Senators Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith voted to fully fund government operations through an appropriations package that makes strong investments in border security and funds other priorities for Mississippi. President Donald Trump recently announced his plan to take Executive action and declare a national emergency which will work alongside the appropriations package and make available additional funding to secure the southern border.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2019 is a seven-bill package to complete the FY2019 appropriations process and avoid a second partial government shutdown.
“This is an imperfect bill that doesn’t have everything the President or I wanted, but the overall package does fund physical barriers, law enforcement, and detention facilities to improve border security,” said Hyde-Smith. “It is certainly a far cry from the ‘not one dollar’ threat made by Democratic leaders.”
The measure bill will fund programs related to rural development, agriculture, aviation, transportation infrastructure, civil rights preservation, and water resources in Mississippi.
“For Mississippi, the completion of the last seven FY2019 appropriations bills will bring greater certainty to priority projects and programs around the state,” she said. “It also moves us away from another government shutdown and clears the field to keep fighting for priorities like stronger national defense and border security.”
Hyde-Smith said she is pleased that the final package protects pro-life provisions that Democrats sought to eliminate or weaken as the legislation was finalized.
“This agreement will keep the government open and take important steps to address the crisis at our southern border,” Wicker said. “The bill increases funding to $22.5 billion for border security and immigration enforcement including 55 miles of new physical barriers in the highest priority areas. This legislation also includes the remaining funding bills drafted last year by Republican majorities in the House and Senate. This progress is notable given the strong opposition and extreme rhetoric of congressional Democrats against these proposals.”
It retains all longstanding pro-life riders and protects the Trump administration’s pro-life policies. For example, it rejects a House Democrat attempt to repeal the President’s Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance Policy (the expanded Mexico City Policy), as well as an effort to increase funding for the United Nations Populations Fund. Instead, the bill retains the President’s authority under the Kemp-Kasten provision to defund the Populations Fund due to its involvement with China’s forced abortion regime.
Overall the package includes the FY2019 appropriations bills for: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Financial Services and General Government; Homeland Security; Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies; and State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs.
