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After weeks of stagnation and rising tensions in Washington, the United States Senate has taken a significant step toward ending the partial shutdown of the federal government.
A bipartisan group of senators has reached a tentative agreement that, if approved by both chambers and President Donald Trump, would allow for the temporary reopening of the government and the restoration of several essential services.
The agreement was confirmed on Sunday night by three sources with direct knowledge of the process, according to a report by NBC News.
The preliminary voting in the Senate achieved a margin of 60 to 40, a significant majority suggesting broad support, though not unanimous.
Despite this progress, the agreement still needs to overcome key obstacles: its approval by the House of Representatives, which has been in recess since September, and President Trump's signature.
What does the agreement contain?
The legislative proposal includes a mixed package: three budget appropriation laws that will fund various departments - including Agriculture - until the end of the fiscal year, and a continuity resolution that would keep the rest of the government operating at current spending levels until January 30.
One of the most significant aspects of the agreement is the full funding of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), previously known as Food Stamps, until September of next year.
This program had been one of the most critical points of the government shutdown, affecting millions of low-income families.
Another aspect included is the cancellation of the attempts to dismiss large numbers of federal employees promoted by the Trump administration during the shutdown.
The employee reduction notifications that had been issued will be reversed, temporarily ensuring job stability for thousands of public workers.
Concessions and disagreements
However, the agreement has not been without significant concessions, particularly from the Democrats.
One of the most controversial points is the exclusion of an immediate extension of the subsidies from the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the expiration of which could result in a significant increase in health insurance premiums for millions of Americans.
Although it was agreed that the Senate will vote on a bill to extend these subsidies before the end of the second week of December, the outcome remains uncertain.
“I have been clear from the beginning: I will not turn my back on the 24 million Americans whose premiums will more than double if we do not extend these tax credits”, stated Arizona Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego firmly, announcing his opposition to the agreement.
In contrast, Senator Tim Kaine, a Democrat from Virginia, expressed his support: “I have always said that to earn your vote, we must move towards resolving the disaster of the Republican healthcare system and protect federal employees."
This agreement ensures a vote to extend the tax credits for premiums under the Affordable Care Act, something that Republicans were not willing to do.
Legislators know that their constituents expect them to vote in favor, and if they do not, they could be replaced at the polls by someone who will
Key negotiators and the role of the White House
The architecture of the agreement was the result of the joint effort of several moderate senators.
Among the main negotiators were Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, both Democrats from New Hampshire, as well as independent Senator Angus King from Vermont.
On the Republican side, the Senate Majority Leader, John Thune (South Dakota), gave his approval.
It was also reported that the White House has expressed its preliminary approval of the agreement, suggesting that the presidential signature would not pose an insurmountable obstacle.
The Republican bloc would provide 52 favorable votes, while at least eight Democrats have confirmed their support.
However, any senator who opposes could delay the final vote through parliamentary maneuvers, further prolonging the process.
The House of Representatives: The Last Wall
If the Senate manages to overcome the remaining hurdles, the agreement will move on to the House of Representatives.
However, his fate there is uncertain. The Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson (Republican from Louisiana), has already stated that he will not commit to putting the extension of ACA subsidies to a vote, a sign that partisan tensions remain simmering.
Additionally, the prolonged legislative recess in the House since September and the internal divisions between Republicans and Democrats could lead to further delays.
All of this means that, even with the progress in the Senate, the end of the government shutdown is still not guaranteed in the short term.
The agreement reached in the Senate represents a ray of hope amid weeks of institutional uncertainty.
Although it contains substantial elements that could temporarily alleviate the crisis, it also highlights the deep political divisions that have hindered governance in Washington.
As a senior Democratic official noted, the agreement "is an important step, but the real challenge is yet to come."
The full resumption of government activities, as well as the protection of vital social programs like SNAP and the ACA, will now depend on the ability of legislators from both chambers to prioritize the needs of the country over their partisan differences.
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