Six House Democrats broke with party leaders and joined most Republicans to pass a measure that reopened the government, protected SNAP benefits and bought Congress more time to negotiate longer-term spending. Their votes, the public statements they issued and the narrow 222 to 209 margin that sent the bill to the president are front and center in this account. Quotes from those lawmakers appear exactly as they released them, and embedded material is preserved in its original positions. The move ends the shutdown and shifts the debate toward health care credits and future budget fights.
Reps. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Jared Golden, Adam Gray, Don Davis, Henry Cuellar and Tom Suozzi voted with all but two Republicans to pass the legislation by a 222 to 209 margin, and the president signed it late Wednesday night. That bipartisan breakaway provided immediate relief to federal workers and millions relying on federal programs. For Republicans, the outcome demonstrates that governing can still win out over pure partisan theater.
“Americans can’t afford for their Representatives to get so caught up in landing a partisan win that they abandon their obligation to come together to solve the urgent problems that our nation faces,” Gluesenkamp Perez “The last several weeks have been a case study in why most Americans can’t stand Congress. None of my friends who rely on SNAP would want to trade their dinner for an ambiguous D.C. beltway ‘messaging victory,’ and I’m glad this ugly scene is in the rearview mirror.”
The stopgap bill funds the government at fiscal year 2025 levels through Jan. 30, giving lawmakers extra time to craft the next appropriations package. It also secures Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits through September for more than 42 million Americans. That guarantee removed one key bargaining chip and let families know groceries would still be available.
https://x.com/RepMGP/status/1988781065658650656
“I just voted to reopen the government, pay federal workers, and get food assistance and other critical programs up and running again,” “Now, with the shutdown ended, Congress should take immediate action to extend expiring Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that keep health insurance plans affordable for millions of Americans. We still have a window to pass bipartisan legislation to extend these credits,” he also said.
Adam Gray framed his choice around basic human needs and stability. “No parent should have to choose between feeding their children and keeping the lights on because someone in Washington thinks chaos is a negotiating tactic.” He argued that removing food assistance from short-term brinkmanship shields vulnerable families from being used as leverage.
“That’s why I voted for a bipartisan agreement that takes food assistance off the table for an entire year. So when the next shutdown happens (and in this divided Washington, there is always a next shutdown) the president cannot use hungry kids as bargaining chips again. This agreement also protects veterans, small business owners, and federal workers from being turned into political weapons,” he said.
Tom Suozzi warned of practical consequences that went beyond headlines, noting that “airport situations are becoming untenable, and government workers have gone without pay for too long.” “If my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are willing to work together to address this health insurance affordability crisis by extending the premium tax credits, then we will have accomplished something meaningful,” “If we are not successful, it will deal yet another blow to the already eroding trust in Washington, D.C., and it will be clear who failed to deliver.”
Don Davis explained his vote on X, saying in part that he voted to reopen the government “to support my constituents, alleviate the suffering of our families as the holidays approach, and bring vital resources to eastern North Carolina.” His message emphasized local impacts and the immediate needs of communities hit by the shutdown.
Henry Cuellar likewise pointed to practical benefits when he voted to reopen the government “so we can get critical programs back on track,” adding, “this stability is especially important for our border communities, where so many families depend on federal agencies to keep trade, travel and public safety moving.” The votes make clear that some lawmakers prioritized steady public services over sticking to a party line.
