U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan on Monday defended the deal they helped broker to try to end the federal government shutdown even as Democratic colleagues in the state's delegation and Shaheen’s own daughter — a leading congressional candidate — announced their opposition to it.

During a telephone interview, Shaheen said the 40-day shutdown — the longest in American history — needed to end. But she added that the fight she helped lead brought national attention to the plight of more than 20 million Americans who face rising health care costs if should Congress fail by year's end to extend tax credits under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We raised the profile. The American people understand this fight is about affordable health care and t

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