U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after the Senate passed a bipartisan funding deal that would keep the government open and spare working families from the pain of a shutdown:
“I’m relieved that at the last second today, after weeks of refusing to negotiate a compromise that could keep our government open, House Republicans finally allowed a vote on a bipartisan proposal that is free of any extreme MAGA poison pills—which Congress has now passed—to avert a shutdown that would have hurt working families, while also preserving funding for border security and doubling critical disaster relief from $8 billion to $16 billion. While I’m disappointed that House Republicans retreated from efforts to lend aid to our partner in Ukraine in tonight’s funding deal, I’m glad Leader Schumer and Senator McConnell agreed the Senate will keep working to advance additional economic and security aid to Ukraine before the end of the year. This continued support will be critical to help Ukrainians as they fight for freedom, sovereignty and democratic values against Putin’s unjustified and unprovoked war of choice. Make no mistake: standing up to Russian aggression and upholding the rule of law are important for our national security, and I will do everything in my power to ensure uninterrupted aid to Ukraine so they can defeat Putin’s authoritarian regime and win this war.”