WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger today released the following statement after voting with a bipartisan majority of the U.S. House of Representatives to pass a short-term agreement to prevent the federal government from shutting down on December 11.

“With the passage of today’s funding bill, Congress will vote again next week to keep federal employees on the payroll, support critical assistance programs, and prevent our government from shutting down in the middle of an ongoing and rapidly escalating pandemic. This step truly represents doing the bare minimum, and I’ve long pushed back against this Groundhog-Day, stopgap funding process.

“Meanwhile, the clock is ticking on emergency COVID-19 relief as we accelerate towards the expiration of unemployment benefits, eviction protections, support to state and local governments, and key small business tax credits this month. In Central Virginia, we have families and businesses that are facing tremendous uncertainty and potential financial ruin going into the holidays — and inaction from Congress is wholly unacceptable and a dereliction of our duty as elected officials. In the coming days, I will keep fighting to deliver a bipartisan COVID-19 relief package that can be signed into law — as well as additional, long-term investments in American workers and families to help them weather this economic crisis.”

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