Senator Susan Collins Warns Against Government Shutdown, Urges Passage of Funding Measure

The Dangers of a Government Shutdown

• ⚠️ A government shutdown is described as a failure to govern effectively with negative consequences across all government sectors.
• 🚨 Essential government employees, including border patrol agents, military members, Coast Guard, TSA screeners, and air traffic controllers, would be forced to work without certainty of their next paycheck.
• 📌 Critical investments in National Defense would be halted, impacting training exercises, readiness, and the development of new capabilities for service members.
• 💔 Operations for the Veterans Benefits Administration could be curtailed, leading to the closure of education and GI Bill call centers and the suspension of career counseling for veterans.
• ✈️ The shutdown could also result in curtailed national park operations, increased travel delays due to stalled TSA agent onboarding, and furloughs for FAA employees.

Legislative Process and Missed Opportunities

• 🗓️ The current situation, involving a continuing resolution (CR), should have been avoided by finishing appropriations bills last year.
• 🏛️ Bipartisan appropriations bills, many reported with overwhelming support, languished on the Senate calendar for months without being brought to the floor for consideration.
• 🗣️ Attempts to reach agreement with Democratic counterparts since January, despite good-faith offers, were unsuccessful.

The Continuing Resolution (CR)

• 📜 The CR is presented as a necessary measure to prevent an unnecessary, harmful, and costly government shutdown.
• 💰 While not ideal, the CR continues fiscal year 2024 funding levels and includes important anomalies to address pressing needs.
• 🛡️ Specific increases are allocated for the Department of Defense to meet global threats and cover pay raises for junior enlisted personnel.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Funding is also increased for housing assistance and the WIC program to support vulnerable families.
• 👮 Within Homeland Security, the CR targets increases for ICE operations, avoids TSA screener furloughs, and funds pay raises for the Coast Guard.
• 🛫 Increased funding for the FAA aims to hire more air traffic controllers to enhance airspace safety.

Moving Forward

• ✅ Senator Collins urges the adoption of the continuing resolution to prevent a harmful government shutdown.
• 🤝 She calls for a commitment to work together on the FY 2026 budget to ensure appropriations bills are enacted prior to the start of the new fiscal year.