Langevin Statement on Republican Government Shutdown
Rep. Langevin with state Senator Cathie Rumsey (l) and Rep. Donna Walsh (r) |
Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) issued the following
statement in response to House proceedings resulting in a partial shutdown of
the federal government:
"The writing has long been on the wall that the
extreme ideological agenda of House Republicans to delay or defund health
reform is a dead end. The fight over the Affordable Care Act was settled, both
in the Supreme Court and in the 2012 election, and yet this futile discussion
continues all the way to a government shutdown.
“Starting today, millions of Americans who rely on
government services will go without, or will see crucial benefits delayed,
including assistance through the WIC program, veterans benefits and housing
loans for low- to moderate-income families. Hundreds of thousands of federal
employees will be furloughed, and others will report to work knowing that no
paychecks will be issued during this shutdown. Nationwide, medical research
will be suspended and environmental enforcement will come to a screeching halt.
Popular sites in Washington, DC, and National Parks across the country will
close, inconveniencing visitors and causing a major loss of tourism revenue.
Small business owners will not be able to access new SBA loans, and employers
won’t be able to use the E-Verify system to screen prospective employees.
"Democrats offered a realistic, Senate-passed
alternative that represented a true compromise on spending levels while
providing an opportunity to keep government running and negotiate a long-term
solution. Unfortunately, Republicans refused to accept anything short of a
shutdown. Holding the government and our economy hostage to advance a
partisan policy dispute is not how democracy works. This is a manufactured
crisis and it was completely avoidable. Republicans need to come to the table
with a reasonable alternative or it is the American people that will pay the
price."