Chairwoman Lowey Statement to House Rules Committee on H.J. Res. 28, Continuing Resolution Through February 28
House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita M. Lowey delivered the following remarks at the House Rules Committee in support of an appropriate rule for the House to consider H.J. Res. 28, a Continuing Resolution to reopen the federal government through February 28:
Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the opportunity to come before the Rules Committee today to discuss this Continuing Resolution to reopen the federal government and end the Trump Shutdown.
As you know, we are now in the 26th day of the Trump Shutdown. This past Friday, hundreds of thousands of dedicated federal employees went without a paycheck.
It is truly shameful that the president’s stubbornness has forced on the American people the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history and harmed the financial security of America’s public servants.
That includes federal law enforcement officials at the FBI, the very Secret Service agents who protect the President, and those who work tirelessly to protect our air travel, national parks, environment and public health.
House Democrats have done our job. We have passed seven pieces of legislation to end the Trump Shutdown and get the government back to work for the American people.
This Continuing Resolution would provide an additional option for President Trump and Senate Republicans to finally take yes for an answer and bring the shutdown to its long-overdue end.
It would reopen government through February 28, providing time for Congress to come to a full-year agreement without further jeopardizing vital services or the pay of federal employees.
It is long past time for my colleagues across the aisle and across the Capitol to join us to reopen the government, pay our federal employees, and then negotiate on border security and immigration policy.
Mr. Chairman, I request an appropriate rule to bring this critical legislation to the floor. We must end the Trump Shutdown without further delay.