The Bellevue Compass

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There’s a light at the end of the tunnel—sort of. Yesterday, the Senate voted 60 to 40 in favor of the continuing resolution to reopen the government on the 41st day of the shutdown. The measure, as it stands before returning to the House for changes, will fund much of the government through January 30th and provide funding for some agencies through the end of September 2026.

The Senate Breakdown

How the bill passed: Seven Democrats and one Independent Senator voted with all but one Republican to pass the resolution. Politico reports that it was likely Virginia Democrat Tim Kaine who played a role in finally swaying some votes, through negotiations that culminated in the inclusion of layoff and RIF measures. The legislation now ensures any federal workers laid off during the shutdown are rehired and blocks any future reductions in force through at least the end of the January 30th stopgap bill. 

Other changes include backpay for federal employees and a minibus of appropriations bills—notably, one that will fund SNAP through September 30, 2026. What it doesn’t include is an extension of subsidies for the Affordable Care Act, the main reason why most Democrats continued to vote no on the resolution. Though, Senate Republicans have agreed to hold a vote on the health care tax credits by the second week of December, and Democrats 

will have final say on what is in the bill. This only sounds good—while the Democratic conference might have control over the bill, the vote could still fail, as the GOP has been staunchly against tax credits and the ACA overall.

The minibus of appropriations bills includes funding for military construction and the Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as the Department of Agriculture and the FDA (where SNAP funding is located), and operations for the legislative branch. Also snuck into the bill is language by Senate Majority Leader Thune that would allow Senators to sue the government for having their electronic data records collected. 

Now, the House returns to session. 

The House Returns

Leadership alerted House members on Monday morning that they had 36 hours’ notice to return to Capitol Hill before voting began. It’s the first time most members will be back in Washington in weeks. The Senate’s version of the continuing resolution, sent back to the House, will be reviewed and hopefully agreed upon by the House. According to a timeline circulated by House GOP leadership this morning, the vote is expected to begin around 5 pm, with final passage anticipated by 8 pm. 

The biggest roadblock to a full vote at the moment remains travel logistics, which are no big deal for House members within driving distance of the Capitol. Those coming from further away may have to contend with delayed or canceled flights as a result of the shutdown and an ever-dwindling number of air traffic controllers. Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis) rode his motorcycle 950 miles in chilly temperatures to return in time, and others are opting to carpool. 

Before votes can take place to end the shutdown, Speaker Mike Johnson will swear in Rep.-Elect Adelita Grijalva (D-NM), who was elected in a special election on September 23rd, days after the House would have had its last session before the shutdown. Rep. Grijalva has said repeatedly that she will sign onto a bipartisan petition to force a vote to release the Epstein files—her signature, the 218th, would be enough to trigger the vote.

Following the vote this evening, the House will adjourn for the weekend and return Monday through Friday of next week, with a busy schedule ahead. Committees are expediting what has been pending for the last seven weeks, and leadership is warning members to expect longer votes, late nights, and additional work. 

The Pennsylvania Impact

The shutdown coming to an end is a good thing— but it doesn’t mean it’s a perfect thing. While we can expect to see slow changes, the return of SNAP benefits, and hopefully fewer canceled flights as we begin the holiday season, one thing remains true: there is still no deal for the ACA subsidies. Open enrollment for health insurance began on November 1, and premiums have skyrocketed, putting people across the country, including those in Pennsylvania, in precarious financial positions as they choose healthcare plans. 

Congressman Brendan Boyle (D-Philadelphia), in response to the Senate passage of the continuing resolution, called on his colleagues in the US House to reject the proposal, saying, “This bill that does not in any way address the health care crisis, and only includes a vague reference to a promise of a senate vote a month from now, is wholly insufficient to address the health care crisis facing the American people.”

Senator John Fetterman has been under fire for weeks for voting with the GOP on the CR, a move Boyle highlighted during his press conference on Monday. He’s not the only one urging colleagues against voting for the CR—Reps. Chrissy Houlahan, Mary Gay Scanlon, Dwight Evans, Summer Lee, and Chris Deluzio held a virtual news conference on Monday to make it clear where they stand. 

Once the bill is signed into law by President Trump and the government reopens, states will see an immediate distribution of funds to SNAP beneficiaries, and air traffic controllers will get 70% of their back pay within 24 to 48 hours of reopening, according to Transportation Secretary Duffy Though, in 2019, it took about “two to two-and-a-half months” for full pay to be realized, according to head of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association union, Nick Daniels. The president has floated the idea of a bonus to air traffic controllers who remained at work during the shutdown, when he took to Truth Social to complain about those who didn’t. All will be compensated with back pay despite Trump’s threats of no severance for those who wish to leave the field.

For businesses and agencies facing a backlog of permitting and licensing delays, there will likely still be a longer processing time due to accumulated submissions. Agencies like the Security Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) will immediately resume investigations and enforcement actions, likely with renewed urgency, to meet statutory deadlines. For those working in government procurement and contracting, expect contracts to resume; however, be prepared to make adjustments to schedules and manage an influx of information as agencies reopen. 

Meanwhile, the state government has reached a deal on a $50.1 billion budget deal that ends a four-month-long impasse.

🔥 What We’re Watching

Further Reading: What if Democrats’ Big Shutdown Loss Turns Out to Be a Win?

Did You Know? The oldest continuously operating bookshop in the United States is located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The Moravian Bookshop, founded in 1745, has survived two moves within a few-block radius, including one back to its original location.

Till next time,