Rep. Cammack releases statement on government reopening

Press release from the Office of Rep. Kat Cammack

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Kat Cammack (FL-03) released the following statement after Congress voted to reopen the federal government following a six-week shutdown forced by Democrat leadership:

“The six-week Democrat shakedown hurt American families, delayed vital benefits and paychecks, and grounded flights — all for nothing,” said Congresswoman Cammack. “From day one, Republicans were ready to reopen the government, protect working families, and restore common sense to Washington. Democrats wasted six weeks, billions in productivity, and the patience of the American people — just to admit Republicans were right all along.”

For 43 days, Democrats refused to negotiate and instead held the American people hostage for political leverage. Despite House Republicans passing a clean CR nearly two months ago, Democrats blocked multiple attempts to reopen the government — leaving families, workers, and businesses to bear the consequences.

During the Democrat-led shutdown, Americans across the country felt the strain:

• Vital programs were disrupted, including delays in SNAP processing and federal worker paychecks.
• Air travel hit a crisis point, with nearly half of domestic flights delayed or canceled as unpaid air traffic controllers faced unsafe staffing shortages.
• Small businesses, farmers, and veterans saw stalled services, delayed permits, and slower benefit approvals.
• Billions in economic productivity were lost as agencies paused operations nationwide.

What the Bill Passed Yesterday Does

Alongside reopening the government immediately, the legislation also secures several key Republican priorities:

• Extends funding through January 30, giving Congress time to complete conservative appropriations work.
• Guarantees back pay for all furloughed federal workers.
• Fully funds SNAP through September 2026, safeguarding food assistance for vulnerable families.
• Imposes a pay freeze on Members of Congress, ensuring politicians do not receive raises while Americans shoulder the shutdown’s burdens.
• Continues prohibitions on Chinese-made drones, semiconductors, and technology from entering the U.S. military supply chain — a major step to keep CCP-linked tech out of our defense systems.
• Maintains Trump-era restrictions on funding for DEI bureaucracies and prevents agencies from using taxpayer dollars for ideologically-driven hiring and training mandates.
• Prevents IRS expansion by blocking additional staffing and stopping enforcement surges aimed at small businesses and middle-class families.
• Protects American energy production, maintaining riders that curb anti-fossil-fuel regulations and support domestic drilling, permitting, and pipeline development.
• Advances conservative appropriations work, including MilCon-VA, Agriculture, and Legislative Branch bills — restoring long-overdue regular order.
• Maintains key border and immigration restrictions, preventing funding from being used for migrant processing “welcome centers” and maintaining limitations on mass-parole schemes.

Looking Ahead

Republicans have been consistent from day one: we are fighting for accountability, transparency, and policies that protect American families. Now that the Democrats’ pointless shakedown is over, we can get back to securing the border, strengthening our military, standing up to China, reining in runaway spending, and restoring sanity in Washington.