Media Contact: Alexei Woltornist (202)225-6205

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH) released the following statement after voting against H.R. 244, the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2017. The bill passed the House by a vote of 309-118.

"This omnibus bill protects the status quo.  The status quo has created a $20 trillion debt crisis.  This bill is a product of that same process: manage by crisis, jam in a last-minute package that overspends to 'buy' support, then celebrate small wins - all while ignoring the debt.  

"The power of the purse is central to the role of Congress.  While there are notable wins in this bill, the process strips that Article I power to attach terms and conditions to the spending, spends more than the Budget Control Act budget caps, denies members of Congress the ability to amend the bill while stripping out previously approved amendments, discards amendments that passed in House-passed appropriations bills, and includes numerous federal bailouts.  The status quo diminishes the Constitutional role of Congress.  'The people's House' is supposed to represent the people.  This process strips members of that ability. The status quo is a path to bankruptcy.  It is not compassionate to bankrupt America.  

“'On time and under budget' has been a hallmark of Trump organizations in the past, and that needs to catch on in Congress.  Change is hard and the decisions are not easy, but a broken process that cannot continue must end. I am encouraged that President Trump has demonstrated the resolve to compel Congress to hit the next deadline (September 30, 2017), and I look forward to working with him and others to end the status quo in Washington."