Congressman Conyers Urges Up or Down Vote in House to End the Shutdown

(WASHINGTON) – Friday, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.), joined by 199 Democrats, sent a letterto House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) demanding a vote on legislation that would end the shutdown, fund the government, and open the entire federal government immediately. Today, Congressman Conyers issued the following statement about the need for an immediate vote on the Senate-passed continuing resolution: 

U.S. Representative
John Conyers, Jr.

“Today marks the seventh day of the government shutdown and yet House Republicans continue to take our nation on their dangerous, ideological path that’s threatening job growth, leaving families with less security and our country with less certainty and stability. Our message is clear: we demand a vote to end the shutdown and reopen our government so Americans can move on with their lives,” said Conyers.

Since the shutdown, House Democrats have tried seven times to bring up a vote on the Senate-passed continuing resolution, which would fund government at levels passed by both chambers of Congress and end the shutdown immediately. However, House Republicans blocked a vote on each of the Democrats’ measures.

“House Republicans continue to drag out this damaging shutdown by holding votes on a cynical, piecemeal approach to funding government,” said Conyers. “This is no way to govern and no way to run the largest economy in the world. Markets around the globe are reacting poorly to Congress’ inability to agree on this matter. It is time for House Republicans to drop the political games and join Democrats to bring a vote to the floor immediately to end the shutdown and get our government working again for the American people.”

This unnecessary shutdown is having a devastating impact on our economy, costing more than $300 million in taxpayer dollars a day, halting much-needed loans to small businesses, and forcing roughly 800,000 federal employees that work hard to make our nation a safer and better place to live to be furloughed.

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