Vice Chairwoman Mikulski Statement on Senate Passage of First Fiscal Year 2017 Appropriations Bill

Statement

Today, U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), Vice Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement after the Senate passed the fiscal year 2017 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill, the first appropriations bill passed by the Senate this year.

"I am pleased that the Senate has taken the first step toward returning regular order to the appropriations process. My goal is to maintain parity between defense and non-defense spending, as agreed to in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, and to keep poison pill riders out of Appropriations bills. Today the Senate passed the first Appropriations bill of fiscal year 2017. It meets these goals.

"I extend my sincere appreciation to Energy and Water Development Subcommittee Chairman Alexander and Ranking Member Feinstein for working together to write a strong, bipartisan bill. The bill supports key infrastructure projects to keep Americans safe from flooding while sustaining and creating jobs today by maintaining the flow of commerce in our ports. This bill also funds scientific advancements, giving our businesses a competitive edge helping create the jobs of tomorrow and leading to innovations that protect human and environmental health.

"I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass Transportation-HUD and VA-Military Construction appropriations through regular order, maintain the spirit of last year's budget agreement and exclude poison pill riders. We also must provide much needed emergency funding to address the growing threat of the Zika virus."

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