House Speaker Mike Johnson on Ending Government Shutdown

Government Shutdown Nears End

• 🗣️ House Speaker Mike Johnson stated that the "long national nightmare" of the government shutdown is "finally coming to an end."
• ✅ The Senate voted 60-40 to proceed with a continuing resolution (CR) to reopen the government.
• 🗓️ The CR will keep the government funded until January 30th, with full funding for SNAP through September 2026.

Key Provisions in the CR

• 💰 The continuing resolution includes guaranteed back pay for federal workers affected by the shutdown.
• 🏛️ It also incorporates the passage of three appropriations bills: Military Construction-Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and the Legislative Branch.
• 🤝 Johnson expressed gratitude for some Senate Democrats who supported the measure, emphasizing the need to end the "Schumer shutdown."

Air Travel Disruptions

• ✈️ Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg highlighted serious air travel challenges due to overworked and unpaid air traffic controllers calling in sick.
• 📉 As of Sunday, nearly half of all domestic flights in the US were canceled or delayed.
• ⚠️ This situation underscores the broader impact of the shutdown on essential services.

Call to Action for House Members

• 🏠 Speaker Johnson will call all House members back to Washington upon the Senate's final vote to pass the amended CR.
• ⏳ A 36-hour notice will be given to allow for a swift vote and to get the bill to the President's desk.
• 🙏 Johnson urged his colleagues in the House, including all Democrats, to "think carefully, pray, and finally do the right thing."

Republican Stance on Healthcare Costs

• 🩺 Republicans have consistently advocated for solutions to reduce healthcare costs under the Affordable Care Act.
• 🚫 They have maintained a stance against negotiating these issues while the government is held "hostage" by a shutdown.
• 📜 Johnson noted that Republicans have been actively passing laws aimed at reducing costs, fraud, and abuse in healthcare.