NUNNELEE: OMNIBUS CONTINUES THE MOMENTUM
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3547, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014. For the fourth year in a row the House has worked to cut spending, bringing this year’s spending level to below FY 2009 levels. The bill cuts a total of $79 billion dollars from the Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 post-sequester enacted level. Congressman Alan Nunnelee (R-Miss), who serves on the House Appropriations Committee, released a statement following passage:
“I came to Washington to change the conversation from “how much can we spend and expand government” to “how much can we cut and reduce government.” While we did not get everything that we wanted, the omnibus continues the momentum of changing the culture in Washington. The bill passed today cuts spending and continues to improve an overreaching federal government. This is certainly not a final victory, but it is a common sense, clear path forward which is the key to getting our economy and job creation moving in a positive sustainable direction.”
The bill focuses on national security and infrastructure priorities, and puts decision making back in the hands of the legislative branch, not bureaucrats in Washington. We were able to reject what would have been reckless reductions proposed by the administration to programs like navigation and flood control and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. Instead of continuing the President’s less effective green energy programs on autopilot, we provided funding for energy programs that encourage economic competitiveness, moving us toward an all-of-the-above energy solution. In addition to spending reforms, we were able to enforce strict and increased oversight over all agencies like the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which are responsible for implementing the train wreck that is ObamaCare.
Nunnelee reiterated the importance of moving all 12 House appropriations bills in an era of divided government:
“Even with President’s budget arriving to us three months late, our committee has worked tirelessly to write and openly debate all 12 appropriations bills. Although we were unable to bring all 12 bills to the House floor this year, I look forward to achieving that goal next year. Passing appropriations bills is the best, most likely way to get conservative reforms into law.”
Highlights of the bill include:
ObamaCare
• No new or additional funding for ObamaCare
• Stops the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) from raiding $1 billion for ObamaCare exchanges
• Cuts all funding ($10 million) for the Independent Payment Advisory Board
National and Homeland Security
• Provides funding to maintain military readiness both at home and abroad
• Provides funding for much needed resources for ongoing military operations
• Fully funds the 1% pay raise for the troops
• Fully funds E-verify
• Increases funding above the President’s request for military health activities
Pro-life
• Maintains all existing pro-life policies and funding provisions
• Bans public funding for abortions in the District of Columbia
• Reduces Title X family planning funding by $10 million
Policy, Savings and Oversight
• Cuts IRS funding and prohibits funding from being used to target groups based on their political beliefs or target citizens for exercising their 1st amendment rights
• Prohibits aid to Libya until the Secretary of State confirms Libyan cooperation in the Benghazi investigation
• Requires detailed unclassified reports from the National Security Agency (NSA) on data communication collections efforts to find terrorists and goals achieved
• Mandates first-ever comprehensive accounting of Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) ammunition inventories, usage, and purchase
• Blocks Administrations efforts to cut ICE enforcement of existing immigration laws
• Stops the transfer or release of Guantanamo Bay detainees into the U.S.; prohibits construction or acquisition of a prison in the U.S. to house such detainees
• Prevents any funding from being used to implement any future Fast & Furious type activity
• Prohibits funding to implement the UN Arms Trade Treaty
• No funding for the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) or the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
• Bans Department of Energy (DOE) from forcing manufacturers to halt production incandescent light bulbs
• Slashes Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funding and staffing, bringing staff levels to the lowest levels since 1989
