WASHINGTON – Today, every member of the Pennsylvania Republican Congressional Delegation supported an amendment to pay Department of Homeland Security employees for their work to date.
This includes Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) employees and members of the U.S. Coast Guard, essential employees working without pay during the partial government shutdown.
Pennsylvania Republicans voted on three separate occasions over the past week to pay federal employees the paychecks they are owed, but the measures were blocked by Democrats.
Pennsylvania is home to nearly 60,000 federal civilian workers, many of whom have gone without pay since the shutdown began last month.
“It was disappointing that Speaker Pelosi directed a majority of her members to vote against this commonsense measure and therefore ignore the hardworking men and women who are doing their jobs but not getting paid,” said U.S. Rep. Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson, dean of the Republican Delegation.
“Rather than playing politics and rejecting offers by the President before they’re even delivered, or canceling the State of the Union, Nancy Pelosi should come to the table and negotiate for the good of this country and the men and women who keep us safe in Pennsylvania every day,” Thompson continued.
“I am pleased to see that House Democrats continue to join Republicans on these commonsense votes. This represents a path forward with or without the support of Mrs. Pelosi.”
Members of the Pennsylvania Republican Congressional Delegation include:
Thompson (PA-15), Mike Kelly (PA-16), Scott Perry (PA-10), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Lloyd Smucker (PA-11), John Joyce (PA-13), Dan Meuser (PA-9) and Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14).
VOTES TO PAY FEDERAL WORKERS
Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019: An amendment to H.J. Res. 31, The Pennsylvania Republican Congressional Delegation supported this measure to pay Department of Homeland Security workers through today, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019. Only 13 Democrats voted in favor of this motion, including Pennsylvania’s U.S. Rep. Connor Lamb (PA-17).
Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019: An amendment to H.J. Res. 28, The Pennsylvania Republican Congressional Delegation supported this measure to extend federal funding from Dec. 22, 2018 through Jan. 15, 2019 to ensure federal workers are paid. Only six Democrats voted in favor of this motion, including Pennsylvania’s U.S. Rep. Connor Lamb (PA-17)
Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019: An amendment to H.R. 268, The Pennsylvania Republican Congressional Delegation supported this measure to ensure federal employees impacted by the shutdown receive pay through January 15, 2019. Democrats unanimously rejected this amendment.
