Today, U.S. Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) returned to Washington, D.C, recommitted to ending the destructive government shutdown as the one year anniversary of the three-day Republican shutdown in January 2018 nears. House Democrats voted to reopen the government multiple times since the new session of Congress began, providing full fiscal year funding to the agencies shuttered by the lapse in government funding. The House also passed a short-term spending bill for the Department of Homeland Security, funding the agency through February 8.

“It’s Day 24 of the shutdown and I’ve returned to Washington to get the government working again. In last week’s Weekly Democratic Address, I called on President Trump and Senator McConnell to reopen the government, talk about sensible, cost-effective border security measures supported by both parties, and quit holding the paychecks of 800,000 federal workers hostage to a wall that is never going to get built.

“Democrats continue to provide reasonable options to reopen the government. Republicans are voting to keep the shutdown in place—or, in the case of Majority Leader McConnell, doing nothing at all.

“The Trump Shutdown has hurt hardworking families and it is only getting worse: The IRS is not operating at full capacity as we enter tax season, airports are closing security lines as TSA agents call out sick, millions of families are getting their last SNAP benefits for the foreseeable future, the FDA is stopping routine food inspections, and our National Parks are becoming unsanitary and dangerous.

“President Trump’s temper tantrum has gone on for too long and the American people are the ones suffering. I will continue to do what’s right and vote to re-open the government however many times it takes—without irresponsibility spending billions on a borderline crazy wall. Now, it’s time for the Senate and White House to come to the table,” said Rep. Peters.

Last week, Rep. Peters delivered the Weekly Democratic Address, remarking that both Republicans and Democrats agree on border security measures, but calling for the focus to remain on reopening the government. On the first day of the 116^th Congress, Rep. Peters voted to reopen the government and fund the Department of Homeland Security until February 8. The Senate has not considered either funding bill.

This week, the House is expected to vote on additional funding bills to immediately reopen the government without funding the border wall. Rep. Peters intends to support those measures.