Kuster Joins Others Calling for Avoidance of a Government Shutdown

U.S. Rep. Ann McLane Kuster, D-NH, released the following statement calling on her colleagues to join her in working around-the-clock to stop the partisan games and reach across the aisle to avoid another damaging and costly government shutdown.

Kuster joined 79 of her colleagues in a letter demanding Speaker John Boehner keep the House in session every day until a deal is reached to prevent another government shutdown.

“With less than two weeks until a possible government shutdown, working families in New Hampshire and across the country just don’t have time for more partisan games and political theater,” Kuster said. “I was proud to join almost 80 of my colleagues in calling on Speaker Boehner to keep the House in session until a deal is reached, and for both parties to reach across the aisle and work together to reach a solution and avoid another damaging, costly, and painful government shutdown. It is deeply disappointing that Tea Party extremists in Congress are threatening to shut down the government over Planned Parenthood funding, an organization that provides critical health care services for men and women across the country every day. I will continue fighting to protect women’s health and keep our government running, our economy growing, and our New Hampshire working families and small businesses safe and secure.”

A full copy of the letter that Rep. Kuster signed is below.

Dear Speaker Boehner,

We write you today to express our deep concern regarding the looming government shutdown which will occur on October 1st should Congress fail to reach a bipartisan consensus to fund the government.

As of right now, there are just six legislative days scheduled before the end of the month. The American people deserve to know that their elected representatives are working around the clock to avoid another self-inflicted Washington wound on our national and local economies.

As the Speaker of the House, you have the power to change the legislative calendar. We strongly urge you to keep the House of Representatives in session every day from now until we reach a deal.

We already know the impact that a shutdown will have on our economy because it happened just two years ago. According to Standard & Poors, the 16 day government shutdown of 2013 cost the U.S. economy $24 billion and reduced 4th quarter GDP growth by 0.6%. We simply cannot allow this failure to happen again.

As Representatives, each of us has an obligation to the American people—the working families, seniors, veterans and others we have the privilege of serving. Now is the time to reject partisan gridlock and work together toward a common sense solution for the American people.

With the clock ticking, we can’t afford to waste a moment. As Speaker, you have the power to keep Congress in session. We urge you to exercise that authority before it’s too late.