IL GOP Congress members call on Senators Durbin, Duckworth to re-open government

WASHINGTON DC — Members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation released a statement Monday urging Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth to re-open the government. The Senate is expected to vote at 12:00pm EST Monday on a Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the government through February 8 and fully fund the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for six years.

The following statement was made by U.S. Reps. Darin LaHood (IL-18), Rodney Davis (IL-13), John Shimkus (IL-15), Peter Roskam (IL-06), Adam Kinzinger (IL-16), Randy Hultgren (IL-14), and Mike Bost (IL-12):

“At noon today, Senators Durbin and Duckworth will have another opportunity to allow a vote to fund our government. We are urging them to take this opportunity. This bill will re-open our government, ensure our military members are paid, fund the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for six years, and allow us to deal with all of the issues at hand. It’s extremely difficult to govern when the government is not open. The longer they wait and play their political games, the more damage they cause our country and the American people. 

“Not only did the House pass a short-term Continuing Resolution (CR) on Thursday that would have avoided this government shutdown, but we also passed all 12 of our appropriations bills in September that would have funded the government for an entire year had Senate Democrats allowed these bills to be considered. We stand ready in the House to fulfill our most basic duty as lawmakers and vote yet again to keep our government open.”