Media Contact:
Scott Peterson, Director of Communications, Office of Public Information, 202-277-9412
ELLICOTT CITY – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball released the following statement regarding the current federal shutdown. Earlier today, County Executive Ball sent a letter to President Donald Trump, Senate Leaders Mitch McConnell and Charles Schumer, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, and House Leader Nancy Pelosi. A copy of that letter can be viewed here: https://www.howardcountymd.gov/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=vBxAri1T0GQ%3d&portalid=0
“Today, I sent a letter to President Trump, Senate Leaders McConnell and Schumer, Speaker of the House Ryan, and House Leader Pelosi, on behalf of the residents of Howard County, and, specifically, the nearly 50,000 federal workers and contractors who live in Howard County, to urge them to end the current federal government shutdown immediately. Approximately 11 percent of employed Howard County residents and their families are directly impacted by this shutdown and a prolonged shutdown will produce negative impacts to the county’s economy.
As I mentioned in my letter, I am grateful to Howard County’s Congressional delegation, Senators Cardin and Van Hollen, and Representatives Cummings, Ruppersberger, and Sarbanes, for representing their Howard County constituents, and our federal employees and contractors, with exemplary service and communication since the shutdown started. I thank them and their staffs for continuing to serve and advocate for us during this shutdown by offering routine updates and trying to resolve this standoff as soon as possible.
My administration will continue to monitor all impacts of this shutdown on Howard County families, federal workers, and contractors as we begin the start of the new year. We also will continue to support our Congressional delegation with any assistance they may need.”