Comstock Statement On Government Funding Bill

Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Comstock (VA-10) released the following statement after the House passed the Omnibus Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2016 by a vote of 316 to 113:

“I have consistently advocated for policies that stop the defense sequester cuts that threaten our national security.  This budget increases our defense funding and adequately funds our troops in the field and helps with our fight against terrorist groups like ISIS.  I also support policies that lower taxes on our businesses and hard-working taxpayers, and rein in the IRS.  Today’s budget and yesterday’s tax reform bill with $600 billion in tax cuts gets our economy moving again,  sets the stage for long-term tax reform, and gets us back on the path to restoring our  military.  Shutting down the government would have given even more power to a president who grows bolder and more combative by the day as he approaches his final year in office. 

“The legislation includes House-passed homeland security measures to prevent terrorists from exploiting our visa program, and shifts billions to Customs and Border Protection and ICE to monitor the border and enforce our immigration laws.  In addition, the bill stops the president’s efforts to close Guantanamo Bay or transfer terrorist detainees to the United States.

“This legislation also has a major jobs component in that it repeals the antiquated, 1970s-era oil export ban which will create an estimated 9,000 jobs right here in the Commonwealth by 2018 and add an estimated $170 billion to the nation’s GDP.  The bill provides regulatory relief to small businesses and promotes commerce by addressing our infrastructure needs.  It blocks EPA overreaches by lowering its budget to the lowest levels since President Obama took office.  It also reins-in the IRS by preventing them from harassing groups based on ideology and by freezing their funding at nearly $2 billion under the president’s request. The bill cuts millions from Obamacare’s Independent Payment Advisory Board and further delays the Obamacare excise tax on high-cost healthcare plans.  This legislation also provides critical healthcare benefits for 9/11 first responders who continue to suffer from complications due to their heroic actions in the aftermath of the attacks.  It also provides resources to our dedicated researchers at NIH who are working on medical breakthroughs for diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s.  Finally, the bill contains a number of provisions to preserve Americans’ Second Amendment rights, including a prohibition of funds for implementing the UN Arms Trade Treaty.

“I appreciate that Speaker Ryan, after completing this year’s budget process in a less than ideal situation, has committed to returning the House to the proper appropriations process next year from the ground-up and through the committees of jurisdiction, rather than voting on omnibus spending bills at the end of the year.”