House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole said on July 21 that the House is acting proactively by supporting H.R. 9770, the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2027. Cole addressed the House Floor, emphasizing the constitutional duty of Congress to fund the government and stating that action should be taken before a funding lapse crisis occurs.
Cole said, “This Congress has a constitutional duty to fund the government – and if Article I teaches us anything, it’s that governing means doing the work, not waiting for a crisis. It is a responsibility I have never viewed as optional – and one I have remained committed to honoring through regular order.” He outlined that over the past year, all twelve regular appropriations bills were delivered out of committee before the end of June—an early record since Fiscal Year 2020—and three had passed with bipartisan support.
He criticized Senate Democrats for not allowing markups to progress in their chamber and said this inaction was causing delays in full-year funding negotiations. “So, the hard reality before us is straightforward – the fiscal year deadline is outpacing the work that remains. Our conference refuses to let the obstruction and inaction of Senate Democrats trigger another manufactured shutdown at the end of September. That is why we are acting before a funding lapse crisis, not in response to it,” Cole said.
The proposed legislation extends government funding until December 4th without partisan riders or policy changes and aims to prevent disruptions to national security or vital programs. Cole described it as “a clean, short-term continuing resolution” intended “to keep[] the government open, protect[] progress we’ve made, and preserve[] the path to full-year appropriations.” He further stated: “Supporting this bill does not limit, hinder, or halt any work on full-year appropriations for any of the 12 bills. The choice is clear: either members will vote to keep the government working or they will vote to risk another unnecessary shutdown.”
The House Committee on Appropriations drafts annual spending bills allocating federal funds for government operations and provides guidance for community project requests included in those bills; notable members include Harold Rogers (Republican) and Steny Hoyer (Democrat), according to the official website. Tom Cole currently serves as chairman—the forty-third person in this role—and leads efforts influencing policy through legislation such as continuing appropriations acts.
Cole concluded his remarks by urging colleagues, “I urge all my colleagues to join me in voting for this responsible measure…and I look forward to continuing FY 2027 appropriations process in coming months.”