Langevin Votes for Bipartisan Funding Package to Reopen Government, Improve Border Security

Legislation contains $1.6 billion in border security related funding and is based on compromises agreed to by Republicans and Democrats last Congress

WASHINGTON – Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) issued the following statement after voting in favor of H.R. 648, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2019, which would reopen government agencies at funding levels based on bipartisan House-Senate agreements negotiated last year. It passed the House of Representatives today by a vote of 234-180.

“House Democrats have put yet another option on the table that President Trump can use to end his costly, prolonged shutdown. Senate Republicans rejected the spending bills that they themselves voted for last Congress, so this package contains funding levels arrived at through bipartisan negotiations. Importantly, the bill also contains $1.6 billion to better secure our southern border without wasting billions of American tax dollars on an unneeded wall.

“I have been an advocate for stronger border security as a part of comprehensive immigration reform. I am certainly willing to discuss border security with the President, but we cannot let him use federal workers and their families as bargaining chips. The President should take his pick from the litany of options that Democrats have already provided to reopen the government, and then we can proceed with border security talks.”