Joe Biden: “my decision to vote for the omnibus spending bill late last night was a difficult one. It is the largest single spending…”

“my decision to vote for the omnibus spending bill late last night was a difficult one. It is the largest single spending bill ever passed by Congress. It represents work that should have been completed last fall, and crams into one bill what should have been 11 separate bills, each with its own separate debate and deliberation. This is no way to legislate, and the final product reflects that unfortunate process. I was gratified that many important obligations received funding, but unfortunately many others did not. At the same time, this massive document contains far too many provisions that were never exposed to the daylight of publicity and debate. My vote in favor of this bill was a very close call. First, the good news. Unlike an earlier version that I could not support, this bill restored funds for Byrne grants that local law enforcement agencies need in these dangerous times. In addition, I was able to add language that permits local police to use COPS money for the many hours of overtime involved as they meet the demands of homeland defense. Law enforcement projects in my State of Delaware, from State to county to local agencies, will receive $3.5 million in funds from that COPS program. But the bad news is that $3 billion for first responders was cut out of this legislation.”