McCollum Statement on Republican Abuse of Power on House Floor

Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MN) voted against the Military Construction-VA appropriations bill today and released the following statement:

“Republican leadership today abused their power and violated their professed principle of regular order in order to defeat an important amendment that would have protected LGBT Americans from discrimination. The arm twisting that Republican leadership undertook to force members to change their votes has no place in the House of Representatives.

I supported the underlying bill in the Appropriations Committee and — as a former member of the Military Construction-VA Appropriations Subcommittee — I understand the importance of this legislation. However, given House Republicans’ blatant abuse of power on the floor today, I had no choice but to oppose this bill.”