Congresswoman McCollum Statement on Republican Government Shutdown

Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04), Dean of the Minnesota Congressional Delegation, issued the following statement on Tuesday ahead of an anticipated Republican government shutdown at midnight tonight:

“House Democrats have tried to keep government open and lower health care costs, but House Republicans stopped us. Republicans control the entire federal government: The House of Representatives, the Senate, and the Presidency. A two-thirds majority on the Supreme Court was appointed by Republican presidents.

“Congressional Republicans and President Trump have told the American people they have a mandate that allows them to govern on their own without working with Democrats. Republicans have acted on their mandate by enabling President Trump’s chaotic tariffs that are driving up costs for Americans and passing legislation that takes food off the tables of America’s children and seniors. Republicans’ health care crisis strips away health care from 17 million Americans – including 173,000 Minnesotans – and will force millions more Americans, including 12,000 in the Fourth Congressional District to pay higher premiums, higher co-pays, and higher deductibles.

“What will happen when those Americans delay preventive care and treatments they can’t afford because they have no health care? They will needlessly suffer, and tens of thousands of premature deaths will occur each year.

“I do not want a government shutdown. What I want is for Minnesotans and all Americans to have access to high-quality affordable healthcare, be able to have enough money for their groceries, and to live in safe communities. It is unfortunate that my Republican colleagues do not share those priorities. I have been in Washington since Sunday, working together with my Democratic colleagues doing all we can to prevent a shutdown. But without cooperation from Speaker Johnson – who cancelled votes and has refused to call Republicans and Democrats back to Washington – we will not be able to avert a shutdown.”