Letters

For years, Democrats have blasted Republicans for threatening government shutdowns, warning of the harm they would cause everyday Americans. Yet, just last week, those same Democrats voted to shut down the government outright.

The hypocrisy is striking. The recklessness is worse.

On September 20, 10 days before the fiscal year ended, 216 House Republicans and one House Democrat acted responsibly by passing a bill to keep the government open and protect critical programs. Now, Senate Democrats are rejecting the House’s status quo funding bill that carried no partisan riders and simply extended Biden-era funding for 52 days. That bill included funding on which Long Islanders rely every day.

The consequences of a shutdown would be hard felt here at home. At Brookhaven National Lab, 3,000 scientists, engineers and support staff conducting research vital to both our economy and national security could see their work disrupted. Coast Guardsmen stationed at Montauk, Shinnecock and Eaton’s Neck could be forced to serve without pay. Services at the Northport VA Medical Center, on which thousands of veterans depend, could be disrupted.

Homeland Security operations — from cyber defense to border enforcement — would be undermined. National security planning and oversight could grind to a halt, leaving America less safe and emboldening our adversaries. Even brief shutdowns disrupt readiness, delay contracts and damage morale among those who serve our country.

Last Congress, I strongly disagreed with President Joe Biden’s open-border policies. But, even then, I voted to fund the government, because I refused to hold our country hostage. I knew who would get hurt: our troops, our veterans and the 31,000 federal employees here on Long Island who keep critical services running.

My colleague and fellow Problem Solvers Caucus member U.S. Representative Tom Suozzi (D-Nassau) said it well in 2018: “We shouldn’t be holding all these people’s lives hostage because [the president is] trying to negotiate a deal for an issue he wants.” He was right then, and the same holds true today.

Now, with 53 Republicans in the Senate, the math is clear. It takes 60 votes to fund the government, which means at least seven Senate Democrats must cross the aisle and put our country over their politics.

Anything less is a deliberate choice to gamble with our national security, and even with the care our Long Island veterans receive at Northport.

Nick LaLota

U.S. Representative

1st Congressional District