In the News
Whip Emmer touts stakeholder support for House-passed CR amid Democrats’ refusal to reopen the government
Washington,
October 3, 2025
Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) is touting key stakeholder support for the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026, or the House-passed, clean CR. It is now day three of the Democrats’ government shutdown, and stakeholders are urging Democrats in the Senate to reopen the government by passing the House-passed, clean CR.
Here’s what stakeholders are saying:
Airlines for America: “You’re straining systems all across this country so you can go the partisan back and forth. What happens inside the beltway? At the end of the day, the main message for Americans and back to Washington is, guys, figure it out, right? Just buy yourself some more time. Pass a clean CR, buy yourself more time so you can have those debates on health care subsidies and all of that. All that's welcomed by everybody. But you have got to keep the government open.”
America First Policy Institute: “This isn’t politics, it’s about PEOPLE. Families deserve a government that works, not one that shuts down and leaves women and children paying the price. A CLEAN Continuing Resolution (CR), which is a short-term bill that keeps our government open and funded, must be passed now!”
American Gas Association: “Natural gas utilities will continue to deliver the affordable and reliable energy that our customers and communities rely upon. A government shutdown will not impact the reliable service utilities provide to homes and businesses across the country, however, a failure to pass a clean continuing resolution may have serious implications for vital energy programs for the poorest and most vulnerable Americans. Furthermore, the longer the government is shut down, the longer Congress remains gridlocked and unable to continue momentum towards permitting reform, which is critical to President Trump’s energy agenda by unleashing abundant domestic energy to support the American economy and our families.”
AmericanHort: “A government shutdown creates challenges for the horticulture industry by halting or delaying critical federal services. With nearly half of USDA’s workforce furloughed, programs that growers depend on—such as payment and disaster assistance processing, plant pest and disease surveys, and specialty crop research—are suspended. Key regulatory and support functions at USDA, EPA, and DHS are curtailed, slowing H-2A and H-2B visa processing, pesticide registrations, and the release of essential agricultural data. These disruptions undermine business operations, threaten the supply chain, and weaken the horticulture sector's ability to contribute to the broader U.S. economy. AmericanHort urges the Senate to work with Congress to pass a Clean continuing resolution (CR) to open the government and ensure continuity of these critical services.”
American Legion: “The American Legion urges Congress to pass the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 and the VA Extenders Act Of 2025. This legislation ensures continuity for programs that are vital to veterans’ health care, housing, and benefits… Many live paycheck to paycheck while honoring their promise to the United States. Congress must do the same for America’s military men and women who defend and protect our country, without question, every day. Passing a continuing resolution is the first step to honor their sacrifices and maintain our national security. Congress must do its job and reach an agreement to fund the government or risk harming our service members, veterans and their families. Lawmakers in both parties must abandon political posturing, focus on their duty to America’s military and fulfill their obligation to our veterans. A continuing resolution is the least bad option while Congress pursues passage of a full appropriations bill.”
American Petroleum Institute: “The American oil and natural gas industry’s mission of delivering reliable energy depends on a functioning federal gov’t. Prolonging this shutdown risks delaying critical projects & adding regulatory uncertainty. Congress must swiftly pass a clean CR & reopen the gov't.”
Business Roundtable: “Business Roundtable urges Congress to immediately pass a clean continuing resolution. A fully functional government is essential for American businesses, workers and consumers while policymakers continue working on a full-year funding package and other pressing issues.”
Christian Employers Alliance: “The Christian Employers Alliance (CEA), representing hundreds of Christian-owned businesses and tens of thousands of employees nationwide, is calling on Congress to immediately pass the clean continuing resolution (CR) and avoid the unnecessary government shutdown caused by partisan obstruction.”
Discovery Institute: “Senate Democrats are threatening to disrupt millions of American lives by forcing us into a government shutdown, all over a clean and straightforward bipartisan bill that they supported just six months ago. Call your Democrat Senators. Urge them to keep the government open.”
Energy Marketers Association: “Energy marketers keep America moving. A shutdown would jeopardize the timely delivery of fuel and coordination of emergency services, harming families and small businesses across the country. Congress must put consumers first and act immediately to pass a clean CR that protects essential energy services and avoids unnecessary disruption.”
Family Business Coalition: "Family businesses across the country depend on stability and certainty to keep their doors open and workers employed. Passing a clean continuing resolution to immediately reopen the government should be a top priority for both parties. FBC urges Congress to put politics aside and prioritize the economic well-being of American family businesses and the workers who depend on them. Stability on Main Street depends on stability in Washington, DC.”
Federation for American Immigration Reform: “Incredibly, Congressional Democrats not only shut the federal government down over providing illegal aliens with public benefits and tax credits, but are continuing to put illegal aliens over American citizens by holding fast to their demands. Passing a clean CR that keeps the federal government functioning is the right thing to do. Instead of providing illegal aliens with Medicaid, Medicare, and Obamacare tax credits, Congressional Democrats should focus on American interests and protecting the livelihoods of federal workers who are not able to do their jobs because of their radical, anti-borders demands. Funding the federal government should never be held hostage to protecting benefits for illegal aliens.”
Independent Women’s Forum: “Our nation is buckling under too much federal debt and runaway deficit spending. So why are Democrats shutting down the government to shovel more taxpayer money at wasteful and unpopular government giveaways like National Public Radio? It’s absurd. Spending is up more than 50 percent from just 6 years ago. We need to cut spending, not increase it. That process starts by passing a clean CR so Congress can get back to actual budget debates in front of the American people. The president and Congress should reject Democrats’ attempts to hold the federal government ransom and force them to waste Americans’ money.”
International Association of Firefighters: “A shutdown means fire fighters are denied pay for their hard work. Fire fighters deserve to know their pay won’t be held up because of partisan battles. The @IAFFofficial urges Congress to pass a bipartisan, clean continuing resolution that keeps the government open. A clean continuing resolution isn’t about politics – it’s the responsible path forward while Congress completes its full-year appropriations bills and fulfills commitments made to those standing on the front lines of public safety.”
International Brotherhood of Teamsters: “Congress is playing the same blame and delay game that corporations play with American workers seeking a first contract. A shutdown will hurt working people. Period. American workers are not bargaining chips. Senators should stop screwing around and pass the House-passed clean, short term funding bill…”
International Franchise Association: “The shutdown is now in its second day and is harming new and existing franchise business owners from accessing critical financing from @SBAgov programs like 7a & 504. A clean CR is the quickest way to reopen programs critical to America’s 800,000 small business franchise owners.”
Job Creators Network: “Senate Democrats are holding basic government operations and the small businesses that depend on them hostage to taxpayer payoffs to the crony health insurance industry. By refusing to adopt the House’s sensible continuing resolution, Senate Democrats are putting their big health insurance donors above the interests of small businesses and ordinary Americans. If Senate Democrats succeed in shutting down the government, they will own the consequences. Voters in Senate swing states such as Michigan, North Carolina, and Georgia will make them pay at the ballot box next year for this Schumer shutdown.”
Log Cabin Republicans: “FACT: The House passed a clean extension of current government funding levels through November. If Democrats block this commonsense bill - which is what the radical Left wants them to do - the government will shut down at midnight. Make no mistake, this is a #DemocratShutdown.”
National Association of Manufacturers: “An open, functioning federal government allows manufacturers to get innovative products approved, next-generation facilities inspected and permitting decisions made. Congress should pass a clean CR, the fastest way to ensure manufacturers have the certainty they need to invest and create jobs here in the U.S.”
National Association of Realtors: “This shutdown puts vital housing programs on hold, creating uncertainty for families, businesses, and markets across the country. From federal mortgage and rental assistance to disaster relief and flood insurance, each day of delay compounds real-life impacts in America’s housing market, which accounts for nearly 20% of the U.S. economy. Already, the NFIP’s authority to issue new policies has lapsed, complicating an estimated 1,400 property transactions a day and leaving many buyers in high-risk areas without coverage. We strongly urge swift passage of the clean bipartisan C.R. or long-term funding package to reopen the government. America’s housing sector, and the millions of people who depend on it, deserve the stability to plan and move forward with confidence.”
National Cattlemen's Beef Association: “America’s hardworking farmers and ranchers need predictability and stability from government, and House leadership is leading the charge to do just that. We encourage the Senate to follow suit and ensure that this continuing resolution reaches the President’s desk as soon as possible.”
National Electrical Contractors Association: “On behalf of the electrical construction industry, our over 4,000 electrical contractors employing more than 500,000 skilled workers across America, NECA urges the Senate to act without delay and pass the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026. This legislation maintains current government spending levels and prevents potential lapses in payment for NECA members performing critical federal contracts…With hundreds of federal construction projects underway, many NECA members are concerned they’ll be unable to access job sites or fulfill their contractual obligations…A shutdown places the financial burden squarely on the backs of contractors and small businesses that are simply trying to do their jobs. A protracted government shutdown would be economically disruptive, delay critical infrastructure projects, jeopardize jobs, and create even more uncertainty for the broader U.S. economy. Therefore, NECA respectfully urges the Senate to pass the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026.”
National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition: “On behalf of the over 500 members of the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA), we urge you to swiftly pass the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026. This critical legislation ensures continued government funding that our industry depends on to keep construction moving forward by preventing further disruption to federal project funding and payments, and regulatory and permitting bottlenecks. Our members produce and support the aggregates materials used to provide the foundation of America’s infrastructure, supporting nearly 729,000 jobs and delivering materials for highways, airports, and public works projects. A government shutdown, even a brief one, halts federal construction projects; delays permitting; and disrupts supply chains, directly impacting our members’ operations. These disruptions threaten the timely delivery of infrastructure improvements that communities rely on nationwide. Stable federal funding is vital for the aggregates industry to plan production, maintain workforce stability, and support economic growth. We strongly urge you to pass the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026, to avoid a prolonged shutdown and continue the progress of America’s infrastructure development.”
Parents Defending Education: “Keeping the government open should be bipartisan. A clean CR does that without wasting taxpayer money on things like earmarks, pet projects, and attempts to re-fund programs that deserve to be shut down.”
Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce: “A shutdown would have serious consequences for Pennsylvania’s economy, workforce, and communities — undermining business confidence, disrupting federal services, and threatening critical operations that families and employers rely on every day. A shutdown would threaten important economic progress, delay federal permitting and contracting, and jeopardize essential services that support infrastructure, transportation, and public safety. Passing this continuing resolution to avoid a government shutdown is important for a wide range of Pennsylvania employers — from the largest manufacturers and service providers to the small businesses that power our economy. We commend our Senators, Dave McCormick and John Fetterman, for their bipartisan leadership in calling for a clean continuing resolution. Their efforts reflect a shared commitment to fiscal responsibility and economic resilience. We encourage all members of Congress to follow their example and prioritize responsible governance over partisan gridlock.”
Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council: “Small business owners have grown weary of disruption and instability generated by government actions and policy. The failure of Congress to act on a key responsibility means added burdens for entrepreneurs and their employees in terms of stalled loans, halted contracts, delayed permits, and access to federal government agencies so they can resolve important labor or tax-related matters. Moreover, such carelessness drives uncertainty and further erodes confidence in Congress, which already ranks at the bottom in terms of how Americans view key U.S. institutions. Those opposed to the common-sense CR that passed the U.S. House are plainly posturing for political gain. They need to get serious about supporting a stable environment for Main Street businesses and entrepreneurs. Advancing the House-passed CR is a reasonable step to keep the federal government functioning while discussion continues. Entrepreneurs are calling on the saboteurs of stability in Congress to do what’s right by their small business constituents, drop their outlandish demands, and vote favorably on the reasonable plan to keep the doors of the federal government open.”
Taxpayers Protection Alliance: “A clean CR isn’t partisan—it’s the bare minimum to keep the government running.”
US Chamber of Commerce: “To members of the United States Senate: As the world’s largest business organization, representing members ranging from the small businesses and chambers of commerce across the country to the leading industry associations and global corporations, we urge you to pass the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026. This legislation will fund the government at current levels, ensuring that the government functions millions of Americans rely on every day can continue as normal and that businesses who contract with the federal government do not experience any lapse in payments. While businesses of all sizes need certainty through longer-term funding measures, history warns us that even a partial government shutdown has ripple effects on the U.S. economy. When the government partially shutdown from December 2018 to January 2019, analysts estimate it reduced economic output by $11 billion in the following two quarters, including $3 billion the U.S. economy never regained. Shutdowns are harmful to the economy, the American people, and our national security. Therefore, the U.S. Chambers urges you to pass the Continuing Appropriations and Extension Act, 2026.”
Vietnam Veterans of America: "On behalf of Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), I urge you to act quickly to pass a clean continuing resolution to prevent a government shutdown. For veterans, a shutdown is not a distant political exercise, but an immediate disruption of care, support, and progress on life-saving Initiatives." |