On the recordMarch 1, 2011
I rise today in support of this short-term continuing resolution, which must be passed this week to avoid a shutdown of many important programs and services. Our first priority today is job growth. That's why we are putting into place policies that will stop the runaway spending here in Washington and help bring more certainty to our financial and business markets to grow our economy and create long-term sustainable jobs. Last week, I had the opportunity to visit the largest single site employer in the State of Ohio, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and I was told that if the government shuts down that thousands of people may be asked not to come to work. If we don't pass this short-term CR, this is one place that would surely suffer from a shutdown, which is responsible for numerous national defense programs that depend on continued funding. Without funding, programs like this across the country will not get off the ground in a timely manner, may incur programmatic delays and costs, jeopardize the national defense programs they support, and put thousands of jobs, including small businesses, on the line. We must do the responsible thing and pass this short-term resolution, which will buy us time to find a long-term solution to our budget crisis.
