By Speakin’ Out News
Washington, D.C. — The political divide in Washington took center stage again this week as Alabama’s two most influential women in Congress found themselves on opposite sides of a controversial plan to end what has become the nation’s longest government shutdown.
U.S. Sen. Katie Britt praised the bipartisan agreement as a long-awaited breakthrough. The Senate voted 60–40 on Sunday to advance legislation that would reopen the government after 40 days of gridlock, which has disrupted everything from food assistance programs to airline operations.
“Tonight I voted again to reopen the government — this 40-day shutdown is finally nearing an end,” Britt posted on X. “Senate Republicans have provided a path forward to keep our skies safe, fund WIC and SNAP, take care of our veterans, and more. 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.”
The proposed bill would restore funding for federal nutrition programs like WIC and SNAP, ensure back pay for furloughed workers, and temporarily delay a decision on extending the Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits — subsidies that help millions of Americans, including 130,000 Alabamians, afford health insurance.
That delay is a deal-breaker for Alabama’s 7th District Congresswoman Terri Sewell, who made it clear she isn’t buying what she calls “empty promises.”
“This so-called ‘deal’ is nothing more than empty promises,” Sewell declared on social media. “I am a HELL NO on any bill that raises health care costs for millions of Americans.”
Sewell, who has championed health equity throughout her tenure, says this proposal puts Alabama’s working families at risk — particularly in the Black Belt, where access to affordable health care remains limited.
“It does nothing to expand ACA tax credits that help my constituents in West Alabama afford healthcare,” Sewell said. “For so many Alabama families, the consequences of the Republican health care crisis just became real.”
“We could have done a better job explaining what was in the Affordable Care Act … but when you talk to people and you don’t label it, people get really excited about what’s in it. It is going to make a big difference for people.”
“In my home state of Alabama, communities of color often have poor access to care, preventive services, and health care insurance coverage. The last thing we need is a plan that raises costs and leaves families behind.”
Sewell emphasized that she’s standing firm for constituents who depend on federal programs for survival, warning that the deal “sacrifices real lives for short-term politics.”
While eight Democratic senators — including Catherine Cortez Masto (Nev.), Dick Durbin (Ill.), John Fetterman (Pa.), Maggie Hassan (N.H.), Tim Kaine (Va.), Angus King (Maine), Jacky Rosen (Nev.), and Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.) — joined Republicans in supporting the measure, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer voted against it, arguing that it failed to guarantee protection for the ACA subsidies.
Health Care on the Line for Thousands of Alabamians
If Congress fails to renew ACA subsidies before the end of the year, an estimated 130,000 Alabama residents could lose their health coverage or face skyrocketing premiums. That includes working parents, retirees, and small-business owners who rely on marketplace insurance to stay healthy and financially stable.
For Rep. Sewell, the fight isn’t just about policy — it’s about protecting lives.
“In Alabama, we’ve seen what happens when the federal government pulls back on health care support. Hospitals close. Families skip care. Mothers die from preventable causes,” she said earlier this year. “We cannot afford another setback.”
Final passage of the spending bill could take several more days as Democrats continue to negotiate over health care provisions. Meanwhile, Alabama families are still waiting — caught between political gamesmanship in Washington and the harsh realities of a prolonged shutdown.
As the standoff continues, one thing is clear: in the heart of Alabama, where faith and family run deep, the fight for fair and affordable health care is far from over.
