Rep. Cleaver Votes to Avert a Government Shutdown

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voted in favor of a Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the federal government through December 3, 2021. The CR, passed today by the House of Representatives and the Senate, will keep the government open and avert a government shutdown that would have begun at midnight. Additionally, the CR will deliver $28.6 billion in desperately needed relief for communities that have been devasted by recent natural disasters, including Hurricane Ida, wildfires, and flooding. The bill also provides $6.3 billion in funding to help resettle our Afghan allies that were evacuated out of the country.

"A government shutdown in the middle of a pandemic would be catastrophic for American families and a devastating blow to our economic recovery," said Congressman Cleaver. "By passing this CR and funding the government into December, we give Congress the time needed to pass our appropriations bills through regular order and prevent hundreds of thousands of government workers from being furloughed, millions of veterans and seniors from losing services they rely on, and an unnecessary setback for the American economy. While I'm still furious that Republicans in Congress are holding the full faith and credit of the United States hostage by filibustering a raise to the debt ceiling, I'm relieved to have averted at least one completely needless congressional crisis."

The CR will now go to President Biden's desk, where he is expected to sign the legislation immediately.

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; Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development, and Insurance; member of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress; member of the Committee on Homeland Security; and a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. A high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver is available here.