ALBANY, N.Y. – U.S. Representative Elise Stefanik, NY-21, has commented on the federal government shutdown. Republican and Democratic proposals that would have funded the government past Tuesday, Oct. 30 failed in the Senate and shut down the government at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 1.
The federal government ran out of money after a Democratic-backed spending bill to extend health care subsidies under the Affordable Care Act and that also reversed cuts to Medicaid failed. A Republican-backed plan to fund the government for seven weeks also failed.
“Throughout my time in Congress, I have consistently voted to fund the government and opposed government shutdowns,” she said in a statement. “At the end of this month, I voted for a clean, bipartisan bill to keep the government open, continue our appropriations work, protect pay for our troops, and ensure essential services for the American people continue. In fact, it’s the same bill that Democrats previously voted for just months ago!
During the shutdown several federal services will remain in effect:
– most veteran benefits and military operations will be funded regardless of a shutdown. Military personnel on active duty and active guard reserves, will continue their duty without pay.
– air traffic control services will continue but 13,227 air traffic controllers will work without pay until the government is funded again.
– Social Security benefits are mandatory under law and recipients will still collect their payments. The Social Security Administration could face a furloughed workforce.
– the Department of Health and Human Services, which includes the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Food and Drug Administration will continue to offer responses to pandemic, flu and hurricanes during the shutdown.
“The disgraceful reality is that Democrats are forcing a shutdown by voting no on government funding because Chuck Schumer got absolutely walloped earlier this year by the radical Far Left because he voted to fund the government,” Stefanik said.
“Once again, New York Democrats, cheered on by Kathy Hochul, are putting hardworking New Yorkers and Americans last because they are forcing a government shutdown by concocting an unrelated policy issue that doesn’t even come up legislatively until the end of the year,” she continued.
“Until Democrats end their hypocritical and damaging shutdown hurting American families and workers, I have directed that my pay be withheld and have cosponsored legislation to ensure our servicemembers and law enforcement receive their pay. Democrats own this shutdown lock, stock, and barrel.”
