Chris Van Hollen: “While the Continuing Resolution we vote on today is a marginal improvement over the version that passed the House, it…”

“While the Continuing Resolution we vote on today is a marginal improvement over the version that passed the House, it still fails to replace sequestration and underfunds our Nation's critical needs. House Republicans have repeatedly blocked legislation to replace sequestration and save the 750,000 jobs that the Congressional Budget Office tells us would be lost this year alone under that failed policy. And now we are voting on a Continuing Resolution that keeps those cuts in place for the rest of the year. I appreciate the Senate's efforts to improve this bill, updating appropriations plans for the several other Departments and including marginal funding increases for several important priorities, including the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, Head Start, transportation safety, and local law enforcement. It brings transportation funding in line with the MAP-21 policy that passed last year, freeing up more than $720 million for important infrastructure projects. And it includes a necessary extension of the TANF program, which was set to expire at the end of this month. However, by continuing sequestration and failing to update seven of our appropriations bills to reflect current policy and priorities, this bill shortchanges vital programs. It cuts more deeply into environmental programs than even the House bill, making it more difficult to keep our air and water clean and healthy.…”