Thompson Votes to Pass Appropriations Bill with Key Priorities

Statement

Today Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) voted to pass H.R. 3055, an appropriations bill that includes key priorities for California's Fifth Congressional District. Most notably, this legislation includes $2.25 billion in funding for fire suppression operations, a $25 million increase in funding for the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), and a prohibition on funds being used to include a citizenship question in the 2020 census. Thompson released the following statement after final passage of that bill.

"When Congress appropriates funding, we are drawing a map of the priorities most important to our district and our communities. That's why today, I voted to pass an appropriations bill that includes funding for two critical priorities. That includes $2.25 billion in funding for fire suppression efforts across our nation. This means that the Department of Interior and the Forest Service can work to prevent fires without borrowing funding from other programs. The legislation passed today also included a $25 million increase in resources provided to the National Instant Criminal Background Checks System, so that program can better keep firearms out of the hands of those who are prohibited from having them.

"This bill is also an important step forward in ensuring California and other states receive a full count during the 2020 census. Without this, our state and our district would be at risk of losing critical federal government funding. This bill blocks any funding from being used to add a citizenship question, which would be harmful to efforts to get a full and fair count in the upcoming census."

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