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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 children’s Head Start Programs nationwide. Though President Obama has supported two of the House’s intermediary funding bills, he has threatened to veto the Head Start for Low-Income Children Act (H.J. Res. 84).  

“The House of Representatives is acting in good-faith to restore government services for the American people and stop punitive shutdown antics from tainting our national parks and memorials,” Congresswoman Foxx stated. “This afternoon, the House of Representatives passed its eleventh bipartisan partial funding measure - this one to reopen immediately the federal Head Start Program for low-income children. Twenty-three Democrats joined House Republicans in passing the measure. In the House, we agree that children who rely on Head Start should not have their program disrupted any further by Washington’s dysfunction. 

“House Republicans want to meet with Senate Democrats to find a bipartisan solution to reopen the federal government fully, but the Senate first needs to agree to be part of those talks. Refusing to negotiate a fair end to the shutdown or a fiscally responsible solution to America’s debt crisis is childish and unreasonable, particularly when divided government requires bipartisanship.” 

The House has now taken action on eleven separate measures to solve problems caused by the federal government shutdown. 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 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 8, 2013 – While the Senate refuses to work through policy differences with House Republicans, House votes to restore funding to children’s Head Start program.
• 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 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.

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