Articles

Washington, DC (October 14, 2013) – Today, U.S. Congressman Steve Pearce voted for H.J. Res. 80, which provides immediate funding for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Indian Education, and Indian Health Service.  This bill is the latest of more than a dozen pieces of legislation passed by the House to reboot vital government functions, which the Senate has failed to pass.

“Today, the House took action to protect vital programs for over 1.7 million Native Americans,” said Pearce.  “This is a simple, commonsense bill and I call on the Senate to act now to pass this and the other bills passed by the House to protect Americans and restore funding for key government functions.  The House is stepping up and taking action on issues that are vital to New Mexico, like today’s vote for Native American programs and Friday’s decision to provide immediate funding for our National Labs.  I urge the Senate and the President to remember the needs of America’s middle-class, and act now.”

So far, in addition to four separate votes to prevent the partial government shutdown, the House has passed with Congressman Pearce’s support the following pieces of legislation to reboot key federal programs.  All of the following bipartisan bills have been blocked by the Senate and met with veto threats from the President:

October 2: The House (including 25 Democrats) voted for H.J. Res. 73, which would provide funding for life-saving pediatric cancer research.

October 2: The House (including 23 Democrats) voted for H.J. Res. 70, which would reopen national parks, memorials, and monuments.

October 3: The House (including 35 Democrats) voted for H.J. Res. 72, which would provide immediate funding for veterans’ benefits.

October 3: The House (including 36 Democrats) voted for H.R. 3230, which would make sure that National Guard and Reserve troops receive their paychecks.

October 4: The House (including 23 Democrats) voted for H.J. Res. 85, which would make sure that FEMA is still able to provide funds for disaster relief.

October 4: The House (including 22 Democrats) voted for H.J. Res. 75 with Republicans to provide critical benefits and nutrition assistance for low-income women and children.

October 7: The House (including 20 Democrats) voted for H.J. Res. 77, which provides immediate funding for the FDA to ensure that food and medicine meet safety standards.

October 8: The House (including 23 Democrats) voted for H.J. Res. 84, which would reopen headstart programs for low-income children.

October 9: The House (including 23 Democrats) voted for H.J. Res. 90, which would provide immediate funding for the FAA and help ensure air traffic safety.

October 10: The House (including 21 Democrats) voted for H.J. Res. 79, which provides key funding for our border security personnel.

October 11: The House (including 21 Democrats) voted for H.J. Res. 76, which provides immediate funding for the National Labs, and would help prevent furloughs at Sandia and Los Alamos.