Vindman: “Reopening the Federal Government was Long Overdue”

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Eugene Vindman (D-Va.-07) today released the following statement after the U.S. House unanimously approved a U.S. Senate-passed bill to reopen the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). “Reopening the federal government was long overdue. For 76 days, Speaker Johnson and House Republicans chose to grandstand and block the pay of hardworking federal employees — TSA agents, members of the Coast Guard, FEMA workers, and Secret Service agents — for no good reason. “The Senate passed this bipartisan agreement over a month ago, and I supported it from the beginning. “I’m grateful these hardworking men and women will now receive the pay they are owed, but the job isn’t done. I will continue to fight for commonsense reforms to ICE and CBP, like body-worn cameras, judicial warrant requirements, and clear identification of agents, that will protect our communities and ensure federal agents are held to the same standards as local law enforcement officers.” ###