Rep. Graves Statement on Schumer Shutdown

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA-14) issued the following statement after Senate Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), shut down the federal government:
“I supported the short-term government funding bill that passed the House on Thursday, which delays harmful Obamacare taxes and also extends the Children’s Health Insurance Program for six years. The House did its job. The sole reason the government shut down is because Senate Democrats refused to join Senate Republicans to pass the House’s funding bill. It takes 60 votes to pass government funding legislation in the Senate, and there are only 51 Republicans.
“Democrats are holding the entire government hostage for a completely unrelated issue that doesn't have an immediate deadline – DACA. There have been high-level negotiations over illegal immigration and border security for months. There’s just not an agreement yet.
“The bottom line: few people understand why Democrats want to disrupt life for Americans, put national security at risk and put sick children at risk over illegal immigration. There’s no pressing deadline and no reason for them to abandon talks.”