**DOWNLOADABLE VIDEO: Spanberger Urges Speaker Johnson to Work with Both Parties to Fund Federal Government as Potential Government Shutdown Looms**

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger today released the following statement marking two weeks before a potential government shutdown that would hurt Virginia’s economy. Since September, Congress has passed several short-term, stopgap funding measures — known as a “continuing resolutions” — to keep the government open instead of passing legislation to fund the government in a responsible way.

“Once again, we are coming dangerously close to a potential government shutdown. March 1 and March 8 – those are the deadlines that we have to fund the government, and Congress must do our job. It is vitally important that Speaker Johnson bring forth bipartisan bills that can pass the U.S. House, pass the U.S. Senate, and do so in time to avoid a reckless government shutdown.

“For too many months, we have been coming right up to the precipice of disaster and avoiding it with a continuing resolution. It needs to stop. We need to fund the government. And the Speaker needs to bring forth bills that will pass both chambers and get to the President’s desk. It’s vital for all of us as Americans, and it’s certainly vital for the tens of thousands of federal employees, servicemembers, and community members who are impacted terribly every time there is a government shutdown — those folks I represent.”

BACKGROUND

Spanberger has consistently pressed lawmakers to avoid these repeated, avoidable, and reckless potential crises. Last year, she introduced a bipartisan bill that would block Members of Congress from receiving their pay during any default or government shutdown. Additionally, she has worked with Virginia business and community leaders to make clear the devastating impacts of government shutdowns on Virginia’s workforce and economy.

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