An 82-year-old Southern Republican in Congress was so outraged that Democrats kept pointing out that Republicans closed the House of Representatives for over 50 days something that wasnt required by the shutdown that she lashed out at a newly elected Democratic colleague.The exchange took place at a House Rules Committee meeting on Tuesday night when the committee chair, Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), recognized Rep. YassaminAnsari (D-AZ) to speak. Related Sarah McBride brutally mocks GOP absence at the Capitol as shutdown loomed Thank you, Madam Chair, Ansari said. Welcome back from your eight weeks of taxpayer-funded vacation.Im gonna interrrupt you! Foxx interjected. Im sick and tired of hearing you all say we had an eight-week vacation. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Thats exactly what happened, Ansari started to respond.I worked every day! Foxx said sternly. I dont want to hear another soul say that!Ansari: Welcome back from your eight weeks of taxpayer funded vacation. Foxx: I am sick and tired of hearing you say we had an eight week vacation.Ansari: Thats exactly what happened pic.twitter.com/K2IRMv4nQh Acyn (@Acyn) November 12, 2025 Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) kept the House out of session since September 19 after the chamber passed a continuing resolution to keep the federal government open. The Senate did not pass a similar resolution because Democrats and Republicans couldnt agree on funding health care subsidies for working-class Americans Democrats wanted to extend the subsidies while Republicans wanted to let them expire at the end of the year which led to the shutdown. Democrats have spent the last two months hammering Republicans for not going to their D.C. offices to attempt to negotiate a new deal to reopen the government.I hope that you all enjoyed themselves, while American families looked at their letters from their health insurance companies, terrified that their insurance premiums were going to double or triple while the House was out of session for 53 days, Ansari told Foxx. That is unacceptable.The Senate voted for a bill to reopen the government on Monday, and the House is expected to vote on the measure later today.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.