WASHINGTON —

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

The Senate has already passed the government funding bill. Once the House approves it, as expected, it then goes to President Donald Trump's desk for his signature. Trump has called the bill a "very big victory."

The shutdown entered Day 43 on Wednesday. Democrats wanted to extend an enhanced tax credit that lowers the cost of health coverage obtained through Affordable Care Act marketplaces and refused to go along with a spending bill that did not include that priority. But Republicans said that was a separate policy fight to be held at another time. Neither side had enough votes

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