WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger today released the following statement after supporting a short-term funding agreement in the U.S. House to prevent the federal government from shutting down this evening.

“Tonight’s vote is just one more example of a broken pattern of moving from one impending budgetary disaster to another. Congress repeatedly refuses to respond to fast-approaching funding deadlines, even though it has months to prepare and plan for these moments. In just a few days, Congress will once again need to vote to maintain the very functioning of our government. The American people deserve better than watching their elected officials use federal employees, government operations, and the security of our borders, airways, and country as bargaining tools – particularly when both parties should be in agreement on the obvious and long-overdue need for emergency COVID-19 relief.

“Early in this pandemic, Congress responded to the COVID-19 crisis as a united, bipartisan front – but as a dire, painful need for aid persisted throughout the country, lawmakers in both parties abandoned that spirit. They refused to hammer out their differences and recognize the severity of the crisis at hand. In this current moment – when millions of Americans are facing hunger, eviction, or the effects of a job loss, Congress cannot delay in passing a relief package. As we rapidly approach the holidays, I will keep fighting to make sure that neither the House nor the Senate head home until a bipartisan, bicameral bill is sent to the President’s desk and signed into law. Central Virginians have waited far too long for progress.”

###