LIVE: House Speaker Johnson holds a news conference on day 41 of shutdown

Key Concepts

• Continuing Resolution (CR) Bill: A temporary funding measure passed by Congress to keep the government operating when a regular appropriations bill has not been enacted.
• Schumer Shutdown: A term used to describe a government shutdown attributed to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
• Air Traffic Controllers: Professionals responsible for managing air traffic in the sky and on the ground at airports.
• Unanimous Consent: Agreement from all members of a legislative body to proceed with a particular action, such as fast-tracking a vote.
• Procedural Hurdles: Obstacles within legislative rules that can delay or prevent a vote or action.

Government Reopening and Legislative Process

The Senate is scheduled to reconvene to finalize a Continuing Resolution (CR) bill, which is crucial for reopening the government. The passage of this bill requires unanimous consent from all senators to expedite the final vote, as procedural hurdles could otherwise be introduced by one or more senators. The speaker expresses hope that these hurdles will be avoided due to the widespread public demand for the government to reopen.

Upon the Senate's final vote on the CR bill, House members will be immediately summoned back to Washington D.C. A formal 36-hour notice will be provided to allow for a swift vote on the amended CR bill, after which it will be sent to the President's desk. The President has publicly expressed his desire to reopen the government and end what is referred to as the "Schumer shutdown."

Impact on Air Travel

Transportation Secretary Shawn Duffy has highlighted the severe challenges facing air travel in the United States. The administration and cabinet members have made significant efforts to mitigate the impact of the shutdown across their respective jurisdictions. However, the air travel sector is particularly affected due to overworked and unpaid air traffic controllers. Many controllers have called in sick, exacerbating the situation. The stress of their demanding job is amplified by their financial difficulties, leading to a significant disruption in air travel. As of Sunday, nearly half of all domestic and U.S. flights experienced cancellations or delays, indicating a critical situation.

Call to Action for House Members

House members, both Republicans and Democrats, are urged to return to Capitol Hill immediately to address the situation as quickly as possible. The expectation is that the government will reopen this week, allowing Congress to resume its regular legislative session. The speaker anticipates a period of intense legislative activity with long days and nights to compensate for the lost time.

Appeal to Colleagues

The speaker expresses sincere appreciation for the seven Senate Democrats and one independent senator who are described as having "done the right thing" by prioritizing principle over personal politics. A strong plea is made to all House colleagues, specifically urging every Democrat, to carefully consider the situation, pray, and ultimately act responsibly to end the suffering of the American people, which has persisted for too long.

Conclusion and Next Steps

The update concludes with an acknowledgment that there are likely many questions. The speaker indicates that further information will be available later in the day and encourages continued attention. A question is posed regarding potential conflict within the House over the subsidy bill, but the speaker states they were unable to hear it and encourages the questioner to try again.