WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committees, voted in favor of H.R. 2775 on Wednesday night to end the shutdown of the federal government and avert a default on our nation’s debt. He released the following statement on his vote:
“As relieved as I am that we have brought this latest manufactured crisis to an end, I remain enormously frustrated that it ever got this far. Hostage-taking is not governing. Sixteen days of a shutdown government, at least $24 billion in economic losses, and rattled global markets were collateral damage in a conflict led by a small group of extremist Republicans. It was reckless, dangerous, and irresponsible, and I have heard from an array of Delawareans who agree that this is no way to govern. I hope that those responsible have learned their lesson and will not use our economy as a political bargaining chip again.
“We have major economic challenges to face as a nation, but we need to confront them together and we all need to play by the rules. Negotiating over the federal budget is a good place to start, and I’m glad that we finally have agreement — seven months after the Senate passed its budget — to finally proceed to those difficult negotiations.
“It is time to put this crisis behind us and move forward, refocusing on supporting job growth and rebuilding our economy.”