Today, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) released the following statement regarding her vote to pass a bipartisan continuing resolution to avert a government shutdown:

“With a government funding deadline looming, I voted today to protect Southwest Washington and our economy from the catastrophic impacts of a government shutdown.

This measure includes bipartisan legislation I helped introduce to ensure we honor our promise to local veterans and maintain the programs and services they rely on – including medical appointment transportation, mental health care, and nursing home care.

It also contains much-needed resources for the Secret Service to thwart further antidemocratic attempts of political violence, such as the assassination attempt on former President Trump – as well as an extension of the Good Neighbor Authority program our rural communities rely on to reduce wildfire risk and keep our woods working.

Nevertheless, we can’t let temporary government funding measures become the status quo, so I’ve led bipartisan legislation to revamp our annual budget process and address our worsening deficit.

I remain ready and eager to work with Republicans and Democrats on a full-year funding solution that puts the needs of working people, families, and veterans across Southwest Washington first.”

Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez has led bipartisan legislation to deter government shutdowns from happening in the first place and ensure lawmakers face mounting, daily costs of any needless shutdown. This week, she cosponsored the Pay Our Troops Act and Pay Our Border Patrol and Customs Agents Act to ensure service members and border patrol agents are paid in the event of a government shutdown.

The Congresswoman also cosponsored bipartisan legislation to establish the task force to investigate the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump and create formal standards for Secret Service protection, review current provisions, and effectively fund protection efforts. 

Last year, Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez’s Treating Tribes and Counties as Good Neighbors Act passed the House to ensure Tribes and counties can fully share in the success of cross-boundary restoration projects through the Good Neighbor Authority program.