WASHINGTON, DC (September 18, 2024) — Today, U.S. Representative Valerie Foushee (NC-04) released the following statement after voting against the House Republican short-term government funding bill, H.R.9494, the Continuing Appropriations and Other Matters Act, 2025, which includes an extreme partisan policy rider, the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act.
“Today, I voted against the partisan six-month government funding bill that is a blatant attempt to push through divisive policies at the expense of essential government functions. By abandoning the previously agreed upon bipartisan funding framework in favor of extremist policy riders, House Republicans are deliberately undermining our nation’s best interests and are once again putting their political agendas before the needs of the American people.
“With the government funding deadline quickly approaching, Congress must reject hyper-partisanship and find common ground to avoid a reckless government shutdown that would hurt our economy, put jobs in jeopardy, interrupt vital services, threaten access to food assistance, endanger our national security, and harm working families. I am committed to working across the aisle to pass a clean short-term funding bill that will fully serve the needs of our government and the American people.”
Specifically, H.R. 9494, the Continuing Appropriations and Other Matters Act, 2025, will:
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Require proof of citizenship in order to register to vote, placing an extreme burden on military voters, native voters, individuals who have changed their names, the elderly, naturalized citizens, and underserved communities.
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Ignore the Administration’s requests to increase funding for veterans’ medical care by $12 billion, shortchanging our veterans and jeopardizing the medical services they need and have earned.
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Provide only $10 billion to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, over $14 billion less than the agency requires tofully operate, threatening its ability to adequately respond to future disastersand recovery projects.
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Restrict the Department of Defense’s ability to enact necessary changes in its policies and programs while further funding remains static. It also will constrain security programs at levels below what is allowed in the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA).
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Slash domestic investments in health care, education, job training, and all other discretionary resources, putting critical services that American families depend on to make ends meet at risk.
The full bill text of H.R. 9494, the Continuing Appropriations and Other Matters Act, 2025 is available here.