Bonamici Statement on End of Government Shutdown

WASHINGTON, DC [01/22/18] – Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) made the following statement about reopening of the federal government:

"Although I'm glad that the federal government is back open, the shutdown never should have happened. The Republican majorities in the House and Senate have known that the budget was due four months ago. That's also when funding expired for the Children's Health Insurance program – also known as CHIP – and when President Trump announced that he was ending the DACA program, bringing anxiety to hundreds of thousands of young people who were brought to the United States as children and know no other home.

"Since just last fall, the House and Senate have already passed not one or two, but three short-term extensions. Enough is enough. This two-and-a-half week funding bill deprives Americans of the certainty of knowing that their government will be open and ready to respond today, tomorrow, next week, and beyond. It is an abdication of leadership to fund the government for a few weeks at a time. Our military, our economy, and the families we represent deserve better and need certainty.

"This shutdown was caused by the Republicans' failure to govern. The Republican President took away protections for thousands of Dreamers living here and contributing to our communities, and, despite saying they want to help the Dreamers, Republican leaders have done nothing to address this important issue. Every day, more than 100 Dreamers lose their protections and become at risk of deportation. And instead of funding CHIP when it expired, the Republican-led Congress instead spent time passing massive tax breaks for wealthy corporations and billionaires.

"I am confident that Oregonians and people across the country will join me in holding Senate Republican leader McConnell to his word to bring up legislation to protect Dreamers from deportation. The Dreamers I've met are giving back to their communities and making them better places to live. They are teachers, doctors, lawyers, and soldiers. We cannot leave them behind.

"I will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle toward a long-term funding bill that gives us the stability and certainty we need. The American people are relying on us to do our jobs and fund the government."

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