The Hill News

House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) delivered the following remarks today at a press conference with Senators Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.).

My name is Steny Hoyer, I’m the Democratic Whip. I’m speaking on behalf of Leader Pelosi and myself. As Leader Reid has pointed out today, almost 4,000 federal employees, and some 70,000 workers for contractors around this country are being held captive. They are out on the street because Republicans have refused to work with us to find common ground. The FAA shutdown will jeopardize $11 billion in construction projects. It will cost more than $200 million per week. It has already cost us $360 million. This is from the party that is worried about fiscal responsibility. Furloughs of thousands of critical aviation engineers, safety analysts, and key personnelâ€"we owe it to these workers to come together and reach a compromise. We owe i! t to every American taxpayer to come together and reach a compromise. We need to get this done, and we should get it done today.

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