Today, as a government shutdown looms over Washington, U.S. Reps. Charlie Crist (FL-13) and Tom O'Halleran (AZ-01) led a letter to Speaker Paul Ryan calling for common-sense compromise to keep the government open. The seven lawmakers, who previously supporting continuing resolutions this fiscal year, expressed concern over the continued absence of a critical budget caps agreement and bipartisan solutions to the challenges our nation faces.

Congressman Crist previously announced he would not support the continuing resolution, which would keep the government on a month-to-month budget while failing to provide for our defense and domestic needs and leaving in limbo our DREAMers, full reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program, disaster relief, and funding for community health centers.

“We have voted for multiple short-term funding bills in good faith and under assurances from House and Senate leaders that additional time was needed to negotiate a critical long-term budget agreement to increase funding for our military and domestic programs, disaster relief, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), community health centers, and protecting DREAMers,” the lawmakers wrote. “It is clear at this point that Congressional leaders are no closer to securing bipartisan solutions, despite ample opportunity to forge consensus. We see no evidence that yielding more time will result in a process that allows us to resolve these issues.”

Since October 2017, Congress has voted on three short-term continuing resolutions in lieu of a full-year funding bill. According to a study by the Government Accountability Office, short-term spending bills cost agencies like the Veterans Health Administration millions of dollars in lost productivity and extra work. Failing to pass a full-year funding bill also jeopardizes the ability of federal law enforcement agencies and our Armed Forces to make long-term strategic decisions about our national security.

“Mr. Speaker, it is past time for a long-term solution for national defense, DREAMers, CHIP, community health centers, and disaster relief,” the letter reads. “You have the power to set the agenda and bring a thoughtful agreement forward to achieve those goals with overwhelming bipartisan votes. You have the power to prevent a disastrous government shutdown.”

Please find below and attached a copy of the letter:

January 18, 2018

The Honorable Paul D. Ryan
Speaker, U.S. House of Representatives
H-232, The Capitol
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Speaker Ryan,

As a government shutdown once again looms before Congress, we write with great concern for the lack of meaningful progress on our nation’s priorities.

We have voted for multiple short-term funding bills in good faith, and under assurances from House and Senate leaders, that additional time was needed to negotiate a critical long-term budget agreement to increase funding for our military and domestic programs, disaster relief, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and community health centers, and to protect DREAMers.

It is clear at this point that Congressional leaders are no closer to securing bipartisan solutions, despite ample opportunity to forge consensus. We see no evidence that yielding more time will result in a process that allows us to resolve these issues.

Supporting a robust military, providing health care to children, and protecting DREAMers are not – and have never been – mutually exclusive priorities. Members on both sides of the aisle have repeatedly demonstrated their willingness to reach a compromise despite heated rhetoric from party factions. We, and many other thoughtful Republicans and Democrats, have been willing and eager to find common ground and advance fiscally-responsible proposals that invest in our nation and expand opportunity.

Mr. Speaker, it is past time for a long-term solution for national defense, DREAMers, CHIP, community health centers, and disaster relief. You have the power to set the agenda and bring a thoughtful agreement forward to achieve those goals with overwhelming bipartisan votes. You have the power to prevent a disastrous government shutdown.

We know the unique, but necessary, challenge of putting principle over party. The American people voted for us – and you – to solve problems together, not play games. The last shutdown cost our economy $24 billion dollars. As we edge closer to another shutdown that will harm our economy and families across the nation, we urge you to come to the table with a commonsense compromise.

Sincerely,

Tom O’Halleran                                              Charlie Crist
Member of Congress                                      Member of Congress

Bradley S. Schneider                                      Cheri Bustos
Member of Congress                                      Member of Congress

Stephanie Murphy                                           Raul Ruiz, M.D.
Member of Congress                                      Member of Congress

Dave Loebsack
Member of Congress