Zoe Lofgren: “while I am supportive of provisions in the minibus that would fund the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services…”

“while I am supportive of provisions in the minibus that would fund the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, especially those pertaining to healthcare, I cannot in good conscience endorse a spending bill that continues to explode our Defense budget. President Trump has already shown that he is willing to use the military against American citizens. He is also pursuing foreign entanglements around the globe, and I will not write him a blank check to potentially invade other countries or pit America's military against our allies. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 7148, the FY2026 Consolidated Appropriations Act. Due to the perseverance of my Democratic colleagues, the legislation before us today protects funding for Democratic priorities, reasserts Congress's power of the purse, and rejects Republicans' poison pill riders. In the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (LHHS-Ed) appropriations bill, Democrats secured big wins for our public health, our workforce, and our communities.”