DeLauro Statement on Passage of Continuing Resolution

House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) released the following statement in response to House passage of a Continuing Resolution to extend government funding to November 17, 2023:

“Keeping the government open at the 2023 funding levels included in today’s Continuing Resolution is a relief for the American people. House Democrats prevented a government shutdown, provided the much-needed funding for disaster relief, and stopped extreme House Republicans from harming our economy and hurting children, families, seniors, and veterans. Americans are already struggling with the rising cost of living. Each day, they face economic uncertainty because they live paycheck to paycheck and have not seen a pay raise in years. A government shutdown will only worsen this struggle.

“Today’s show of bipartisan support is exactly what we will need to continue to get the final 2024 funding bills signed into law. When Congress considers appropriations bills, one of the goals we all share is to responsibly spend taxpayer dollars. While there may be substantial disagreements over what constitutes responsible investments, we can all agree that Continuing Resolutions (CRs) are problematic. They prevent us from updating spending levels and delay decision-making. I hope today’s vote means we are getting to work on bipartisan full-year appropriations bills.

“Not including funding for Ukraine will have serious consequences. In whatever government funding bill that passes next, we must ensure we honor our commitment to the people of Ukraine. There is clear bipartisan support for helping our allies and protecting global democracy. In fact, a majority in the House of Representatives supported funding for Ukraine five times this week, and yet, Speaker McCarthy and extreme House Republicans refused to include aid to Ukraine.

“We learned in Georgia, and we learned in Crimea – if you stand by while Russia takes an inch, they will take a mile. Vladimir Putin must be held to account for upending Europe’s security and peacetime for a pointless and bloody war that has disrupted energy markets and triggered food insecurity around the world. We must be clear about what the denial of funds to Ukraine means. This is appeasement like the world experienced in 1938, and which led to a cascading murderous result.

“I look forward to meeting with Democrats and Republicans in the House and the Senate to get to work.”

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