Angie Craig: “I rise in opposition to the Byrd amendment and in support of the shutdown prevention provision, the automatic CR in this…”

“I rise in opposition to the Byrd amendment and in support of the shutdown prevention provision, the automatic CR in this bill. The purpose of this provision is simple: To prevent another government shutdown, in case all 13 appropriations do not become law by October 1. Democrat or Republican Congresses, divided or one-party government, the record has been consistent: The 13 regular appropriations bills are almost never all enacted by October 1. The shutdown prevention CR would take millions of innocent bystanders out of the line of fire if Congress and the President take longer than expected to finish the budget details this fall. It would protect Federal employees, small businesses supplying Government needs, patients in veterans hospitals, their families, and others. If the President vetoes this bill over the shutdown prevention provision: He is saying his power to shut down the government in October is more important to him than replenishing funds in emergency programs today.”