Congressman Mackenzie Calls on Democrats to Fund the Government

GovShutdown
September 30, 2025
Press Release
Washington D.C. — Congressman Ryan Mackenzie, representing the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District, is calling on the Senate to immediately pass H.R. 5371, a funding bill to keep the government open. Congressman Mackenzie previously joined a bipartisan majority in the US House to pass this “clean” continuing resolution that would keep the government open. Because 60 votes are required for passage in the U.S. Senate, Republicans — who want to keep the government open — are being held up by Democrats in Congress who have opted to shut down the government and cause pain for millions of hard-working Americans and seniors.
“The calculated effort by some Democrats to shut down the government and deprive the American people of essential salaries and benefits is irresponsible and unnecessary,” said Congressman Mackenzie. “Six months ago, Sen. Chuck Schumer acknowledged that a government shutdown would do enormous harm to the American people and voted to keep the government funded. Now, under pressure from their base, Senate Democrats are threatening to block a short-term funding bill that would allow the appropriations process to continue. Instead of doing the serious work that the American people expect of us, Congressional Democrats have decided that they would rather treat government funding as an opportunity for political gamesmanship. 
“With 60 votes needed in order to avert a shutdown — and only 53 Republican senators in the chamber — the support of some Democrats is needed in order to fund the government. We hope that enough will stand up to the radicals in their base and do the right thing for the American people.”
A government shutdown, which is set to start at midnight on Wednesday morning, would have severe short-term ramifications.
  • Hundreds of thousands of federal employees will be furloughed. Federal employees will not be paid for the duration of the shutdown, including the roughly 5,000 in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District. 
  • Servicemembers will not be paid.
  • Museums, zoos, and most national parks will close. 
  • Funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) will be depleted quickly. 
  • Flood insurance for millions of Americans could lapse. 
  • Funding for the Acute Hospital Care at Home Initiative will expire. 
Though Congressman Mackenzie has already voted to keep the government open, he co-sponsored several pieces of legislation on Monday designed to preserve pay for law enforcement and servicemembers. These include: 
  • H.R. 5260 - Pay Our Border Patrol and Customs Agents Act
  • Ensures Border Patrol and Customs Officers continue to be paid during a shutdown.
  • H.R. 5401 - Pay Our Troops Act of 2026
  • Ensures military personnel and essential civilian staff and contractors continue to be paid during a shutdown.
  • H.R. 1542 - Pay Our Coast Guard Parity Act of 2025
  • Ensures that if the Department of Defense is funded, the Coast Guard is also funded. (The Coast Guard is funded under the Department of Homeland Security.)
“My position has been clear: fund the government and allow both sides to finish the appropriations process,” said Congressman Mackenzie. “I will continue to support a commonsense, short-term continuing resolution that keeps the government funded in the near term and allows for our work to continue. We will not be distracted by partisan games or political hostage-taking. Regardless of the outcome of today’s vote, my team and I will continue to work each day on behalf of the people of the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos. Our offices will remain open and ready to serve you.”