Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, today voted for a bill that will fund the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Transportation and Housing and Urban Development, as well as continue other government operations. The appropriations bill was approved by the House of Representatives today and awaits consideration by the Senate before Presidential approval.
“This bill will allow for major investments in our infrastructure, creating thousands of jobs and building a foundation for future economic growth,” Larsen said. “While the realities of our budget situation and the need to reduce the deficit mean that we did not get everything we wanted, this bill still invests significantly in highways and transportation, law enforcement, food safety and housing, and provides relief to those who have been struck by natural disasters. It also helps those struggling to make their housing payments, providing resources for homeowners nearing foreclosure and improving public housing and programs for homeless veterans.
“The spending levels in this bill are consistent with the tough caps that Congress put in place in this year’s Budget Control Act.
“I am pleased that House and Senate negotiators killed partisan policy elements of the bill that would have rolled back Wall Street reform and attacked the environment and women’s health. These bills should not be used as a way to force a partisan agenda on the American people.”
The bill also includes a continuing resolution to keep other government agencies funded through Dec. 16, giving Congress time to finish other appropriations bills.
