WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) released the following statement on Thursday after Senate Republicans voted down a bill to reopen the government until February 8, 2018. Instead, Senate Republicans supported an unsuccessful proposal by President Trump to offer short-term protections for Deferred Action for Children Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients in exchange for $5.7 billion for his wall along the southern border. The government shutdown entered its 34th day on Thursday and is the longest in U.S. history. Nine federal agencies have been shut down since December 22nd, 2018, with about 800,000 federal workers, 1,500 of whom work or reside in Connecticut, either furloughed or working without pay. 

“Our proposal was simple—open the government. No preconditions, no poison pills. Just open the government. We’re willing to have the tough conversations around immigration laws and border security, but not while the patriotic workers at the Coast Guard and TSA are being held as ransom. Republicans all supported a proposal to temporarily reopen the government before the holidays. This was no different. Unfortunately, Senate Republicans have decided to keep holding federal workers hostage to try to fulfill President Trump’s campaign promise and build a wall no one wants,” said Murphy. “This shutdown is an attack on families in Connecticut. It is compromising our national security and dragging down our economy. I can’t for the life of me understand why the president and Senate Republicans just won’t open the government and start paying people.” 

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