(NewsNation) — The government shutdown officially tied for the longest in U.S. history Tuesday as millions of Americans cast ballots for a still-shuttered system.
The Senate is set to vote on a spending bill for the 14th time Tuesday. Lawmakers have acknowledged that any deal to end the shutdown, which has stretched to 35 days, is likely to come after Election Day.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he’s optimistic a deal to end the stalemate could come soon, effectively returning key funding to programs.
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Thune told reporters a group of Democrats and Republicans spoke through the weekend and that a new plan would extend current government spending levels until at least January.
The Trump administration announced Monday that partial SNAP benefits will be distributed this month to comply with two separate rulings in federal court.
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The Department of Agriculture said just over $4.5 billion in emergency funds will be used to provide food aid for nearly 42 million Americans, as pantries report longer lines and increased demand.
There was no word yet on how much each SNAP recipient will receive or how quickly that aid will be available.
