DeGette Statement on Passage of Omnibus Appropriations Bill

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-01) released the following statement after voting for the Fiscal Year 2016 omnibus appropriations bill, which passed the House 316-113:

"Last-minute rushes to pass omnibus bills are a flawed way to run our government and to make policy choices on behalf of the American people. Federal spending essentially defines our priorities as a nation, be they education, defense, health, or anything else. When we fail to give each of these priorities the individual attention they deserve, we inevitably make choices and funding decisions that are not as carefully thought out as they should be.

"In addition, this bill carries dozens of policy provisions that should be considered on their own merit and not latched onto a funding bill. Doing so inevitably leads to passage of undeserving policy choices that would not stand on their own, and many of these policies will undermine the programs and efforts that this bill funds. This cheapens the investments the American people want us to make on behalf of virtually every priority the country has.

"Both in its general approach and in many specific provisions, I find much to object to in this omnibus funding bill, but it is the only realistic option available to keep the federal government operating through the coming year. It also includes additional investments that will greatly benefit people in Colorado and across the country. Among the provisions worth highlighting are investments in biomedical research and development at the NIH and FDA, investments in clean energy at the National Renewable Energy Lab, and transportation investments that will help build Colorado infrastructure and continue our flood recovery efforts.

"I supported this omnibus to avoid greater damage to the country and in hope that the Congress, in particular its Republican leadership, will do better going forward."