Rep. Capito Statement on Government Funding Bill

Press Release

U.S. Representative Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) issued the following statement today after voting yes to fund the government. The House voted 219-206 to pass the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2015, which would fund all federal agencies except for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security through Sept. 30, 2015. DHS would be funded until Feb. 27, 2015.

"As we near the holidays, Americans deserve the certainty of knowing that the federal government is open and operating. Shutting down the federal government is simply not an option.

"While the use of continuing resolutions and omnibus bills to keep the government funded is inefficient, we must keep the government open for the American people. The bill the House has sent the Senate today brings certainty to Americans while making important investments in our future. I urge the Senate to take up the House-passed bill quickly and send this important legislation to the president for his signature.

"Voters sent Washington a clear message in November -- they want change in Congress and reject the policies of the Democrat-led Senate. While the House passed individual appropriations bills for 2015, the Senate failed to pass a single one. That's not leadership.

"Republicans are committed to passing individual spending bills in the next Congress. The House and the Senate will debate and pass individual bills, allowing members of Congress to debate spending cuts and policy changes within individual policy areas and agencies. Passing continuing resolutions and omnibus bills year after year is a flawed approach to governing. When the Republicans take control of Congress in January, real change will come to Washington."

The House-passed bill would:

Increase funding for fossil energy research by $8.9 million, allowing us to use our coal and natural gas reserves cleaner and more efficiently. This bill rejects the president's proposal to cut fossil energy research spending by 15 percent.

Stop the Export-Import Bank from discriminating against coal plant technologies that are exported to poorer countries.

Preserve level funding for the Mine Safety and Health Administration at $376 million.
Increase overall discretionary funding for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs by $1.8 billion, including:

A $69 million increase to address the claims backlog,

$250 million for rural veterans health initiatives

$133 million for suicide prevention programs.

Cut funding for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency by $60 million and reduces the EPA to its lowest staffing level since 1989.

Block the EPA from changing the current definition of fill material, protecting West Virginia mining jobs.

Protect farmers from the EPA's burdensome, newly proposed regulations that seek to regulate farm ponds and irrigation ditches under the Clean Water Act.

Prevent a taxpayer bailout of insurance companies through Obamacare's risk corridors program.

Cut funding to the Independent Payment Advisory Board created by Obamacare to impose Medicare cuts.

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