Late Sunday night, the U.S. Senate voted to advance a spending bill to fund government operations in a 60-40 vote that saw several Democrats break ranks.
Due to the approaching deadline for government funding in the continuing resolution (CR) the House of Representatives originally passed on Sept. 19, the Senate is expected to make several changes and additions to the measure to fund the government past Nov. 21.
The shutdown has lasted 41 days, and its end date is still uncertain. The government cannot reopen while the Senate finalizes the legislative package and the House considers it.
A group of senators including Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jon Fetterman (D-PA), and Angus King (I-ME) negotiated a deal to move the legislation forward, agreeing to drop the Democrats’ main demand that Affordable Care Act (ACA) health care subsidies be extended past the end of 2025. Senate Republicans led by Sen. John Thune (R-SD) promised to hold a vote on the subsidies before the end of the year, even though they publicly oppose extending them.
Along with the CR, the Senate is expected to advance companion legislation funding the government as a whole through January 2026, as well as appropriations bills to fund various departments for the rest of the fiscal year.
The deal includes assurances that the federal government will rescind all layoffs of federal employees that occurred during the shutdown and guarantees back pay for all federal employees (even though back pay is already required by the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019).
Included in the Senate appropriations bill to fund several departments for the remainder of FY2026 are programs that provide food aid and veterans’ benefits.
IEC chapters with employees or students affected by either of these programs should contact their state agency responsible for administering them. The contact information for each respective state office for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is available from the USDA website. Veterans’ benefits are administered through the Veterans Benefits Administration, and local offices can be found here. Be sure to select “VA Benefits” under Facility Type to find the appropriate office.
Additional options for chapters include:
- Local food banks and pantries: Contact organizations like Feeding America or your local human services office to find the food banks and pantries in your community.
- United Way: You can receive help from the United Way and its partner agencies by calling or texting 211. This 24/7, confidential service connects you to local programs that help with a wide range of needs, including housing, food, and financial stability.