Rep. Dean Votes Against Reopening Federal Government

EASTERN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA — Rep. Madeleine Dean voted against the government shutdown decision by the Senate, saying the deal "does not prioritize the health of Americans — the very heart of our spending debate."

As President Donald Trump signed off on reopening the government after the longest shutdown in the federal government's history, Dean said her decision was made over the Congressional Republicans’ refusal to extend ACA tax credits.

"Nearly 20,000 of my constituents are at risk of losing their healthcare," Dean said. "Many will not be able to afford the massive premium increases set to take effect at the end of the year. People will face unimaginable, difficult choices."

Dean said the nation witnessed the Trump Administration’s "cruelty as they willfully neglected their duty" to fund SNAP for 42 million Americans, including more than 50,000 of Dean's constituents.

Dean said she will continue to fight to lower healthcare costs for the communities in her district.

"We have also seen the pain of dedicated federal employees working without pay — especially our military, air traffic controllers, TSA agents, and Capitol Police. It is for that reason I am relieved to see the shutdown end," Dean said. "But this is no way to run a government: one temporary spending bill after another. As an appropriator, I am committed to funding our government wholly and appropriately — the Republican majority failed to do so."

Dean said that what’s more alarming is that the Senate snuck a shockingly corrupt provision into this “clean continuing resolution” that allows eight senators, whose phone records were lawfully seized in connection to the Jan. 6 insurrection, the ability to sue the federal government and receive a minimum of $1 million taxpayer dollars each.

"How does this befit our duty to fund needed federal agencies and our dedicated federal workers?" Dean wondered. "Our budget is a reflection of our values. This temporary funding bill does not reflect my values — or the values of my constituents."