January 18, 2018

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:

“House Republicans have kicked the can down the road for a fourth time this fiscal year, leaving a huge list of urgent, overdue priorities for the American people that still have not been accomplished. Instead of working with Democrats on a bipartisan, long-term budget that fully funds both our nation’s domestic and security priorities and adheres to the principle of fiscal responsibility, Republicans have taken an irresponsible path to governing.

“This package fails to address a number of legislative priorities, including protecting DREAMers, providing disaster relief for our fellow Americans recovering from natural disasters, stabilizing the Affordable Care Act, funding Community Health Centers, and fully reauthorizing the long term National Flood Insurance Program.

“What our country needs is a fiscally responsible budget that keeps the government open and maintains a strong national defense. We also need to move urgently to give DREAMers certainty and fund critical health programs that millions of Americans rely on.  I am disappointed to see Republicans unwilling to make compromise to move our country forward.

“Despite the passage of today’s bill, we still have challenges 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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