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Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28), a member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement regarding his vote to keep the federal government funded through March 23, 2018:

“It is not unusual for a budget to pass that doesn’t satisfy everyone,” said Congressman Cuellar. “As members of Congress, we cannot turn our backs on our fellow Americans. Millions of hardworking citizens depend on us to keep the government working and to make it better for the people that we represent.

Congressman Cuellar continued, “Although I do not believe in running the government from week-to-week, the Bipartisan Budget Act proposed today is a significant piece of legislation. Funding for community health centers, which provide reliable and affordable healthcare to underserved communities in my district, will be extended by two years. This bill will also reauthorize the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for the next 10 years and include essential funding for people and families who rely on health clinics and medical centers. In addition, the bipartisan budget agreement will increase funding for defense and non-defense priorities including disaster relief, National Institutes of Health, opioid and mental health programs, the VA healthcare maintenance backlog, Child Care Development Block Grant program, rural infrastructure and higher education.

“While I am pleased that we were able to come to agreement, it is time for Congress to step up and escape this damaging pattern of continuing resolutions and pass full-year appropriations on time. When our agencies fall behind in helping hundreds of thousands citizens deal with Veterans Affairs, Social Security and Medicare, people at home feel the effects. In addition, service members, educators and federal workers across the country do not receive essential paychecks that they consistently rely on when the government stops being productive.

“At the same time, just as we have an obligation to keep our promises to our citizens, we also have an obligation to reinstate a process that protects DREAMers, who are here at no fault of their own and active members of our communities.

“I am committed to continue working with my colleagues in a bipartisan manner to pass a necessary, comprehensive spending bill for the remainder of the fiscal year and protecting the DREAMers.”

Read additional details regarding the Federal Budget Deal here.