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WASHINGTON – Congressman Paul Tonko issued the following statement after voting to advance the bipartisan bicameral compromise to fund remaining federal agencies through the end of FY 2019 and prevent another government shutdown:

“While I remain dubious about some of the provisions in this agreement, that is the nature of compromise. In the end, this legislation funds many important priorities for our national security and economy, resolves troubling uncertainty for vital agencies and workers, and most importantly ends the threat of another pointless government shutdown.”

Regarding the President’s stated plan to declare a national emergency despite illegal border crossings continuing to reach record lows, Tonko added:

“Congress and the American people have made it abundantly clear that the President is alone in his quest to build a vast and ineffective border wall. Continuing this foolishness reeks of political desperation and shows that, given the chance to listen to the people and govern with reason and common sense, this President prefers to run head-first into his own wall.”

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