Press Releases

PLASKETT RELEASES STATEMENT ON STOPGAP FUNDING BILL TO AVERT GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

Washington, October 1, 2023

For Immediate Release                             Contact: Tionee Scotland

October 1st, 2023                                                    340-201-6453

Press Release

PLASKETT RELEASES STATEMENT ON STOPGAP FUNDING BILL TO AVERT GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett released the following statement on H.R.5860, Continuing Appropriations Act, 2024 and Other Extensions Act:

“With federal government funding slated to lapse at midnight on October 1st, I am pleased to share that yesterday, the House and Senate passed legislation to provide stop-gap funding to keep the federal government fully operating, and to give lawmakers additional time to negotiate and develop full-year federal government funding legislation for fiscal year 2024. The bill also continues various expiring federal programs for the life of the continued government funding, including the National Flood Insurance Program, community health centers, and pandemic preparedness authorities. 

Of equal importance, this bill supports communities like the Virgin Islands recovering from natural disasters. As we are still amidst hurricane season and with hurricane recovery efforts underway, this bill provides $16 billion in supplemental Disaster Relief Funds to allow FEMA to continue working with the Virgin Islands to finance the rebuilding needs of our schools, hospitals, utilities, roads, water infrastructure, and other services, as well as to be able to respond to future disasters.  

Additionally, this bill rejects the severe cuts recently proposed by Republicans.  Democrats won the fight against slashing important government services and programs.  Today, we continue our fight to hold Republicans to the budget agreement reached with President Biden in June of this year.  Democrats have led the way in averting a reckless, unnecessary government shutdown, while also preventing devastating Republican cuts to critical federal programs that would affect children, our elders and even our service men and women.    

I am proud of the work being done by the House to meet our responsibilities and advance the interests of all Americans. 

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