Following a weekend of discussions in Washington, a small group of Democrats allied with Republicans and supported the agreement.
This vote marks a procedural initial move toward enacting a compromise for funding the government since funds were depleted on October 1.
It still has to overcome a number of obstacles – including a House of Representatives vote – before federal workers and services can resume, but it represents the first tangible sign of movement after a 40-day standoff. The Senate is anticipated to reconvene for further discussions at 11:00 local time (16:00 GMT) on Monday.
The current shutdown is the longest recorded in the US, and until this past weekend, it seemed that Republican and Democratic legislators were entrenched in a deadlock.
Numerous government functions have been halted since October, affecting approximately 1.4 million federal workers who are either on unpaid leave or working without compensation.
The shutdown has significantly affected various services, including US air travel and nutritional benefits for 41 million low-income citizens.
The compromise was brokered between Senate Majority Leader John Thune and the White House, alongside Democratic senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan from New Hampshire, and Angus King from Maine, an independent who aligns with the Democrats.
Republicans – who possess a 53-47 majority in the Senate – required the proposal to surpass a 60-vote minimum requirement.
They succeeded in garnering eight votes from across the aisle while losing only one, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, who opposed the bill, stating it would add to the national debt.
The agreement includes a commitment to hold a vote in December regarding the extension of healthcare subsidies set to expire this year, an important issue on which Democrats had been advocating concessions.
Democratic leadership had indicated they would not provide their support for new government funding until Congress addressed the subsidies aiding millions of Americans with health insurance purchased via government-run exchanges.
“I’m grateful to announce that we have senators from both parties ready to work together to confront that crisis in a bipartisan fashion,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune remarked before the vote.
“Additionally, we have a president willing to engage and tackle this issue. I look forward to seeing what solutions might emerge.”
Thune did not clarify what the content of that bill would be, which disappointed many Democrats in the House and Senate, asserting that those who negotiated the deal did so without securing sufficient benefits in return.
“For many months, Democrats have been striving to get the Senate to address the healthcare predicament,” stated Chuck Schumer, the Senate’s party leader.
“This bill fails to do anything to ensure that issue is resolved,” he declared while confirming he would oppose the agreement.
Several prominent Democrats have vocally criticized colleagues who collaborated with Republicans to end the shutdown without concrete assurances regarding healthcare, with California Governor Gavin Newsom labeling the decision “pathetic”.
The proposal also encompasses three appropriations bills for funding sectors like veteran services and agriculture, in addition to a continuing resolution to finance the remainder of the government until January 30 – indicating that another government shutdown could potentially occur early next year.
It further includes assurances that all federal employees will receive compensation for time worked during the shutdown and funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – a vital food safety net for one in eight Americans – until next September.
A vote on the agreement will only serve as the initial procedural move in the new funding deal, and it must still gain approval from the US House of Representatives, where it is likely to face its own obstacles.
