Womack to Vote Against Continuing Resolution, Calls on Congress to Focus on Funding Issues Now
Washington,
November 19, 2019
Washington, DC – November 19, 2019….Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) announced that he will vote against today’s proposed continuing resolution (CR) and called for Congress to stop its cycle of last-minute, temporary funding bills. Instead of punting the stopgap deadline to December 20th, Womack feels strongly that members should stay in Washington to debate and pass full appropriations funding now. He released the following statement on his planned vote: “We have had seven weeks since the beginning of the new fiscal year to reconcile policy differences and fulfill our appropriations duties, but all Congress has to show for its work is another move to kick the can down the road. We shouldn’t be waiting until December to address the issues we can be debating today. All this bill does is extend the ticking of the clock to another budget deadline, and I have no confidence that sitting on our hands will make discussions more productive in the coming weeks. My vote will reflect the urgency to address these issues head-on now – not wait to take votes of desperation. We need to finish our work, not perpetuate the dysfunction of the legislative process.” Congressman Womack has consistently advocated for solutions to fix the broken budget and appropriations process, which has failed the American people for too long. He previously co-chaired the Joint Select Committee on Budget and Appropriations Process Reform and introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to modernize and streamline current processes. Some of the reforms he supports include moving to a biennial budget, ensuring realistic deadlines for Congress to complete its budget and appropriation work, and requiring a joint Budget Committee hearing on the Fiscal State of the Nation. Additionally, he recently warned of the damages a CR will have on our military and national defense efforts. Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas’s Third Congressional District since 2011. He serves as the Ranking Member of the House Committee on the Budget and is a member of the House Appropriations defense and transportation, housing and urban development subcommittees. ### |
