UPDATE - US House tees up final vote to end partial government shutdown

ADDS REMARKS BY WHITE HOUSE SPOKESWOMAN

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US House of Representatives on Tuesday teed up a final vote to end the partial government shutdown.

The lawmakers adopted the resolution by a vote of 217-215, advancing the measure to debate and final vote.

Republican Rep. Thomas Massie joined all Democrats in opposition.

Later Tuesday, the lower chamber is expected to take up a final vote on a five-bill minibus, along with a two-week continuing resolution to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The shutdown, which began Saturday, left large swaths of the federal government and roughly 45% of the federal workforce in uncertainty amid a sharp dispute about the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, particularly in the state of Minnesota, affecting agencies, including the Pentagon, Treasury and the State, Transportation, Homeland Security, Labor, Education, Health and Human Services, and Housing and Urban Development.

If the House passes the measure, any disruption is expected to be minimal.

There is limited interest in Washington in repeating a lengthy shutdown like the one that stretched for 43 days late last year.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday that President Donald Trump wants the government to remain open.

"We're extremely optimistic that the government is going to reopen, that all Republicans are going to stick together and vote accordingly," Leavitt told Fox News.

Leavitt said White House hopes to see the bill "in just a few short hours" on Trump's desk for signature.