Press Releases

Wittman Statement on a Government Shutdown

WASHINGTON – Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) released this statement regarding a shutdown of the federal government:

“As I’ve done in every session since I’ve been in Congress, I have urged leadership to fund our government with an appropriations bill passed through regular order instead of budgeting by crisis through a Continuing Resolution (CR). Our military and our government need long term budget certainty and they cannot continue working under the constraints of yet another CR.

“I am disappointed in Congress for allowing our funding decisions to get to this critical point and for not being able to come to an agreement on how to move forward without allowing our government to shut down. I believe Members of Congress should suffer the consequences of not doing their jobs. I’ve introduced pieces of legislation called the No Budget, No Pay Act and the Stay on Schedule Resolution that would hold members to the highest standard so that if they don’t do their jobs, they don’t get a paycheck or vacation.

“The federal workforce deserves the certainty of proper funding to do their jobs. To protect them during this lapse in appropriations, Representative Beyer (VA-8) and I introduced legislation that would guarantee back pay to all furloughed federal workers. I also continue support any legislation that would ensure pay for our men and women in uniform.

“This shutdown means that now, more than ever, it is absolutely critical that Congress get back to passing a budget and appropriations bills on time. We can’t continue to find ourselves in these completely avoidable, crisis situations. We must work for a long-term solution that will provide a path to fiscal certainty for both our armed services and our federal agencies. It’s imperative that Congress be held accountable; therefore I am having my pay withheld and I will be donating it to charity.”

Congressman Rob Wittman represents the 1st District of Virginia. He serves on the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Armed Services Committee, where he is the Chairman of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee.

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