Rep. Watson Coleman Votes to Prevent Government Shutdown
Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) cast her vote to prevent a government shutdown right before the holidays.
The government funding bill also included natural disaster relief, aid for farmers, and a provision which Congresswoman Watson Coleman specifically fought for to expand nutrition assistance for people impacted by natural disasters.
Rep. Watson Coleman issued the following statement regarding her vote:
“Once again, House Republicans’ failure to govern and willingness to bow down to their billionaire donors put millions of American working families at financial risk.
“And once again, Democrats voted to keep the government open. The government will be funded, workers and our servicemen and women won’t go without pay, and our seniors will continue to receive their Social Security checks because Democrats stepped up for working families.
“I am proud of the good provisions that made it into this bill, especially $25 million in supplemental funding I fought for to expand nutrition assistance for people impacted by natural disasters.
“The bill includes important extensions like providing telehealth services through medicare, so rural residents can get care even when the nearest doctor isn’t close by.
“It also provides for flood insurance, so communities at risk of sudden storms or rising rivers are not left to manage the devastation themselves.
“At the 11th hour, after Democrats and Republicans had come together to write a deal we could both agree on, an unelected billionaire Republican campaign donor threw a temper tantrum and House Republicans folded like a Christmas card.
“I think it’s revealing how the next few years will go that Elon Musk got what he wanted out of this bill while President Trump did not. This is not a good sign for the future of the Republican Party and how they plan to work in the next Congress: billionaire donors can get whatever they want at the drop of a tweet.
“No matter what, I will always fight for working families. And in the new Congress, I will continue to fight for those provisions that were cut. The last few days have been an embarrassment for Republican leadership. I hope the New Year will begin with a more normal funding process that is transparent and accountable to the American people.”