Hanabusa Votes Against House GOP's 2nd Attempt at Cherry-Picking Which Agencies to Fund

Statement

U.S. Representative Colleen Hanabusa (HI-01) voted against House Republicans' second attempt at cherry picking which agencies to fund while keeping the majority of the government shut down.

The House voted on two bills that would temporarily fund National Parks and Museums and the National Institutes of Health until December 15.

"Let's be clear," Hanabusa said. "Yes, it is important to reopen our National Parks and fund the National Institutes of Health -- but what about the rest of our federal workers who have bills to pay and families to support? What about the keiki who had to be dropped from Head Start programs or the seniors who rely on Meals on Wheels? What about the Food and Drug Administration that ensures our food is safe to eat, or the Environmental Protection Agency that is currently operating with only 7-percent of its staff? The list goes on and on. Are they not important too?

"These bills are evidence that House Republicans are not taking this shutdown seriously, but are trying to find political cover for their role in this crisis. I want them to explain how they are suddenly claiming to defend the National Institutes of Health when, not even 12 hours ago, they didn't think it was a priority to fund an agency that works to cure diseases, and provides children with cancer and other patients with access to clinical trials? If they were really serious about protecting NIH, they would work with Democrats to repeal sequestration, which cut $1.55 billion from the Institute's FY2013 budget.

"This piecemeal approach to funding the government is irresponsible, and the American people are fed up with these transparent political ploys. I am encouraged to see an increasing number of reasonable House Republicans ready to support the Senate-approved, clean continuing resolution, and that they are publicly voicing their frustrations with their own party. Let's bring the clean CR to the floor so that we can reopen government and put everyone back to work."

Both bills passed the House and now head to the Senate where Majority Leader Harry Reid said he would not bring individual spending bills to the floor.

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