Today, U.S. Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) cancelled his plans to return home tonight and pledged to stay in Washington D.C. as long as it takes to fight for a long-term government spending plan that adequately funds our national defense, and one that reflects American values, including protections for Dreamers, young immigrants brought to the country as children, who the Trump Administration tried to kick out by ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program earlier this year. He also renewed his call for the No Budget, No Pay Act and pledged to refuse to keep any congressional pay that would be earned during the days the government is shutdown – should it shut down -- as he has in the past. During the 2013 government shutdown, Peters donated his pay to Serving Seniors in San Diego, a program that feeds San Diego seniors in need that was threatened with cuts during that shutdown.

“Donald Trump controls every branch of the federal government; should it happen, he will own this shutdown that hurts our national defense, hurts our economy, and hurts working families across America,” said Rep. Peters. “These short-term spending plans are devastating to our military. We need a serious, long-term plan that allows our admirals and generals the certainty they need to protect our country from the very real threats we face.

“Trump’s shutdown will also hurt thousands of San Diegans who work for federally funded research institutions and defense contractors. Right now, many of them are wondering if they are supposed to show up at work on Monday and whether they are going to get a paycheck at the end of the month. This is no way to run the greatest country on earth. And this could all be resolved if Republican leadership would allow a vote on either one of the two bipartisan compromises to find a fix for Dreamers. Let us vote and this crisis brought on by Donald Trump himself can be put to rest and we can get on with the business of running the country.” 

Peters also renewed his call for the No Budget, No Pay Act.

 “If Congress can’t do its job and pass a budget, they shouldn’t get paid,” said Peters who refused to keep his pay during the last shutdown, and vows to refuse it again should the Republicans shutdown the government tonight.  A version of No Budget, No Pay passed in 2013 and applied to that shutdown. Peters is pushing a new, even stricter version that would prohibit members from receiving their pay retroactively.

Should the government shutdown tonight, it would mark the first time in modern history where the government has fully shutdown when a single party has been in control of the House, Senate, and White House.