WASHINGTON, D.C.–Congressman Pete Sessions (TX-17) released the following statement after Senate Democrats voted against the House-passed Continuing Resolution. As a result, the federal government will shut down at midnight.

Congressman Sessions said, "House Republicans did our job to keep the government open and avoid a shutdown. In the past, when Congress reached this point, we have come together to pass a clean continuing resolution so negotiations could continue without hurting the American people. This time, Democrats chose a different path. By blocking the short-term stopgap we passed last week, they have blocked paychecks for our servicemembers, denied veterans timely access to care at the VA, and added unnecessary burden on American taxpayers. I urge my Democrat colleagues to come to the negotiating table to end this shutdown and get the government open for the people we serve."