WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after Senate Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), once again voted against the clean short-term government funding bill passed by the House of Representatives, ensuring the federal government will shut down today at 12:01AM ET:

“Senate Democrats’ rejection of the House-passed, clean Continuing Resolution proves they’d rather shut the government down than work across the aisle for the benefit of the American people.”

“The Left’s progressive base and allies in the media have conjured up an ignorant illusion that they can force Republicans to accept their demands in exchange for keeping the lights on, but that could not be further from the truth. By not voting with us on a bipartisan basis to fund the government, Democrats have ensured that Border Patrol agents, military personnel, and hundreds of thousands of other federal employees could be forced to work without pay, which is unnecessary and shameful.”

“The American people resoundingly rejected the Democrat Party up and down the ballot last November, instead delivering President Trump and Congressional Republicans a historic mandate. It is time for Chuck Schumer to stop his temper tantrum, come to terms with this reality, and negotiate in good faith before any more harm is done to our country.”

“If they don’t change course, Democrats should expect to face the same failures come next November’s election.”

Senator Cornyn’s offices will remain open during the government shutdown in order to continue assisting the 31 million Texans he represents.