HOUSE REPUBLICANS BLOCK REP. HOYLE’S AMENDMENT TO PREVENT IRAN WAR FUNDING

HOUSE REPUBLICANS BLOCK REP. HOYLE'S AMENDMENT TO PREVENT IRAN WAR FUNDING

Washington, D.C. - This week, the House of Representatives will vote on S. Con. Res. 33, which will provide up to $140 billion in additional funding for ICE and CBP. Congresswoman Val Hoyle (OR-04) introduced an amendment rejected by congressional Republicans that would prevent reconciliation from being used as a backdoor way to fund the war in Iran without congressional authorization and debate.

"We cannot normalize using reconciliation for every party line priority," said Rep. Hoyle. "A decision this serious requires open debate, transparency for the American people and Members of both parties being forced to take a vote."

The full written testimony can be found here.

Background

The Congressional Budget Act of 1974 created the reconciliation process to expedite changes to spending, revenue or the debt limit without being subject to the Senate filibuster. Congressional Republicans are moving ahead with a plan to use reconciliation to fast-track passage of legislation to fund ICE and CBP, and Republican leadership is opening the door to using another reconciliation package for other priorities. The Trump administration has already requested $350 billion in military spending, which could include support for the war in Iran, that would need to move using reconciliation.

The American Enterprise Institute's estimate places the total cost of the war between $25 billion and $35 billion. Since this war began, 6,000 people have died, including 1,701 civilians, over 254 children and at least 13 U.S. Service Members. Oil prices have increased by 40%, fertilizer costs have risen by almost 50% and Oregonians are spending over $150 million more cumulatively on gas.

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