Ortt urges Schumer, Gillibrand to support CR and end government shutdown

Press Release, NYS Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt

ALBANY – Members of the New York State Senate Republican Conference sent a letter to United States Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, urging them to set aside politics, prioritize the needs of the people of New York, and vote for the clean continuous resolution to reopen and fund the federal government.

The United States government has remained shut down for 30 days. The shutdown is having a domino effect throughout New York State, impacting childcare, heating assistance, nutrition assistance, housing programs, and veteran services while Federal employees and contractors go without pay.

A clean continuing resolution to reopen and fund the federal government has passed the House of Representatives but has failed to reach the 60-vote threshold in the United States Senate thirteen times, due to near-unanimous opposition from Democratic Senators.

“With no continuing resolution (CR) the government is at a standstill, and detrimental effects are already being felt by our dedicated federal workers who have gone close to a month without being paid,” Ortt said. “Equally concerning, the prolonged shutdown now threatens essential services that countless New Yorkers rely on, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Head Start preschool program, and the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP). These programs are lifelines for our most vulnerable citizens.

“Minority Leader Schumer and Senator Gillibrand have the ability to end the devastating impacts of this shutdown, especially on the most vulnerable New Yorkers, by working with the members of their Democratic Caucus to vote on a clean continuing resolution to end the shutdown immediately,” Ortt said.