U.S. Rep. Ben Ray LujánCONGRESSIONAL News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) Thursday issued the following statement on the Republican short-term spending bill offered in the House:
“Republican leaders, who control both Houses of Congress and the Executive Branch, have needlessly wasted months instead of passing a bill to fund basic government services – everything from providing Social Security payments and veterans’ benefits to disaster assistance and defense spending.
Democrats have been working in a bipartisan way to reach an agreement and meet our fiscal responsibilities. There are also bipartisan proposals to pass the Dream Act and provide certainty for the 800,000 young people in the DACA program.”
“Unfortunately, President Trump and his supporters in Congress seem intent on abandoning these bipartisan solutions to score political points with their base. Instead of realistically addressing and fully funding national priorities like national security, children’s healthcare, fighting the opioid epidemic and other key priorities, this Republican spending bill kicks the can down the road and creates another funding showdown in 30 days.”
“To vote for this bill in its current form would be to abandon our responsibilities, leave viable bipartisan solutions on the table and allow Congressional Republicans to skirt their responsibility to govern. We must stop the partisan gridlock that has defined this session of Congress and work together to fully fund our government, keep the President’s promise to DREAMers and live up to our obligations as representatives of the people.”
