Davids Statement on Bipartisan Legislation to Avoid Government Shutdown

Today, after voting for bipartisan legislation that averts a government shutdown, Representative Sharice Davids released the following statement calling for further bipartisan cooperation to keep the government open in the long term.

“This bipartisan legislation averts a costly government shutdown that would have drastic consequences on Kansas families, small business owners, and our entire economy. I am encouraged that congressional leaders from both parties and chambers are coming together to find a commonsense solution that keeps our government open for the long term and protects Kansans’ ability to support their families. Bipartisanship is the only way forward and I’m committed to working with anyone to safeguard Kansans’ jobs, health, and financial security.”

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives also passed legislation to extend the deadline to fully reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration, a main priority for Davids. She is working to help pass bipartisan legislation that improves customer protections and accessibility while flying, increases America’s aviation safety standards, and strengthens domestic aviation workforce and manufacturing.

Background:

Following today’s passage of the continuing resolution (CR), U.S. House of Representative appropriators will negotiate six individual appropriation bills by March 8, followed by an additional six before March 22. Congressional leadership has affirmed that all 12 bills will adhere to the bipartisan spending limits agreed upon by Republicans and Democrats in both June 2023 and January 2024.

Davids continues to push for a bipartisan agreement to keep the government open past the new deadlines set in today’s legislation. A shutdown would have serious impacts on Kansas families and the overall U.S. economy. Americans would face disruptions to important benefits, service members would not be compensated, many small businesses would have to alter their operations, and federal workers would be furloughed and go unpaid. Specifically:

• It’s estimated the five-week partial government shutdown in 2018-2019 reduced economic output by $11 billion in the following two quarters and the 2013 full government shutdown reduced GDP growth by $20 billion.
• Kansans receiving Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits would experience service delays, including disruptions to verifying benefits and the issuance of new cards.
• There are currently 19,977 federal workers in Kansas who may be furloughed. A bipartisan report found that the last three government shutdowns led to the equivalent of 56,940 years in lost productivity from federal workers.
• Small businesses may encounter delays in receiving loans from the federal government. Moody’s Analytics estimated that the 2018-2019 shutdown delayed more than $2 billion in loans to small businesses.
• The distribution of important food assistance programs, including SNAP, could be disrupted, leaving some Kansan — including women, children, and the elderly — without nutritious food.
• Travelers could face longer lines at airport security checkpoints and flight delays during a shutdown, which would also delay passport processing times even further.