A funding bill that ended the longest government shutdown in modern U.S. history passed the House on Wednesday with support from six Democratic lawmakers, most of whom represent politically competitive districts. The legislation, signed into law by President Donald Trump, will keep the government funded through January 30 and reverse layoffs caused by the shutdown.
The measure includes three-year funding for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, and legislative branch operations. It cleared the Senate earlier this week following negotiations between Republicans and eight Senate Democrats, who secured a promise for a future vote on extending expiring health insurance tax credits.
Here’s a closer look at the six House Democrats who voted for the bill:
Rep. Jared Golden of Maine said he voted to “reopen the government, pay federal workers, and get food assistance and other critical programs up and running again.” Golden, a moderate from a largely rural district that favored Trump by nine points, urged Congress to act quickly to extend health insurance subsidies. He recently announced he will not seek reelection, partly blaming the “harmful” shutdown.
Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington described the shutdown as a “partisan car crash,” saying she voted to end it because Americans cannot afford political games that jeopardize food aid and other essential services.
Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas, who has represented his border district for over two decades, said Washington’s inaction caused unnecessary hardship. “When Democrats or Republicans think they’re winning at the end of a long shutdown, it’s the American public that loses,” he said.
Rep. Adam Gray of California wrote in an op-ed that the bill keeps the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funded through September, preventing further disruptions to food aid. He called the deal imperfect but necessary, saying compromise is the only way forward.
Rep. Don Davis of North Carolina said he voted yes to “alleviate the suffering” of families hurt by the shutdown and vowed to keep pushing for affordable healthcare.
Rep. Tom Suozzi of New York said he relied on assurances from some Republicans about extending the Premium Tax Credits, adding that the White House had made the process “needlessly painful.”
Together, these six Democrats helped break the stalemate, allowing the government to reopen and millions of Americans to regain access to essential services.
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