Levin Signs Petition to Reopen the Government, Calls on Republicans to Sign On

Press Release

U.S. Reps. Sander Levin (D-MI) today signed a petition that would force a vote on a continuing resolution to fund the government without any strings attached, ending the government shutdown that is now in its 12th day. The petition -- formally known as a "discharge petition" -- would compel Speaker Boehner to bring a government funding bill to the floor if 218 members of Congress were to sign it. All 200 Democrats and more than 20 Republicans have said publicly that they would support a clean government funding bill, without provisions tied to it that would dismantle the Affordable Care Act.

"The government shutdown is having hugely harmful consequences throughout our state and nation," said U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI). "There is no reason why the Republican Speaker of the House cannot put a bill on the floor to fund the entire government that would pass immediately. It is time for House Republicans to stop threatening our economy over their obsession with the Affordable Care Act and reopen the government."

The government shutdown has hurt the middle class and our economy, and will get worse as it continues. Costing taxpayers up to $300 million a day, it has stopped critical loans to small businesses and slowed the processing of veterans disability claims. The shutdown has prevented NIH from taking new patients and halted life-saving medical research and stalled much-needed housing loans for American families.

The discharge petition for H. Res. 372 would allow an up or down vote on a clean continuing resolution, providing funding through November 15 at a compromise level requested by Speaker Boehner. This discharge petition only needs a majority of House members to sign on and does not require any action by the Republican leadership.

Discharge petitions have been proven successful in the past in bringing up legislation for consideration.

According to a Congressional Research Service study, seven discharge petitions have received 218 signatures over the last 30 years. And in all seven cases, the majority party agreed to bring the measure to the House floor.
12 measures were allowed to be brought to the House floor even before the discharge petition reached the full 218 signatures.
You can see which Members of Congress have signed onto the discharge petition in real time by visiting the House Clerk's office.

Source