WASHINGTON - Rep. Dave Brat released the following statement after passage of a continuing resolution to fund the federal government through February 8, 2018 after a three-day federal government shutdown.
“Even though the House passed all of its 12 spending bills last September, the Senate has failed to find 60 votes to pass a single bill. This Washington gridlock is why we were placed up against yet another funding deadline crisis. Last week, 96% of House and Senate Republicans voted to pass legislation to fund the federal government and fully fund CHIP for six years while negotiations for a full-year funding bill continued. Today, Senate Democrats finally accepted reason and agreed to reopen the government after holding it hostage over unrelated federal immigration policy.
“Other than the date, none of the underlying policy in this bill has changed. What is clear is that 96% of Democrats voted to close the government, jeopardize paying our military, and obstruct a long-term solution for 15,600 CHIP recipients in the 7th District of Virginia to demand that Republicans provide blanket amnesty to illegal immigrants. This is the definition of the partisan dysfunction America is sick and tired of.
“For the last two months I have asked House leadership to move a sensible immigration reform bill before coming up against any deadline on DACA. We must restore respect for the rule of law and acknowledge those who have lawfully come to our country through the proper legal channels. Moving forward, I believe the Goodlatte immigration bill reflects those priorities and is a rational way to address our broken immigration system.”
