WASHINGTON - Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) today released the following statement after voting "no" on H.R. 244, the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2017, a $1 trillion spending bill.
"If you were to devise the wrong way to run a business or a government, you would run it by continuing resolution and massive omnibus spending bills. While it's beneficial that this bill provides additional funding for national defense, it is far from what our military leaders have told us they need to meet the threats we face. Avoiding a shut down by passing an omnibus that does not meet our national security needs is nothing to celebrate. And with the bill failing to address important conservative priorities, it is simply something I could not support. Going into Fiscal Year 2018 we have a chance to get back to regular order in the budget and appropriations process. I remain committed to working in Washington as long as necessary to get that critical work done."
The bill, which passed the House, funds government agencies until the end of September. In order to ensure that the House and Senate do the important work of passing 12 individual appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2018 by the September 30 deadline, Rep. Wittman has again introduced legislation calling on Congress to stay in-session over the August recess until the spending bills are all passed.
Congressman Rob Wittman represents the 1st District of Virginia. He serves on the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Armed Services Committee, where he is the Chairman of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee.
