Senate Votes To End Government Shutdown After McConnell Promises Vote On Bill To Protect Dreamers

The Senate voted Monday to end a three-day government shutdown that left federal agencies shuttered and hundreds of thousands of workers furloughed after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) promised Senate Democrats that he would allow a vote next month on an immigration bill to protect DACA recipients.

The Senate voted 81-18 to advance a stopgap spending measure to fund the government through Feb. 8.

“After several discussions, offers and counteroffers, the Republican leader and I have come to an arrangement. We will vote today to reopen the government to continue negotiating a global agreement,” Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said.

“The process will be neutral and fair to all sides,” Schumer said. “We expect that a bipartisan bill on [the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program] will receive fair consideration and an up-or-down vote on the floor.”