Press Release
Congressman Cuellar Releases Statement on Impact of Potential Government Shutdown in Texas
Washington,
September 30, 2013
Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX28) released the following statement on the effects of a potential government shutdown: “A government shutdown will put millions of Americans and over 140,000 federal employees in Texas out of work when we are still recovering from the worst economic recession since the Great Depression,” said Congressman Cuellar. “While Social Security checks will continue and essential governmental services that provide for our national security will remain active – the individuals who carry out these services will do so without any promise of a paycheck. However, nearly every other employee from many federal agencies will not be reporting to work tomorrow - such as Agriculture, Education, HUD, Interior, and DOT departments. Border Patrol will stop hiring new agents, no gun permits will be processed, and visas will be delayed. The impact will be immediately felt, and will have long-lasting damage. The Department of Defense estimates that during a shutdown nearly half of the civilian workforce would be sent home without pay, while the rest would continue to work for delayed pay, impacting the 51,621 civilian workers in Texas. 184,230 service members in Texas would remain on duty, but would see their pay delayed if the shutdown extends for more than 10 days. A shutdown could delay financial support for Texas’s small businesses. According to the SBA, Texas is home to 389,129 small businesses and a shutdown would halt the SBA’s flagship 7(a) and 504 loans. Veterans’ benefits could be delayed, affecting Texas’s more than 1,600,000 veterans. It could also force Head Start programs around the country to close, including an estimated 1,600 agencies in Texas that serve over 950,000 children. The Senate accepted the House GOP’s budget cuts, however the House GOP is demanding our federal budget be the place to have a debate about unrelated policy. I am ready and willing to have a debate on the budget, and our federal spending, and revisions to the Affordable Care Act, but closing the federal government over a law that was passed by both Chambers of Congress, signed by the President, upheld by the Supreme Court, and finally reaffirmed in the 2012 election is irresponsible and greatly damaging to our economy.” For more information on the government shutdown, please visit: |