Today, Rep. Adam Schiff, a member of the Appropriations Committee, released the following statement after reports that the House and Senate would vote on a package to re-open the government and raise the debt ceiling:

“Now that this divisive and economically destructive ordeal is coming to an end, we need to change how Congress operates so we put an end to these recurrent man-made crises. We cannot allow a small group of members to hold the government and the nation’s credit hostage to an unrelated agenda.

“It is my hope that the budget discussions, which will take place under this agreement, will re-establish an orderly process for funding the government and put an end to the indiscriminate and hurtful cuts known as the sequester.  We should also establish a new rule that any unfunded expenditure or unpaid for tax cut be accompanied with the authorization to pay the bills thus incurred. There should never be a question about the United States’ willingness to honor its debts and obligations.

“It’s time to get back to the business of governing, and turn our attention to where it should have been all along – putting Americans back to work, reviving our economy and moving the nation forward.”