Senate Votes to End Shutdown Fail, Impasse Continues

The Senate voted on two proposals Thursday aimed at ending the ongoing partial government shutdown, but while both enjoyed the support of a majority of senators each failed to gain the 60 votes needed to advance.

The first vote was on the End the Shutdown and Secure the Border Act, which was proposed by President Donald Trump in an address last weekend and is the first bill considered by the 116th Congress to end the lapse in funding that’s gained his endorsement. The bill failed in a 51-47 vote with all Republicans voting in favor except for Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Mike Lee (R-UT), while all Democrats except for Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) voted no.

The second vote was on the Supplemental Appropriations Act, which passed the Democrat-controlled House in a largely party-line vote last week. The bill failed in a 52-44 vote, with all Democrats voted in favor and they were joined by six Republicans, including Senators Lamar Alexander (TN), Susan Collins (ME), Cory Gardner (CO), Johnny Isakson (GA), Lisa Murkowski (AK), and Mitt Romney (UT).

What would the bills do?

The End the Shutdown and Secure the Border Act  would:

• Reopen agencies affected by the partial shutdown and fund them through the end of the fiscal year, September 30th.
• Include $5.7 billion in funding for construction of barriers in the top 10 priority areas of the southwest border identified by Customs & Border Protection, plus additional resources for improving other border security infrastructure and hiring personnel.
• Extend for three years the temporary legal status and work authorizations of recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
• Provide $12 billion in disaster relief to areas impacted by natural disasters in 2018.
• Reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (which lapsed in December) through September.

The Supplemental Appropriations Act would:

• Reopen agencies affected by the partial shutdown through February 8th, which is 15 days from Thursday.
• Provide $12 billion in disaster relief to areas impacted by natural disasters in 2018.
• The bill would include no new funding for construction of barriers at the southwest border.

What’s next?

Leadership in both chambers of Congress have notified members that they could be called back over the weekend for votes if a deal is struck. If negotiations prove fruitless, Congress will return on Monday, at which point the longest partial government shutdown in U.S. history would be in its 38th day.

— Eric Revell

(Photo Credit: iStock.com / dkfielding)