**DAY #1: SCHUMER SHUTDOWN*** Congressman Patronis: Schumer and Democrats are Fighting for Illegal Immigrants Rather than Our Military

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Jimmy Patronis held a virtual press conference slamming the Democrats and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for failing to pass a clean Continuing Resolution (CR) and causing a government shutdown. Congressman Patronis urged Senate Democrats to put aside partisan demands and work in preserving the stability and security our nation deserves.

Congressman Jimmy Patronis said, “At 12:01 AM – Eastern Standard Time – the federal government no longer had Congressional authority to operate. As a result, this is Day #1 of the Schumer shutdown. I want to be as clear as possible: this Schumer Shutdown was a choice. It didn’t have to be this way. We sent the Senate a clean resolution (about 24 pages) two weeks ago – and Senate Democrats have voted it down. Chuck Schumer won’t support it. That’s why we’re here. 

“I hope and pray Chuck Schumer will stop holding the American people hostage. They want $1.5 trillion in spending. They want to provide healthcare to illegal immigrants. What a joke. Chuck Schumer supported the same resolution in March. Democrats supported this 13 times before. Now he won’t because he’s afraid of his radical base. My communities in Northwest Florida will be hurt so Chuck Schumer can cater to his radical base.”  

Impacts to the Florida Panhandle, include: 

• At Eglin Air Force Base, Hurlburt Field, Duke Field, and NAS Pensacola tens of thousands of men and women are being directly affected.
• More than 5,800 civilian employees and over 5,000 contractors support these critical bases. Many of them face furloughs or are forced to work without pay, all while Democrats advocate for illegal immigrants getting healthcare.
• Statewide over 95,000 federal workers in Florida are at risk, including 37,000 VA employees and 33,000 Defense Department staff.
• In Florida CD-1, more than 24,700 federal employees are facing uncertainty, from TSA agents to air traffic controllers at Pensacola and Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airports.
• The Coast Guard continues to defend our shores, with no paycheck.
• National Park Rangers at Gulf Islands National Seashore is furloughed.
• The Navy’s Blue Angels are being sidelined from Fleet Week.
• Democrats are asking for America’s law enforcement and essential military personnel to put their lives on the line without pay. 

The Congressman concluded, “Despite these impacts, my office will remain open through the shutdown, and we will continue fielding constituent issues. This shutdown, however, will create some backlogs in casework as certain executive branch agencies will experience furloughs. If you are being affected by the shutdown, I want to encourage you to call Chuck Schumer’s office at (202) 224-6542.”

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