U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa has reopened her Washington, D.C., office and will reopen her Honolulu office today. Her entire staff is also back at work.

Hanabusa made the decision after the House unanimously approved the Federal Employee Retroactive Pay Fairness Act over the weekend. It ensures all federal employees receive pay for the duration of the government shutdown, regardless of furlough status.

The U.S. Senate has yet to approve the measure, but Hanabusa expressed confidence that the measure would pass soon and be signed into law by President Obama.

No word yet on the staffs and offices of Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Sens. Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz, which have been operating at minimum capacity since the shutdown began early Oct. 1. It’s Day 8, and there are no indications that the budget impasse will end anytime soon.

But, the House is expected to vote today on a measure “forming a special committee of House and Senate members to work out a deal on reopening the government and raising the nation’s $16.7 trillion debt ceiling.”

Photo: U.S. Capitol, Oct. 8. (Civil Beat)

—Chad Blair