North Dakota’s congressional delegation issued statements concerning the shutdown of the federal government.

Hoeven: Sen. John Hoeven released the following statement after voting for a continuing resolution to keep the government operating and make sure the military gets paid. The legislation provides a long-term, six-year reauthorization of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to ensure that states, including those running out of funding in January, can continue to provide children with health care. The bill also suspends the Obamacare medical device tax and the health insurance tax (HIT).

“I voted for legislation to fund the government and prevent a shutdown. The funding measure would have kept government operating, provided funding for our military and ensured our service members get paid. The legislation included important bipartisan provisions, such as a reauthorization of the Children’s Health Insurance Program for a full six years and suspensions of Obamacare’s medical device and health insurance taxes. This legislation would have prevented a shutdown. Unfortunately, Democrats blocked passage of the bill and forced a government shutdown because they want DACA added with no meaningful border security.”

Cramer: Congressman Kevin Cramer had this to say following the vote in the Senate.

“Day One of the #SchumerShutdown has begun and nearly 5,000 children and 50,000 veterans and their families are being held hostage by the Senate Democrats’ decision to support illegal immigration. The House did its job; it is time for the Senate Democrats to do theirs. For their sake, I hope the Democrats and their supporters stop listening to Senator Schumer and begin listening to the 9 million children across the country who are losing their health care. In addition, many North Dakota businesses will be harmed by the failure to postpone many onerous Obamacare taxes, especially the HIT tax. Just like during the last government shutdown, my office will be open and fully staffed, both in North Dakota and in Washington DC, to meet the needs of North Dakotans.”

Heitkamp: Sen. Heidi Heitkamp did not issue a press statement after the vote but said prior that she she would vote for short-term agreement to keep the government open. She also called for Republicans and Democrats to work together to avoid a government shutdown.

“My vote to keep the government open is not an endorsement for a bill that just kicks the can down the road another few weeks,” said Heitkamp. “In fact, it will be the fourth time Congress has punted in five months. Congress has become equivalent to Groundhog Day – the same thing just keeps happening over and over every few weeks without a new result.

“Short-term funding bills don’t provide certainty. They barely keep the government operating while our military, economy, families, and communities hang in limbo. At its most basic level, it’s the job of Congress and the administration to fund the federal government so it can function and support families and businesses across the country. I’ve been calling for a bipartisan deal, and it’s disappointing that many of those on the other side of the aisle haven’t been willing to work on one. It’s an unfortunate trend that doesn’t serve our country.

“By failing to reach a larger funding agreement, Congress is spending its time jumping from manufactured crisis to manufactured crisis, instead of working on important issues that need to be addressed immediately. We need to shore up the Central States Pension Fund and protect the pensions of thousands of retirees, permanently reauthorize the program that supports health care for thousands of children, provide critical funds to help combat the opioid epidemic, reach a bipartisan agreement on strengthening border security while enabling young immigrants who came here as children to stay in the only country they know, and much more.

“I want to find a long term solution to keep the government operating. I want to work with Republicans and Democrats to find that compromise. I want to focus on important legislation to protect the workers, families, and retirees across our state. And I want North Dakotans to have a government that serves them and works for them. It’s past time for Congress to work together and do its job.”