Minnesota State Wire

Brad Finstad, Representative of Minnesota, announced that the House passed a bill aimed at keeping the government operational and called on Minnesota’s senators to support a bipartisan funding measure to conclude the shutdown. This statement was made on X.

"The House passed responsible legislation to keep the government open and fund critical services," said Bradley Howard Finstad, U.S. Representative of Minnesota's 1st Congressional District (R). "Our state's senators are playing politics while our farmers, families, and service members shoulder the cost. It's time for Senator Tina Smith and Senator Amy Klobuchar to end this reckless shutdown, put politics aside, pass the clean, bipartisan funding bill – like they did 13 times under Pres. Biden – and reopen the government."

The bill in question, H.R. 5371, is a stopgap continuing resolution intended to extend federal funding until November 21, 2025. According to CBS News, it passed the House with a vote of 217–212, receiving support from most Republicans while facing opposition from Democrats. However, the Senate rejected cloture on October 17, leaving various agencies without funding. As per Congress.gov, the bill is currently awaiting further action.

Minnesota families and farmers are experiencing increasing pressure due to the federal shutdown, as reported by MPR News. The state has warned that over 400,000 residents could lose Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) food aid by November 1. Additionally, local Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices remain closed during peak harvest season. Governor Tim Walz said that his administration is evaluating emergency support options.

Since 2021, the U.S. Senate has approved several bipartisan funding bills. These include a continuing resolution (CR) on September 30, 2021 (65–35), an omnibus bill on March 10, 2022 (68–31), another CR on September 29, 2022 (72–25), and a two-step CR on November 15, 2023 (87–11). Reuters and Senate records indicate these repeated bipartisan votes demonstrate consistent cooperation to prevent shutdowns.

Representative Brad Finstad represents Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District and chairs the Agriculture Subcommittee on Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture & Horticulture. His official biography notes he is a fourth-generation farmer and former United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development state director with a focus on food security, rural development, and budget integrity.

According to the Star Tribune, Minnesota’s federal delegation includes Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith—both opposed the House GOP’s stopgap bill while supporting an alternative bipartisan plan. The state's eight House members and two senators are significant participants in national budget negotiations.