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WASHINGTON, DC—Congressman Paul D. Tonko voted in the House tonight to advance legislation that avoids a government shutdown as well as voting to address the debt limit to ensure the United States does not default on its loans, resulting in irreparable harm to the economy amidst the nation’s COVID recovery.

“Today we in the House of Representatives took urgently-needed action to uphold America’s economic security and protect the faith and credit of our nation,” Congressman Tonko said. “Our vote on the Continuing Resolution will prevent a needless government shutdown that would damage our economy and millions of hardworking Americans. I am also proud to vote to suspend the debt limit and am deeply disturbed that Republicans, led by Minority Leader McConnell, are attempting to force the first-ever default of the nation—a move that Senator McConnell himself said would be disastrous. Playing political games with our nation’s credit is unacceptable. I will continue working to ensure we meet our government’s financial obligations and do right by the American people.”

This legislation:

• Secures government funding through December of this year, ensuring the uninterrupted operations of essential government services and allowing for Democrats and Republicans in Congress to continue to advance appropriations priorities through the regular order process for Fiscal Year 2022.  
• Delivers emergency funding for urgent priorities, including relief funding for communities devastated by this summer’s record-breaking natural disasters and funding to resettle Afghan refugees after the historic evacuation effort in August.
• Suspends the debt ceiling through December 2022, so that the federal government can continue to meet the financial obligations it has already made, including Social Security and Medicare benefits, services for veterans and paychecks for members of the military.

Over the last decade, every time the debt limit needed to be addressed, Congress came together and acted on a bipartisan basis. Over his four-year term, President Trump incurred $7.8 trillion in debt—and during those four years, Republicans and Democrats worked together to increase or suspend the debt limit three separate times. Now, under President Biden, Republicans refuse to join Democrats to address the debt limit, even as only 3 percent of the current debt was accumulated under President Biden and more than 27 percent was incurred under President Trump.

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