Cramer: Continuing Resolution Bill Funds Government, Military Funding And Zika Response

Press Release

Congressman Kevin Cramer issued the following statement on today's approval by the House of Representatives of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 Continuing Resolution legislation funding the government through Dec. 9. It also includes the text of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act and includes supplemental appropriations for Zika prevention and response, funding these programs for the next fiscal year. With the Senate's passage of identical legislation earlier today, the bill now proceeds to the President's desk for his consideration.

"This legislation allows the government to continue to operate without interruption until Dec. 9. It also ensures we meet our obligation to support our military construction projects and veterans, and that funds are available fight the threat of the Zika virus."

"Perhaps the biggest story of this Continuing Resolution is that we have also attached a "minibus' to it, that is a full appropriation for the entire fiscal year for military construction and VA. This is a very important appropriation for North Dakota's veterans and for military construction throughout our military. This is a bill that was filibustered many times by Senate Democrats. This is a major victory for our military and for our veterans and I'm glad Republicans in the House could deliver it."

Highlights of the bill include:

Continuing Resolution

* Funds government operations at $1.067 trillion, the same as FY16;

* Contains an additional $17 million to the Department of Health and Human Services and $20 million to the Department of Justice in funding to fight the opioid epidemic and begin carrying out the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016;

* Continues a provision that stops an Obama Administration Security and Exchange Commission rule that would force all publicly traded corporations to disclose their political contributions;

* Provides an additional $500 million in grants to states affected by recent flooding.

Military Construction and Veterans Affairs

* Totals $82.5 billion, an increase of $2.6 billion above current levels;

* Provides $74.4 billion in funding for the Veterans Administration, $2.9 billion above FY16 levels, including funding for medical services ($52.8 billion), an increase to address the backlog of disability claims ($156 million), and funds to support the modernization of the electronic health record ($260 million);

* Sustains quality housing for 1.3 million military families;

* Includes funding to care for 9.8 million troops and families at military medical facilities;

* Funds the American Battle Monuments Commission, the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans

Claims, Arlington National Cemetery, and the Armed Forces Retirement Home;

* Prohibits the closure of Guantanamo Bay and the construction of any facilities to house detainees in the U.S. or its territories; and

* Improves oversight at the VA to address mismanagement, stop waste, and better serve veterans, as well as add new whistleblower protections.

Zika Response and Prevention

* Provides a total of $1.1 billion to stop the spread of Zika, $400 million of which is offset;

* Targets funding for mosquito control, response, and readiness in high-risk states/territories ($394 million);

* Funds vaccines and diagnostic test research to ensure they are available to the public quickly and safely ($397 million);

* Supports health care for mothers, children, and others experiencing complications in areas with the highest rates of transmission ($75 million);

* Implements strong oversight, including funds for the Inspectors General of HHS and UASAID ($1 million);

* Provides funding to diplomatic and consular programs as well as emergencies in the diplomatic and consular service ($15.6 million);

* Enables financing in repatriation loans to U.S. citizens in Zika-affected areas ($1 million);

* Supports the Global Health Programs efforts to reduce the transmission of Zika ($145.5 million); and

* Maintains the Hyde amendment and reiterates strong protections against the use of this funding for abortions.

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