After 16 Days, Bipartisan Agreement Reopens Government, Ensures America Pays Its Bills

MESSAGE FROM THE DEMOCRATIC WHIP

On Wednesday, Congress reached a bipartisan agreement to reopen the federal government and ensure that America pays its bills. Federal employees returned to their jobs, our government is open and working for the American people and we have avoided defaulting on our financial obligations for the first time in U.S. history, providing some certainty for our families, business and economy. I’m pleased that we are finally moving forward with a budget conference so that we can craft a responsible, bipartisan agreement that will replace the irrational sequester and pursue a balanced path forward to reduce our deficits.

However, it’s unfortunate that for 16 days Americans had to endure the unnecessary Republican government shutdown and political brinksmanship that threatened our economy, our nation’s credibility and the confidence Americans have in their government. I remain hopeful that over the next few months Congress will reach a long-term, bipartisan, and balanced solution to put our nation back on a fiscally-sustainable path, rather than continuing Republicans’ strategy of governing by crisis and partisanship.

While our financial and economic issues will remain at the forefront, I am also hopeful that in the coming weeks, Congress can take action on other areas of concern in our nation, including passing job creation legislation, comprehensive immigration reform, and a farm bill that includes adequate funding for nutrition assistance programs.

Sincerely yours, 

STENY H. HOYER

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Hoyer Statement on House Passage of Bipartisan Legislation to Reopen Government, Ensure America Pays Its Bills and Begin Budget Conference

Hoyer on CNN: The Government Ought to Be Open, and America Ought to Pay Its Debts

Hoyer Discusses Bipartisan Agreement to Open Government and Ensure America Pays Its Bills on MSNBC's "The Ed Show"

Hoyer Remarks at Democratic Leadership Press Conference on Republicans' Refusal to Reopen Government

15 Days of the Republican Government Shutdown: By the Numbers