WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Friday at midnight, the government shut down after the Republican-controlled Congress failed to pass a spending bill. Until Congress passes legislation to fund the government, most federal agencies will remain closed, hundreds of thousands of federal workers will be furloughed, and many basic government services will be unavailable.

“In a government where Republicans control every lever of power, it is a failure of leadership that the GOP cannot gather the votes to pass a basic spending bill,” said Rep. Terri Sewell. “For my constituents and for the American public, we must reopen the federal government. That means Republicans leaders need to start working with Democrats to pass a bipartisan spending bill rather than relying only on Members of their own party. Our government, from the men and women in our Armed Forces to life-saving federal health researchers, should not be a political football.”

“On government funding, on the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and on so many other issues, it is time for this Congress to confront our nation’s challenges head on and in a bipartisan manner. Here in Congress, I will be looking for ways to bring both parties together to reopen the government and address our nation’s top priorities.”

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Rep. Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) is serving her fourth term representing Alabama’s 7th Congressional district. She sits on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and was recently appointed to the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. Sewell is a Chief Deputy Whip and serves on the prestigious Steering and Policy Committee of the Democratic Caucus. She is also a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, and serves as Vice Chair of the Congressional Voting Rights Caucus, and Vice Chair of Outreach for the New Democrat Coalition.