Senate advances stopgap funding bill, moving U.S. closer to ending record shutdown

The government is one step closer to reopening after the Senate voted late Thursday night to advance a stopgap funding bill.

(CNN)- The government is one step closer to reopening after the Senate voted late Thursday night to advance a stopgap funding bill.

The measure, a compromise between centrist Democrats and Republicans, funds much of the federal government through January. It also includes longer-term funding for military construction, veterans’ affairs, the legislative branch, and agriculture, while extending the SNAP food assistance program through September.

However, the bill omits an extension of expiring Obamacare subsidies—prompting strong opposition from many Democrats.

“We must fight because a senior citizen cannot afford to pay $25,000 a year just for health insurance,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). “We must fight to keep millions from financial ruin.”

Republicans have pledged to hold a vote on the subsidies by early next month. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said members on both sides are ready to address the issue “in a bipartisan way.”

The stopgap agreement also ensures back pay for hundreds of thousands of furloughed federal workers, reverses recent mass firings, and bars any additional layoffs this fiscal year.

Paul Manning, acting director of a regional food bank, said the legislation brings hope for millions depending on government benefits. “People are hungry, and you can see it in the kids’ eyes — they’re afraid,” he said.

Travelers are also welcoming the news, as airport disruptions worsened during the shutdown. “They changed the flight, then they changed it again,” said Richard Griffin, recalling a chaotic travel day. “Eventually it got canceled.”

If approved by the House and signed into law, the bill would reopen the government and restore stability to federal agencies after weeks of uncertainty.