WASHINGTON —

The longest government shutdown in U.S. history is one step closer to ending after the Senate passed a bipartisan bill late Monday night. The legislation would reopen the federal government, fund nutrition benefits through next year, and provide back pay to furloughed workers, but it still needs approval from the House of Representatives.

House members are returning to Washington, D.C., to vote, as they have been in recess since before the shutdown began. President Donald Trump expressed his approval of the Senate's decision by prematurely congratulating House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, "Congratulations to you and to John and to everybody on a very big victory. We're opening up our country. Should have never been closed." Advertisement

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