The Senate has passed H.R. 5371, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026, by a 60-40 margin after a day of procedural votes and floor debate, and the bill now moves to the House for approval as amended; this article walks through the key votes, amendments, and what comes next from a Republican perspective.
The day in the Senate felt like a long procedural sprint, with leaders working through cloture motions, tabling attempts, and substitute amendments to reach a final vote. Senators used established tactics to move the measure forward, and Republicans pushed to cap the shutdown damage and restore government operations. For many conservatives the goal was straightforward: reopen the government, protect workers, and end the disruption caused by prolonged brinkmanship.
Early steps included the Motion to Proceed to H.R. 5371, which cleared by the 60-vote threshold that’s required to end extended debate. That motion passed 60 to 40 and set the stage for a sequence of roll call votes on amendments and cloture motions. Majority Leader John Thune took the lead on procedural filings to get a definitive result rather than prolong the uncertainty.
Several motions to table were offered and decided, with mixed results that shaped the final package. Votes on motions tied to senators Tammy Baldwin and Jeff Merkley failed 53-47, signaling that those particular attempts to block amendments did not get enough support. By contrast, a motion to table an amendment tied to Sen. Rand Paul passed 76-24 after he sought to excise a provision he said would harm the hemp industry.
Sen. Susan Collins’ substitute amendment (#3937) drew cloture and then a final vote, each passing 60-40 as part of the sequence designed to produce a bipartisan outcome acceptable enough to move forward. Once cloture was invoked on the underlying bill as amended, the final passage vote followed and produced the same 60-40 result. The consistent 60-40 margins showed a coalition of senators willing to end the stalemate and force a resolution.
Vote forecast: At approximately 5:30pm today the Senate is expected to proceed to up to 8 roll call votes in relation to the following in relation to Cal. #168, H.R.5371, Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026:
- Motion to proceed to Cal. #168, H.R.5371, Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026.
- Baldwin motion to table (tree filler).
- Merkley motion to table (tree filler).
- Paul amendment #3941 (possible motion to table).
- Motion to invoke cloture on Collins substitute amendment #3937.
- (If cloture is invoked) Adoption of Collins substitute amendment #3937.
- Motion to invoke cloture on Cal. #168, H.R.5371, Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026, as amended, if amended.
- (If cloture is invoked) Passage of Cal. #168, H.R.5371, Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026, as amended, if amended.
The final roll call came in the evening, roughly 9:13 PM Eastern, with the Senate passing H.R. 5371 as amended by the same 60-40 split. That vote officially sends the amended text back to the House, because changes made in the Senate require the House to consider and approve the revised measure. This is the routine next step in congressional process, but it’s also the moment when House leaders decide how quickly to act.
House Speaker Mike Johnson indicated a willingness to move swiftly once members can return to Washington, emphasizing the need to reopen the government and ensure federal employees are paid. Travel logistics and scheduling will dictate the exact timing, but the Republican leadership tone was clear: prioritize getting the government running again. For Republicans, speed matters because prolonged shutdowns hurt Americans and damage confidence in governance.
Critics on the left framed the agreement differently, but the practical matter remains that the passage avoids an extended lapse in appropriations. Republicans argued throughout that reopening federal services and payrolls should be the immediate priority, and that political theater must give way to governing. The vote count reflects a compromise where enough senators from both parties preferred certainty over continued shutdown gamesmanship.
There are still choices ahead for the House, which must decide whether to accept the Senate’s amended language or pursue alternatives. If the House adopts the Senate-amended bill, it will go to the President for signature and end the immediate shutdown impact. If not, lawmakers will face additional procedural hurdles and the prospect of a return to extended negotiations.
Editor’s Note: After more than 40 days of screwing Americans, a few Dems have finally caved. The Schumer Shutdown was never about principle—just inflicting pain for political points.
Observers on the right will watch the House vote closely, mindful that action there completes the process and delivers relief to federal workers and citizens dependent on government services. The Senate’s work removed the immediate roadblock; now House Republicans must decide how fast to finish the job. The path to the President’s desk is clear if the House moves without delay.
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