Sen. Kennedy: ‘It would be downright stupid to shut down the government’

WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, voted today in favor of a continuing resolution to fund the federal government and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) through Dec. 21.  This continuing resolution is a temporary measure that prevents a partial government shutdown and allows Congress more time to negotiate long-term appropriations legislation.

As part of the continuing resolution, the NFIP will remain authorized for two weeks, which will give the U.S. House of Representatives more time to vote on Sen. Kennedy’s six-month reauthorization legislation, S.3628.  Sen. Kennedy’s six-month NFIP reauthorization legislation passed in the Senate last week.

“It would be downright stupid to shut down the government,” said Sen. Kennedy. “I’m willing to work all day, all night and weekends to ensure that the government is fully funded and that families in Louisiana can receive flood insurance.  We have several federal departments and agencies that still need funding, and we need to be smart about the appropriations process.  I think these two weeks will give us time to settle on fair and effective legislation to keep the lights on.”

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