WASHINGTON - House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita M. Lowey (D-NY) delivered the following remarks on the House Floor in support of H.R. 4378, a continuing resolution to extend federal government funding through Nov. 21 and avoid a government shutdown at the end of the month:
Mr. Speaker, while the House did its work and passed 12 appropriations bills through committee and 10 off the floor, the Senate appropriations process is far behind.
Because of this delay, we must pass a continuing resolution to avoid another government shutdown like the one that started late last year, which caused real harm to our economy and to hardworking Americans.
With less than two weeks until the end of the fiscal year, a clean continuing resolution that keeps government open and funds key priorities is so important.
This legislation avoids controversial policy provisions that have slowed down the appropriations process and that, if included, would jeopardize passage.
For example, it does not include an anomaly requested by the Trump administration to allow wall building outside the Rio Grande Valley.
At the same time, the CR contains provisions that reflect shared priorities, including:
* Allowing the Census Bureau to ramp up preparations for the 2020 Decennial Census;
* Extending funding for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative for another year;
* Ensuring that FEMA disaster relief can be spent as quickly as needed to effectively respond to disasters;
* Ensuring the Department of Agriculture can operate rural water and waste loan programs; and
* Extending the National Flood Insurance Program and authorization for the Export-Import Bank.
In addition to these provisions, extenders that have been negotiated by my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means Committees will keep health programs that are critical to American families up and running.
By extending these programs and government funding through Nov. 21, this CR will allow additional time to negotiate our differences and enact responsible long-term funding for priorities that help make our country safer and stronger.
As we negotiate, families, businesses, and communities across the country will have much-needed budget certainty, with no disruption to vital services or to the pay of federal employees.
After we pass this CR and the Senate moves forward with their process, Democrats will negotiate responsible appropriations bills that uphold our values and give working families a better chance at a better life.
Keeping government open and providing certainty for our communities must be a top priority. Our continuing resolution is a necessary step to that end.
I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Source: U.S. Department of HCA
