Lewis Statement on the Democrat’s Delay of Funding for our Troops

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  House Appropriations Ranking Republican Jerry Lewis gave the following statement today regarding Democrat leaders’ delay of the Defense Appropriations bill in order to use it as a vehicle to pass their unrelated and costly legislative wish list:

 

“The first funding bill this Democrat Congress approved this year was a bill to fund our own offices – the Legislative Branch bill. Now, the most important funding bill – that which funds our national defense - has the dubious distinction of being the last we will consider.

 

“It has been four months since the House passed its version of the funding bill for our troops, and two months since the Senate did the same. Yet, as this Congress enters its final days before the end of the year, this critically important legislation still has not been approved. The question is, why is it taking so long? 

 

“The answer, unfortunately, is simple. This troop funding bill is being manipulated by Democrats in Congress in order to pass totally irrelevant and inappropriate legislation, including a massive, $1.8 trillion increase to our national debt. Democrats know that this kind of unpopular and controversial legislation will not stand on its own, and therefore are using our troops as political leverage to force this gigantic package through the House and Senate.

 

“Yet, it appears that even this cynical maneuver is running into problems. With just four days left under a stop-gap funding measure, and with weekend deadlines come and gone, Democrat leaders have yet to put their hodge-podge package forward. 

 

“Let me make it easy for my Democrat colleagues – put a clean Defense Appropriations bill on the floor, let Members and Senators cast a vote they can be proud of, and send our troops and their families the resources they need and deserve.  It will be the best gift you can give this holiday season.”