Brownley Statement on House Passage of the Republican Continuing Resolution

Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) issued the following statement after House passage of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 5371, the Republican spending bill.

"Once again, Congressional Republicans have chosen politics over people and loyalty to Donald Trump over all else. For 43 days, they continued to choose chaos across the country: harm to our veterans, hunger for 42 million of our most vulnerable neighbors, disruption to travel, and so much more, while 15 million Americans lose their health care, and 22 million more will see their premiums skyrocket. These are the largest cuts to health care in U.S. history to bankroll the largest tax breaks for billionaires in U.S. history. This is how Republicans address health care affordability in America.

"This bill is a shameful extension of a crisis of their own making. It reopens the government only until January 30 while raising health care costs, slashing coverage, and leaving millions of Americans out to dry. At a time when families are struggling with the rising cost of living, Republicans have chosen to make health care more expensive and less accessible.

"And as if gutting Americans' health care weren't enough, they inserted a partisan provision allowing eight Republican senators to sue the U.S. government for $500,000 per so-called 'violation' related to January 6th. This is a brazen abuse of taxpayer dollars and a slap in the face to every American who believes in accountability and justice.

"Democrats offered numerous amendments to fix this disastrous, partisan bill. I co-authored an amendment to fully fund the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Toxic Exposure Fund, and Republicans rejected restoring these critical veterans' health care resources. Democrats also offered an amendment to restore SNAP funding that this bill cuts even further, and Republicans rejected that amendment, yet again putting billionaires ahead of hungry families.

"Democrats also offered an amendment to stop the Trump administration's bailout of Argentina's dictator, a blatant misuse of taxpayer dollars that has no place in a funding bill. Republicans rejected it, and proved once again that their priorities lie not with the American people but with protecting foreign and domestic autocrats and padding the pockets of the wealthy and well-connected.

"This continuing resolution is a moral failure and a betrayal of the American people. It raises health care costs, protects the wealthy, and rewards the politically powerful while millions of families struggle to get by. The American people deserve leaders who fight for them, not for Donald Trump and not for billionaires.

"I voted no because I refuse to be complicit in this reckless attack on working families. But the fight is far from over, and House Democrats will keep fighting until we win for the American people."

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Issues: 119th Congress, Budget, Healthcare