; Whereas the lapse in appropriations delayed payment of Department of Agriculture loans, operating loan decisions, planting and marketing decisions and much-needed assistance for farmers harmed by retaliatory tariffs imposed on American agricultural exports, prevented the implementation of a new farm bill with critical support for struggling dairy farmers and other operations, and cast damaging uncertainty on the nutrition assistance relied on by millions of vulnerable Americans; Whereas the lapse in appropriations delayed the issuance of tax refunds to America’s hard-working taxpayers; Whereas the lapse in appropriations penalized small business owners by halting the approval of Small Business Administration loans; Whereas the lapse in appropriations impeded the operations of United States embassies abroad, undermining the ability of United States personnel to combat terror, enforce sanctions, and strengthen alliances; Whereas the lapse in appropriations undermined the ability of the Department of Homeland Security to respond to increased cybersecurity threats, natural disasters, and terror threats; Whereas the lapse in appropriations delayed approval of FHA-backed mortgages, putting Americans at risk of losing the house they were attempting to buy or sell; Whereas the lapse in appropriations hobbled the ability of the Department of Housing and Urban Development to administer the Section 8 low-income housing program that allows for HUD to provide affordable rental housing to low-income tenants, including the elderly and disabled; Whereas Senator Mitch McConnell has called shutdowns a failed policy ; Whereas Representative Kevin McCarthy said on December 13, 2018, that going into a shutdown is stupid and said on January 13, 2019, that it is unacceptable that 800,000 U.S. employees are not being paid; Whereas Representative Mike Simpson said on January 23, 2019, that this shutdown is stupid