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Congressman Paul Tonko released the following statement after voting in favor of bipartisan legislation that will reopen the federal government and ensure America pays the bills it has already racked up in Congress. House Republican leadership had the ability to bring similar bipartisan legislation to a vote last month but failed to do so, ensuring a 16-day government shutdown. The legislation passed 285-144, with all Democrats present (198) voting yes.

“I am pleased that Speaker Boehner and House leadership finally agreed to accept a bipartisan approach to reopening the government and keeping strong the full faith and credit of the United States of America. This government shutdown was wholly unnecessary and could have been avoided had a small group of Tea Party Republicans not recklessly chosen to hold their party – and the nation – hostage in their pursuit to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

“However, now is not the time to dwell on who won or lost, because everyone loses when partisanship dominates Congress. Now is the time to come together and address the real challenges that face our country. Our unemployment rate continues to hover at 7.3%, and both parties need to come together, focus on jobs, and negotiate an annual budget that will help the private sector put millions of Americans back to work.”

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