McClellan Opposes Republicans’ Extreme Continuing Resolution

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) voted against House Republicans’ extreme Continuing Resolution (CR) to protect hardworking Virginians and Americans across the nation. The proposed CR includes a minimum 30% minimum cut to discretionary spending levels. The CR failed on a vote of 198 to 232.

“After months of infighting and political games, Speaker McCarthy and extreme MAGA Republicans finally put forth a Continuing Resolution with just one day until government funding runs out,” said Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan. “In true Conservative Chaos fashion, Speaker McCarthy failed to get the necessary votes to pass this disastrous CR and wasted an entire week on a useless piece of legislation that never stood a chance of passing the Senate. The Biden-Harris Administration, House Democrats, and bipartisan Senate leadership are working together to keep our government open, while extreme House Republicans drive us toward a government shutdown so that they can cut Social Security, slash public school funding, and criminalize abortion. Enough is enough.”

Speaker McCarthy and House Republicans’ CR will keep the government open in exchange for:

• Cutting funding for Title I, IDEA, and Head Start. Cuts to Title I and IDEA equate to the removal of nearly 150,000 teachers and service providers from classrooms serving low-income students and students with disabilities. Approximately 275,000 children would lose access to Head Start.
• Decimating the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Cut LIHEAP funding by roughly 74%. More than 5 million low-income households would lose their home heating or cooling benefits or experience drastic cuts to their current benefits.
• Slashing funding for Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). WIC programs need a 32% increase in funding, but this cuts the program by 30% and reduces funding for other nutrition services, including Meals on Wheels.
• Turning their backs on American small businesses. Cuts the Small Business Administration (SBA) Entrepreneurial Development Programs by 30%, meaning 400,000 fewer businesses would be assisted.
• Closing Social Security Administration field offices. Forces the Social Security Administration to close field offices and reduce access to in-person services. 
• Cutting loans and grants for farmers and rural communities. Cuts Rural Housing Service and Rural Utility Service programs that support single-family home loans, rental assistance, water and waste programs, electric resources, and access to broadband.
• Eliminating health care services for rural and underserved families. Cuts funding for Community Health Centers, which would cause more than 2 million vulnerable individuals and families to lose access to health care services.  
• Halting Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operations. Freezes the hiring and training of new air traffic controllers and safety inspectors, causing delays in certifying pilots, drone operators, and aircrafts.
• Abandoning communities recovering from natural disasters. Harms FEMA’s readiness by failing to address the urgent need for additional Disaster Relief Funds.
• Undercutting our critical allies. Cuts Foreign Military Financing (FMF) and threatens support for our allies like Israel and Jordan. Fails to provide additional funding to Ukraine.
• Cutting funds to Army Corps of Engineers. Cuts to Army Corps of Engineers’ activities, which would halt projects critical to waterway navigation of supply chains, reduction of flood and storm damage, or ecosystem restoration.
• Upending public safety, education, and other investments in Tribal communities. Cuts the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) by 30%, jeopardizing education programs, school repairs, and facility construction projects.
• Slashing investments in the National Institutes of Health. Medical research into treatments and cures for diseases like cancer, Alzheimer’s, and heart disease would be cut with the reduction of 7,000 research grants.

“It is clear extreme MAGA Republicans prioritize their political agenda over the needs and well-being of the American people,” continued Congresswoman McClellan. “This CR was nothing but a farce, as we barrel towards a government shutdown. The American people deserve better. It’s past time Speaker McCarthy stops caving to the Chaos Caucus and puts forth a clean CR free from poison pill riders; otherwise, a government shutdown is inevitable, and it will be due to his lack of leadership and willingness to govern.”

Read the full CR text here.

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