Oct. 22 (UPI) — The U.S. Senate is scheduled to vote again on reopening the government on Wednesday as the federal shutdown enters Day 22 and begins its fourth week.
The vote will be its 12th House-passed bill to reopen the government, funding it until Nov. 21.
The last vote was on Monday, when it again fell short of the 60 votes needed. On Tuesday, Republican senators lunched at the White House with President Donald Trump in the Rose Garden.
House Democratic leaders and members of the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee are meeting Wednesday morning and bashing House Republicans for staying away from Washington.
“Today’s Day 22 of the Trump-Republican shutdown of the federal government, and all across the country, every day Americans are hurting,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said. They are hearing testimony from furloughed and unpaid federal employees.
House Democratic leaders on Tuesday asked Trump for a meeting on the shutdown, but he refused. He said he will only meet with them once the government reopens. CBS News reported.
Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., spoke at a press conference Wednesday about the effect of the shutdown on national parks.
“This can’t continue indefinitely. Despite all the extraordinary efforts being made, at some point, without funding, the public lands will not be accessible to the public,” Westerman said. “The longer this unnecessary shutdown lasts, the more negative consequences it will start to [have]. Without regular staffing, litter will pile up, and park ecosystems will be affected.”
Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., began a filibuster Tuesday evening that has stretched more than 14 hours and continues as of this writing.
“I’ve come to the Senate floor tonight to ring the alarm bells,” Merkley said in his opening remarks. “We’re in the most perilous moment, the biggest threat to our republic since the Civil War. President Trump is shredding our Constitution.”