Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, today issued the following statement on the Senate majority’s Continuing Resolution and the House majority’s continued inaction.
“Just five legislative days from another Republican government shutdown, House Republican leadership remains paralyzed with no apparent ability or will to fulfill the most basic task of governing. The prospect of the House majority’s dithering and internal squabbling pushing hard-working American families into another politically-driven, economically damaging government shutdown is scandalous, and illustrates why the public holds this institution in such low regard.
“It is disappointing, but not surprising, that Senate Republicans chose to defund safe and high-quality women’s health care services through their Continuing Resolution. Cutting Planned Parenthood’s federal reimbursements and grants would deprive millions of women of safe and effective contraception services that prevent unwanted pregnancies, as well as basic reproductive health exams, sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment, prenatal services, fertility treatment, and much more.
“Further, defunding Planned Parenthood will not be enacted into law. As Majority Leader Mitch McConnell stated himself, this is “an exercise in futility" that would provoke a government shutdown.
“Once this reckless and ideological proposal has been defeated in the Senate, the House and Senate majorities must end the shutdown games and begin negotiations on a new budget agreement allowing the Appropriations Committees to write funding bills that invest in this country’s future."
Source: U.S. Department of HCA
