Longest government shutdown in history nears likely end as House moves on funding bill

The end of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history is finally in sight, with the House of Representatives set to vote on a federal funding bill later Wednesday evening.House lawmakers are set to take a procedural vote in the 5 p.m. hour on whether to allow debate on the measure. If the legislation survives, a final vote is expected in the 7 p.m. hour.The government has been shut down for 43 days as Democrats and Republicans hotly debated the merits of the GOP's initial federal funding bill, a short-term extension of fiscal year (FY) 2025 spending levels through Nov. 21.The vast majorit