WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate yesterday evening to highlight the urgent need to pass legislation to prevent a government shutdown and to support our nation’s troops.

Excerpts from Sen. Moran’s statement are below.

“A primary function of Congress is to appropriate the necessary funds to provide for government. We need to resolve this issue so we can move on to the more important issues that we face – next year’s budget and spending down the road.

“I am here to express my genuine concern about the tactics being used to hold hostage our servicemen and women and their pay. They will be working regardless of the decisions made about the shutdown and it makes no sense – in fact it is immoral – to ask our servicemen and women to serve in harm’s way and have to worry about whether the paycheck that feeds their families will arrive.

“We must resolve this issue now and make certain we resolve it in such a way that no member of our Armed services or their family is harmed by the decisions we make. It is important that our servicemen and women understand we value their service and will make certain they are not harmed by the political inaction in Washington, DC.”

Sen. Moran is a sponsor of S. 724, the Ensuring Pay for Our Military Act, to make certain members of the Armed Forces and supporting civilian personnel would continue to get paid in the event of a government shutdown.

Click here to view a video of Sen. Moran’s remarks.

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