Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson's Statement on the Government Shutdown

Washington, DC – (Tuesday, October 1, 2013) –  Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX-30) released the following statement regarding the Government shutdown: 

“Today, hundreds of thousands of federal employees though out the country, including more than 50,000 Texans did not go to work today and face uncertainty on when how they will pay their bills during this crisis.  On what should be a great day for America, with the opening of the new health insurance market places, members of the extreme wing of the Republican party are playing the blame game on who is at fault for the federal government shutdown.  I was elected by the constituents of the 30th district to govern responsibly and with the best interests of the American people. I was not elected to hold the American people or our economy hostage when our political parties disagree.

“I, along with my staff in Washington D.C. and Dallas, will continue to work hard to serve the people of Texas throughout this shutdown.  Starting today, the healthcare law will allow my constituents looking for coverage to purchase affordable, quality health insurance through the new online marketplace. This new online marketplace provides a very simple way to get health insurance that will meet your needs, your lifestyle, and your budget at any income level. Though the government has shut down, the Affordable Care Act will continue.

“The only pathway forward is for the Republicans responsible for the shutdown to abandon their reckless strategy of pushing for the repeal, defunding, or delay of the Affordable Care Act at any cost to our country.  I urge, Speaker John Boehner and Republican members of Congress to end the shutdown by working with Democrats to pass a clean funding bill that gives us the time we need to craft a longer term budget agreement.”

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U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson is the ranking member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the highest-ranking Texan on the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure. She represents the 30th Congressional District of Texas, which includes Downtown Dallas, Fair Park, Kessler Park, Old East Dallas, Pleasant Grove, South Dallas & South Oak Cliff; all of Cedar Hill, DeSoto, Duncanville, Hutchins, Lancaster & Wilmer and parts of Ferris, Glenn Heights, South Grand Prairie, Oak Lawn, Ovilla, Uptown/Victory Park and West Dallas.