After weeks of stalled negotiations, the U.S. Senate has voted to advance a bill to reopen the federal government — marking what could be the beginning of the end to the longest shutdown in American history.
According to Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer, “This is a critical time when land rent payments are due, along with bills for fuel, seed, fertilizer, and equipment.”
The deal includes a short-term funding extension through January 30th, giving lawmakers more time to hammer out long-term agreements. The package also folds in three full-year spending bills, including one for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That means programs like food stamps, farm loans, and rural development initiatives would be fully funded again.
For farmers, that’s welcome news. Many have gone weeks without access to USDA offices, loan approvals, or program payments — a major blow during an already tough economic season.
The bill also guarantees back pay for federal employees affected by the shutdown. But not everything is settled — Senate Democrats secured a separate December vote on their push to extend pandemic-era Obamacare tax credits.
Fischer added, “Mr. President, these voices are the heartbeat of America: farmers, firefighters, small business owners, veterans, and public servants. They are not pawns in a political standoff. They’re people who serve their communities, and they deserve better than this.”
However, House Speaker Mike Johnson has made no promise to bring that measure up for a vote in the House, leaving another potential showdown just weeks away.
For now, though, rural America may finally get some long-awaited relief — as Washington inches closer to turning the government’s lights back on.
