Last week, I voted in support of the omnibus appropriations bill to fund the federal government. This legislation contains several priorities that are important to Nevadans and Americans across the country. Specifically, the bill includes funding to: combat our nation’s devastating opioid crisis, ensure military readiness, and give our schools the tools they need to prevent violence on school grounds. My staff and I also fought to ensure this bill included funding for priorities that are unique to western states like ours, including critical funding to combat devastating wildfires, improve forest health, and promote clean air and water.
While there is always more work to be done when dealing with broad legislation like this, it’s important to note that this bill does address many of the current funding priorities that are important to CD-2 and our country. Learn more about why I voted in favor of this spending package below:
Regular Order Process:
If you’ve received my newsletter in the past, you’re aware the House passed all 12 of its appropriations bills off the Floor through regular order by last year’s September 30th deadline. Unfortunately, I cannot say a similar and transparent process took place in the Senate, where its style of legislating rarely allows constituents to see where their representatives stand on an issue.
With regard to funding the federal government, when nothing is done by the Senate – until Congress is quickly approaching a government shutdown – all the substantive talks take place solely between House and Senate leadership to resolve issues at the eleventh hour. This process, which is fueled by Senate-inaction, flies in the face of the regular order process and rank-and-file Members of Congress who are elected and expected to carry out their work in a transparent manner.
Government Shutdowns
As you know, I was involved in the 2013-decision to shut the federal government down, and supported that based on the issue at hand, which was the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
However, I am certainly not comfortable shutting down the federal government because the Senate refuses to be transparent about its appropriations process. I’m not willing to tell our troops and the Pentagon they must cease operations, while they are involved in foreign engagements, because one chamber of Congress refuses to appropriate the funding needed to support their missions unless it’s behind closed doors.
The bottom line is this: a government shutdown is not an effective or responsible tool for negotiation. But until the Senate is able to fulfill one of its most basic duties as outlined in the Constitution, these types of spending bills will be the only way Congress can continue allocating funding for critical programs that support our military, veterans, and national security efforts.
Analyzing the Omnibus
When the bill was released, my staff and I immediately divided the bill up into sections. We specifically reviewed the bill’s text for content based on the priorities critical to CD-2. Based on the time we had to review the legislation, and the approach we took in dividing this work, I felt confident in my knowledge of the measures included in the bill. Additionally, our swift and comprehensive analysis of the bill was aided by the fact that I’m an appropriator, so my staff and I knew how to look at this type of legislation in a particularly effective manner.
What’s included in the Omnibus?
Wins:
- The Pentagon is now on the road to recovery:
- Defense: Included in this bill is $654.6 billion for the Department of Defense (DOD). This provides a $61.1 billion increase over Fiscal Year 2017 funding levels. In his budget request, Secretary Mattis identified the serious readiness shortfalls this funding will help address, especially at a time when we’re attempting to recover from previous budget cuts and ongoing engagements that have devastated our military readiness. Specifically, this funding will go toward mission support operations, equipment procurement, research and development, and critically needed maintenance.
- Troops: This legislation provides a well-deserved 2.4% pay increase to our troops – the largest pay raise in eight years.
- Funding to protect rangeland health:
- Fire suppression funding: Included in this bill is $3.8 billion for fire suppression funding, including budget reforms that will increase the authority to devote more resources for fire emergencies without cannibalizing the accounts which serve fire prevention, rangeland management, and other fuels reduction priorities.
- Keeping a promise to our nation’s heroes:
- Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA): Included in this legislation is an $8.5 billion increase from Fiscal Year 2017 levels for the VA – a total of $184.5 billion – with special funds set aside to continue to address the claims backlog.
- Keeping our children safe on school grounds:
- Department of Education (DOE): Included in this legislation is $70.6 billion for the DOE, which is a $2.6 billion increase over Fiscal Year 2017 levels. Specifically, this legislation includes about $2.5 billion across several agencies – from the FBI to the DOE – to address school safety.
- Mental Health Component: Through the 21st Century Cures Act, $205 million is allocated for various behavioral and mental health programs specific to school safety and violence prevention.
- Supporting public health programs:
- This legislation provides $3 billion to the National Institute of Health (NIH) to address the devastating opioid crisis, as well as funding for other important programs administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Health and Human Services. I’m pleased to also report this bill includes $130 million in funding for rural community programs that are especially important in districts like ours.
Areas where there is still more work to be done:
- Sexual Harassment: The House took action last year to announce its zero tolerance policy in regards to sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace by passing a resolution (H.R. 4924) that received overwhelming bipartisan support. Unfortunately, although the House amended its own rules, the Senate did nothing with our reform legislation. While the House fought to have these measures included in the omnibus, I cannot speak for why the Senate chose not to join us in support of these reforms. Additionally, the fact this resolution passed with a majority of Members’ support in the House should send a clear message that these reforms were common-sense and not controversial.
Clarification on women’s health funding:
I’ve heard from a few of you who are upset with the apparent funding for Planned Parenthood included in this bill. It’s important to realize that there is no line item included for Planned Parenthood funding in this legislation. This means, no specific funding is set aside for Planned Parenthood. However, the organization is still eligible to receive funding for specific health care services provided to women and children – other than abortion services because the Hyde Amendment (which prohibits federal funds from being used toward abortion services) – has been kept intact. Additionally, Planned Parenthood receives funding (75%) through traditional Medicaid reimbursements which are tied to the patient, not to the organization the patient chooses to utilize. Short of changing the mandatory funding algorithm, which dictates Medicaid reimbursements, there is absolutely no way to prevent Planned Parenthood from receiving funds through the fee-for-service care of a woman for wellness visits or other women’s health related needs. To be clear, Medicaid does not cover abortion procedures except for when the life of the mother is in danger, or in cases of rape and incest.
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about my vote to support funding for some of the critical agencies and programs Americans rely on. Please take a moment to let me know what you think through my website.
Continuing off the school safety issues discussed in my March 17th newsletter, my staff and I plan to take another comprehensive look at this issue next week. As you know, in light of the tragedy in Parkland, FL, there has been renewed interest in the components surrounding the mental health debate and what Congress is doing to appropriately address the issue. I will additionally be taking a look at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive’s (ATF) previous action on the bump stock issue, as well as the recent action by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue a proposed rule that will ban bump stocks.
As always, thank you for subscribing to the Amodei Report. I look forward to continuing to keep you up to date on the issues you care about most.
For additional information, please visit my website at amodei.house.gov or call my Washington office: (202) 225-6155, Reno office: (775) 686-5760 or Elko office: (775) 777-7705. To receive updates on what I am doing in Washington and in Nevada’s 2nd District follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube.
