On the recordSeptember 30, 2015
As a responsible Member of Congress concerned for the American people, today I voted for a continuing resolution that will take us to December 11, but that is not the responsible way to handle the business of this Nation. It is time now for this Congress to put aside partisanship and to begin to have the Republican leadership and Republicans to sit down with members of the Democratic Caucus and talk about a real funding bill. Yes, we have kept the doors open and provided for our employees, but we have undermined defense and the preparedness of our men and women. We have cut $1.7 billion from the Children's Health Insurance Program, and we are barely hanging on for other necessary items. Yes, we have allowed for wildfire funding and disaster funding. Other items dealing with law enforcement and provisions for transportation and the environment are all cut by something called the sequester. Mr. Speaker, the American people deserve better, and we need to get busy starting next week and put forward an appropriations process that funds this government, responds to those who are in need, prepares our young men and women in the military, and as well restores that children's health insurance money. Shame on us. We need to do it now. ____________________
