U.S. lawmakers are rushing back to Washington on Tuesday to vote on a temporary spending bill that would reopen the federal government and end the longest shutdown in U.S. history. If negotiations allow, a full House vote could be held on Wednesday on the bill, which was already approved by the Senate on Monday with the help of a group of eight rebellious Democrats who aligned with the Republican bloc. President Donald Trump's party holds a very narrow majority in the House of Representatives, so it cannot afford the absence of almost any of its members during the vote, as Democrats oppose the bill. House Speaker Republican Mike Johnson urged lawmakers to return to Washington 'immediately' to resume House sessions, which have been in recess since September. However, the wave of flight delays and cancellations caused by a shortage of air traffic controllers due to the government shutdown has not made things easy for some lawmakers. Republican Representative Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin explained on social media that he is on his way to Washington on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, a 16-hour journey he has been forced to undertake because, he said, he did not trust the flights. 'It's going to be a little cold, but I will do my duty. I'm heading back to Washington D.C., we're going to get this country back on track,' he declared. Another congressman, Democrat Greg Stanton of Arizona, revealed that his flight, which was also carrying three other lawmakers, had to make an emergency landing in Kansas City due to a 'disruptive passenger.' The Democrat said he is committed to voting against the bill because, he said, 'it fails to reduce healthcare costs.' The government has been shut down for 42 days due to a lack of agreement between Republicans and Democrats to pass new funding to operate federal agencies, surpassing the 2018 shutdown record of 35 days. After seven weeks of failed attempts, the Senate approved the spending bill on Monday with the help of a group of eight moderate Democrats who negotiated with the Republican majority to reopen the government. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Tuesday that his party will 'strenuously oppose' the spending bill because it does not include increased funding for public health. Photo EFE
