Earl Blumenauer: “I oppose the combined D.C./Commerce- Justice-State Appropriations Conference Report. Attaching the DC appropriations to…”

“I oppose the combined D.C./Commerce- Justice-State Appropriations Conference Report. Attaching the DC appropriations to the larger Commerce--Justice-- State bill once again does a great disservice to the people of the District. The DC portion of the conference report is a great improvement over the version passed earlier by the House. It includes provisions that increase funding for two projects that I have strongly supported: $25 million for the New York Avenue Metro Station, and $3 million for environmental clean-up of Popular Point along the Anacostia River. Both projects are top priorities for residents and the City to help spur new economics development activity for the District. Combining it with the larger Commerce-Justice-State bill, which contains provisions wholly unacceptable to the President, means that once again the District is being held hostage to Congressional tactics. It is unnecessary and it is wrong! This bill fails to include critical provisions that would bring fairness and justice to our nation's immigration laws. Last month, I joined 154 other House Democrats in sending a letter to President Clinton promising to sustain a veto of this bill should the Republican majority fail the Hispanic community yet again. While Republicans speak of compassion, their actions tear families apart and support inequalities in our laws.…”