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There are still many other problems that our side believes need to be addressed. As in past years, there are several riders having to do with guns that are made permanent in this bill. In addition, the majority has once again added a rider to prevent the reporting of multiple long gun purchases along the border, as well as an unnecessary Cuba related rider affecting the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Democrats are willing to work together to put forward reasonable bills that make sound investments in our law enforcement, our research capabilities, and our safety. However, to be reasonable, those bills must be free from poison pill riders and must adequately fund vital programs.

We were presented with a budget from the administration that would have cut nearly a billion dollars in discretionary funding. Cuts to programs such as McGovern-Dole, Food for Peace, Rural Water and Wastewater Grants, and Loans for Single Family Housing are just not acceptable. I am pleased to see these vital programs were funded, and I am largely satisfied with how the funding levels turned out.

The Fiscal Year 2019 Agriculture bill would maintain a number of important investments that help young people access healthy meals, including WIC, summer EBT, school meals and kitchen equipment grants. However, it falls short in several areas. While the bill maintains funding for McGovern-Dole, it would cut $216 million from Food for Peace, leading to increased hunger and insecurity around the world.

“The Trump-Mulvaney rescissions package is a raw deal for the American people. Cutting children’s health insurance without reinvesting in other vital health care programs will cause serious pain for American families."

The bill before us contains $3.81 billion, excluding the $1.07 billion requested by the Senate. The agencies in the Leg Branch bill almost all receive what they requested after taking into account their funding in the FY2018 omnibus.

The FY 2018 Omnibus was an important first step in digging many agencies in our legislative branch out of the hole caused by sequestration. This bill continues on that path with a $180 million increase, though it falls $24.9 million below the revised budget request.

Even with this short time period, this bill addresses many members’ concerns as well as critical issues impacting our veterans and active and reserve servicemembers.