Michael Baumgartner: “we are nearing 1 week since the end of the needless, 43-day-long Democrat government shutdown. That shutdown was a…”

“we are nearing 1 week since the end of the needless, 43-day-long Democrat government shutdown. That shutdown was a monumental waste of time that hurt a lot of people across the country. I am grateful that the families in eastern Washington can now breathe easier knowing their paychecks, benefits, and livelihoods are no longer being used as political bargaining chips. The House passed three appropriations bills providing full-year funding for agriculture, the FDA, military construction, and the legislative branch. I am especially proud that three priorities I fought for were included in the agriculture appropriations bill: $1 million for Washington State University's ARS building project, $2 million for NEW Health's Chewelah expansion and regional workforce center, and $1 million for TriState Health's Family Medicine Residency program. These are meaningful wins for eastern Washington families and our rural economy. Our budget also delivered more than $13 million for Fairchild Air Force Base, strengthening mission support and fueling operations to keep our Nation secure. Had the vote gone differently and the Democrats succeeded in pandering to their radical base, we might still be in a government shutdown and these critical victories for eastern Washington and the Nation might never have happened. Mr. Speaker, I am glad we are getting back to what matters: delivering results for the people we serve.”