Lowey Statement to Rules Committee on Continuing Resolution Through December 20

House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita M. Lowey today delivered the following remarks to the House Rules Committee in support of an appropriate rule for the House to consider an amendment to H.R. 3055, a continuing resolution to fund the government through December 20:

I appreciate the opportunity to come before the Rules Committee to discuss House Democrats' continuing resolution to keep government open as we work to complete an orderly appropriations process.

While the House did its work and passed 12 appropriations bills through committee and 10 appropriations bills off the floor, delays in the Senate mean the appropriations process is behind.

With just days until current stopgap funding expires, we must pass a continuing resolution to keep government open and fund key priorities as we negotiate subcommittee allocations and then finalize individual appropriations bills.

This legislation avoids controversial policies and instead contains provisions that reflect shared priorities, including:

Bipartisan language to fully fund a fair and accurate 2020 Decennial Census;
A 3.1% pay raise for our military; and
Language to prevent a rescission of $7.6 billion in highway funding.
In addition to these provisions, the CR includes a package of extenders that will keep health programs critical to American families up and running.

By extending these programs and government funding through December 20, this CR will allow additional time to negotiate and enact responsible long-term funding for priorities that make our country safer and stronger and give working families a better chance at a better life.

Mr. Chairman, I request an appropriate rule to bring this legislation to the floor.

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