Overhead view of Sacramento

Congresswoman Matsui Signs Petition to Bring a Clean Government Funding Bill to the Floor for a Vote & Reopen the Government

October 4, 2017
Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, October 12, 2013

CONTACT: JONELLE TRIMMER
(202) 225-7163

Congresswoman Matsui Signs Petition to Bring a Clean Government Funding Bill to the Floor for a Vote andamp; Reopen the Government

This morning, Congresswoman Matsui announced that she joined her colleagues in signing a petition to bring a clean government funding bill to the floor for a vote and reopen the government. This special congressional procedure, known as a discharge petition, allows a majority of the members to bypass Speaker Boehner and force an up or down vote on a bill to reopen the government. The federal government has been closed since October 1, 2013, and Republican leaders have repeatedly refused requests from Democrats and some Republicans to pass a funding resolution without controversial items and reopen the federal government.

"This government shutdown is harming American families, small businesses and our economy. Since House Republican leadership continues to refuse to bring up a clean government funding bill for a vote, I joined with my colleagues to sign onto the discharge petition that will force one," said Congresswoman Doris Matsui. "Enough is enough. We have the votes to end this shutdown, so let's do it."

The government shutdown has hurt the middle class and our economy, and will get worse as it continues. Costing taxpayers up to $300 million a day, it has stopped critical loans to small businesses and slowed the processing of veterans disability claims. The shutdown has prevented NIH from taking new patients and halted life-saving medical research and stalled much-needed housing loans for American families.

The discharge petition for H. Res. 372 would allow an up or down vote on a clean continuing resolution, providing funding through November 15 at a compromise level requested by Speaker Boehner. This discharge petition only needs a majority of House members to sign on and does not require any action by the Republican leadership.

You can see which Members of Congress have signed onto the discharge petition in real time by visiting the House Clerk's office here: http://clerk.house.gov/113/lrc/pd/petitions/DisPet0005.xml

###