WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and a member of the Senate Finance Committee, expressed his continuing frustration that Republicans are unable and unwilling to put forward real appropriations bills and continue to rely on Continuing Resolutions (CR) to fund the federal government.

“It’s unconscionable that the party that controls the Senate, the House of Representatives and the White House – the Republican Party — cannot pass a timely, reasonable spending bill. Continuing resolutions are a failure of our Constitutional responsibilities. They may keep the federal government running, which is good news for all Americans, but it is no way to run a government year after year after year.” 

“I voted against this latest continuing resolution because I want Congress to finish its work. Dreamers and those with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) do not get a reprieve from the fear they will be kicked out of this country because it’s Christmas. Children who are sick and in need of long-term health coverage provided by CHIP don’t get a holiday break. The tax extenders package that Republicans have been promising since the fall – which would help shore up critical clean energy and energy efficiency incentives – is not included. Where is the disaster relief? Where is the opioid crisis funding? Where is the long-term funding for our community health centers? We’ve given the Republicans a series of short-term continuing resolutions and they still have been unable to pass regular spending bills. Enough is enough. Our country needs predictability and stability that continuing resolutions cannot provide. We need an equal increase in both our domestic and national security budgets that will fund essential programs while protecting both hard-working families and our military. Congress needs to stay and get the job done.”

###