DeLauro, Murray Introduce Bill to Prevent a Republican Shutdown

Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03), House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member, and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair, introduced a continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government funded and allow negotiations to continue over full-year bills that ensure Congress, not President Trump or Russ Vought, decides how taxpayer dollars are spent. The CR also addresses the health care crisis Republicans have single-handedly created and protects Congress’ power of the purse, rejecting President Trump’s illegal “pocket rescission.”

In a statement, Ranking Member DeLauro and Vice Chair Murray said:

“While Republicans push America to the brink of a shutdown, Democrats are ready to negotiate a bipartisan continuing resolution and government funding bills that lower the cost of living, help working people—not just billionaires—and protect people’s health care. 

“Today, we are introducing a short-term continuing resolution to keep the government funded, address the health care crisis Republicans have single-handedly created, and protect Congress’ power of the purse. If Republicans are willing to simply sit down and talk with Democrats, a concept most Americans understand, we can address these pressing issues affecting American families and responsibly fund the government.

“We invite Republican leadership to finally join Democratic leadership at the negotiating table, which they have refused for weeks to do, to prevent a shutdown and begin bipartisan negotiations to keep the government funded.”

The short-term continuing resolution (CR):

• Keeps the government funded through October 31 to avert a Republican shutdown and allow bipartisan negotiations to continue over full-year spending bills that ensure Congress—not President Trump and Russ Vought—determines how taxpayer dollars are spent.
  • This includes allowing more time for talks on the first three spending bills that conference negotiations have already begun over: the Agriculture-FDA, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction-VA spending bills.
• Addresses the health care crisis that President Trump and Republican lawmakers have single-handedly created by:
  • Reversing Republicans’ devastating Medicaid cuts and attacks on the Affordable Care Act in their Big Ugly Betrayal.
  • Preventing Americans’ health care premiums from skyrocketing by extending the premium tax credits that help over 20 million Americans afford health insurance.
• Addresses President Trump’s illegal pocket rescission and protects any spending agreement from unilateral partisan cuts.
• Provides additional funding to enhance security protections for Members of Congress, executive branch officials, and the judiciary.

A fact sheet on the funding bill is available HERE.

A section-by-section summary of the CR is available HERE.

A fact sheet on the health care provisions from House Democratic leadership is HERE.

Identical text of the legislation as introduced in the House and the Senate is available HERE.

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