Press Releases
The House of Representatives will consider the FY2018 Defense Appropriations Act this week, for the third time. The bill is nearly identical to the Defense bill contained within the National Security Consolidated Appropriations Act (HR 3219) passed by the House on July 27th, which Democrats opposed by a vote of 187-5.
Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), Ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, today issued the following statement on the Republican majority's second government shutdown in five years:
"Since President Trump's draconian budget was released, Democrats have warned Republicans that a bipartisan budget agreement was needed to adequately invest in American families and communities. Without a budget agreement, programs as diverse as Head Start, job training, and terrorism prevention grants are in danger of inadequate funding at best. Yet, Republican leadership and the White House have no appropriations strategy other than endless Continuing Resolutions. Mr.
On Monday, December 18th, the House majority introduced a third disaster supplemental following hurricanes and wildfires of summer and fall 2017.
The package totals $81 billion, with the vast majority directed toward FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund ($27.5 billion), Community Development Block Grants ($26 billion), and Army Corps of Engineers repairs and resiliency ($12.1 billion).
While some funding levels are robust, this package is not the product of bipartisan negotiation and compromise.
"Puntagon" Spending Package:
Summary and Key Points
"The Republican majority continues to lurch from crisis to crisis of their own making. This partisan and irresponsible package fails to advance the safety and prosperity of American families and communities and leaves no path to accomplish urgent and bipartisan priorities by the end of the year."
Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY)
Ranking Democrat, House Appropriations Committee
"In recent months, hurricanes battered Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands and destroyed homes, businesses, infrastructure, and communities, as did raging wildfires in California.
"I have heard directly from representatives of these states and territories, who have conveyed the massive scale of the devastation and the need for robust disaster assistance to help communities recover and rebuild. This request does not come close to what local officials say is needed.
Mr. Speaker, since Hurricane Harvey wrought historic flooding in Texas, 12 major disasters have been declared.
From a hurricane that damaged large swaths of Florida, storms that annihilated Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and wildfires burning in the West, Americans deserve certainty the Federal Government will stand by them in their time of need.
"Today's House passage of inadequate and partisan Appropriations bills gets us no closer to enacting full-year funding that will support middle-class families, invest in critical priorities, and keep the American people secure at home and abroad.
"These bills cannot be enacted into law because they cannot gain Democratic votes. And if they were enacted, they would be subject to an across-the-board sequester of $72 billion from all defense accounts.
I rise in support of providing critical emergency relief to respond to the catastrophic damages wreaked by Hurricane Harvey, and the expectation of damages from Hurricane Irma. My thoughts and prayers remain with all those whose families, lives, homes, and businesses have been upended by these disasters. This Congress and the American people are with you in your time of need.