WASHINGTON, DC—Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4) released the following statement in response to U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner’s letter to Congress today announcing that the United States reached the statutory debt limit.

“Today’s announcement from Secretary Geithner that the United States has reached the debt ceiling serves as an urgent reminder that economic catastrophe looms if we don’t swiftly pass legislation to raise the nation’s debt limit. I appreciate recent statements made by Speaker Boehner that indicate the House Majority may finally recognize the gravity of this situation. I hope we are all now ready to put politics aside and begin a responsible discussion about both our nation’s short-term and long-term fiscal future.”