McGovern Votes to Re-Open the Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development

Statement

Today, Rep. McGovern joined House Democrats to pass the FY 2019 Transportation and Housing and Urban Development appropriations bills to re-open these two essential government agencies and rescue the hard-working Massachusetts families who are at imminent risk of being evicted while ensuring air travel and highway transportation are safe for all Americans. As we enter Day 20 of the Trump Shutdown, thousands of American workers, including essential air traffic controllers, are arriving at work to find zero dollars on their paystubs.

"In Massachusetts and across the country, the Trump Shutdown is threatening the housing security of more than four million households that depend on HUD's rental assistance initiatives," said Rep. McGovern. "Among those at risk of eviction are an estimated 2.2 million low income households, including hundreds of thousands of veterans, seniors and people living with disabilities. Every day that the Trump Shutdown continues, Massachusetts children and families are placed in immediate danger of being thrown out on the street. Yet, the President is threatening to keep the government and its critical housing services for vulnerable families closed for years."

"While the President and Senate Republicans refuse to do their job, Democrats are acting quickly to re-open government and fulfill our responsibility to the American people. By passing today's legislation, we are ensuring that hard-working people in Central and Western Massachusetts can travel and conduct their business safely and securely, knowing that the roads they drive on and the aircraft they fly in are being inspected and maintained. The President and Senate Republicans need to do their job and end this shutdown now."

Source