Senator Ricketts’ Weekly Column: The Government is Shutdown, I’m Still Fighting for Nebraskans

We’re in week five of the Schumer Shutdown.  Today is the 31st day.  As of last week, this is now the longest full government shutdown.

While on-duty people work without pay, Republicans keep voting on the only bipartisan solution to the shutdown.  We have voted on a resolution to reopen the government over a dozen times now.  This is the same bipartisan bill Chuck Schumer supported four times over the last nineteen months.  But Chuck Schumer wants to keep playing his partisan game.

My staff and I come to work every day.  We’re continuing the business of governing — even if Democrats aren’t.  Capitol Police also come in every day.  So do our federal law enforcement officers, U.S. Attorneys, TSA agents, and air traffic controllers.

But Chuck Schumer doesn’t want to pay on-duty federal workers.  Democrats made police and support staff work overtime—all night, without a paycheck—so they could try to break a filibuster record.  The American Federation of Government Employees is calling for Democrats to join Republicans in voting to end the Schumer Shutdown.

Last week, Republicans introduced a bill that would pay these on-duty workers during the shutdown.  Only three Democrats voted for it.  The Democrats offered their own bill, but they added a partisan poison pill preventing President Trump from increasing government efficiency.  They did this to make sure Republicans wouldn’t vote for it.  The Republican bill was clean.  The Democrats’ bill was not.  Our offer is serious. Theirs was not.

Despite the Schumer Shutdown, my Republican colleagues and I continue to deliver for the American people.  Earlier this month, the Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act.  This NDAA will support our airmen at Offutt Air Force Base and strengthen Nebraska’s Sentinel missile program.  We passed the historic ROAD to Housing Act.  This will make it easier for Nebraskans to buy homes.  The ROAD to Housing Act will help rural Nebraskans.  It includes my Streamlining Rural Housing Act, which cuts red tape for building homes in rural Nebraska.

Last week, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee also advanced three of my bills to deter Communist China and keep Americans safe.  That includes the THINK TWICE Act, the PORCUPINE Act, and the AUKUS Improvement Act.  All of these bills are bipartisan.  These bills strengthen our alliances with Australia and the U.K.  They strengthen Taiwan to deter Communist China’s aggression.  Together, they make it easier for our partners and allies to purchase American-made military equipment such as submarines.

The Senate also continues to confirm President Trump’s judicial and executive branch nominees.  We have confirmed 116 nominees since the Schumer Shutdown began.  Just because Chuck Schumer doesn’t want to reopen the government, doesn’t mean the government shouldn’t be serving the American people.

Senate Republicans and President Trump are doing everything we can to reopen the government.  The President found ways to pay military servicemembers.  The USDA is reopening the Farm Service Agency.  This means critical services for farm loan processing can resume for the end of harvest.

Chuck Schumer says that “every day gets better” for Democrats during the shutdown.  It’s not getting better for Nebraskans or Americans.  Despite this, Senate Republicans and I are continuing the work of government.  We’re passing important bills like the NDAA and the Road to Housing Act.  We’re confirming President Trump’s nominees.  I'm continuing my work to deter Communist China.  I will keep delivering for Nebraskans.

Throughout the duration of the shutdown, my team and I are here to serve you.  My offices remain open in Scottsbluff, Kearney, Lincoln, Omaha, and Washington, D.C.  Contact us anytime by phone at 202-224-4224.  You can also view my website at www.ricketts.senate.gov/contact.