Spanberger Statement on Vote to Prevent Government Shutdown, Protect Virginia’s Economy

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 includes two staggered deadlines to keep the federal government open until March 8 and March 22.

“Not only do government shutdowns have devastating consequences for Virginia’s workforce and economy, but bringing our country to the precipice of disaster time and time again brings massive uncertainty to tens of thousands of federal workers, government contractors, small business owners, servicemembers, and families I represent. When Speaker Johnson took on the mantle of Speaker, he took with it a core duty to fund the federal government in a responsible way and protect the livelihoods of millions of Americans.

“Today, I voted alongside 206 Democrats and 113 Republicans who understand our fundamental responsibility to keep our government functioning. But we have not given Virginians the peace of mind they deserve. Instead, Speaker Johnson’s leadership has our country yet again one week away from a partial government shutdown and within a month of the whole of the federal government shutting its doors.

“If we continue to neglect this duty, then Congress will not be able to tackle our long to-do list — securing America’s southern border, reforming our broken immigration system, getting the Farm Bill across the finish line, supporting our Ukrainian allies in their fight against Putin’s aggression, getting humanitarian aid into Gaza to support Palestinian civilians, supporting our Israeli allies as they continue to stop Hamas terrorists, and addressing the fentanyl crisis in our communities — with the seriousness these issues deserve.

“As our country remains on a collision course with a completely preventable potential shutdown, I will continue to press Speaker Johnson to bring bipartisan bills forward that would pass in the U.S. House, pass in the U.S. Senate, and get to the President’s desk.”

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