WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) voted "no" on the H.R. 1370 – Further Continuing Resolution. The bill extends existing discretionary appropriations at current levels through January 19, 2018.
"Yet again we find ourselves budgeting by crisis,” Wittman said. “We should not be funding our government through continuing resolutions (CRs). For the third time in four months, Congress has approved a CR that, by nature, will hurt our Armed Forces as it does not allow for proper planning or budgeting. Senior military leaders including the Secretary of Defense, James Mattis, and the Secretary of the Navy, Richard Spencer, have said that continuing to pass CRs is harming our military’s ability to perform the missions we call on them to do. Even further, they lead to insufficient training, unmaintained equipment, and decreased readiness. Although this CR did include additional monies for ship repair, it does not cover the full scope of our urgent defense needs.
“This has to stop. Another CR means another short-term solution to a long-term problem. I have long said that passing CRs is an abdication of Congress’ duties and responsibilities, and so as I have in votes prior, I had to vote no. Going into Fiscal Year 2018 we have a chance to get back to regular order in the budget process. I remain committed to providing a path fiscal certainty for our armed services.”
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.
