Washington, D.C.- Today, Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) and Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI) released the following statement in response to the passage of the FY2018 Omnibus Bill:
“The members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus have spent years fighting for increases in domestic programs to keep pace with the most basic needs of the American people. While we are pleased this bill represents a massive rejection of President Trump’s budget, it falls short on key progressive issues.
“Once again, Republicans have chosen to prioritize war over diplomacy. President Trump continues to build up his war machine with a record-breaking $695 billion Pentagon budget plus another $65 billion to wage war, while critical diplomatic agencies like the Department of State and USAID remain underfunded. Such careless disregard for America’s diplomatic efforts perpetuates an out-of-control Pentagon budget and endows the executive branch with a virtual blank check to wage shadow wars across the globe that endanger American troops and interests.
“Congressional Republicans and the Trump Administration also continued their assault on immigrant communities by once again refusing to protect Dreamers. As Dreamers suffer in a cruel limbo, Republicans are ramping up a deportation machine with more agents and more enforcement that destroys families and tears communities apart.
“We can do better than a 2,000-page bill governing $1.3 trillion in federal spending being circulated to lawmakers the night before a crucial vote. Americans want progressive policies that prioritize a better future for all working families and when Democrats are in control of Congress, we can focus on these priorities.”
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The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) is the largest caucus within the House Democratic Caucus, with over 70 members standing up for progressive ideals in Washington and throughout the country. Since 1991, the CPC has advocated for progressive policies that prioritize working Americans over corporate interests, fight economic and social inequality, and promote civil liberties. The CPC champions progressive policy solutions like comprehensive immigration reform, a $15 national minimum wage, fair trade, gun violence reform, debt-free college, and making the federal government a Model Employer.
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