On the Hill: Pressure Building to End the Shutdown

The federal government shutdown has now entered its sixth week, despite President Trump's calls late last week to eliminate the Senate filibuster and pass a funding bill without Democratic support. While many Republican senators share the president's desire to reopen the government, most remain opposed to eliminating the filibuster - a key procedural tool that preserves influence for the minority party.

Notably, Affordable Care Act (ACA) rate notices were released Nov. 1 and show premium increases averaging 18-24%. Meanwhile, funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which supports over 40 million Americans, has expired. Additionally, many federal employees, including Congressional staff, have now missed at least one full paycheck, adding to the mounting pressure on lawmakers to reach an agreement.

There is cautious optimism that these compounding pressures could bring both parties to the negotiating table. While the House has yet to be formally called back to Washington, a slate of political fundraisers for House Republicans has been scheduled over the coming weeks that suggest members may return soon and that progress on funding could follow.

Committee Activity This Week

The Senate remains in session all week, while the House has again canceled its planned meetings from Monday through Thursday.

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