Blue Dog Coalition Statement on Government Shutdown
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Blue Dog Coalition released the following statement in response to the federal government funding expiration:
“Keeping the government open is a core responsibility of Congress and the epitome of fiscal responsibility. By failing to act in a bipartisan manner to fund the government, Congress is wasting taxpayer money, damaging the economy, and harming our constituents by shuttering programs they depend on, like food assistance for working families and support for small businesses.
Each week the government is shut down will cost our economy roughly $7 billion. This is money stripped away from hard-working Americans that could otherwise be used to start a business or buy a home – all because of the government's failure to act.
A core element of fiscal responsibility is funding the programs that people rely on. During this shutdown, crucial services will decay leaving working people holding the bag. Food assistance and new home or small business loans for well-deserving Americans will be affected, and that's only the tip of the iceberg.
National health is in decline, and at the same time millions of Americans are on the brink of seeing their rates spike to unprecedented levels. In the wake of Congressional Republicans' partisan move to cut more than $1 trillion from America’s health systems, we cannot continue to kneecap access to care.
The Blue Dogs will continue to fight for a return to a real, bipartisan appropriations process that restores fiscal stability and protects the services our constituents rely on. The American people deserve better than this.”
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ABOUT THE COALITION: The Blue Dog Coalition is an official caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives composed of fiscally-responsible Democrats, who are leading the way to find common-sense solutions. They are pragmatic Democrats, appealing to mainstream values of the American public. The Blue Dogs are dedicated to pursuing fiscally-responsible policies, ensuring a strong national defense for our country, and transcending party lines to get things done for the American people.