Congresswoman Cheri Bustos Statement On Needless Government Shutdown

Press Release

Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) released the following statement after obstructionist politicians in Washington forced an unnecessary government shutdown that could harm the hardworking people of Illinois' 17th Congressional District:

"Tonight, the Washington political games reached new heights as some in Congress put partisanship over the people they were elected to represent and forced a shutdown of the government.

"Reasonable lawmakers of both parties, governors across the country, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce along with hundreds of other business organizations, supported a Senate-passed bill that would have averted a government shutdown. Unfortunately, radical ideology won the day and this common sense solution never got a vote.

"Since the day I was sworn into office, I have been committed to working with those I disagree with. I still believe that we can find a reasonable path forward that we can all agree on, but it will require some of my stubborn colleagues to drop their political grandstanding, come together, and put the country first for a change."

Tonight, the President signed into law the Bustos-supported measure that ensures our troops continue to receive pay during a government shutdown.

Last month, Bustos led a group of 37 members of the U.S. House of Representative in calling for veterans to be protected in the event of a politically induced government shutdown. In a letter sent to President Obama, Bustos and her colleagues requested that the President protect the benefits and resources our nation has promised to our veterans by deeming certain U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employees as "essential" in the event that Congress fails to come together and prevent a government shutdown.

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