District of Columbia Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014

Floor Speech

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I am encouraged to hear my Republican colleagues stand in support of the District of Columbia's ability to expend its own local funds. I agree. As a member representing a district that neighbors DC, I have been a long-time supporter of budget autonomy for our nation's capital. It should be able to spend its local dollars without waiting for approval from this Congress. I hope my colleagues will remember this debate and work towards a long-term legislative fix for this issue.
However, we have a way to solve the immediate problem for the District of Columbia

today. If we take up the Senate's clean continuing resolution, we can send it to the President for his signature tonight, giving DC the necessary authority and letting those federal employee residents of DC and all our Congressional districts go back to work tomorrow. We could reopen the National Institutes of Health, our national parks, and the Veterans Administration. And we could ensure that all Americans have access to the government services they need. I call on my colleagues to bring up the clean CR and end this shut down today.

Source