171 House Democrats to Trump: Keep Government Open, Include Bipartisan Priorities

WASHINGTON- Congressman Brendan F. Boyle, joined by 170 House colleagues, yesterday sent a letter to President Trump expressing support for keeping the federal government open while pressing for the inclusion of urgent bipartisan priorities in any funding resolution.

"Mr. President, it is clear that your budget priorities and ours are in significant conflict. However, there are many bipartisan priorities that we can swiftly deliver for the good of the American people, in addition to keeping government open without interruption," wrote the legislators.

These priorities include:

• Preserving the agreement in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 that required increased spending to be spread evenly between defense spending and non-defense discretionary accounts which have both been harmed by the ongoing sequester;

• Delivering urgently needed resources for communities fighting the deadly opioid epidemic;

• Rescuing our heroic veterans who are facing a dire shortfall at the VA;

• Protecting Dreamers, whom you have publicly supported, by passing the Dream Act;

• Supporting access to health care by providing critical funding for CHIP and CHCs;

• Preserving Americans' endangered pensions by enacting a responsible reform plan;

• Providing additional disaster recovery funding for Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Texas, Florida, and states impacted by wildfires.

"If we can't agree," wrote the members, "your party has the majority in the House and Senate to pass your own funding resolution. But that will be a bill we cannot support."

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