Senate Democrats Block Second Clean Funding Measure, Causing Government Shutdown

WASHINGTON, D.C. - For the second time in as many weeks, Senate Democrats blocked a clean, short-term continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government funded through Nov. 21, initiating a government shutdown and cutting off access to many programs and services. Because the CR previously passed the House of Representatives, the bill would immediately become law and fund the government upon Senate passage and being signed by President Trump.

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) issued the following statement after voting in favor of the Republican's clean CR, and against the Democrats' partisan bill:

"Instead of voting to keep the government open and protect services their constituents rely on, Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats prefer to make Americans suffer to score political points. These major health care policy changes Senate Democrats are demanding should be negotiated through the legislative process, not a short-term continuing resolution. Their wish list of demands is not serious and is an act of extortion at the expense of troops, border patrol agents, farmers, and the very Americans we represent. The Schumer Shutdown was caused by Democrats, and Democrats alone. I hope my colleagues on the other side of the aisle can come to their senses, put their partisan games aside, and pass a clean continuing resolution funding the government."

Rather than support the clean short-term extension, Senate Democrats instead proposed an alternate CR, which included more than $1 trillion in unrelated spending. The alternate proposal, which also failed to pass, reflects spending demands and priorities already soundly rejected by the American people, including cutting $50 billion for America's rural hospitals and providing free health care to illegal immigrants.