Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28), a member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee and Subcommittees of Defense and Homeland Security, released the following statement, addressing military personnel in his district:

“Beginning Saturday, our government shut down because Republicans, who control a unified government, have not been willing to compromise with Democrats on a spending deal. 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, including San Antonio’s 32,000 Active Duty service-members, will do so without any promise of a paycheck. This is not how we should be treating our service-members, who fight to protect our freedom on a daily basis.

"Last week, I voted to keep our government open because it is our duty as legislators to fund the government.” Congressman Cuellar continued, “The 2013 GOP shutdown cost an estimated $24 billion – an estimated $1.5 billion per day in lost economic output. It is unacceptable that the brave men and women who keep our country safe every day will not be receiving compensation for their critical work.

"I will continue to work with my colleagues to forge a compromise and end this shutdown for the sake of our military, Texans, and the American people.”




Additional Government Shutdown Facts:

1. San Antonio’s 32,000 active military will continue to guard military bases, operate Air Force Basic Training and defend Defense Department cyber networks, all while not getting paid.
2. San Antonio’s 32,000 active-duty military, half of which are under 25 years old many with families living check to check, are not receiving pay and benefits.
3. Deployed Airmen calling Randolph AFB’s Total Force Service Center for discrepancies in pay, life insurance, family support assistance will receive a busy signal because the Service Center is 50% staffed.
4. 12,000 Texas Guardsman did not drill this weekend. This includes vital readiness drills and paychecks these citizen soldiers will never get back. It directly affects military readiness, which will be damaged during the shutdown.
5. Almost half of all military medical treatment will be canceled or postponed during shutdown, which severely limits military deployment readiness.
6. Gold medal families will not receive death benefits during the shutdown, critical funds that cover funeral, burial, and related travel costs, as well as temporary housing expenses following the tragic loss of their service member.
7. 66,000 San Antonio-area Veteran’s will see a significant impact to healthcare availability during the shutdown, adding to the already staggering backlog at VA hospitals.