House Returns to Capitol Amid Frustrations and Lingering Tensions
After more than seven weeks of absence due to the government shutdown, members of the House of Representatives gathered on Wednesday, bringing with them a wave of dissatisfaction and unresolved issues.
During the shutdown, the House remained officially out of session, although some members continued to engage with their constituencies through town halls or by coming to the Capitol. As NPR’s Barbara Sprunt reports, emotions ran high as members reconvened.
The House Rules Committee met earlier this week in anticipation of the full House session. Tensions were palpable, highlighted by a pointed exchange involving Jim McGovern, the top Democrat on the committee.
JIM MCGOVERN: “Long time no see. I hardly recognize you guys. Where the hell have you been?”
These remarks were met with a strong response from Chairwoman Virginia Foxx.
VIRGINIA FOXX: “I am sick and tired of hearing you all say we had an eight-week vacation.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson had previously defended the decision to send lawmakers home, suggesting that the House had completed its job by passing a stopgap funding bill in mid-September. He shifted the blame to Senate Democrats for not taking further action.
MIKE JOHNSON: “My quick answer’s very simple. The House did its job.”
While leadership on both sides held press conferences during the shutdown, the absence of voting and committee hearings was notable. The return marked the first official day back in 54 days.
California Republican Kevin Kiley noted the increased activity upon the House’s return, having spent the shutdown period at his Capitol office working on extending Affordable Care Act subsidies.
KEVIN KILEY: “It’s a lot more crowded here. You know, the halls have been pretty lonely.”
For Kiley, the break allowed for productive dialogue across the aisle, though he acknowledged the limitations of the House not being fully present to foster consensus.
Missouri Republican Mark Alford found the time away beneficial for district work, claiming significant progress during his time back home.
MARK ALFORD: “Look, I’ve been here for three years. I got more done in my district than I think in the three years that I’ve been there.”
However, Democrats remain critical of the decision to adjourn the House, with Texas freshman Democrat Julie Johnson expressing her discontent.
JULIE JOHNSON: “This was a ridiculous thing.”
Johnson and others expressed frustration over the delay in swearing in newly elected Arizona Democrat Adelita Grijalva, which occurred only upon the House’s return.
New Mexico’s Melanie Stansbury echoed a common Democratic sentiment.
MELANIE STANSBURY: “The House has been completely closed and locked out, and there is all manner of legislative business that could have been going on.”
Republican Steve Womack of Arkansas shared a similar view, expressing his own reluctance to leave in August and his concerns about the repeated absences.
STEVE WOMACK: “Listen, I didn’t want to go home in August. So to be gone for those five or six weeks and then turn around and do it again in October was just – that’s just more than America should have to put up with.”
With funding set to expire again on January 30, Womack and others are preparing for what may be another challenging period for Congress.
Barbara Sprunt, NPR News, the Capital.
