WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, September 30, 2023, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) voted for bipartisan legislation to stop a government shutdown. The legislation passed by a 331 to 91 vote. 

“As I’ve said for weeks, with a divided government, a bipartisan solution is the only way to stop the ultra-right from holding the country hostage,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer. “Today, I helped deliver a bipartisan vote to stop a shutdown and protect our military, first responders, seniors, and children.”

Gottheimer helped pass bipartisan legislation to:

• Stop a government shutdown for 45 days.

• Protect pay for more than a million service men and women and federal law enforcement who are critical to keeping our communities safe and protecting our national security.

• Continue major national and international operations, including combating drug traffickers and terrorists and securing our borders.

• Protect federal investments for key programs like SAFER, LESO, AFG, and COPS grants that protect our police, firefighters, and first responders.

• Ensure that countless defense projects — key to our national security — receive investments.

• Protect investments for the federal school meals program, meals on wheels for seniors, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) for lower-income pregnant and nursing women, babies, and young children, and for SNAP to help lower-income families with their groceries.

• Ensure there is support for veterans, childcare, and seniors.

• Protect the economy, infrastructure projects, federal food inspections, the safety of our nation’s transportation.

The bipartisan legislation now heads to the Senate for a vote. It must be passed by the Senate and signed into law by the President before October 1, 2023, to stop a government.

Last week, the 64 members of the Problem Solvers Caucus, which Gottheimer co-chairs, endorsed a bipartisan framework to avoid a government shutdown. 

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