Last week, the U.S. Senate failed to pass Republican and Democratic proposals to fund the federal government, leading to a government shutdown.

The shutdown occurred  after a Republican-backed Continuing Resolution  to fund the government for seven weeks failed to attract enough support from Senate Democrats to hit the 60-vote threshold necessary for approval.

The last shutdown was in December 2018; and, at 38 days, it was the longest in U.S. history, resulting in a $3 billion loss in U.S. economic activity, which was never recovered, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

In the days leading up to the shutdown, PA Chamber President and CEO Luke Bernstein issued a statement warning of the widespread economic consequences of a shutdown and urging Congressional lawmakers to pass a clean continuing resolution that would continue to fund the government. He also spoke to WGAL’s Tom Lehman about the consequences of the shutdown on America’s economy, infrastructure, and people.

“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,” he said.

As the shutdown heads into its first full week, neither Republicans nor Democrats appear to be moving toward a compromise. The PA Chamber will keep our members updated on any progress toward a resolution.