungry kids and lowering health care. But don't worry — they votes in favor of Trump's $40B Argentina bailout."

Federal workers are expected to return to work beginning Thursday. At least two agencies — the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of the Interior — offered guidance to employees on returning to their jobs.

The appropriations bills within the funding package include one that will fully fund the SNAP, military construction and veterans affairs through September. Additionally, the legislation reverses federal employee layoffs, provides back pay for those employees, and includes protections against further federal layoffs through the end of January.

"This is a great victory for the American people, and it shows that the Senate can work," Republican Sen. Susan Collins said.

Without the enhanced tax credit, premiums on average will more than double for millions of Americans. More than 2 million people would lose health insurance coverage altogether, the Congressional Budget Office projected.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.