{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-schrier-leads-effort-calling-speaker-mccarthy-advance-bipartisan", "Rep. Schrier Leads Effort Calling on Speaker McCarthy to Advance Bipartisan Government Funding Bills to Avert a Government Shutdown", "2023-09-21", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Kim Schrier", "S001216", "schrier.house.gov", "schrier", "https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Today, Rep. Schrier joined 97 Members of the New Democrat Coalition on a letter sent to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy calling on him to urgently advance bipartisan government funding bills similar to those advanced by the Senate and consistent with the bipartisan debt ceiling agreement that Congress and the administration negotiated this May.\n\nIn the letter, Rep. Schrier and her New Dem colleagues urged the Speaker to take swift action to avert a government shutdown by passing bipartisan legislation that includes the President\u2019s supplemental request to fund natural disaster relief, secure the southern border, stem the flow of illicit fentanyl into our communities, and continue to support Ukraine in their fight for freedom. The letter reads in part:\n\n\u201cWe urge you to reject the hyperpartisan approach and focus on passing government funding legislation that can actually become law. In the absence of viable appropriations bills from the House Appropriations Committee, we urge you to, at the very least, bring bills similar to the bipartisan bills that have already passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee for a vote on the House Floor.\u201d\n\nOn the release of the letter, Rep. Schrier released the following statement:\n\n\u201cIn Congress, I\u2019m doing everything in my power to keep the government working without interruption for Washington's Eighth District. That\u2019s why I\u2019m committed to working with lawmakers in both parties to advance bipartisan legislation - and only bipartisan legislation will be signed into law - that is required to prevent a costly and harmful government shutdown.\n\n\u201cThere is no reason for a shutdown. Democrats and Republicans already compromised and agreed to spending levels in the debt ceiling bill. The Senate has successfully reported out all 12 appropriations bills on a strong bipartisan basis. These bills include funding levels that reflect the bipartisan, bicameral budget caps enacted in the debt ceiling deal that the Speaker negotiated with President Biden, and that the House supported. Speaker McCarthy must reject the reckless, hyperpartisan approach of the far-right fringe determined to shut down the government, and find common ground.\n\n\u201cThe Speaker made a promise to the American people in May to pass bipartisan legislation that keeps the government open. He is the Speaker of the House, not of the far right fringe of the House, and it\u2019s time he kept his word and made efforts to pass essential bipartisan legislation that strengthens our nation.\u201d\n\nYou can read the full letter to Speaker McCarthy here and below:\n\nDear Speaker McCarthy,\n\nAs we made clear this past May when you announced the debt ceiling agreement with President Biden, and as we reiterated again in June and July, our Coalition stands ready to put partisanship aside and find common ground to fund the federal government and deliver on behalf of the American people. Unfortunately, the House majority has decided to abrogate the May agreement, and now seems willing to disregard its responsibility to ensure the uninterrupted operations of the government. Looking ahead to the September work period and looming fiscal deadline, it is imperative that we find a path to reach a constructive outcome.\n\nPer the May agreement, the Senate Appropriations Committee has successfully reported out all 12 appropriations bills on a strong bipartisan basis and is beginning floor consideration. These bills include funding levels that reflect the bipartisan, bicameral budget caps enacted in the debt ceiling deal that you negotiated with President Biden and which we supported.\n\nIn stark contrast to the Senate\u2019s bipartisan approach, the House Appropriations Committee has run an entirely partisan process and has consequently failed to report out all of its funding legislation. The bills the Committee has been able to advance have passed along strictly partisan lines and include unnecessary \u201cculture war\u201d poison pills that leave the associated legislation with no chance of becoming law. Even more alarming, the funding levels enacted by these bills reflect a deeply unserious, hyperpartisan approach to governing \u2014 for example, the proposed Agriculture appropriations bill slashes funding by over 30% compared to FY23 levels, to a funding level not seen since 2007. If enacted, these bills would make deep cuts to critical federal programs, including programs that fund local police departments, invest in critical transportation and infrastructure projects, and make housing more affordable for families.\n\nWe urge you to reject the hyperpartisan approach and focus on passing government funding legislation that can actually become law. In the absence of viable appropriations bills from the House Appropriations Committee, we urge you to, at the very least, bring bills similar to the bipartisan bills that have already passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee for a vote on the House Floor. Whether the Senate bills pass or fail, all Representatives \u2014 Republicans and Democrats \u2014 deserve the opportunity to show their constituents that they are working to responsibly keep the government open.\n\nIn addition, recognizing that the House and Senate are unlikely to finish consideration of regular appropriations bills by the fiscal year-end deadline, the House should expediently consider legislation in order to avert a government shutdown. Furthermore, any stop-gap bill should include President Biden\u2019s supplemental appropriations request to fund critical domestic and international priorities, from recent natural disasters and the fentanyl crisis, to the ongoing fight to protect Ukrainian freedom and sovereignty.\n\nFinally, Congress must pass extensions of critical federal programs set to expire, including Farm Bill programs, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the National Flood Insurance Program.\n\nAs Members of Congress, our most basic duty is to keep the government running. Once again, as we face the looming deadline of September 30, we stand ready to work on a bipartisan, bicameral basis to uphold our responsibilities as lawmakers and ensure our government works on behalf of our constituents.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-schrier-leads-effort-calling-speaker-mccarthy-advance-bipartisan"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.4339769259095192, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}