Eric Swalwell: “The devastating effect of the shutdown is now rippling beyond the Federal workforce. Last week it was learned that…”

“The devastating effect of the shutdown is now rippling beyond the Federal workforce. Last week it was learned that scientists at Lawrence Livermore and Sandia National Laboratory who work as Federal contractors will be furloughed this week. This is the largest employer in the 15th Congressional District, and their job is to uphold the national security mission of the United States, maintain our nuclear weapons stockpile, and provide energy security. I flew home yesterday to hold a town hall meeting for Sandia and Livermore employees, and the room was filled with fear and anxiety about how they would meet their bills and obligations and what they would do next. Enough is enough. The responsible thing to do is to end the government shutdown and put back to work our Federal workforce and our government contractors. I have sent a letter to Secretary Ernie Moniz of the Department of Energy asking that we guarantee back pay for the furloughed workers at Lawrence Livermore and Sandia National Laboratory. This ripple will continue as long as this shutdown goes on. The responsible thing to do is to end this shutdown, make sure that the cause of science is advanced at Lawrence Livermore and Sandia, and we put back to work these hardworking individuals who are serving the national mission. ____________________”