On October 1, absent a last-minute change in momentum, the federal government will shut down. No one wins a government shutdown, least of all the American people.The Biden administration has already announced it will, in the event of a shutdown, close agencies Nebraskans rely on such as FSA, Rural Development, and the Agriculture Research Service. Because the Biden administration appears prepared to make any lapse in appropriations as painful as possible, I would prefer to keep the government open while we fight for fiscal sanity.
In order to prevent a government shutdown, on Friday, September 29, I supported a continuing resolution which would provide an initial round of spending reductions at federal agencies, increase border funding, and address our border crisis while providing more time to finish our work on the annual spending bills which fund the federal government. Unfortunately, this measure failed to pass the House.
As we’ve seen the predictable impact of overspending in recent years, families and small businesses have been forced to sacrifice and make difficult choices to make ends meet. Likewise, our government should manage its budget, spend responsibly, and live within its means. I am proud of the work we have done this year to stop Democrats’ overspending and to begin returning regular order to the budget process. Over the past four years, Democrat House majorities failed to produce a comprehensive budget resolution, much less pass it out of the House Budget Committee.These resolutions, mandated by the Budget Act of 1974, are intended to provide the basis for tax and spending legislation enacted throughout the year. Passing a budget resolution is not easy, and I am grateful for the work of the House Budget Committee, led by Chairman Jodey Arrington, which has passed a resolution providing a path to a balanced budget over 10 years.
