Blumenthal Statement on the Republican Shutdown

[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) released the following statement tonight after the Republican majority in Congress failed to produce an agreement to fund the government:

“Congress must do its job. Serious talks and compromise by the Republican leadership and the President could have avoided this self-inflicted crisis – and still can. Governing month to month through short term extensions has the effect of a slow motion shutdown – short-changing and damaging our military, health care and opioid addiction programs, disaster relief, as well as protection of Dreamers. There is bipartisan consensus behind every single major issue before us: defense spending, funding for the opioid crisis and pensions, disaster relief, community health centers, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and avoiding mass deportation of the Dreamers. I will continue to call for good faith negotiations, but only Senator McConnell can call these measures for a vote and end this self-inflicted crisis,” Blumenthal said.

“The President must lead, or get out of the way – because he is wrong in seeking a ‘good shutdown.’ There is no good shutdown. We must come together to end it.”

Because an agreement was not reached before midnight tonight, the federal government will begin the process of an orderly shutdown. Beginning tomorrow and continuing until government funding is restored, Senator Blumenthal’s offices in Washington, DC, Hartford, and Bridgeport will be closed and staff will rotate to perform essential functions. The offices will process emergency constituent casework on a case-by-case basis and will be closed for meetings and all other routine business.