The U.S. House of Representatives resumed session on November 12, 2025, after an extended recess since September 19, marking a critical moment as lawmakers prepared to debate and vote on a Senate-passed government funding bill aimed at ending the longest federal government shutdown in American history. The day’s proceedings were notable not only for the return to legislative activity but also for the swearing-in of Representative Adelita Grijalva, the Arizona Democrat who had been delayed in taking her oath of office for over seven weeks, and for the renewed political clashes surrounding key issues such as Affordable Care Act tax credits, controversial provisions in the funding bill, and ongoing investigations tied to Jeffrey Epstein.
**Resuming Legislative Business and Adelita Grijalva’s Swearing-In**
The House convened at 4 p.m. with one of the first orders of business being the swearing-in of Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva, who won a special election on September 23 to fill the seat left vacant by the passing of her father. Her oath was administered by House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, ending a five-week delay that had become a flashpoint between Democrats and Republicans. Grijalva’s delayed swearing-in drew sharp criticism from Democrats, who accused Johnson of using the delay as a political tactic that deprived over 800,000 Arizonans of representation and access to basic services.
In a passionate floor speech, Grijalva condemned Johnson’s delay as an "abuse of power" and insisted that one individual should not be able to block the swearing-in of a duly elected member of Congress for political reasons. Her remarks were met with enthusiastic applause from House Democrats. Following her oath, Grijalva added her signature to a discharge petition aimed at forcing a vote to release additional Justice Department materials related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a move that underscored the heightened political tensions surrounding the Epstein investigation.
**Funding Bill Debate and the Path to Ending the Shutdown**
Following the swearing-in, the House moved to debate the rules for the Senate-passed funding package, a critical procedural step before the chamber could vote on the bill itself. The debate on the rule was expected to last about an hour, with a procedural vote to adopt the rule slated for early evening. Once the rule was adopted, the House would proceed to debate the funding measure and then hold a final vote, anticipated around 7 p.m.
The Senate’s funding bill, designed to reopen the government and end the shutdown, sparked intense debate within the House. While Republicans largely supported the measure, several conservative members expressed reservations about certain provisions. A notable point of contention was a provision allowing senators to sue for up to $500,000 if their data is seized or subpoenaed by federal law enforcement without prior notification. This provision was reportedly a response to FBI investigations into phone records connected to the special counsel’s inquiry into former President Donald Trump and the 2020 election. Although some House Republicans opposed this clause, amending the bill to remove it would have required sending the bill back to the Senate, thus prolonging the shutdown.
House Speaker Johnson announced that Republicans would introduce separate legislation to repeal this contentious provision, emphasizing their commitment to addressing the issue without delaying the government’s reopening. He expressed optimism about securing enough votes for the funding bill’s passage and attributed the prolonged shutdown to Democrats’ refusal to support short-term measures that could have reopened the government sooner.
**The Shutdown’s Impact and Political Blame**
The government shutdown, which lasted for weeks, inflicted significant economic damage and disrupted services across the country. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt blamed Democrats for the shutdown, calling it the longest in U.S. history and highlighting the economic losses suffered by the travel, hospitality, and broader consumer sectors. Leavitt cited Congressional Budget Office estimates suggesting the shutdown could reduce fourth-quarter economic growth by two percentage points. She praised Republicans for their efforts to end the shutdown and indicated that President Trump might allow media access during the bill signing as a symbol of transparency.
Meanwhile, Democrats rejected the blame and criticized Republicans for their unwillingness to negotiate on key issues, particularly the extension of Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits set to expire at the end of the year. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries led the Democratic push to extend these tax credits, filing a discharge petition that would circumvent GOP leadership to force a floor vote. The petition requires at least 218 signatures, and while Democrats