Philadelphia, PA – Today, Senator Bob Casey and Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon visited Philabundance in South Philadelphia to highlight the impact the federal shutdown is having on families throughout the region. They were joined by Mayor Jim Kenney, Councilwoman Helen Gym, local and regional labor leaders, state legislators, and several community organizations with one clear message: it’s time to end this shutdown.
“Constituents have been reaching out to our office because they are living in fear - fear of not being able to pay their mortgages, their rent, school tuition for their kids, or being able to put food on the table,” said Congresswoman Scanlon. “We cannot continue to allow this President and his enablers to hold the American people hostage.”
This shutdown has now become the longest in our nation’s history, forcing many federal employees and contractors to work without pay or to be furloughed. This is creating an unnecessary economic crisis, making it difficult for federal employees and their families to afford necessities, like food, baby diapers, and formula. Organizations like Philabundance have been providing nutrition assistance to families throughout the region since 1984 and will continue to be a resource for those in need during this shutdown.
“Children are suffering from food insecurity and the most vulnerable are hurting from the Trump shutdown,” said Senator Casey. “Senator Mitch McConnell and the President could but an end to this Trump shutdown by bringing to the floor and signing the same funding bills that Congressional Republicans have already supported.”
Also in attendance were regional labor leaders from AFGE, AFL-CIO, and NETU. AFGE represents over 11,000 federal employees who live and work in the Philadelphia region. These organizations have mobilized their members across the country to call for an end to this shutdown. “We pursued these jobs to work for the people. We just want to get back to work,” said Alex Berman, NTEU Region 17.
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