WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), Vice Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement after the release of the Senate continuing funding resolution that includes a poison pill rider to defund Planned Parenthood:

 

“We are eight days away from a government shutdown.  Let’s stop wasting time with these political stunts.  We need a new budget deal that invests in America to protect our national security, rebuild our physical infrastructure, create jobs today and jobs tomorrow and meet compelling human needs.

 

“In 2013, the Republicans shutdown the government in an attempt to defund the Affordable Care Act.  Earlier this year, they tried to shutdown the Department of Homeland Security over the President’s immigration policy.  Today, Senate Republicans showed that they are ready to shutdown the government over the defunding of Planned Parenthood – an organization that provides 2.7 million people with access to health care every year.  Even Senate Majority Leader McConnell has admitted that tying the defunding of Planned Parenthood to government funding will not work and is ‘an exercise in futility’ that could lead to a government shutdown.

 

“It’s time to change the tone in Washington to change the tide.  Let’s get to work on passing a clean short term continuing funding resolution to keep the government open while we work out a sequel to the Murray-Ryan budget deal that cancels sequester.”