On Sunday night, the U.S. Senate advanced a Republican-crafted continuing resolution in a 60-40 vote that saw seven Democrat lawmakers defect with their party to support re-opening the federal government.

Last night’s vote was the largest step toward ending the 40-day government shutdown.

It now heads to the U.S. House, where Speaker Mike Johnson said Monday morning, “It’s a great development. It’s long overdue. It vindicates our position in this all along.”

U.S. Senator Katie Britt was active in the deliberations, voted for the measure on Sunday, saying it offers a win for everyday Americans that Republicans have worked hard to pass.

“Tonight I voted again to reopen the government—this 40 day shutdown is finally nearing an end. [U.S. Senate Republicans] provided a path forward to keep our skies safe, fund WIC and SNAP, take care of our veterans, and more,” Britt (R-Montgomery) wrote.

“We’ll continue to work hard this week to get this over the finish line and ensure that we put the American people over partisan politics.”

Both of Alabama’s lawmakers in the higher chamber, Britt, and U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) both voted ‘Yea’ to reopen the government.

Seven Democratic senators, Dick Durbin (D-Illinois), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada), Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada), John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania), Tim Kaine (D-Virginia), Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire), and Maggie Hassan (D-New Hampshire), joined Republicans, as did independent Angus King (I-Maine).

The only Republican to oppose was U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-Kentucky). The vote overcame a blockade that had stalled 14 earlier attempts to move the bill.

The plan extends operations into late January while fully funding core priorities, including VA, Agriculture, and the legislative branch for the year. It restores pay for federal workers and rolls back thousands of layoff notices issued during the shutdown.

Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.