Rep. Sykes Calls on House Republicans to Safeguard the Services & Relief American Families Need
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) issued the following statement after a partisan government funding bill failed in the House of Representatives. This follows House Republicans’ decision to go back on the bipartisan agreement to temporarily fund the government, threatening a shutdown.
“Once again, House Republicans are partaking in petty politics that threaten a government shutdown without regard for the people who will feel the strain of their faux gamesmanship – the people who we’re sworn to serve – right before the holiday season.
“Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate negotiated legislation and reached bipartisan agreement to keep the government funded and provide essential services and relief for those who need it most, including those in Ohio’s 13th district, but the majority reneged because of a tweet and now, we’re on the brink of a government shutdown.
“I am imploring House Republicans to immediately clean up the mess that they’ve made and safeguard the services American families depend upon and I’m ready to work with anyone who is serious about helping Ohio’s 13th district and the American people.”
Democrats and Republicans negotiated a continuing resolution to temporarily fund our government and keep critical services running for people and families in Ohio’s 13th Congressional District through March 14, 2025. The temporary funding bill would extend funding levels for federal agencies and programs set to run out of funds at 12:00 A.M., December 21, 2024.
A government shutdown would hurt working families in Ohio’s 13th District, damage our economy, interrupt vital services, endanger our national security, and force millions of our troops and government employees to work without pay.
The Impacts of a Republican Shutdown on Families in Ohio and OH-13
In OH-13, If House Republicans Shut Down The Government:
- Approximately 11,296 people, including 2,756 infants and 5,860 children, in OH-13 would lose access to Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits in a prolonged shutdown.
- 6,137 federal workers in OH-13 would be furloughed or forced to work without pay during a total government shutdown, in addition to the many employees of businesses with government contracts who could be laid off, furloughed, or see their hours cut.
In Ohio, If House Republicans Shut Down The Government:
- 34,063 active duty and reserve personnel serving our nation's armed forces in Ohio would be forced to go without the pay they earn during a shutdown.
- The Small Business Administration would stop processing small business loans, halting a program that provides $951,118,000 in funding to small businesses in Ohio every year.
- 18,143 people flying through Ohio airports every day would face potential delays and safety concerns due to staffing impacts on TSA agents and air traffic controllers.
- 179,262 people in Ohio would lose access to Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits in a prolonged shutdown.
- 58,212 federal workers in Ohio would be furloughed or forced to work without pay during a total government shutdown, in addition to the many employees of businesses with government contracts who could be laid off, furloughed, or see their hours cut.
- Workers at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would be sidelined, risking interruptions and delays to the 435 food safety, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and other inspections conducted in Ohio last year.
- The Department of Agriculture would be forced to stop processing housing loans, which provide $454,555,416 in funding to help 3,220 families in rural Ohio communities buy homes every year.
- The Department of Agriculture would be forced to stop processing farm loans which provide $196,035,000 in funding for farmers in Ohio every year.
- 1,397,579 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beneficiaries in Ohio would lose access to benefits in a prolonged shutdown.
- 3,208,030 people who visit national parks in Ohio every year would be turned away or unable to fully access parks, monuments, and museums.