New Democrat Coalition Chair Statement on the Republican Short-Term Funding Bill
New Democrat Coalition Chair Jim Himes (CT-04) released the following statement on the short-term funding bill that passed the House of Representatives today:
“After an entire year squandered on Republicans’ go-it-alone strategy, Congress painted itself into a corner with a huge list of urgent, overdue priorities for the American people that still have not been accomplished. Republicans have put forth another short-term funding bill without a plan to reach a yearlong spending deal and continue to delay action on must-pass items including stabilizing the Affordable Care Act, funding children’s healthcare, and protecting Dreamers.
“What our country needs is a fiscally responsible budget that keeps the government open, and we must maintain a strong national defense, give Dreamers certainty, and fund critical health programs that millions of Americans rely on. I am disappointed to see that Republicans are kicking the can down the road once again.
“Republicans delayed action on these vital programs while attaching a blanket waiver for the $1.5 trillion in additional debt from their fiscally irresponsible tax bill. If Republicans believe that their bill will pay for itself, they should offer a mechanism that triggers a reevaluation of the tax bill in the instance that does not occur.
“Despite the passage of today’s bill, we still have hard work ahead of us to ensure the government is working to give every American the opportunity to succeed. Moving forward, I, and many of my colleagues in the New Democrat Coalition, stand ready, as we have been all year, to work across the aisle to address these pressing issues and to craft a long-term funding bill.”
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