Hirono: Keeping Government Open Should Not Be Tied To Women’s Health

After voting to reject a Republican ploy to tie the budget to defunding Planned Parenthood, Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement:

“Keeping the federal government open for business is one of Congress’ core responsibilities. So is ensuring that the least fortunate among us have access to basic necessities. Yet for the second time in the past three years, we are on the precipice of an unnecessary and preventable government shutdown—this time over an ideological crusade that has nothing to do with the government.

“The 2013 shutdown caused billions of dollars in economic loss. The stories of Hawaii small business owners who lost customers, federal employees who were furloughed, and visitors who travelled from around the globe only to be denied entrance to Hawaii’s National Parks and other federal attractions are still fresh in my mind.

“We cannot continue to govern from one manufactured crisis to the next. The majority of Americans agree that it’s time to work together to keep our country running. Let’s cut the partisan politics and pass clean legislation to fund the federal government.”