Press Releases

Washington, D.C. (February 14, 2019) | Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) issued the following statement after the House passed the Conference Report for the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2019, H.J.Res. 31:

“While I support President Trump’s efforts to provide adequate security on our southern border, I could not vote in support of this package of bills, due in part to not being given adequate time to review it. Members of Congress were given less than 24 hours to read more than one thousand pages of legislative text; and, though I believe the $1.3 billion is a good start toward the border barrier, I have not yet been able to assess all the aspects and effects of the bill.

“Even some members of the conference committee, including a colleague from Georgia, were not included in final negotiations or drafting of the final bill, and were given only an hour to read it before being asked to approve or disapprove.

“It is clear that the appropriations process is broken in D.C., because year after year, Congress struggles to pass the twelve appropriations bills by the September 30 funding deadline. Congress has also failed to secure our southern border, jeopardizing the safety and security of the American people. It’s time both sides come together and reform this broken process.”

Background on H.J.Res. 31:

• This legislation provides funding through September 30, 2019 for the seven annual appropriations bills that have not been signed into law. In addition to Homeland Security, the bill includes funding for Agriculture and FDA; Commerce, Justice, and Science; Financial Services and General Government; Interior and Environment; State and Foreign Operations; Transportation and HUD.
• The bill would provide $1.375 billion for a section of border fencing.