Quigley Sends Letter to President Trump on the Need to Address Bipartisan Priorities to Keep the Government Open
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) released the following statement after joining over 170 House colleagues in sending a letter to President Trump expressing their support for keeping the federal government open while pressing for the inclusion of urgent bipartisan priorities in any funding resolution:
"I do not want a shutdown," said Rep. Quigley, "but if Republicans in Congress and President Trump allow that to happen, my opposition to a CR that fails to address critical long-term issues, like DACA protections for DREAMers and funding for disaster relief, will not be the reason why. Republicans control the House, Senate, and White House, and if they cannot pass a CR with their own votes, they must negotiate with Democrats in good faith to address these key issues."
"Mr. President, it is clear that your budget priorities and ours are in significant conflict. However, there are many bipartisan priorities that we can swiftly deliver for the good of the American people, in addition to keeping government open without interruption," wrote the legislators in the letter.
These priorities include:
- Preserving the agreement in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 that required increased spending to be spread evenly between defense spending and non-defense discretionary accounts which have both been harmed by the ongoing sequester;
- Delivering urgently needed resources for communities fighting the deadly opioid epidemic;
- Rescuing our heroic veterans who are facing a dire shortfall at the VA;
- Protecting Dreamers, whom you have publicly supported, by passing the Dream Act;
- Supporting access to health care by providing critical funding for CHIP and CHCs;
- Preserving Americans' endangered pensions by enacting a responsible reform plan;
- Providing additional disaster recovery funding for Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Texas, Florida, and states impacted by wildfires.
"If we can't agree," wrote the Members, "your party has the majority in the House and Senate to pass your own funding resolution. But that will be a bill we cannot support."