Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 12, 2013


Washington, DC – Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards (MD-4) released the following statement after signing the discharge petition to end the Republican Government Shutdown.

“The message to my Republican colleagues is simple:  stop the political piecemeal ploys and join Democrats to reopen all of government for all Americans. Since October 1st, a number of Republicans have signaled their willingness to vote for a clean bill that funds all of our government. I urge them to join Democrats and sign this discharge petition and allow the House to have that vote as soon as possible.

“The impact of this Republican government shutdown to families in Maryland’s 4th Congressional District and the economy in our region is profound. The time for political games and fiscal roulette is long over. I urge House Republicans allow a vote on a clean budget bill funds all of the federal government for all Americans.”

This discharge petition is a congressional procedure that allows a majority of 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.

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