Washington, DC—Congressman Elijah E. Cummings, the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, issued the following statement after the Republican House leadership shut down the federal government:

“Today, a small group of Tea Party Republicans has taken our country hostage and forced our government to shut down as part of their extreme ideological crusade to overturn the law of the land and put insurance companies back in charge of healthcare decisions for millions of Americans.  The Republican House leadership could avert this shut-down immediately by simply allowing the House of Representatives to vote on a clean continuing resolution, but they are placing internal Republican politics ahead of the best interests of our nation and our economy.  It is time for House Republicans to abandon their irresponsible tactics and perform their most fundamental duty as Members of Congress.”