Chair DeLauro Floor Remarks on Continuing Resolution Through December 18

WASHINGTON — House Appropriations Committee Chair-designate Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) delivered the following remarks on the House Floor in support of H.R. 8900, a continuing resolution to extend government funding through December 18:

As we speak, the Appropriations Committees are hard at work negotiating fiscal year 2021 appropriations bills.

There are many serious issues facing our nation, and federal funding plays a critical role in supporting families and communities as they go about their day-to-day lives. As they try to survive during this health and economic crisis.

Americans deserve the certainty of a full-year funding, and the Congress has a responsibility to the nation to do its job and pass all 12 funding bills before we adjourn.

The Continuing Resolution we consider today will keep the government up and running to bring spending talks to a successful conclusion. These are serious issues that touch every aspect of people’s lives like their education, transportation systems, national security, public health infrastructure, and our environment.

In addition to an omnibus appropriations bill, it is my hope that this additional week will allow negotiators the time to assemble an emergency coronavirus relief package.

To take advantage of this window of opportunity, Leader McConnell must finally sit down with Democrats to find a bipartisan agreement.

Coupled with a full year of government funding, an interim emergency coronavirus relief package is a critical lifeline for working families. If we do not act, 12 million Americans could lose unemployment aid just after Christmas and millions more access to paid sick leave and protections against evictions. This will put working families over the edge and our economy closer to the financial cliff.

I urge my colleagues to join me in adopting this Continuing Resolution. Let’s support the ongoing negotiations. People are desperate. They are counting on us. We need to provide relief to working families, our schools, our children, small businesses, and communities across the nation.

###