Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Votes to Protect Economy by Re-Opening Government, Preventing Default

Statement

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) today voted for a bipartisan measure to re-open the federal government immediately and prevent the government from defaulting. The legislation funds the government until January 15, raises the debt ceiling until February 7, and requires that the House and Senate agree on a budget by December 13. It passed the House tonight by a vote of 285-144.

"For more than two weeks, hard-working families, veterans, and federal workers have suffered due to partisan fights which cost our economy $300 million per day," said Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard. "I am relieved that we are finally moving forward today with a bipartisan agreement that will protect our economy and allow time for a larger agreement on a long-term budget and fiscal plan. People in Hawai"i and across the country have been watching this circus for sixteen days and are tired of the political games in Washington. These preventable crises and petty arguments are distracting us from dealing with the very real issues we need to confront, such as growing our economy and creating jobs."

Before and during the shutdown, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard supported several measures to provide relief for Hawai"i servicemembers and federal workers during the shutdown. She proposed legislation that ensured continued pay for active-duty troops, a version of which passed the House on September 28. She also co-sponsored legislation that passed the House to pay back furloughed federal workers.

The federal government has been shut down since October 1, after Congress failed to pass a funding bill before the start of the new fiscal year. According to Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, the debt ceiling would have been reached no later than October 17.

Source