Wittman Encouraged by First Appropriations Votes

Wittman Encouraged by First Appropriations Votes 

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) released the following statement after voting in favor of H.R. 5895, the Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act: 

"Today, the House passed three of the twelve appropriations bills. I am extremely encouraged that we are moving these pivotal pieces of legislation, but we cannot stop here. This week I sent a letter to Speaker Ryan that says, if we don't finish all 12 appropriations bills by July 31, Congress stays in town until we do. The Senate has already committed to staying in Washington an extra three weeks in August, and I urged the Speaker, that if don't complete our work that is what we should do as well. We must stop this pattern of budgeting by crisis and funding our government on continuing resolutions. I stand ready to work with my colleagues to complete the remainder of these funding bills." 

Rep. Wittman has again introduced the Stay on Schedule Resolution, which amends House rules to prevent members of the House from taking the traditional August recess when critical spending bills remain to be passed. Failure to pass the 12 annual spending bills prevents federal agencies like the Department of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Transportation from meeting current demands and planning for the future. Given the importance of the spending bills, members of the House should stay in Washington until they 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.

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