Rep. Gwen Graham Votes to Avert Government Shutdown

Statement

Today, after voting for a bipartisan clean budget extension that prevents another government shutdown, Rep. Gwen Graham called on members of both parties to begin negotiations on a year-long budget that replaces sequester with smarter cuts and fully funds our nation's priorities.

"Budgeting month to month is no way to run the greatest country on earth," Rep. Graham said. "The Constitution gives the House of Representatives the power of the purse, and it's time for Congress to take that responsibility seriously. With the shutdown deadline extended to December, I'm calling on leaders of both parties to roll up their sleeves and negotiate a budget that fully funds the military and our communities."

With just hours left before a shutdown, Democrats joined moderate Republicans in passing a clean continuing resolution that will keep the government open through December 11, 2015. Rep. Graham has been calling on Congress to support a clean budget extension for weeks -- including co-sponsoring legislation that would have withheld lawmakers' pay if the government shutdown -- and is drafting legislation to prevent future shutdowns and force Congress to work on a budget.

"It's easy for members of Congress to shun their responsibilities and let the government shutdown. It's harder to roll up our sleeves and negotiate a responsible bipartisan budget -- but I believe we were sent here to do the hard work," Rep. Graham said. "That's why I'm drafting legislation that will prevent future shutdowns and force Congress to get back to work creating a budget."

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