A government shutdown narrowly averted. Facing a Friday night deadline the Republican-controlled House passed a short-term stop-gap bill Tuesday with mostly support from Democrats. Congresswoman Claudia Tenney said she voted in favor of the Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, to avoid a government shutdown and prevent what she said called a “irresponsible end-of-year Megabus spending bill.”
“House Republicans have proven that we are committed to finding a path forward that reduces spending, secures our borders, and restores fiscal responsibility in Washington,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “I have worked tirelessly to fight wasteful spending and bloated omnibus government funding bills and return to considering appropriations bills with amendments under regular order. Regular order means passing each of the 12 federal appropriations bills individually in an open and transparent process. For many years, Congress has forced through massive omnibus spending bills that have undermined the legislative process and have cost taxpayers billions on wasteful programs.
“House Republicans have now considered 11 of 12 appropriations bills through regular order. We are changing how Washington works and restoring the People’s House to regular order in order to fairly represent the American people. I voted in favor of this Continuing Resolution because it continues to fund the government and our military on a short-term basis while granting the House Republicans more time to truly tackle the fiscal problems plaguing the American people.
“This legislation will avoid a government shutdown and ensure that the service members at Fort Drum, Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, Customs and Border Protection Agents, TSA agents, and all critical federal agencies serving across New York’s 24th District will continue to operate in the next two months. In addition, shutting down the government would have cost the American taxpayers more in the long run, raised our already historic national debt, and led to another Christmas omnibus monstrosity, resulting in even more reckless federal spending.
“By passing this CR today, we are able to pass the remaining fiscally conservative appropriations bills to provide the relief that the American people need, reaffirm Congress’s power of the purse, and refocus our government to its core mission: to serve the American people and defend the Constitution.”
This bill passed the House by a vote of 336-95.
