Sewell voted against the bill to reopen the government

November 12, 2024 - WASHINGTON D.C. - Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL07) voted against the bipartisan Senate spending bill that funded the government allowing millions of federal employees, contractors, SNAP beneficiaries and grant recipients to receive the funds the are due. Sewell cited concerns that it fails to extend Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits.

"From the very beginning, I have made it clear that I will not support a spending bill that fails to address the Republican health care crisis," Sewell said in a statement. "By ending critical health care tax credits, this resolution will raise health care premiums for tens of millions of Americans and cause millions more to lose coverage altogether. That's why I voted NO."

The House passed a continuing resolution to fund the government back in September. Senate Democrats staged the shutdown when they demanded an additional $1.5 trillion in new healthcare spending that was not in the budget.

"The American people deserve a funding bill that reopens government and lowers health care costs," said Sewell. We can and must do both."

The partisan political show finally ended late Sunday night when eight of the Senate Democrats abandoned their party position and voted to squash the Senate Democrats' filibuster.

"The Democrats shutdown has inflicted massive harm. They caused 20,000 flights to be cancelled or delayed," said President Donald J. Trump (R). "They deprived more than 1M government workers from their paychecks and cut off food stamp benefits of millions and millions of Americans in need."

Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act in March 2010, the U.S. federal debt has increased by over $26 trillion-from approximately $12.5 trillion in 2010 to more than $38 trillion as of late 2025.

The 2025 Budget Reconciliation Act cut over $1 trillion in healthcare spending through 2034, including reductions in Medicaid support, which may shift more costs to the states and Medicaid beneficiaries.

"We will not let government be held hostage again," said President Trump.

Sewell has represented Alabama's Seventh Congressional District for eight terms.