Schneider Statement on Vote for Omnibus

Today, Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) released the below statement:

"I voted for today's omnibus spending bill because it prevents a government shutdown and funds priorities critical to Tenth District communities.

"I am proud the bill includes support for several programs I specifically requested. I led my colleagues in calling for robust funding to address the opioid and mental health crises, support resources for local communities to address the health effects of climate change, and continue an important joint U.S.-Israel counter-tunnel defense initiative. I am pleased to see each of these measures included in the legislation, as well as a bipartisan proposal I introduced to help schools install panic buttons in classrooms."

"I also applaud the increased investment in our infrastructure, the end to the senseless restriction on CDC gun violence research, full funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, and funding for the counter-cyber efforts and state technology grants that will improve the security of our elections.

"Equally important are the elimination of disastrous provisions pushed by President Trump and far-right members of the Republican conference that were avoided through sensible, bipartisan engagement. Just some examples: this bill does not cut funding to Planned Parenthood, does not defund the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, does not fund President Trump's border wall, and rejects the President's proposed cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency.

"Nevertheless, the process that led to this legislation is as broken as ever. Republican leadership introduced the mammoth 2,000 page bill mere hours before voting, leaving inadequate time for review. Just days after our national debt surpassed $21 trillion for the first time, this bill also piles on yet more, and avoids the necessary hard choices to put our nation on a responsible fiscal path.

"The American people deserve better from Congress. I urge leadership to allow the appropriations process for the next fiscal year to run through regular order with sufficient oversight."