House Budget Committee chairman says pressure is mounting to end shutdown as services run out

Rep. Jody Harrington, identified on the broadcast as chairman of the House Budget Committee, said Friday that mounting harm to vulnerable Americans is increasing pressure on Senate Democrats to reopen the federal government and allow Congress to finish appropriations work.

Harrington, a Texas Republican, cited repeated rejections of a so-called "clean" continuing resolution and predicted a political shift in the Senate. "A shutdown where they have rejected, 13 times now, a clean CR," he said, adding that the pain of the shutdown is "catching up" with the Democratic Party's political interest.

The remarks came after the host cited a Politico report that Senate Majority Leader John Thune said talks to end the shutdown "may be picking up." Harrington pointed to immediate human impacts if funding lapses, saying "about 42 million vulnerable families will be without their nutritional assistance" as soon as Saturday and listing seniors missing home health and telehealth services and military personnel who may not be paid.

The broadcast also played an audio clip stressing the urgency for workers left uncertain about pay: "These hardworking men and women are showing up to do this job and to not ever know when they're gonna get paid again," the clip said.

Asked whether reopening the government now would leave enough time to complete appropriations work before a temporary funding measure expires, Harrington said the House and Senate are already conferencing appropriations bills and that there is "plenty of time" to negotiate remaining policies, including proposals to reduce health-care costs. He urged that lawmakers "keep the lights on" to maintain critical supports while broader funding talks continue.

The interview closed after the host thanked Harrington. The program referenced a deadline for the current stopgap funding running through Nov. 21 and reported that labor groups such as the National Air Traffic Controllers Association were demanding an immediate end to the shutdown.

Harrington's assertions about how many times a clean continuing resolution has been rejected and the exact counts he cited are his characterization in the interview; the broadcast also relied on reporting attributing comments about talks to Sen. John Thune. The program at one point names the guest as "Jody Harrington" during introduction and a different pronunciation in closing remarks; this article uses the name given at introduction.