Texas Border Business
WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) joined the Blue Dog Coalition in a letter to the leadership of both parties and both chambers of Congress regarding border security and the government shutdown. So far, the government shutdown is costing the U.S. economy about $26 billion—according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) that amount is almost equal to the average cost of damage from a hurricane.
The letter was signed by all members of Blue Dog Coalition leadership, Reps. Stephanie Murphy (FL-07), Tom O’Halleran (AZ-01), Lou Correa (CA-46), and Anthony Brindisi (NY-22). In addition to leadership, the following members signed the letter: Rep. Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-05), Rep. Jim Costa (CA-16), Rep. Charlie Crist (FL-13), Rep. Joe Cunningham (SC-01), Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15), Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Rep. Daniel Lipinski (IL-03), Rep. Ben McAdams (UT-04), Rep. Max Rose (NY-11), Rep. David Scott (GA-13), Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10), Rep. Kurt Schrader (OR-05), Rep. Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), Rep. Abigail Spanberger (VA-07), Rep. Xochitl Torres Small (NM-02), and Rep. Jeff Van Drew (NJ-02).
See below for the full text:
Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader Hoyer, Leader McCarthy, Leader McConnell, and Leader Schumer:
Our constituents sent us to Congress to put an end to political games and to find bipartisan solutions that move this country forward. Our current political stalemate is punishing families, destabilizing our economy, weakening our national security, and embarrassing our great country on the world stage. As of today, the House has voted ten times to reopen the government, and the Senate has refused to take up any of those bills. Both parties must come together to end the brinkmanship and reopen the government, and then follow up with a long-term, bipartisan solution that ensures strong, effective border security.
The American people want to see their leaders talking to one another rather than at one another through the press. In an era of divided government, the reality is that only a bipartisan solution will reopen the government, and that requires the leadership of both parties to come together. We,
While the President indeed has the ability to veto that legislation, Congress also has the ability to override that veto. The legislative branch should be prepared to exercise its constitutional authority to reopen the government.
We came to Congress to represent our constituents—and they are demanding action. We can and should respond accordingly.
Sincerely,
