U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Senate Majority Whip, addressed the Senate regarding the ongoing government shutdown, which has now reached its 35th day. In his remarks, Barrasso criticized Senate Democrats for not supporting a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government and highlighted the impact of the shutdown on Americans.
“This weekend, 42 million struggling Americans lost access to food assistance. Many are suffering and sacrificing. This weekend, 1.8 million federal workers missed a paycheck. Their bills are mounting. This weekend, thousands of flights across the country were delayed. Today, air travel is less safe and less dependable. Those are the latest consequences of the Schumer Shutdown,” Barrasso said.
He stated that Republicans and some Democrats have voted multiple times to end the shutdown but claimed that Senate Democrats have consistently opposed these efforts. “Republicans – and a few reasonable Democrats – have voted 13 times to reopen the government. We voted to prevent the suffering. Senator Schumer and Senate Democrats voted 13 times against a clean, bipartisan continuing resolution to reopen the government,” he said.
Barrasso also referenced statements from union leaders urging lawmakers to resolve the impasse: “The President of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association supports a clean, continuing resolution. He said just this Friday, ‘It is incredibly unfair to expect hard-working, patriotic American air traffic controllers and their families to bear the full burden’ of the shutdown.”
Other labor leaders echoed similar concerns about federal employees’ well-being and called for an immediate end to the shutdown: “The President of the Teamsters Union has repeatedly urged Democrats to reopen the government. He said on Thursday, ‘Put the politics aside, get to the table, negotiate a deal, pass a clean CR right now.’”
“The head of the American Federation of Government Employees said, ‘Both political parties have made their point. It’s time to pass a clean continuing resolution and end this shutdown today. No half measures, and no gamesmanship,’” Barrasso added.
Airline industry representatives also weighed in on how continued disruption could affect travel safety and reliability: “The President of the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association likewise said, ‘The biggest way to ensure the safety, security and reliability of our national air traffic control system is to pass a clean continuing resolution.’”
According to Barrasso’s remarks in Congress, major airlines including United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines Inc., and American Airlines Group Inc., support passing legislation immediately that would restore normal operations during what is typically one of their busiest periods.
American Airlines commented: “‘A prolonged shutdown will lead to more delays and cancellations – and the American people, especially during the busy holiday season, deserve better.’”
Barrasso concluded by reiterating Republican support for reopening federal agencies through bipartisan action: “Republicans stand ready to reopen the government today. We support a clean, bipartisan continuing resolution… The American people have suffered long enough.”
