MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Pete Aguilar (31 CD Ca)

In 2023, Rep. Aguilar secured $1.5 million in funding for the program to purchase heavy-duty zero-emission trucks, charging stations and state-of-the-art equipment 
Rep. Pete Aguilar recently visited the Clean Energy Hybrid and Electric Vehicle (EV) Technician Program at San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC), where he toured the facility that teaches students about zero-emission vehicles through hands-on training that will prepare them for careers in clean energy and technology.
“Programs like SBVC’s Clean Energy Hybrid and Electric Vehicle (EV) Technician Program help prepare our students for good-paying jobs right here in the Inland Empire, while also improving our air quality,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar. “I was proud to have secured $1.5 million in federal funding for Valley College to expand and improve its facility. It was great to stop by the campus and see firsthand how this funding is making a difference for students in our community and moving our region towards a clean energy future.”
“Thanks to Congressman Aguilar for bringing these federal dollars home, Valley College students are getting hands-on training with the clean-energy trucks that represent the future of transportation and goods movement,” said San Bernardino Community College District Chancellor Diana Z. Rodriguez. “This prepares local talent for local jobs and helps Inland Empire businesses stay competitive as the industry changes.”

Rep. Aguilar serves as Chair of the House Democratic Caucus and as a member of the House Committee on Appropriations.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

Griffith Statement on Conviction of Ryan Routh

Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Brownley joined 153 Members of Congress in a public comment letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin in opposition to the EPA’s proposal to rescind the landmark 2009 Endangerment Finding that greenhouse gases threaten public health and welfare. The Members called on Administrator Zeldin to stop his attacks on pollution protections for the American people.

As an addendum to the public comment letter, the Members of Congress shared on-the-ground stories from their districts, highlighting the myriad of ways climate change is already impacting Americans in every corner of the nation. Given the scientific consensus surrounding climate change and its impacts already being felt around the nation, the EPA must provide answers to these lived experiences. Administrator Zeldin and his EPA must explain how rolling back the Endangerment Finding will protect Americans from the multitude of health and financial impacts of the climate crisis. 

“Rescinding the 2009 Endangerment Finding—despite overwhelming scientific and firsthand evidence that greenhouse gas pollutants are a danger to human health and welfare—is not only an egregious escalation in climate denialism but also an obvious denial of the reality that millions of Americans now face,” wrote the Members. “In addition to billions of dollars in damages, hundreds of lives lost, extensive peer-reviewed research, and overwhelming scientific consensus regarding these pollutants’ impacts, we are sharing the attached stories that we as Members of Congress have collected that reflect the impacts of climate change on our constituents. These are clear examples from our Congressional districts of how climate pollution ‘may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare.’ We request that you respond to each and every one of these stories through the public comment process.”

“For generations, families have chosen Ventura County and the Conejo Valley as home because of its picturesque landscapes, resilient economy, and superior quality of life,” wrote Congresswoman Brownley. “From the Oxnard coastline to the inland hills of Simi Valley, residents of this vibrant region face growing risks from climate change that threaten their health, safety, and livelihoods.

“Wildfires are becoming more frequent and more destructive, fueled by hotter temperatures and prolonged droughts. In 2017, the Thomas Fire tore through over 280,000 acres, destroying homes and businesses and forcing tens of thousands to evacuate. At the time, it was the largest wildfire in California’s history, a record that stood only briefly before being surpassed by even larger blazes. Many residents live along the wildland–urban interface, where dry hillsides and encroaching flames are a constant danger. Each fire season brings renewed anxiety, lasting trauma, and harmful smoke that threatens public health across the region.

“At the same time, water insecurity threatens Ventura County’s $2 billion agricultural economy, which produces specialty crops that help feed the nation. Repeated droughts have forced farmers into impossible choices about which fields to keep alive, costing jobs and raising food prices for working families already under strain.

“Along the coast, rising seas and stronger storms are eroding beaches and bluffs, placing homes, roads, and critical infrastructure at risk. The Port of Hueneme and the Channel Islands Harbor already see flooding during storms. Naval Base Ventura County, which is critical to both our national security and local economy, faces growing risks from sea level rise and coastal erosion. These changes not only endanger property but also strain local governments, first responders, and taxpayers who must manage the growing costs of climate-related damage and the soaring costs of insurance premiums.

“The impacts of climate change are being felt now, in our homes, our workplaces, and our everyday lives. Instead of eroding the federal response to climate change, we should be maintaining, enforcing, and strengthening the protections that preserve the quality of life that has defined our communities for generations,” added Brownley. 

Background

On July 29, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced his formal proposal to rescind the Endangerment Finding – the scientific determination that greenhouse gases endanger human health and must be regulated under the Clean Air Act. Threatening the 2009 Endangerment Finding and EPA’s explicit authority to regulate greenhouse gases began as part of the Trump Administration’s Day One Executive Actions. 

In response, SEEC sent a letter in January condemning the Trump Administration’s Day One Executive Actions that rolled back a multitude of critical pollution regulations and environmental protections, including the Endangerment Finding. In February, SEEC sent another letter condemning Administrator Zeldin’s reported recommendation to rescind the Endangerment Finding and urged him to follow the science and protect Americans from planet-warming pollution. 

Last week, members of SEEC held a press conference at the Capitol to oppose EPA’s proposed rollbacks of the Endangerment Finding and vehicle emissions standards that will make our air dirtier and our lives more expensive. 

Read the text of the letter, including the climate impact stories shared by Members, here.

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Issues: 119th Congress, Climate Crisis, Environment, Environmental Protection, Local Issues

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Newhouse (4th District of Washington)

Headline: Newhouse Calls on CMS to Ensure States with Democrat Governors are Treated Fairly in Roll Out of Rural Hospital Fund

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz advocating for fair distribution of funds from the Rural Health Transformation Fund to states with Democrat Governors. The Rural Transformation Fund is the largest ever investment in rural hospitals and was signed into law as part of the H.R. 1, the Working Families Tax Cut. 

Newhouse was joined by Reps. Michael Baumgartner (R-WA), David Valadao (R-CA), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), Jay Obernolte (R-CA), Pete Stauber (R-MN), Brad Finstad (R-MN), Michelle Fischbach (R-MN), Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), and Gabe Evans (R-CO) in penning the letter.  

“As Republican Members of Congress from states with a Democrat Governor, we believe it is imperative that the program be implemented fairly so that funding is allocated specifically to rural healthcare providers, rather than diverted to urban centers that do not face the same challenges,”the Members wrote. 

“During the approval process of state applications, we urge HHS and CMS to ensure funds are distributed to rural communities with the greatest need, making rural America healthy again regardless of political affiliation.” 

The Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program was established by H.R. 1 and provides $10 billion per year over five years to empower states to strengthen and improve health care access in rural communities across America. 

• 50 percent to be distributed equally amongst all approved states.
• 50 percent will be allocated by CMS based on a variety of factors including rural population, the proportion of rural health facilities in the state, the situation of certain hospitals in the state, and other factors to be specified by CMS in the NOFO.

According to CMS, states must use RHT Program funds for three or more of the approved uses of funds: 

• Promoting evidence-based, measurable interventions to improve prevention and chronic disease management.
• Providing payments to health care providers for the provision of health care items or services, as specified by the Administrator.
• Promoting consumer-facing, technology-driven solutions for the prevention and management of chronic diseases.
• Providing training and technical assistance for the development and adoption of technology-enabled solutions that improve care delivery in rural hospitals, including remote monitoring, robotics, artificial intelligence, and other advanced technologies.
• Recruiting and retaining clinical workforce talent to rural areas, with commitments to serve rural communities for a minimum of 5 years.
• Providing technical assistance, software, and hardware for significant information technology advances designed to improve efficiency, enhance cybersecurity capability development, and improve patient health outcomes.
• Assisting rural communities to right size their health care delivery systems by identifying needed preventative, ambulatory, pre-hospital, emergency, acute inpatient care, outpatient care, and post-acute care service lines.
• Supporting access to opioid use disorder treatment services (as defined in section 1861(jjj) (1)), other substance use disorder treatment services, and mental health services.
• Developing projects that support innovative models of care that include value-based care arrangements and alternative payment models, as appropriate.
• Additional uses designed to promote sustainable access to high quality rural health care services, as determined by the Administrator.

See the full letter here.  

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) released the following statement after Wabtec Corporation announced Monday a historic agreement with National Company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), the national railway of Kazakhstan, to deliver Evolution Series locomotives and provide long-term service support. The multi-year order, valued at $4.2 billion, marks the largest locomotive agreement in Wabtec’s history.

Wabtec Corp. operates plants in Erie and Grove City.

“This announcement from Wabtec reinforces the important role American businesses play in a global economy. It’s a game changer for Wabtec’s Erie and Grove City plants, where these locomotives will be produced,” said Rep. Kelly. “The deal is also a powerful example of how American innovation and global partnerships can drive economic growth and strengthen strategic partnerships. Most importantly, it supports thousands of good-paying jobs right here in Pennsylvania.”

Learn more about the agreement here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representatives Don Bacon (R-Neb.) and Adam Smith (D-Wash.) and Senators Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) introduced the Protect Adoptees and American Families Act, which would grant U.S. citizenship to international adoptees who were legally adopted in the U.S. as children but lack citizenship status due to a loophole in the Child Citizenship Act of 2000.

“As the father to two adopted children, I can’t imagine the uncertainty and anxiety faced by these adoptees who were legally adopted in our country, but are now being told they aren’t U.S. citizens,” said Rep. Bacon. “While this situation was rectified for newly adopted children when the law was passed in 2000, adoptees from before that year were left in limbo land. Imagine being allowed to vote, paying into social security and enjoying other rights as a citizen, and then being told you are not a citizen. It makes zero sense and this legislation corrects that egregious mistake.”

“For decades, thousands of people who were adopted into loving American families have lived in legal limbo through no fault of their own,” said Rep. Smith. “The Protect Adoptees and American Families Act will finally close this loophole and guarantee citizenship to adoptees who have spent their lives in the United States and deserve the same rights as any other American. This bipartisan legislation is about fairness, dignity, and ensuring that families remain whole.”

“Thousands of American families and their internationally-adopted children have been living in fear and uncertainty due to an oversight in the Child Citizenship Act, which is why I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing legislation that would provide a long overdue solution to address this issue,” said Senator Hirono. “The Protect Adoptees and American Families Act will help keep families together, and ensure that international adoptees are afforded the rights they deserve as U.S. citizens.”

“It is simply not right that international adoptees who were legally adopted in the United States are being denied citizenship due to a loophole in current law,” said Senator Collins. “Our bipartisan bill would address this loophole and allow these individuals to finally achieve their rightful status as American citizens.”

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BACKGROUND
Families who adopted children from abroad were previously required to complete a lengthy, expensive naturalization process for their adopted children, on top of the adoption process itself. In some cases, the paperwork was not completed in full, leaving adoptees unaware they were living in the U.S. without citizenship.
The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 (CCA) streamlined this process by granting automatic citizenship to foreign-born children under 18 adopted by U.S. citizens. However, the law only applied to adoptees under age 18 at the time the CCA took effect in February 2001. Adoptees who had already reached adulthood were excluded, leaving tens of thousands of people without citizenship despite being raised in American families.
The Protect Adoptees and American Families Act fixes this gap by confirming U.S. citizenship for internationally adopted individuals, regardless of when they were adopted or their age. Specifically, the bill:

• Provides automatic citizenship to foreign-born children lawfully adopted by U.S. families who turned 18 before February 27, 200.
• Establishes a path to citizenship for adoptees living abroad who meet eligibility requirements but currently reside outside the U.S. This process includes background checks and the resolution of any outstanding legal matters before citizenship is granted.

This legislation will provide long-overdue certainty for adoptees who have faced barriers to higher education, employment, and financial services, and who in some cases have even faced deportation to countries where they have no family or community ties.

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BROAD SUPPORT
The legislation has been welcomed by adoptees, families, and advocates nationwide who have long fought for a permanent fix to the CCA loophole.

Endorsements for this bill come from: Adoptee Rights Campaign, Korean American Grassroots Conference, National Council For Adoption, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, NAKASEC, Niskanen Center, Center for Adoption Policy, National Immigration Forum, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, Adoptees for Justice, Family Coalition for Adoptee Citizenship, National Alliance for Adoptee Equality, and Alliance for Adoptee Citizenship.

SUPPORTIVE QUOTES
“We recognize the challenges faced by adoptees who, though raised in American families and contributing fully to our communities, continue to live without the protections of citizenship. We applaud the leadership of Rep. Smith, Rep. Bacon, Sen. Hirono, and Sen. Collins in introducing the Protect Adoptees and American Families Act, a bipartisan measure that offers long-overdue relief and recognition to those who are American in every way except on paper. With Korean American adoptees among the most affected, KAGC is committed to working with partners to ensure this vital legislation is enacted and justice is delivered to all impacted.”  – Wonseok Song, Executive Director of the Korean American Grassroots Conference, the largest nationwide network of Korean American voters.

“NCFA supports the Protect Adoptees and American Families Act. Congress intended citizenship for children being internationally adopted by American citizens, but a complicated and confusing immigration and visa system resulted in some parents failing to complete the citizenship process on behalf of their minor children. The Protect Adoptees and American Families Act provides the citizenship that was initially intended for these individuals.” – Ryan Hanlon, National Council For Adoption.

“As a national network in five states, the NAKASEC network strongly urges the immediate passage of this legislation. Birth parents, adoptive parents, and sending countries partnered with the United States with the understanding that adoptees would be full members of their families – with all the rights, protections, and opportunities afforded to them. It’s important to note that citizenship for adoptees is an issue only in the United States. No other receiving country failed to confer citizenship for the children in their care. It’s time for the United States to fulfill their promises and secure citizenship for all intercountry adoptees.” – Becky Belcore, Co-Director of the National Korean American Service and Education Consortium (NAKASEC).

“The Protect Adoptees and American Families Act fixes a 25-year loophole that has prevented internationally adopted Americans, raised by American families and fully integrated into American society, from achieving full United States citizenship. There is no excuse. Now is the time for Congress to get this commonsense bill over the finish line and provide a long-awaited solution for these families and for the betterment of our country.” – Kristie De Pena, Director of Immigration Policy at the Niskanen Center.

“We support this effort to strengthen American families by easing the citizenship process for international adoptees. The Protect Adoptees and American Families Act supports a core aspect of our national values, and we are glad to see Republicans and Democrats come together behind it. We look forward to seeing it passed and signed.” – National Immigration Forum

“Fundamental fairness demands that those children who were lawfully adopted and raised in the United States enjoy the full privileges and opportunities of American life. Yet for thousands of international adoptees, so many of whom arrived from Asian countries and through no fault of their own, that basic promise has been denied due to inadvertent missing paperwork. The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) commends the sponsors for introducing the Protect Adoptees and American Families (PAAF) Act, a pivotal step to ensure that those impacted within the Asian Pacific American community can finally enjoy stability and pursue a livelihood without fear of removal.” – Priya Purandare, Executive Director of NAPABA

 “Adoptees and their families across the country are living in fear, shock, and with a sense of betrayal – often learning they are not citizens when they are well into adulthood and after lifetimes as Americans. More and more adoptees are reaching out when they are approaching or in their senior years. Their stories underscore the urgent need for immediate legislative repair. The introduction of this bill shows that our country’s leaders recognize this profound injustice and are committed to adoptees and American families.” – Rachel Koelzer, Co-Founder of Adoptees For Justice.

 “We’re thrilled at the introduction of this bill that will give aging adoptees the rights and protections that are rightfully theirs. Reintroducing this bill is an important step toward ensuring that no one is denied their rights or opportunities because of how they came to be a part of their families. This is the tenth year the bill has been introduced – let’s get it passed this session!” – Amanda Cho, Policy Manager with the Alliance for Adoptee Citizenship.

 “To be adopted into a family is to be chosen, loved, and embraced as one of their own. Adoption is a bond that transcends borders, making you not just a citizen of a country, but a citizen of a family, forever. Somehow, we as adoptees have been forgotten. We were lost in the shuffle and are being held accountable for the responsibilities of adults that were ignorant of the process. Our adoptive parents were under the impression that we were citizens through the adoption process. Many of us were born in the 60s and grew up living as citizens because we were told we were. Why would we believe any different when we grew up being told we were citizens? We were given our social security numbers and our driver’s licenses with no questions asked. Why didn’t the government inform us then? If they did, we would have been able to right the wrong. Now years later, we are in limbo, many of us deported. How is this fair or humane? How is it fair to send someone to a country where they know no one, they don’t know the language, and have no means to make a living? This bill needs to be law for those innocent adoptees who are victims of a faulty system.” – H, an adoptee without citizenship.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

Dear Colleague:

I write in connection with the pending Republican shutdown of the federal government. 

Last Friday, Democrats strongly opposed the partisan Republican spending bill in the House and the Senate, and it went down in defeat. The next day Leader Schumer and myself demanded that Donald Trump meet with us in order to address the ongoing Republican healthcare crisis and prevent a lapse in government funding. On Monday, President Trump formally agreed to a meeting in the Oval Office. 

Donald Trump has now chickened out and cancelled the meeting. Clearly, GOP extremists want to shut down the government because they are unwilling to address the Republican healthcare crisis that is devastating America. I will continue to update you on the latest developments. We will also convene as a Caucus virtually on Friday, September 26 at 2 p.m. ET to discuss the path forward. 

Equally revealing, House Republicans have made the stunning decision to cancel votes on Monday and Tuesday of next week, notwithstanding the fact that funding to keep the government open expires at midnight on September 30. This is the height of irresponsibility and further evidence that Republicans are determined to shut the government down. 

House Democrats are ready, willing and able to reach a bipartisan agreement that improves the quality of life of the American people and continues our work at the Capitol. Accordingly, there will be a Democratic Caucus meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, September 29 in Washington, D.C. to discuss the Republican healthcare crisis and possible lapse in government funding. Democrats will be in town and prepared to get the job done. 

Over the next few days, please continue to hold events in communities across the country during our Healthcare Costs Week of Action. Our fight is to cancel the cuts, lower the cost and save healthcare. The American people are counting on us to stand up for them. 

Thank you for your unity of purpose during this perilous moment.

Sincerely,

Hakeem Jeffries

Democratic Leader

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

WASHINGTON — House Republicans acted responsibly last week to keep the government open with the clean short-term continuing resolution. Senate Democrats, who used to warn that shutdowns would hurt seniors, veterans, and working families, are now threatening to force one unless Congress repeals the Working Families Tax Cut, restores taxpayer-funded healthcare for illegal aliens, and sends half a billion dollars to leftist news outlets, among other partisan spending demands — adding $1.5 trillion to the national debt.

Senate Democrats on the perils of government shutdowns in their own words:

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer

September 16, 2024: “If the government shuts down, it will be average Americans who suffer most. A government shutdown means seniors who rely on Social Security could be thrown into chaos as the Social Security Administration limits certain services, like benefit verifications or fixing errors in payments. Our veterans could see regional VA offices shut down and support services put on halt. Some of our military service members could be forced to work without pay. Families who benefit from WIC and other nutrition programs could see benefits halted. And a shutdown would shake the confidence of our economic recovery, something we can’t possibly afford at a time like this.”

Senator Patty Murray

February 27, 2024: “A shutdown come Saturday would create real issues in the daily lives of the American people: risking air travel delays and passengers’ safety, putting off food safety inspections, denying many Americans the home loans they are counting on, leaving America’s farmers behind, and so much more. A Republican shutdown would be nothing short of a disaster. It costs the American taxpayer dearly and stunts the economy all while severely disrupting the basic functions of government across agencies like the FAA and FDA.”

Senator Bernie Sanders

January 4, 2018: “The truth is that shutting down the government is a serious and dangerous action that we must do everything possible to prevent. Shutting down the government would impact tens of millions of our fellow Americans who would be unable to access government services.”

Senator Raphael Warnock

September 29, 2023: “Senator Warnock believes Washington Republicans need to come together with the rest of Congress to fund the government. Georgia businesses are relying on the federal government to stay open and functioning to keep our economy strong, and Georgia’s families and communities are counting on investments and services that will cease if the government shuts down. More importantly, a federal government shutdown will keep Congress from focusing on the issues that matter most: lowering the cost of health care, creating jobs, keeping the nation secure, and more.”

Senator Mark Warner

September 13, 2024: “Stay tuned, but if you feel like you’ve seen this show before and it’s a rerun, you’re right…End of the day, on this issue, again, no state in the country is more disproportionately hit than Virginia with a government shutdown.”

Senator Mark Kelly

September 29, 2023: “A government shutdown would have serious impacts. Servicemembers won’t get their paychecks. Airports could have major delays. Nutrition assistance for children could be cut off. We can’t let any of that happen. Congress needs to work together to prevent a shutdown.”

Senator Adam Schiff

September 2023: “Had the government shut down, hundreds of thousands of people would have not gotten their paychecks. Federal employees would have been furloughed, sent home, and others deemed essential like TSA workers, they would have been forced to go to work and not paid. Service members in the military would be forced to go to work and not get paid.”

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse

February 29, 2024: “Avoiding a government shutdown is not a positive achievement. It’s kind of like not punching yourself in the face — good not to do, but…  And when we go through this so a handful of senators can fundraise off amendments they know won’t pass, it’s aggravating.”

Senator Chris Murphy

November 12, 2023: “The priority has to be keeping the government open and I think this is a moment where reasonable people in the Senate, and that’s where most of the reasonable people are these days, have to make sure that we are not making the perfect the enemy of the good.”

Senator Maggie Hassan

December 21, 2024: “Government shutdowns have real and severe impacts on the American people, including by risking our national security and threatening livelihoods – which is why it is important that we voted on a bipartisan basis to avert a shutdown.”

Senator Michael Bennet

February 2, 2019: “The least we could do is reopen our government and stop pursuing this self-inflicted harm that it creates to have hundreds of thousands of federal workers out of work and not being paid and not able to support their families while we continue to stand on this floor having mindless arguments that are going to do nothing to advance the future of our country. We shouldn’t shut the government down.”

Senator Chris Coons

September 27, 2013: “Shutting down the federal government, furloughing as many as 800,000 federal employees, and denying Americans access to the basic federal services due them is not a responsible way to resolve our nation’s political disagreements. Our democracy cannot function if the minority party threatens to shut down the government unless it gets its way.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

WASHINGTON — This weekend, following House-passage of a clean, short-term continuing resolution to ensure the government remains funded and operating, Speaker Johnson joined Fox Business’ Kudlow and Fox News’ Saturday Morning in America with Kayleigh McEnany to reiterate that Congressional Democrats will own the consequences if they force a government shutdown.

Watch Speaker Johnson on Kudlow here, on Saturday Morning in America here.

On Republican efforts to restore regular order and keep the government open:

Larry, we’ve been working very hard. You and I have talked a lot about how we got to get Congress back to the way the budgeting and appropriations process is supposed to work as we remember. The way it’s supposed to work is 12 separate appropriations bills passed by Congress through regular order with debate and discussion and arm wrestling over what the appropriate amounts of spending are. I’m proud to tell you, we’ve gotten that muscle memory back in the House. The House Appropriations Committee, working in bipartisan fashion, was forced into doing that, but they got it done.

Chairman Tom Cole and the appropriators did a great job. 12 separate appropriations bills passed through committee, three off the House floor. The Senate passed three and they don’t match up exactly, so guess what? We’re going to a conference committee to work that out. That’s the way it’s supposed to work. But we need a little bit more time because the end of the fiscal year falls September 30. So, well in advance, without drama, we put a nonpartisan short-term continuing resolution on the floor, just to keep the government open responsibly so the appropriators can finish this process.

On Congressional Democrats’ ridiculous “counteroffer”:

Think of what they’re demanding, Kayleigh, to keep the government open … We put a very simple, very clean continuing resolution to keep open the government until mid-November so that our appropriators could do the job. Now, what did Chuck Schumer and the Democrats do in exchange? Democrats sent us a counteroffer. Guess what they wanted to do instead of that?

Kayleigh, they wanted to reinstate giving free healthcare to illegal aliens. They wanted us to add $500 million to prop up liberal news organizations. They wanted to add $1.4 trillion in new spending on a short gap funding measure. And we’re just not going to do that. We can’t do that. And it looks like they’re going to try to shut the government down. The Democrat shutdown will be a disaster for the country.

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