U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy was not expecting to be in the nation’s capital on Veterans Day. But following the Senate’s passing of legislation on Monday to reopen the government, House members were moving to vote on ending the 41-day shutdown.

In a Zoom meeting with Western New York media, Langworthy called the shutdown “unnecessary and entirely avoidable” blaming politics and U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer for the chaos. It left many across the nation worried about Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits and led to delays and cancellations at the nation’s largest airports.

Langworthy said he backed every continuing resolution that would have kept the government in operation during the six weeks. “Despite disagreeing with President Biden and his administration’s policies, I understood that governing means putting your country first, putting the taxpayers first — and certainly putting them above politics,” he said.

Langworthy also noted Veterans Administration employees, border agents and Coast Guard officials showed up to work during the time period while not being paid. “That’s the real world cost of political games,” he said. “Real people, not politicians, bear the burden.”

The shutdown could last a few more days as members of the House, which has been on recess since mid-September, return to Washington to vote on the legislation. President Donald Trump has signaled support for the bill, saying Monday that “we’re going to be opening up our country very quickly.”

The final Senate vote, 60-40, broke a grueling stalemate that lasted more than six weeks as Democrats demanded that Republicans negotiate with them to extend health care tax credits that expire Jan. 1. The Republicans never did, and five moderate Democrats eventually switched their votes as federal food aid was delayed, airport delays worsened and hundreds of thousands of federal workers continued to go unpaid.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.