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Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY) released the following statement after voting in favor of bipartisan legislation that avoids a second government shutdown in two years, and keeps federal operations open for an additional 72 days through December 11, 2015. The clean funding bill, which does not include a controversial provision that would defund Planned Parenthood, passed with an overwhelming bipartisan majority by a vote of 277-151. Every House Democrat in attendance voted in favor of the legislation and all 151 votes against the bill came from House Republicans.

“All the House did today was keep the government open at slightly reduced levels of investment for a little more than nine weeks. No one deserves a pat on the back. It’s our core duty and a constitutional responsibility.

“Every single Democratic member of the House voted to keep the government open. The majority of the Republican Party voted to shut the government down.

“Unfortunately, in just a few short months, we will be staring down the barrel of a shutdown again. Enough is enough. The American people want and deserve better. It is my hope that we can come together and pass a long-term, responsible, and ambitious budget that cuts where we can and invests where we must. Our families, small businesses owners, seniors, students, innovators and entire nation require nothing less,” said Tonko.

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