House Speaker Johnson Calls Members Back to D.C. to End Government Shutdown

End of Government Shutdown

• 💡 The speaker expresses gratitude that the longest government shutdown in US history appears to be ending after 40 days.
• ⚠️ He criticizes the shutdown for causing needless suffering and states that holding the government hostage for political agendas is never productive.
• ✅ Republicans and President Trump have consistently advocated for solutions to reduce healthcare costs, but refused to negotiate under duress.

Senate Funding Deal Details

• 📊 The Senate's vote of 60-40 opens the door for a continuing resolution (CR) to reopen the government until January 30th.
• 💰 The deal includes full funding for SNAP through September 2026 and guaranteed back pay for federal workers.
• 🏛️ Three appropriations bills are also moving forward: Military Construction/Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and the Legislative Branch.

House Return and Next Steps

• ✈️ House members are being called back to Washington D.C. immediately to vote on the amended CR, with a 36-hour notice period.
• 🗣️ The goal is to get the bill to the President's desk swiftly to end the Schumer shutdown.
• ⚠️ The speaker acknowledges travel challenges due to overworked and unpaid air traffic controllers, leading to widespread flight cancellations and delays.

Call for Bipartisan Cooperation

• 🙏 The speaker applauds the seven Senate Democrats and one independent senator for prioritizing principle over politics.
• 🤝 He urges all House colleagues, including Democrats, to carefully consider and do the right thing to end the suffering of the American people.
• 🗓️ Congress aims to return to regular legislative sessions and work diligently to make up for lost time.