From Rep. Tom Latham:
As a government shutdown began today, I wanted to take a moment to assure the residents of the Iowa’s Third Congressional District that I have supported measures in the House to keep our government running.
To be absolutely clear, I supported all three separate measures passed by the U.S. House that would have kept the government open today and beyond.
I also worked with Congressmen Jack Kingston (GA), Mike Coffman (CO) and Louie Gohmert (TX) to offer legislation that would ensure our troops and those who support our armed forces are paid in the event of a shutdown. This bill was quickly passed unanimously through the House and Senate and was signed into law by the President. This is a great example of the common sense possibilities that can be quickly achieved when we set aside senseless politics, partisanship and pandering, and commit to work together for better solutions for our great nation and her people.
I want to reiterate that I do not want a shutdown, I never have wanted one, and I have done everything that I can to avoid that. And, I assure you that I will be doing everything I can to move us forward and get the full government working again.
In an effort to keep you fully informed, I want to share with you this guide on how services could be affected during this government shutdown. You can access the guide on my website at: Latham.House.Gov or directly at: http://latham.house.gov/uploadedfiles/lathamshutdownguide.pdf
As always, I thank you for your time and feedback on this and other issues of importance to you. It is through your involvement that I am better able to represent the people of Iowa in the U.S. Congress.
