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Reed supports continuing resolution to avoid shutdown

With a looming budget deadline, Rep. Tom Reed said he is supporting a continuing resolution to avoid a government shutdown. Reed said he is in favor of a plan recently introduced in the House of Representatives that will extend four different health care programs for two years, including the Special Diabetes Program, funding Community Health Centers, medicare-dependent hospitals and low volume hospitals. The plan also funds the military through the end of the year.

Reed discussed his support for the measure in a conference call with reporters on Tuesday.

“Extending the funding for our rural hospitals and health care centers is a major win for our region,” Reed said. “These dollars help keep the doors open and critical services available to our communities. It also ensures our seniors have access to the care they deserve.”

Reed, R-Corning, said the resolution would keep the government open until March 23. He said he was voting for the resolution Tuesday night.

“We’ll do our part tonight to avoid a shut down,” he said.

Reed said he is “optimistic and confident” that the Senate will respond favorably to the resolution.

The Medicare Dependent hospitals program provides payments in support of small rural hospitals in which Medicare patients make up a significant percentage of in patient days or discharges, and the low-volume hospitals program hospitals also pays for adjustments known as “extenders.”

The Special Diabetes program provides annual funding for Type I Diabetes research. The program also includes the Special Diabetes program for Native Americans at the Indian Health Services.

Reed commented on President Donald Trump’s remarks on immigration. The president reportedly said Tuesday he would “love to see a shutdown” if immigration isn’t dealt with.

“I believe avoiding a shutdown is better than going down that path,” Reed said.

However, Reed said he agreed with the president’s sentiments that border security has to be dealt with. Reed said he would defer to the White House on whether comments such as those are helpful.

Reed said it’s important to hear the voice of the “dreamers,” or those impacted by Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, but to also hear the voice of “all other Americans” who are impacted by a border that “doesn’t work.”

Congress faces a Thursday deadline to pass a resolution to keep the government open in some form.

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