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Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) voted today with a bipartisan majority of the House of Representatives to immediately restore funding to the Food and Drug Administration. Though President Obama has supported two of the House’s intermediary funding bills, he has threatened to veto the Food and Drug Safety Act (H.J. Res. 77). 

“The President and Senate’s insistence on keeping almost all unnecessary shutdown policies in place while they refuse to  work with the House of Representatives to shape a bipartisan solution to fully re-open the federal government is petty and irresponsible,” Congresswoman Foxx stated. “Today the House passed its tenth bipartisan measure to restore services for the American people. Like nine prior bills introduced in the wake of the Senate’s shutdown, the House passed this proposal with votes from Republicans and Democrats. Though we don’t agree on everything, the House is choosing not to squander the common ground we do have.

 “House Republicans would still prefer to re-open our government all at once – and certainly as soon as possible, but it is impossible for us to shape a fair, bipartisan solution to do so when we are the only ones willing to sit down, talk to the other side, and negotiate. The fact that refusal to have a conversation has become the hallmark of Senate and Presidential leadership these days concerns me greatly, particularly as our country’s debt crisis demands swift action and actual leadership from the White House.”

The House has now taken action on ten separate measures to solve problems caused by the federal government shutdown. Seven additional bills will be considered by the House in coming days. With the exception of the Pay our Military Act (H.R. 3210), the Senate has yet to consider any. President Obama chose to sign the Pay our Military Act and will support the Federal Employee Retroactive Pay Fairness Act, but has threatened to veto the fifteen other bills House Republicans have introduced to restore funding to critical services for the American people while the Senate continues to stand in the way of open government.

In advance of the October 1 deadline, the House of Representatives offered four separate proposals to fully fund the federal government.

Timeline of House Proposals to Keep Government Open, Restore Government Services:

• October 7, 2013 – In spite of the Senate’s unwillingness to work toward a bipartisan compromise to re-open the federal government, House votes to restore funding to the Food and Drug Administration.
• October 5, 2013 –House votes to ensure back pay for employees furloughed while the Senate continues to refuse to work with the House to shape a bipartisan compromise to re-open the federal government fully.
• October 4, 2013 – In the absence of conversations with the Senate to re-open government fully, House votes to restore FEMA funding and re-activate WIC nutrition program.
• October 3, 2013 – In the absence of Senate negotiations to shape a bipartisan compromise to re-open government, House votes to ensure pay for all Coast Guardsmen and military reservists and put an end to veteran application processing delays.
• October 2, 2013 – In the absence of Senate negotiations on a comprehensive solution, House votes to re-open National Parks, restore funding to the National Institutes of Health, and authorize the District of Columbia to access and spend its own revenues.
• September 30, 2013 – House votes to fully fund government, ensure equal treatment for every American under Obamacare, and conference with the Senate to shape a funding compromise.
• September 30, 2013 – House votes to fully fund government and guarantee fairness for all Americans under Obamacare.
• September 29, 2013 – House votes to fully fund government, delay Obamacare one year, and permanently repeal Obamacare’s Medical Device Tax.
• September 20, 2013 – House votes to fully fund government services, while blocking funding for Obamacare.