On the morning of November 10 (Vietnam time), the US Senate voted to end the Democratic Party's prolonged debate over the budget bill - an important step towards reopening the federal government.
The settlement was the result of quiet negotiations between lawmakers of both parties, with the standout role of Republican Senate John Thune and a group of moderate Democratic lawmakers, including New Hampshire Senators 8:00:00 Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen, and independent Senate Angus King of Maine.
According to the published content, the new spending bill will provide the government with a budget until January 2026, and will be accompanied by 3 laws on long-term budget allocation. The deal also includes a one-year restoration of food allowances (SNAP), and a partial reversal of federal employee layoffs that occurred during the government's paralysis period.
A sensitive point of particular concern to both sides is the extension of subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) - commonly known as Obamacare. According to Sen. John Thune's commitment, the Senate will hold a vote on the issue no later than the second week of December.
We have both Democratic and Republican lawmakers ready to cooperate to address the high-cost healthcare crisis. And more importantly, we have a President willing to sit back at the table, Thune said before the vote began.
If approved by the Senate, the budget will be moved to the House of Representatives for approval, before being submitted to President Donald Trump for signing. The process could take a few days, but observers say the possibility of the US Congress reopening the government before the Thanksgiving holiday (November 27) is very high.
The 40-day government shutdown has caused serious damage: Hundreds of thousands of civil servants have been temporarily off work without pay, many food support programs have been interrupted, national parks and airport systems have been operating at a low level.
The shortage of personnel in air traffic control has threatened to paralyze the air transport system during the busiest tourist season of the year.
Even White House Economic Advisor Kevin Hassett warned that if the closure continues, GDP growth in the fourth quarter could turn negative, especially if aviation operations are not restored before the holiday.
Although Senate Democratic leader Chu Chu Schumer has said he will vote against, at least eight other Democrats are expected to support it, enough for the bill to pass the Republican-controlled Senate.
The signing of this deal not only helps millions of Americans escape the precarious situation, but also reflects efforts to resume bipartisan cooperation in the context of the US facing many challenges - from escalating healthcare costs to the risk of falling growth.
If the bill is passed by the House of Representatives and signed by President Donald Trump, a series of federal agencies will resume operations in the next few days, bringing nearly half a million civil servants back to work.
