Congressman Cleaver Votes To Reopen Government and End Trump Shutdown

(Washington, D.C.) – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II voted to approve a legislative package that would reopen the federal government and end the Trump shutdown. The new Democratic House passed two bills late into the evening yesterday to reopen government services.

• The first bill will reopen all government agencies except for the Department of Homeland Security with full fiscal year funding through September 30th – with the bipartisan funding levels and language that have advanced in the Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support.

• Second bill would provide a continuing resolution for the Department of Homeland Security's funding through February 8th – the same length of time of the bill that unanimously passed the Senate two weeks ago.

"It is troubling and incomprehensible that at this point, the President has dragged the nation into the second week of an unnecessary and damaging shutdown - keeping 800,000 workers' paychecks hostage over the wall. More than 12,000 Missourians have been without pay during the holiday season. It is my priority to end the Trump shutdown and allow hardworking federal employees their earned pay and the American people their uninterrupted federal services," said Congressman Cleaver.

President Trump declared that he would be "proud" to shut down the government if he cannot force American taxpayers to spend billions of dollars on a border wall. The current House legislative package includes flat funding for the Department of Homeland Security for one month, and no new funding for a wall at the border. The one-month continuing resolution will allow more time for Congress and the President to reach an agreement on border security.

"I strongly support comprehensive immigration reform that protects our borders and honors our values as a nation. In my eyes, that reform would provide a pathway to citizenship, focus on keeping families together, provide a fair and fully-funded visa processing program, and implement the newest technologies that would ensure those coming into the country do so legally," said Congressman Cleaver.

Yesterday, the Democratic House approved these bills, which must also be passed by the Senate. The package of six appropriations bills had previously been approved on a bipartisan basis in the Senate in December before President Trump backed away from the deal. Hundreds of thousands of families are at risk of losing their paychecks including FBI agents, DEA agents and Customs and Border Patrol agents that are currently being forced to work without pay.

"It would be the height of irresponsibility and political cynicism for Senate Republicans to now reject the same legislation they have already supported," said Congressman Cleaver.

"It is my hope the Senate will take the responsible action of passing this legislation to reopen the federal government."

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee, the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, and also a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. For more information, please contact Heather Frierson at 816-842-4545 or Heather.Frierson@mail.house.gov A high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver is available here.