Spanberger Statement on Vote to Keep Government Open, Protect Virginia’s Economy

Congresswoman: “Virginians are Sick and Tired of the Political Games and Looming Sense of Déjà Vu”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger today released the following statement after voting with a bipartisan majority of the U.S. House to pass a short-term, stopgap funding measure — known as a “continuing resolution” — to avoid a shutdown that would damage Virginia’s economy. The legislation would keep the federal government open until December 20, 2024.

“When Congress even entertains the possibility of a government shutdown, it is bad for Virginia. Not only would many of Virginia’s thousands of federal employees, contractors, and military families be forced to work without pay or lose their wages, but small business owners, restaurant workers, and our Commonwealth’s overall economy would feel the consequences. Hyper-partisanship on Capitol Hill has real impacts on the Virginians I serve — and these families, workers, and businesses deserve better.

“Instead of working in a bipartisan way to negotiate and pass serious legislation to set government funding levels, the House Republican majority is yet again forced to kick the can down the road. While I’m glad that both Republicans and Democrats came together to keep the doors of our government open until December, Virginians are sick and tired of the political games and looming sense of déjà vu.

“Speaker Johnson must bring bipartisan appropriations bills up for a vote that will pass on the U.S. House floor, pass on the U.S. Senate floor, and make it to the President’s desk — because hardworking Virginians should not be slapped with the consequences of Congress’s inability to get the job done.”

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