Walden, Wyden, Merkley react to deal to end shutdown
Oregon lawmakers reacted to the deal that President Trump announced Friday to end the government shutdown after more than a month and reopen the government through Feb. 15, in hopes a long-term deal can be reached by then.
In a series of tweets, Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., said, “This tentative agreement reached by Congressional leaders and President Trump is welcome news for federal employees and their families in Oregon who have been hurt by this partial shutdown.”
“I’m pleased that important work like forest management projects in our district will resume if this deal moves forward,” he said. “I will continue to support efforts to reopen the government, put our federal employees back to work, and resume the vital services of government agencies.”
“Now it’s time for Congress to come together with the president on long-term, bipartisan solutions to secure our borders and thwart illegal immigration,” the congressman concluded.
Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., also tweeted about the developments:
“Ending the #TrumpShutdown means relief for the thousands of federal workers who are struggling to put food on the table, and the taxpayers who rely on the vital work they do. Wasting $5 billion on a border wall is a bad idea today, and will be a bad idea three weeks from now.”
Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., issued this statement after Senate passage of the bill end end the shutdown.
“The Senate has done its job and passed bipartisan legislation to end this senseless shutdown. President Trump can’t undo the damage he has done to countless Americans as a result of his temper tantrum shutdown. At the very least, he must uphold his end of the bargain and sign this bill so that federal workers can get back to work and thousands of American families receive backpay before this economic hole gets even deeper.
“The hostage-taking is over for now, but with great pain inflicted on our country. I am deeply grateful to all of our federal workers who provided essential services while unpaid. I will keep fighting to make sure their families and our communities never suffer like this again.”
