Once the House of Representatives votes in favor of the package that has been approved by the Senate, then United States President Donald Trump has signed legislation ending the longest government shutdown the United States has ever experienced: 43 days. “Today we sent a clear message that we will never give in to blackmail,” Trump said, alluding to his Democratic opponents, before signing the text to applause from Republican elected officials gathered around him in the Oval Office.
“This is no way to govern a country. I hope so We all agree that the government should never be shut down again.”Trump said in a live broadcast. And he promised to pass legislation ending politicians’ ability to use the filibuster and said the federal government “will now resume normal operations.”
The vote in the House of Representatives recorded 222 yeses – including six Democratic lawmakers – and 209 nos, including two Republicans. Six Democratic lawmakers supported House Speaker Johnson to pass the legislation after two Republicans, Thomas Massie (Kentucky) and Greg Steube (Florida), opposed the bill. They are Jared Golden (Maine), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (Washington), Adam Gray (California), Don Davis (North Carolina), Henry Cuellar (Texas) and Tom Suozzi (New York). Following in the footsteps of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, fellow Democrats voted overwhelmingly against the spending package, citing the lack of provisions related to the end of ObamaCare benefits.
Trump reiterated his accusations against the Democratic Party, linking them to the “enormous damage” inflicted on the country, with the cancellation of 20,000 flights, depriving “more than a million government employees” of their “paychecks” and leaving “millions of suffering Americans” without food subsidies.
The US president warned that the overall impact of the blockade could not be determined immediately. “The full impact of the damage caused by their actions will take weeks and perhaps months to accurately quantify, including the severe damage they have caused to our economy, individuals and families,” he added. The lockdown, which lasted for several weeks, endangered essential services and strained government agencies nationwide.
