The U.S. Senate approved legislation authored by Sen. Susan Collins (R) to reopen the federal government, advancing a package that combines a short-term funding measure with three full-year appropriations bills. The vote was 60 to 40, sending the measure to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration.
Collins, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, led negotiations between Republicans, Democrats, House members and administration officials to reach the agreement.
The continuing resolution included in the package would immediately reopen the government, extend funding through January 30, and provide back pay to federal workers who have been furloughed or working without pay during the shutdown.
The legislation also includes the Fiscal Year 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies; Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; and Legislative Branch appropriations bills. Those measures originally passed the Senate in August with broad bipartisan support.
The package would also provide full-year funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Collins has called for the three appropriations bills to be paired with the continuing resolution since the start of the shutdown, citing the impact on veterans, service members, shipyard workers, farmers, and families relying on federal nutrition programs.
