Cuellar releases statement on appropriations agreement
Posted: Fri 12:06 PM, Dec 12, 2014
By: Matt McGovern

WASHINGTON, DC (Office of Henry Cuellar) - Congressman Henry Cuellar released the following statement on his vote in favor of the Fiscal Year 2015 omnibus appropriations bill. The measure passed the House by a vote of 219-206.

“Yesterday’s agreement averts the risk of a government shutdown by providing funding for government operations in 2015. While I oppose the use of a continuing resolution to fund the Department of Homeland Security, we cannot risk the possibility of another government shutdown because of a disagreement over a policy item.

“As an appropriator, I would rather see an appropriations bill or an omnibus with fresh funding for the Department of Homeland Security, rather than the continuing resolution we are passing today. We cannot focus on initiatives benefitting our security as a whole while running on directives and funds from the previous year. If Republicans object to the President’s action, they should put forward a legislative proposal, not put funding at risk for our men and women in blue and in green, the Secret Service, Coast Guard, veterans, and many others.

“I voted for the omnibus bill because it was necessary to move funding forward for the eleven other agencies. I hope to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in the new Congress to ensure that all agencies receive full funding for the next year. Taxpayers send us to Washington to get the job done. If we are going to get something meaningful done here in Washington, both parties need to get together and focus on areas where we agree.”

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