Congressman Veasey Votes Against CJS Appropriations

Washington, D.C.—Congressman Marc Veasey, TX-33, issued the following statement after voting against H.R. 2578, the FY 2016 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations Bill, which would fail to protect the safety and security of hardworking American families:

"Today, I voted against H.R. 2578, the FY 2016 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations Bill, because this legislation fails to protect the safety and security of hardworking American families. It is irresponsible to cut state and local law enforcement grants by 14% below the FY 2015 level, leaving no funding for the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program, and reduced funding for vital programs like the police body camera and Juvenile Justice Programs. We should be making strides towards investments in our state and local criminal assistance programs, so that we can ensure the safety and well-being of our communities. In addition, this bill puts nondefense discretionary funding at its lowest level in the last decade, jeopardizing investments that are critical to economic growth, competiveness, and American families' economic security. Finally, like all appropriations bills under this Republican Congress, I have strong objections to clinging to the sequester spending caps first set under the Budget Control Act of 2011, and locked in under the Republican budget this year. This bill has rightfully earned a veto threat from President Obama for falling woefully short in funding many important national priorities. In order to make responsible investments for our nation's future, we should instead end sequestration and stop adhering to these harmful budget caps that were never intended to be permanent."