Thousands of Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Health Service employees are headed back to work today after President Barack Obama signed a bill to end the 16-day shutdown of the federal government.

Government employees on reservations across the country were furloughed when Congress failed to pass a budget. The lack of funds stopped critical Indian programs and forced tribes to make cutbacks and even send some of their own workers home.

"We'll begin reopening our government immediately, and we can begin to lift this cloud of uncertainty and unease from our businesses and from the American people," Obama said at a press conference last night.

The Senate passed H.R.2775 by a vote of 81-18. All 18 "nay" votes came from Republicans.

The House voted 285-184 in favor of the bill. Only 87 Republicans -- including Rep. Tom Cole (R-Oklahoma), a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation -- voted "yea."

A much larger group of Republicans -- 144 total -- voted against the measure. This included Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), a citizen of the Cherokee Nation.

The bill funds federal agencies through January 15, 2014, and raises the government's debt limit through February 7, 2014. So further action will be needed to resolve a slew of fiscal issues, including the sequestration of the budget that has resulted in across the board cuts to Indian programs.

Get the Story:
Obama signs bill to raise debt limit, reopen government (The Washington Post 10/17)
Republicans Back Down, Ending Crisis Over Shutdown and Debt Limit (The New York Times 10/17)

Related Stories:
Chippewa Cree Tribe prepares for worst as shutdown continues (10/16)
House passes measure to fund BIA and IHS at sequester levels (10/15)
WPR: Lac Courte Oreilles Band shifts funds as shutdown lingers (10/15)
Sen. Heitkamp: Devastating impact of shutdown on our tribes (10/14)
Government shutdown inflicts extra pain on Indian programs (10/14)
Fronteras: Shutdown boosts tourism for some Arizona tribes (10/11)
Santa Clara Pueblo loses out on emergency aid for shutdown (10/10)
Mark Trahant: Indian Country needs solution beyond shutdown (10/9)
Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe up and running despite shutdown (10/9)
Montana tribe won't put employees on furlough for shutdown (10/9)
KNBA: Alaska tribes worry about continued federal shutdown (10/9)
Letter: Shutdown puts light on dire conditions on reservation (10/9)
Aaron Payment: Sault Tribe faces cuts if shutdown continues (10/7)
Cherokee Nation prepared to keep going despite shutdown (10/4)
Crow Tribe puts more than 300 on furlough due to shutdown (10/4)
Hualapai Tribe offers shutdown alternative to Grand Canyon (10/4)
Al Jazeera: Tribal communities hit hard with federal shutdown (10/3)
Yankton Sioux Tribe already hit by cuts to assistance program (10/3)
Osage Nation makes cutbacks in WIC due to federal shutdown (10/3)
Navajo Nation welcomes visit to tribal parks during shutdown (10/3)
Federal agencies outline contingency plans during shutdown (10/1)
NMAI in Washington and in New York closed due to shutdown (10/1)
Editorial: House Republicans rush to irresponsible shutdown (9/30)
Senate cuts off debate on spending bill after 21-hour speech (9/26)
Republicans looking for way to approve Keystone XL Pipeline (9/25)
Editorial: An embarrassing GOP campaign against health law (9/25)
Senate clashes with House on spending bill that affects IHCIA (9/24)
Mark Trahant: Republicans are willing to destroy IHS system (9/19)