News

Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), Ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Ranking Democrat on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, today issued the following statement on the expected Executive Order rescinding the Department of Labor "fiduciary rule," which House Republicans have also repeatedly attempted to undermine through the Appropriations process:

"Having run a campaign decrying a system "rigged" against ordinary Americans, it is unconscionable that President Trump will make it easier to swindle hardworking Americans out of their retirement savings.

Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), Ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, today announced Ranking Members and membership of the 12 Appropriations subcommittees have been approved by the Democratic Steering & Policy Committee.

"The Appropriations Committee will play a critical role in the 115^th Congress," said Lowey. "I look forward to working with each of the Ranking Members and the full membership of the Committee to protect services and investments critical to the security and future of hard-working American families."

Agriculture Subcommittee

• Sanford Bishop, Ranking Member
• Rosa DeLauro
• Chellie Pingree
• Mark Pocan

Commerce, Justice, Science Subcommittee

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey (D-NY), Ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, today issued the following statement on President Donald Trump's immigration executive orders:

"President Trump's most recent outrageous executive orders are not just reckless, they are dangerous. In his first week, the President has provided no adequate justification for his multi-billion dollar boondoggle along the US-Mexico border. He will strip federal funding from New York and other ‘sanctuary cities' that lawfully refuse to bow to his draconian demands. These steps are an affront to our nation's core values and put American lives at risk.

Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.), Ranking Member of the House Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, and Democratic members of the Subcommittee wrote to President Donald Trump on Thursday demanding more information about his administration's freeze on Environmental Protection Agency grants.

"We are deeply distressed that your transition team has ordered the EPA to freeze grants and contracts and that it has prohibited EPA staff from communicating with elected officials and state and local grant recipients," the lawmakers wrote. "To halt funding for the vital work of these public and private institutions is unprecedented and unacceptable."

The letter also raises serious concerns about the Trump administration's EPA communication blackout and urges Trump to reverse it immediately.

Appropriations Democrats Call on Speaker Ryan to
Address Trump Administration Conflicts of Interest

House Must Not Turn Blind Eye to Potential Conflicts

Appropriations Democrats Call for Rules Change to
Avoid Conflicts of Interest

Lowey Amendment Would Require Administration Witnesses to
Certify Compliance with Ethics Agreements

Dems: Basic, Good-Government Step to
Avoid Actual or Apparent Conflicts of Interest

Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), Ranking Member on the House Appropriations Committee, today offered an amendment to Committee rules that would require cabinet secretaries and agency heads testifying before the Appropriations Committee to certify that they are in full compliance with their Ethics Agreement reached with the Office of Government Ethics, and if unable to do so, explain why not.

Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), Ranking Democrat on the House Committee on Appropriations, today welcomed four new Democratic members confirmed by the House Democratic Caucus to serve on the Committee:

• Congresswoman Grace Meng of New York
• Congressman Mark Pocan of Wisconsin
• Congresswoman Katherine Clark of Massachusetts
• Congressman Pete Aguilar of California

"I am thrilled to welcome Reps. Meng, Pocan, Clark, and Aguilar as our newest Democratic members of the House Appropriations Committee," said Lowey. "They have proven to be capable, effective, and hard-working representatives of their constituents. The Appropriations Committee will play a critical role in the year ahead, and I look forward to each of these new members contributing and making their voices heard on behalf of hard-working American families."

Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), Ranking Democrat on the Appropriations Committee and the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee, today issued the following statement regarding a pending vote in the United Nations Security Council on Israeli settlement activity:

"I call on the Obama Administration to veto today's UN Security Council resolution regarding Israeli settlement activity and to uphold longstanding US policy of defending Israel against one-sided resolutions. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict should not be internationalized. Only the parties themselves can resolve their complicated differences through direct negotiations. The proposed resolution will not further the cause of peace."

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