WASHINGTON, D.C.— House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) released the following statement today after the House passed H.R. 244, Consolidated Appropriations Act, which funds the government through the fiscal year:
“This funding bill is a win for conservative policies, which is why it received strong support from our conference today. With this funding bill, we keep the government open for business to responsibly fund our priorities to serve and protect our citizens, while implementing key elements of President Trump’s agenda.
“Importantly, this bill significantly increases support for our defense and troops, giving the largest pay raise to our military men and women in six years, and providing an additional $25 billion in defense funding to protect against threats from radical Islam and rogue regimes throughout the world.
“In keeping with our top priority to put American safety first, this bill fulfills our promise to secure our borders, providing $12.2 billion for border security—a $1.5 billion increase from last year. Moreover, increased funding is provided to help keep our neighborhoods safe by keeping drugs, criminals, and traffickers off the streets. In keeping with that mission, we provide $650 million to combat the opioid epidemic ravaging our country.
“We also ensure all life is protected by reaffirming the Hyde Amendment to ban federal funding of abortions.
“In a major victory for the taxpayers, more than 150 federal programs are rescinded, consolidated, or terminated, and major reforms are implemented to eliminate waste and stop government overreach, like freezing funding to the IRS and reducing funding by $1 million to the EPA to pre-Obama levels.
“Additionally, I am pleased this bill addresses many of the needs of Louisiana, including increases in disaster and flood relief, as well as funding for emergency local law enforcement assistance, provides funding for the Southeast Louisiana Urban Flood Control Project (SELA) for the continuation of projects that address and prevent flooding damages, additional funding for important dredging projects, and funding to address the this year’s tornado-related damages, including to the NASA Michoud facility and the USDA National Finance Center, among other victories for our state. There are also strong provisions included in the bill that reaffirm Congress’s commitment to American energy production and the valuable role of Louisiana’s offshore energy projects that provide critical funding coastal restoration dollars for Louisiana.
“With Americans sending Republican majorities to both chambers of Congress and the White House with President Trump, we are finally able to start the process of getting Washington bureaucrats out of the lives of everyday citizens and ensure an efficient use of Americans’ tax dollars that put the needs of hardworking taxpayers first.”
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