WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 22, 2018) – Eastern Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) today released the following statement after Congress passed a continuing resolution to fund the government until February 8, 2018, and reauthorize the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for six years. 

“For our troops who keep us safe and for the sake of our most vulnerable children, I’m relieved Democrats reversed course and joined Republicans to fund the government and reauthorize CHIP. Bipartisan negotiators in the House and Senate now have the time they need to put together a broader budget agreement that puts the safety and security of Americans first with adequate funds for our military to rebuild and restore our readiness. A DACA fix remains on the agenda too, and I will keep pressing my colleagues working on a DACA deal to come to a bipartisan agreement as soon as possible.”

“The bottom line is that a shutdown is never good for the American people and it diminishes their trust in their representatives. Last year, the House did its job passing all 12 appropriations bills to fund the federal government and sent them to the Senate. Unfortunately, the Senate’s outdated rules allow a small minority to obstruct the will of the American people by holding must-pass measures hostage to partisan politics and political games. By allowing a simple majority of Senators to advance spending bills, the Schumer Shutdown could have been averted. I have long said the budget process is broken. As part of a long-term deal to fund the government, we must include reforms that help unlock our appropriations process and ensure we stop lurching from one funding crisis to the next.”

Note: Rep. McMorris Rodgers introduced legislation to restore the “power of the purse” to the American people as outlined in Article I of the Constitution. The Unauthorized Spending Accountability (USA) Act puts all unauthorized programs on a pathway to sunset in 3 years and requires any new authorizations or reauthorizations to include a sunset clause. This means every government program will be routinely scrutinized and updated by the People’s representatives. Learn more about this legislation here.