Payne, Sherrill: Here’s Why We Voted Yes On U.S. Funding Bill

NEW JERSEY — U.S. Reps. Donald Payne Jr. and Mikie Sherrill were among the New Jersey lawmakers who voted for a key federal funding bill that aims to keep the government open and avoid a “catastrophic default on American debt.”

On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act (H.R. 5305) by a vote of 220 to 211, with all Democrats and no Republicans voting for approval.

The bill would keep the government funded through early December, lift the limit on federal borrowing through the end of 2022 and provide emergency money for Afghanistan refugees and disaster recovery, The New York Times reported.

But the legislation faces a cloudy future in the Senate, where minority leader Mitch McConnell has pledged to oppose any effort to raise the debt ceiling, The Guardian reported.

The current debt limit of $22 trillion was established in 2019 and suspended three times under former President Donald Trump. A final vote in the Senate is expected next week, Forbes reported.

Payne represents the 10th district in New Jersey; Sherrill represents the 11th district. Here’s why the lawmakers, who are both Democrats, said they voted for the bill.

DONALD PAYNE: ‘PREVENTING AN ECONOMIC DISASTER’

According to Payne, if the bill doesn’t get passed, millions of American workers and families might lose vital assistance to help them survive the COVID-19 global pandemic.

The country could also face an economic crisis for failing to pay its debt obligations, Payne added.

Payne added:

“The bill extends funding for the government’s most crucial agencies, such as education, health, housing, and public safety. The funds will increase early childhood education, investments in our schools, and high-quality, job-training programs. In addition, the bill provides $28.6 billion to address devastation from climate change, such as hurricanes, wildfires, droughts, and winter storms.”

“Tonight, I voted to prevent an economic disaster,” the congressman said. “Millions of Americans count on the federal government for paychecks, food vouchers, and pandemic assistance.”

“If we fail on our debts, it could trigger mass unemployment, homelessness, and a possible economic depression,” Payne said. “We need to pay our bills when we are dealing with several emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, to help Americans pay rent and put food on the table.”

MIKIE SHERRILL: ‘AVOIDING A DANGEROUS DEFAULT’

Sherrill said Tuesday’s continuing resolution will “avoid a dangerous default” on the federal debt.

The congresswoman noted that the bill also includes emergency supplemental funding that will assist Afghan allies who are relocating in America after being evacuated, and will provide further assistance for the victims of Hurricane Ida, including those in northern New Jersey.

Sherrill said that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has found that the debt ceiling crisis in 2011 raised borrowing costs by $1.3 billion in just that year, costs that had to be paid by taxpayers.

“Using the GAO’s analysis, the Bipartisan Policy Center found that the cost to taxpayers over 10 years from the 2011 crisis was almost $19 billion,” Sherrill stated. “A prolonged delay in raising the debt ceiling this year could create similar long-term costs to taxpayers, as well as risks to the broader financial system and economy that could harm job creation and household savings.”

Sherrill offered a statement further explaining her decision to vote yes on the bill:

“Today, we passed a continuing resolution that will keep the government funded through December 2021 and avoid a dangerous default on the Federal Debt. Such a default, or even a delay, would cost hundreds of thousands of jobs and reduce Americans’ savings by tens of billions of dollars. We’re continuing to battle a pandemic, rebuild the economy, get families and communities back to work, and make the investments that will keep our nation competitive for decades to come. This is no time to be playing games with the lives and livelihoods of the American people and threatening to force the United States into default.”

Sherrill continued:

“This continuing resolution also includes crucial emergency supplemental funding to help resettle the Afghan allies and their families whom we evacuated from the country and provides additional disaster assistance to those still reeling from the impacts of Hurricane Ida. In the aftermath of the flooding New Jersey experienced as a result of Ida, I toured towns throughout NJ-11 and spoke with dozens of mayors about the damage and loss. The stories and scenes were heartbreaking. Despite fighting for and securing major disaster declarations for most of the affected area, including Essex and Morris Counties, our communities still desperately need the support included in this emergency supplemental.”

The congresswoman concluded:

“This continuing resolution will allow us to keep the government open, provide our communities the resources they need, and avoid economic catastrophe for families across the country. I’m proud the House took this crucial first step today, and now I’m urging my colleagues in the Senate to do right by the American people by sending this continuing resolution to President Biden’s desk.”

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