WASHINGTON, DC—Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4) released the following statement regarding the bipartisan deal to open the government and raise the debt limit.
“I’m pleased that we have averted a default on the United States’ obligations and that we are finally opening the government, but it should never have come to this. We will vote on a plan today that we have known for two weeks both the House and Senate could pass.
“Because of this Republican shutdown, families lost paychecks, young students missed school, and seniors and children missed meals. The uncertainty and lost spending caused by the shutdown cost the American people billions in productivity and wages. The possibility of a default threatened retirement accounts, home mortgages, and credit card rates. The American people cannot afford these manufactured crises, which are beneath the dignity of a great nation.
“This bill reflects good-faith, bipartisan negotiations that should have occurred long ago and provides a way forward at this late stage. Our job is to govern, which means we must compromise.
“I am hopeful that this legislation, which we expect to pass with the support of House Leadership and most rank-and-file Democratic lawmakers, begins to put an end to governing by crisis and hostage-taking by a small but energized minority.
“The American people want immigration reform, long-term deficit reduction, and legislation that will invest in our future and create jobs. The votes exist, and it is time to move forward with more bipartisan work. I’m proud to have worked with many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and I hope the possibility of action on the issues that matter most to the American people gives more representatives the courage join these bipartisan efforts.”