Rep. Courtney Joins Bipartisan Coalition to Avert Government Shutdown
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) issued the following statement after voting to pass a bipartisan continuing resolution to avert a government shutdown and sustain government spending at the FY23 levels for 45 days. The measure passed 335-91.
“For months, I’ve been calling for a bipartisan approach in the House to avert a government shutdown— just as we did in May through the Fiscal Responsibility Act. Instead, extreme factions of the House Republican caucus drove our nation to the brink of shutdown and stoked panic and chaos.
“Today, at the eleventh hour, House Republicans finally headed our calls and brought a bipartisan stop gap measure to a vote.
“Like any compromise, it is not perfect. After careful review, I did join a broad coalition of Democrats and Republicans to ensure our government can remain open for the next 45 days and deliver the services Americans rely on. In eastern Connecticut, it will also ensure that roughly 9,000 sailors and officers at the Groton submarine base will not have their pay disrupted, as well the Coast Guard Academy staff in New London. Their important work will continue uninterrupted.
“Also, the bill includes essential funding to support disaster relief and provides funding for the FAA to keep air travel safe for passengers. It also continues funding for the Columbia submarine construction program at Electric Boat. The continuing resolution includes $621 million for continuous production of the USS Wisconsin submarine, the second in the Columbia-class.
“I urge the Senate to move swiftly and adopt this measure, too. Moving forward, we must continue working in a bipartisan way to pass a long-term spending solution that meets the needs of students, workers, and families across eastern Connecticut.”