News

Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) today issued the following statement regarding ending the ban on federal research on gun violence:

"More than 30,000 gun deaths occur every year in the United States of America. These are our husbands and wives, parents, sons and daughters, and friends. As a country, we cannot become immune to this daily tragedy plaguing our communities.

"But for nearly 20 years, Congress has prohibited the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from even studying gun violence and strategies to mitigate it. I cannot think of a more cowardly action than prohibiting research because you fear what it will find.

"I offered an amendment to remove this damaging policy rider from the 2016 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill, and I continue to believe it should be addressed in the Omnibus Appropriations Act."

Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), Ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, today issued the following statement after House and Senate Leaders reached a budget agreement:

"Since the beginning of this year's budget and appropriations process, Democrats have called for relief from damaging austerity-level budget cuts so that Congress can enact spending laws that invest in this nation's future.

"Republicans finally engaged in constructive talks, and negotiators have yielded a bipartisan package that increases funding equally for defense and non-defense investments. The agreement also protects the full faith and credit of the United States, extends the solvency of Social Security Disability Insurance, and prevents a significant increase in seniors' Medicare Part B premiums and deductibles.

Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Ranking Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee and the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee, today renewed their call to end the twenty-year prohibition on federal funding on research related to gun violence.

“It is shameful and indefensible that Congress continues to willfully blindfold the American people about gun violence by preventing research about its causes and prevention strategies,” said Lowey. “As we continue grasping to understand mass shootings and daily gun violence, it is time, once and for all, to undertake commonsense reforms like allowing researchers to study this public health crisis. Continuing this mindless prohibition on studying gun violence does not make the crisis go away; it makes it worse.”

On Wednesday, September 30^th – the last day of Fiscal Year 2015 – the House of Representatives will consider a Continuing Resolution maintaining government funding at its current spend rate through December 11, 2015.

The Continuing Resolution does not include language restricting federal Medicaid reimbursements or Title X family planning grants to Planned Parenthood.

FUNDING LEVEL

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) scores a Continuing Resolution slightly above the Budget Control Act sequester cap for FY2016. Although sequestration only takes effect after Congress adjourns sine die in January, the CR addresses the matter with an across-the-board cut of 0.2 percent of all accounts, defense and non-defense.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

The CR includes standard language:

Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), Ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, today delivered the following statement on the FY2016 Continuing Resolution:

Mr. Speaker, we may temporarily avert this most recent crisis if we can get this bill to the President tonight - just hours before the entire federal government shuts down - but it is certainly not a cause for celebration. This very short-term continuing resolution avoids the most immediate crisis, but what is "step two"? After we enact this stop-gap measure, are there any firm plans to begin negotiating the full-year appropriations bills we should be passing today? I remain deeply concerned about the potential of finding ourselves facing a government shutdown again in December.

Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, today issued the following statement on the Senate majority's Continuing Resolution and the House majority's continued inaction.

"Just five legislative days from another Republican government shutdown, House Republican leadership remains paralyzed with no apparent ability or will to fulfill the most basic task of governing. The prospect of the House majority's dithering and internal squabbling pushing hard-working American families into another politically-driven, economically damaging government shutdown is scandalous, and illustrates why the public holds this institution in such low regard.

Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), Ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, today issued the following statement on Speaker Boehner's refusal to rule out adding language on the JCPOA to an upcoming Continuing Resolution:

"With a mere seven legislative days remaining before another pointless and damaging government shutdown, it is astounding that Republican leadership is still entertaining attaching poison pill riders to a Continuing Resolution.

"As one of the few House Democrats who opposes the JCPOA, I also believe including language stopping the Iran deal in an upcoming spending bill would be the height of irresponsibility. It stands no chance of being signed into law and wastes already dwindling time.

Today, U.S. Representative Nita Lowey (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD), Vice Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee issued the following joint statement on the House and Senate Appropriations Committees completing markups of all 12 Appropriations bills:

"As of today, both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees have completed markups of the 12 Appropriations bills. But our work is far from done. Now it is time to get serious about negotiating a bipartisan budget deal, so we can pass responsible Appropriations bills without poison pill riders.