Press Release
Posted:
Washington, DC—Today, Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-05) announced his intent to vote against the Republicans’ latest continuing resolution (CR):
“For months now, Republicans have continued to kick our budget problems down the road, passing short-term spending deals with little progress towards a responsible, long-term budget.
“When Republicans attempt to pass another CR this week, it marks the fourth time they’ve failed to reach an agreement on a funding plan for Fiscal Year 2018, which began last October.
“This time, the majority will use the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) as a bargaining ploy to bring Democrats on board.
“I will vote no because their bill not only fails to permanently authorize CHIP, but it fails to provide for dozens of other health services on which these kids and other vulnerable Americans rely.
“It also leaves out funding for Community Health Centers and the National Health Service Corps which are integral to the health infrastructure that actually delivers care to CHIP beneficiaries. It also fails to fund the Special Diabetes Program that supports critical research into combatting, preventing, and curing type 1 diabetes.
“Seniors and those with disabilities also get a raw deal. Under this CR, Republicans have gutted Medicare by failing to fund crucial protections for beneficiaries, like the therapy caps exceptions process to ensure care isn’t rationed for seniors, or payments for rural ambulance providers who bring care to seniors in remote parts of the country.
“Moreover it fails to provide protection for the 800,000 DACA recipients who will be at risk of deportation in a shameful display of this Administration’s perverse understanding of national security.
“Republicans are holding children hostage because they can’t muster the votes to keep this government running, and yet they have the audacity to say Democrats don’t care about children’s health. It’s offensive and immoral. This is no way to run a country.”