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CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE’S STATEMENT ON THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE ALLOWING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO SHUTDOWN

October 1, 2013

Press Release

CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE’S STATEMENT ON THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE ALLOWING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO SHUTDOWN

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a Senior Member of the House Homeland Security and Judiciary Committees, released the following statement regarding the Republicans in the House allowing the government to shutdown:

“The Republican House remembers have taken us toward the apocalypse and they have no interested in turning back. It is shameful that people will have to suffer because Republicans will not do the peoples business and fund the government. The government that these Republicans were elected to fund will soon close down and that will hurt our economy. Americans across the country will not be allowed to show up for work. Paychecks could be delayed, meaning some folks will have to cut back on groceries or maybe even not pay a few bills. Businesses will have fewer customers. Veterans will not get services they rely on -- and it will put benefits for seniors at risk.

“Even though they have already voted over 40 times to defund or delay the health care law, this group of Republicans in Congress is so obsessed with the idea of sabotaging Obamacare that they are willing to take the economy hostage to do it. The Affordable Care Act was passed by a majority of the House and a supermajority of the Senate, signed into law by the President, and upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. Yet the majority continues to jeopardize the jobs and security of middle-class families in order to reverse the legitimate outcome.

“The Department of Defense estimates that during a shutdown nearly half of the civilian workforce would be sent home without pay, while the rest would continue to work for delayed pay, impacting the 51,621 civilian workers in Texas.184,230 service members in Texas would remain on duty, but would see their pay delayed if the shutdown extends for more than 10 days. Also, a government shutdown will result in 1.4 million active duty military personnel not being paid for their work until after the shutdown ends. Hundreds of thousands of federal employees will be furloughed, and those employees and contractors who continue to work will not be paid during the shutdown. Federal loan guarantees for small businesses and middle-income families purchasing homes will be put on hold, as will research into life-threatening diseases and environmental reviews of planned transportation and energy-related projects, halting economic progress.

“It is a sad commentary on the state of the Republican majority that its leaders are powerless to contain the most extreme voices clamoring for a path we know will disrupt the economy, kill jobs, and stunt growth. I urge the majority to end this dangerous charade and advance a Continuing Resolution capable of passing the Senate and being signed into law.

“Finally – in spite of their failed efforts the health insurance exchanges established by the Affordable Care Act -- or Obamacare -- will be open for business on Tuesday. Millions of uninsured Americans will be able to enroll in health plans – something the American people without insurance look forward to doing.”

Congresswoman Jackson Lee is a Democrat from Texas’s 18th Congressional District. She is a senior member of the House Committees on Judiciary and Homeland Security and is Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security