Congressman Don Davis’ Statement on Voting to End the Government Shutdown

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Congressman Don Davis (NC-01)released the following statement after he voted to reopen the government by a bipartisan margin of 222-209.The Senate amendment to H.R. 5371, Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026, a funding measure that will end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, providing temporary funding to all federal agencies through January 30, 2026, and full-year funding for the Departments of Agriculture, Veterans Affairs, and the Legislative Branch, through September 30, 2026 will head to the President's desk for his signature.

"Families in eastern North Carolina must remain the priority, which is why I initially voted against the original continuing resolution in the hopes of sincere discussions on extending the ACA premium tax credits. An increasing number of families have shared with me that they have been suffering daily over the past 49 days and 15 rounds of votes in the Senate, as many families in North Carolina's First Congressional District are dealing with high costs and limited resources.

"Support for our military families, veterans, farmers, and those in need is now included in the updated continuing resolution. To support my constituents, alleviate the suffering of our families as the holidays approach, and bring vital resources to eastern North Carolina, I voted to reopen the government. While some Washington politicians from both parties have failed rural communities, the battle for healthcare is not over," said Congressman Don Davis.

Since the government shutdown began on October 1, 2025, Congressman Davis has helped lead efforts to ensure any agreement to reopen the government included an extension of the Community Health Center (CHC) fund and the National Flood Insurance Program.

Legislative Highlights:

• Congressman Davis successfully secured over $48 million across eight community project funding priorities within this appropriations bill:

  • $41 millionfor a new Combat Arms Training and Maintenance complex at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.

  • $1.015 million for the Town of Whitakers, NC Community Center Project in Whitakers, North Carolina.

  • $1 million for the Gates County, NC Community Center in Gates, NC.

  • $1 million for the Bertie County Fire Department Critical Equipment Upgrades in Windsor, NC.

  • $1 million for the Town of Williamston, North Carolina Critical Fire Ladder Truck Project in Williamston, NC.

  • $1 million for the Bertie County, NC Emergency 911 Center, in Windsor, NC.

  • $1 million for the Town of Plymouth, NC Emergency Public Health & Safety Facility Upgrades Project.

  • $1.015 million for the Greene County, NC Senior Center of Excellence Project in Snow Hill, North Carolina.

• Extends both the Community Health Centers Fund and National Flood Insurance Program.

• Extends the 2018 Farm Bill through FY2026 to ensure continuity of farm, nutrition, and conservation programs.

Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations:

• $26.65 billion in discretionary funding

  • Rural Development:

    • $4.1 billion to support rural development programs across the U.S.

    • Increases rural rental assistance to $1.715 billion and boosts Section 502 housing loans by $284 million to expand homeownership

    • $1 billion for Single-Family Housing direct loans and $25 billion for the guaranteed Single-Family Housing loans.

    • $1.4 billion to prioritize revitalization of aging water and wastewater infrastructure through grants and loans.

    • $1.8 billion in grants and loans for rural business and industry programs to promote economic growth.

    • $109 million for rural broadband grants and loans aimed at the nation's most hard-to-reach areas.
      

• Farm Service Agency (FSA):

  • $1.4 billion for the FSA to provide local support for our nation's farmers and ranchers.

• Agriculture Research:

  • $3.8 billion for agricultural research programs, including $1.8 billion for the Agricultural Research Service and $1.7 billion for the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

• Agricultural Marketing Services (AMS):

  • $211 million for AMS to facilitate the marketing of U.S. agricultural products, both domestically and internationally, support domestic commodity purchase programs to support our agricultural producers, and provide market data to help producers make informed business decisions.

• Fully funds the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) at $8.2 billion.
  

• Restarts Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments, school meals, and Summer EBT programs for families nationwide.

Military Construction-Veterans Affairs Appropriations:

• $153.3 billion in discretionary funding.

• $19.7 billion for military construction projects, including upgrades to housing, base infrastructure, and readiness facilities for servicemembers and their families.

• Supports veterans' health care, homelessness prevention, and mental health services.

• Invests in VA health care, $49.8 billion in toxic exposure care under the PACT Act, and $3.5 billion to prevent veteran homelessness

• Provides $945 million for medical and prosthetics research and $5.9 billion for modernizing VA technology systems

• Strengthens oversight of VA's electronic health record rollout with new performance and safety requirements

• Approves additional oversight resources to improve efficiency within the Department of Veterans Affairs and ensure timely delivery of care and benefits.

Legislative Branch Appropriations:

The Legislative Branch appropriations provide:

• $7.3 billion in total funding, ensuring continued support for congressional operations, security, and constituent services.

• Increased funding for Capitol Police programs, reflecting the growing need for safety and threat mitigation and continued investment in Capitol complex maintenance, modernization, and staff support services.

• A continuedfreeze on congressional pay adjustments, maintaining the same salary levels as in FY2025.

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