Rep. Gallego Votes ‘No’ on Omnibus Spending Bill
Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07) voted no on the omnibus budget agreement. He issued the following statement:
"I can't vote for a bill that would give more than $1.2 billion to fuel Donald Trump's deportations. Donald Trump and Jeff Sessions will stop at nothing to strike fear into the heart of every immigrant. Instead of focusing on well-established deportation priorities – like criminals and national security threats – Trump and Sessions are tearing mothers away from their children and sending families back to the violence they fought so hard to escape. They are targeting DREAMers and other good, hardworking people who have lived in the United States for decades and contribute every day to their communities.
"Under this deal, the Environmental Protection Agency's budget will be reduced by more than $80 million, a deeply irresponsible cut that will undermine the federal government's ability to combat climate change and to protect the air we breathe and the water we drink.
"The omnibus also fails to adequately address a mounting crisis in Puerto Rico – allocating only about a third of what is needed to address severe healthcare shortfalls that are leaving too many of our fellow U.S. citizens without the care they need.
"A government shutdown was looming, and that terrified Republicans. Democrats could and should have used that opportunity to get a better deal."