WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 3, 2017) – Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) today released the following statement after the House voted on legislation that will fund the federal government for the remainder of FY 2017.

“I am pleased this bill contains a number of wins for Eastern Washington and gives people the certainty they need to create jobs and grow the economy. The bill gives our military the highest pay raise in six years, puts billions of dollars toward wildfire firefighting and prevention programs, funds medical research at the National Institutes of Health, and puts more money toward rural health care. Having this process completed allows us to go to work on 2018’s budget, which is our opportunity to change the course, balance budgets, reverse our deficit spending trend, go after unauthorized spending, and rethink the federal government from top to bottom: every program, every agency so that we do have an efficient, effective, accountable government.”

About H.R. 244, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017

The government funding bill,  H.R. 244, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017 (known as an omnibus) provides $1.163 trillion to fund the government through September 30, 2017.

This bill funds our armed services, strengths homeland security, supports vital scientific research programs, and reduces unnecessary regulatory burdens across the government.

H.R. 244 also provides critical funding and statutory reforms for a number of Eastern Washington’s most important priorities, including:

• $598.5 billion total in defense spending for FY17, an increase of $25 billion from FY16, to invest in the security and prosperity of the United States, including the highest military pay raise in six years.
• $1.5 billion in funding to enhance border and other security, the largest such increase to border security technologies and infrastructure improvement in more than a decade.

• $4.2 billion for wildland firefighting prevention programs, including $407 million in emergency funding to prevent fire borrowing in FY17.
• $465 million for the Federal Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program, fully funding it and providing much-needed revenue for rural counties.
• $2.879 billion for the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) which includes funding for research to combat antimicrobial resistance.
• $34 billion in funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is $2 billion above FY16. This vital funding will help to empower our scientists and researchers so we can discover, develop, and deliver medical breakthroughs to cure diseases.
• $156 million, which is $6 million more than FY16, for rural health care, including an emphasis on telemedicine and providing additional grant opportunities for Critical Access Hospitals.
• Reaffirms the Congresswoman’s commitment to protecting the sanctity of life and Second Amendment rights.

The Congresswoman believes the funding battles experienced in recent years have made it clear that Congress must restore regular order to the appropriations process. She is hopeful that, with a unified government, Congress can begin to reverse this trend.

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