Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Nov 13: The US House of Representatives on Wednesday voted 222–209 to end the nation’s record-breaking 43-day government shutdown, with six Democrats crossing party lines to back the Republican-led funding measure. Meanwhile, two Republicans — Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Greg Steube of Florida — opposed the bill.
The bipartisan support helped push the long-awaited resolution through the House, paving the way to reopen government operations after weeks of political gridlock.
The six Democratic lawmakers who sided with Republicans were Jared Golden of Maine, Adam Gray of California, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington, Don Davis of North Carolina, Henry Cuellar of Texas, and Tom Suozzi of New York.
Jared Golden represents Maine’s 2nd Congressional District and serves on the Natural Resources and Armed Services Committees. Adam Gray serves California’s 13th District, while Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a fifth-generation Washingtonian, represents Southwest Washington. Don Davis represents North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, covering 22 counties. Henry Cuellar has represented Texas’s 28th District since 2005, and Tom Suozzi represents New York’s 3rd District, serving on the House Ways and Means Committee.
On the other side, two Republican lawmakers — Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Greg Steube of Florida — voted against the bill.
Massie, representing Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District, was an anticipated “no” vote, known for his consistent opposition to federal spending bills over concerns of fiscal irresponsibility.
Steube, representing Florida’s 17th Congressional District, explained his opposition in a post on X (formerly Twitter), criticizing a provision in the bill that allows senators to receive compensation from litigation related to the seizure of their phone records in former special counsel Jack Smith’s January 6 investigation.
“There is no reason the House should have been forced to eat this garbage to end the Schumer Shutdown,” Steube said, expressing frustration with the final compromise.
With the House’s approval, the measure now moves to the Senate for final clearance, potentially bringing an end to the longest government shutdown in US history.