House lawmakers made a long-awaited return to the nation's capital on Wednesday after nearly eight weeks away to potentially put an end to the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history.

The House is scheduled to take up a bill to reopen the government that the Senate passed on Monday night. President Donald Trump called the measure a “very big victory." The prospect of travel delays due to the shutdown could complicate the vote. Still, Speaker Mike Johnson said the GOP was “very optimistic” about the outcome.

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“We think this is going to happen and we’re sorry it took this long,” Johnson, R-La., told reporters.

The House has not been in legislative session since Sept. 19, when it passed a shor

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