A bipartisan group of Senate Democrats and Republicans reached an agreement late on Sunday night to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, taking the first procedural vote on the measure to reopen the government.

Eight senators in the Democratic caucus broke ranks to advance a Republican proposal to fund most federal agencies through to January. The deal would keep the government funded through January 30 and provide full-year funding for several appropriations bills.

It marks the first agreement after 40 days and counting of government shutdown, which has caused chaos for federal employees, food assistance recipients and air travel across the U.S.

Why It Matters

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are usually delivered monthly to around 42 million

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