Asa Hutchinson: “I deeply regret that this legislation is necessary, but the grave economic consequences of the shutdown and the serious…”

“I deeply regret that this legislation is necessary, but the grave economic consequences of the shutdown and the serious ramifications on our country's ability to improve homeland security have made it so. It is estimated that 7 percent of our Nation's gross domestic product flow through these ports. However, that does not begin to calculate the cost to the workers and families who are and will be affected by this impasse. Transportation of products to West Coast ports has been shut down. The jobs of railroad employees, barge employees, and independent truck drivers, whose livelihoods all depend upon the flow of goods in and out these ports, are being endangered by this dispute. In addition, manufacturers who are unable to move products are facing unexpected storage costs that have already resulted in thousands of layoffs. In the agriculture sector, the inability to ship grains, vegetables, livestock, and other perishables is having a catastrophic effect on farmers and ranchers, many of whom are already facing consecutive years of drought and economic hardship.”