FY18: more days of indecision

Sixty-eight days into fiscal year 2018, leadership is kicking the can down the road on making the necessary spending decisions – for the second time. Thursday’s votes in the House and the Senate keep the government open until December 22. In caucus, in committee, in conversation with Members on both sides of the aisle, I continue to press for action on what I see as our most urgent national priorities:

·         Parity between defense spending and the domestic budget, where almost all the funding for the Marianas comes from,

·         Funding for veterans and the fight against opioids,

·         Renewal of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and Community Health Center spending, and

·         Passage of the DREAM Act.

Let us hope the extra days until December 22 are enough to reach agreement, so we will not have to kick the can into January.