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I want to assure my constituents and fellow Americans that I remain steadfastly committed to representing our district in Congress and working tirelessly to ensure the responsible funding of our government. Responsible government funding is not just a political matter but a moral and practical obligation. As elected officials, we have a duty to put the interests of our constituents and the nation first. This means finding common ground and passing a budget that reflects the needs and priorities of the American people. It means working collaboratively to address the challenges facing our nation, whether it's supporting our federal workers, protecting benefits, funding our military, securing our borders and acknowledging the threat of our deficit and debt. It means making sure you don’t wait hours to get through airport security or six months to get a passport renewed.
Responsible government funding is not just a matter of dollars and cents; it's about ensuring that our government operates efficiently and effectively, providing essential services upon which our citizens rely. A government shutdown disrupts the lives of countless Americans, hinders essential services, and creates uncertainty for federal employees and their families. A federal government shutdown might seem like a great way to save money, but history shows us that closing the government actually costs more than keeping it open, and has significant costs to re-open. The loss of productivity is rarely recovered. Further, federal employees will eventually get their salaries for work they weren’t allowed to perform but their bills are still due.
This is a lose-lose scenario that benefits no one.
A failure to fund our government also jeopardizes our national security. It is our solemn duty as public servants to ensure that our government is equipped with the resources it needs to protect our nation and its people. National security encompasses a broad range of critical elements, from the safety of our borders to the strength of our military, and the readiness of our intelligence agencies. It includes building our aircraft carriers for our naval fleet and replacement airplanes and fighter jets. All of these components are intertwined, forming a web of defense that ensures the security of our nation. Therefore, the funding of our government is not merely a financial matter; it is a matter of national survival and resilience.
The ongoing crisis at our southern border must also be a priority, having reached a critical juncture, with record numbers of illegal crossings posing a substantial threat to our national security. The Biden Administration has neglected their duty to keep our borders safe, putting the lives of Americans around the country at risk. We can continue to work on appropriations bills while gaining some time to do so through regular order.
Since President Biden refuses to close our border and stop the deadly illicit drugs from pouring in, Republicans in Congress have acted to get our southern border under control and push this administration to enforce federal immigration law. It is abundantly clear that we should be shutting down our southern border, not the government, to address this pressing concern. I voted to do both.
I am glad my fellow legislators came together, set aside their political differences, and prioritized the responsible funding of our government. Let us protect essential services, support our Veterans, and ensure that payments reach those in need without interruption. The well-being of our nation and its people depends on our commitment to this fundamental responsibility.
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