Rokita Votes to Fund Veterans Programs and National Parks, House Democrats Absent

Statement

Representative Todd Rokita released the following statement after voting in support of several pieces of legislation to fund Department of Veterans Affairs programs and the National Parks Service. The legislation also would have allowed the District of Columbia government to operate on its own tax revenue during the government shutdown. All three bills failed to pass due to a lack of support from House Democrats.

"Tonight, the House voted on legislation to ensure vital veterans services continue throughout the length of the government shutdown, unfortunately, many of my Democrat colleagues chose politics over our veterans tonight.

House Republicans have made every effort to fund government that matters to all of us. Just as we passed legislation to ensure our troops receive their pay, we proposed legislation to honor the promises we have made to our veterans by funding the Department of Veterans Affairs.

We also voted on legislation to fund our national parks. All of us heard the story today of the World War II veterans who came to Washington visit their memorial and refused to be turned away. These are the people's monuments and they should have access to them and experience the history of our country in our nation's capital. Our veterans will suffer and our parks and monuments will remain closed because House Democrats answer to Harry Reid and the President, not the American people."

Earlier today, many news outlets reported on a group of World War II veterans that were part of an honor flight visit to Washington to see the World War II Memorial.

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