Press Releases

Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) released the following statement today on the government shutdown:

“Of all the votes Congress must take, the vote to keep the government open should be the easiest. Yet Republicans refuse to agree to even the most fiscally-conservative budget in years unless it’s accompanied by extreme and unrelated measures that will sabotage the nation’s healthcare.

“Hundreds of thousands of workers were told not to come to work today. Many live paycheck-to-paycheck and do not know when they’ll be able to pay their bills again. But this isn’t only about them: It’s about the millions of American families that are already suffering from cuts to education, public safety, hospitals, and veterans services under the Sequester and will now suffer under this unnecessary and avoidable crisis.

“Ultimately, the Republicans shut down the federal government because of their opposition to Obamacare. But Obamacare is law of the land because of the democratic process. A majority of the House and Senate voted for the Affordable Care Act, the President signed it, and the Supreme Court upheld it. Republicans have tried unsuccessfully 45 times to repeal the law. They cannot repeal it by holding the US Congress and US economy hostage.

“Implementation of the Affordable Care Act is moving forward. The Health Insurance Exchanges opened today, enabling millions of Americans access to the affordable health care they desperately need. Just like the introduction of Social Security in 1935 and Medicare in 1965, there will be challenges and strong opposition to healthcare reform. But, like Social Security and Medicare, the Affordable Care Act will move us forward toward the goal of a society that truly cherishes human life.

“This isn’t a government shutdown. It’s an economic shutdown. The failure to pass a budget will result in massive job losses across the country. At a time in which more than 12 million Americans are unemployed and tens of millions more are underemployed, we cannot afford this foolishness.

“Speaker Boehner can end this economic shutdown right now. If House Republicans stop playing politics and bring a simple funding bill to the House floor for a vote, it will pass, the government will reopen, and the economy will resume its recovery. What are they waiting for?”

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Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson is a second-term Congresswoman from Florida representing parts of Northern Miami-Dade and Southeast Broward counties. A former state legislator and school principal, she is the founder of the 5000 Role Models for Excellence Project, a mentoring program for young males at risk of dropping out of school. Along with Congressman Bill Posey, Congresswoman Corrine Brown, and Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, Congresswoman Wilson serves as founding Co-Chair of the Florida Ports Caucus, a bipartisan taskforce that coordinates federal action in support of Florida’s harbors and waterways.