Spanberger introduces legislation to prevent future government shutdowns

U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger (VA-7th District) led and introduced legislation recently that would help prevent future government shutdowns and protect federal workers from being used as negotiating tools in funding talks.

During lapses in government funding, Spanberger’s Stop STUPIDITY (Shutdowns Transferring Unnecessary Pain and Inflicting Damage In The Coming Years) Act would automatically renew funding at the same levels as the previous year and make sure all federal workers get paid during a shutdown – except for the legislative branch and the Executive Office of the President. The exclusion would help incentivize Congress and the President to work together to fix policy disagreements, Spanberger believes, without harming the federal workforce, U.S. national security, or the strength of the economy.

“As we saw last month, no one benefits from a government shutdown," Spanberger said. "For 35 days, our economy and national security were put at risk, and federal workers suffered greatly due to the inability of their elected officials to do their jobs. The bottom line is that shutting down or threatening to shut down our government as a negotiating tool is never acceptable, and passing this bill would make clear that members of Congress agree.”

Spanberger introduced the Stop STUPIDITY Act alongside U.S. Representatives Donna Shalala (Florida) and Anthony Brown (Maryland). Last month, U.S. Senator Mark Warner of Virginia introduced companion legislation in the U.S Senate.

The shutdown from Dec. 22, 2018 to Jan. 25, 2019 affected hundreds of thousands of federal employees, causing more than 420,000 to work without pay. More than 380,000 federal employees were furloughed during the shutdown.