McCollum Floor Remarks Opposing Republicans’ Continuing Resolution
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.), Ranking Member of the House Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, delivered the following remarks in opposition to House Republicans' irresponsible three-week continuing resolution, which includes provisions that waive fiscal responsibility measures triggered by the Trump-GOP tax scam:
"Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this continuing resolution. The federal government's fiscal year started three months ago. This Republican Congress still hasn't passed a full-year of federal funding. Rather than protecting our nation and meeting the needs of the American people, we are now debating a third continuing resolution to kick the can into January.
"Republicans control this House, the Senate, and the White House. Clearly they do not take their responsibility to fund the federal government seriously. Frankly, they should be embarrassed. For the past three months, Democrats have sought to work with Republicans to secure a budget agreement and responsibly pass appropriations bills. But Republicans have been too busy to meet this basic responsibility.
"Instead, they have spent months working in secret on their deficit-busting tax scam. And let's be clear: the Republican tax scam is part of this CR as well. This CR contains language to exempt the Republicans' lavish tax cuts for big corporations and billionaires from the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act. Republicans passed their tax scam knowing that it was fiscally irresponsible and would trigger huge cuts to Medicare and other vital programs. Now they are asking Democrats to help bail them out.
"I didn't vote for the Republican tax scam, and I'm not going to paper over their mistakes so President Trump can sign it into law.
"But here is what I will do. As the Ranking Member of the Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, I know Republican appropriators are as frustrated as I am. And I want to work with them to find common ground and responsibly fund our government. It's time for appropriators to do our job – Republicans and Democrats together. It's time to get back to work.