WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) today issued the following statement after Congress voted late Friday night to avoid a shutdown of the federal government. A shutdown of the federal government would have furloughed approximately 800,000 federal employees.

 “The American people won when Congress voted to avoid a shutdown of the federal government.  Now it’s time to turn our attention to meeting the important challenges that face our nation.  Those include reducing our deficit in a way that preserves important programs for American families, protecting our environment, and helping to grow our economy for the future.”