The U.S. Senate passed a deal to fund the government through Jan. 30 Monday night. The Senate agreed to fund programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) until the end of the fiscal year, Sept. 30, 2026. The government was shutdown for 41 days as of Monday night.
READ MORE: Government shutdown expected to impact San Luis Obispo residents
Many Democrats were against this measure after utilizing the government shutdown to fight for a deal that addressed health care tax credits, according to NPR. However, as a part of the deal to move this measure, Republicans have agreed to vote on extending health credits under the Affordable Care Act at a later date.
Mustang News previously reported California has been challenging Trump’s authority on limiting SNAP which funds the CalFresh program. With the passage of this resolution, students may be able to receive CalFresh benefits.
A group of Democrat and Republican senators along with one independent came together to win a 60-40 vote to advance the measure Sunday evening, according to NPR. Now with the measure passed in the Senate, it still needs to be approved by the U.S. House of Representatives.
The legislation also includes fully funding agricultural programs, military construction and veterans’ affairs for the fiscal year. States will be reimbursed for the funding they have spent on SNAP, according to the AP.
READ MORE: Trump to issue partial SNAP benefits following court order
“There was no path to any fix on healthcare with the government closed, so I supported the democratic position in this from the very beginning,” Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) said to MSNBC.
NPR notes this is an informal part of the deal and not written in the measure. However, some Democrats plan to vote against this bill in the House for their fight for healthcare.
“We will not support spending legislation advanced by Senate Republicans that fails to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said in a statement to NPR. “We will fight the GOP bill in the House of Representatives, where Mike Johnson will be compelled to end the seven week Republican taxpayer-funded vacation.”
Some moderate democrats said agreeing to this deal is the best option right now, according to NPR.
The debate about healthcare will be pushed off to next month.
