Scott Votes Against Republican Funding Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after voting against the Republican funding bill: 

“This government shutdown has been painful for many, especially Virginians. It could have been entirely avoided if Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans had worked with Democrats to address the health care crisis caused by their own policy choices. Their Big Ugly Law decimated Medicaid and placed a huge strain on the health care system, particularly on rural health facilities that are now being forced to close. We are now in the middle of open enrollment season, and because Republicans refused to extend the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits, working families across the nation are seeing their health insurance costs skyrocket. 

“Outrageously, this bill includes millions of dollars in cash payouts to several Republican Senators who were investigated during the January 6th insurrection prosecutions. This provision applies to a handful of United States Senators only, not members of the public or even other government officials who were likewise investigated. This last-minute amendment corruptly enriches a few senators, all of whom voted for the payout.

“As we seek to open the government on a temporary basis while regular spending bills are worked on, it must be noted that traditionally an agreement is achieved which provides for spending to continue at the same rate as the last enacted spending legislation. Insofar as the president is required by the Constitution to faithfully execute the laws, all previous presidents have interpreted 'Continuing Resolutions' to require the president to spend the money as it has been appropriated.  However, since Donald Trump came back into office, he seems to believe he can spend money on what he wants, where he wants, when he wants, and if he wants. Therefore, for any spending agreement to make sense, Congress must now obtain assurances that when we come to funding agreements in a Continuing Resolution, the executive branch will actually spend the money as it has been appropriated. So we must now include provisions in spending bills that require funds to be spent as intended and, regrettably, this legislation fails to include such provisions.

“I appreciate that this bill will reverse the Trump Administration’s mass firings since October 1 and will prevent any future mass firings through January and restates the law ensuring that all federal employees will receive backpay. It also fully funds the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through September, ensuring that the Trump Administration can no longer play political games with people’s ability to feed their families. However, we should address the important health care issues not addressed in the bill and address the spending assurances required for the agreement to be enforced and certainly delete the provisions that allow for the corrupt enrichment of a handful of Republican Senators from the bill. For those reasons, I voted no. 

“Finally, it should be noted that we will be forced to confront all of these policy questions again at the end of January when this Continuing Resolution expires. In the meantime, I will continue working to fully fund the government in a way that addresses the needs of American families.” 

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