Avert a U.S. government shutdown

ISSUE | U.S. GOVERNMENT

Avert a shutdown

I came to Congress because I wanted to work to keep our country and economy moving forward. That is why I will not use the threat of a government shutdown to fight political battles.

Anything that keeps Americans out of work, threatens to delay benefits for our veterans, and weakens our economy is not a valuable negotiating tool.

In 2013, as a Chester County commissioner, I was frustrated that the federal government unnecessarily shut down for 16 days. That shutdown cost our economy an estimated $24 billion. It stalled the creation of thousands of jobs, delayed critical research at the National Institutes of Health, and wasted valuable time that could have been spent moving our country forward. It was more costly to shut down the federal government than it was to keep it open.

We cannot repeat mistakes and must instead build on our record of passing fiscally responsible spending bills to reform our government.

I am leading an effort among my freshman colleagues to stop any possible shutdown. We know a government shutdown is not the best way to move our nation forward. We were sent to Washington to be principled, pragmatic leaders, and we intend to fulfill this responsibility.

|U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello (R., Pa.), www.Costello.house.gov