Washington, DC – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) released the following statement on the government shutdown.

“Like many Americans, I am deeply disappointed that President Trump and Congressional Republicans have refused to compromise and have allowed our government to shut down as a result. Without a functioning government, programs and agencies that are tasked with keeping us safe and our economy moving will be unable to do their job. Millions of New Jerseyans get up and go to work everyday and do their job, it is time that Republicans do the same.

“The lives of more than 20,000 DACA recipients in New Jersey have been put on hold .The current DACA situation is a self-inflicted crisis imposed by President Trump. We can no longer allow Congressional Republicans to kick the can down the road, because Republicans refuse to compromise on a common sense solution for young people who have only known America as their home. We need to move past the partisanship, past the President’s bigoted remarks on immigration and finally come to a solution on DACA.

“Meanwhile, Republicans continue to play politics with the health of nearly 9 million kids.  An extension of CHIP and other health care programs could be passed with strong bipartisan support if it was not attached to a continuing resolution. We should not be holding our nation’s children hostage by forcing CHIP, a bipartisan program, onto a controversial funding bill.”

“We need to come together to swiftly reopen the government and get back to work for the American people.”