Congressional Hispanic Caucus Leadership Statement on Government Shutdown
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) leadership released the following statement today on GOP Government Shutdown:
Chairman Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15):"Today House Republicans have let the American people down. Rather than doing what is best for our economy and country, they have chosen partisan brinkmanship. The Affordable Care Act will help all Americans, but no community will benefit more than the Latino community. It is reckless and unacceptable to play politics with a law that will overwhelmingly help our community. Shutting down the government is a dangerous stunt and provides no solutions for hardworking Americans. As the Chairman of the Hispanic Caucus, I implore House Republicans to stop playing games, pass a clean budget and join Democrats in finding solutions to our nation's most pressing problems."
Vice Chair Ben Ray Lujan (NM-03): “I am deeply disappointed that House Republicans have forced a government shutdown in order to undermine the Affordable Care Act. It’s clear they would rather see the government shut down, workers furloughed, and services halted and delayed for many in our communities than allow millions of Americans to gain access to affordable health care. The extreme elements of the Republican Party are winning out, as the Tea Party shutdown begins. The Affordable Care Act is the law of the land – upheld by the Supreme Court and accepted by the American people in the last election. The longer House Republicans play these political games, the longer the American people will be forced to pay the price and the greater toll it will take on our economy.”
2nd Vice Chair Linda Sanchez (CA-38): "“It is unconscionable that House Republicans would be so reckless and shut down the federal government because they can’t repeal the Affordable Care Act, which has been upheld by the Supreme Court and approved by the American people last November. This government shutdown accomplishes nothing other than sending 800,000 hardworking Americans home without a paycheck and depriving millions of other Americans crucial services. House Republicans would rather jeopardize our economic recovery and the security of middle-class families so that they can deny health care coverage to millions of Americans, many of whom are Latinos. It’s time for House Republicans to drop the partisan games and work with House Democrats and pass a clean bill so that basic government services can return for millions of Americans who rely on them.”
Whip Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-01): “Make no mistake, House Republicans have shut down the government. The Senate repeatedly sent the House a clean funding bill to keep the government open while we work on the significant fiscal issues facing our country. The choice House Republicans faced was simple: pass the Senate’s commonsense continuing resolution, or cave into the extremist faction of their party and shut down the government. Now, many of New Mexico’s 27,000 federal civilian employees will be forced to stay home without pay, vital services for veterans and seniors are at risk, and our economic recovery hangs in the balance. Enough is enough. House Republicans must end these political games and immediately pass a clean continuing resolution to open the government and stop harming the American people.”