Dear Colleague: Omnibus Bill Reflects Democrats' Values to Protect Health Care, Environment and Education

May 1, 2017
Press Release
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May 1, 2017

Dear Democratic Colleague,

From the beginning, Democrats have sought to avert another destructive Republican Government Shutdown.  Thanks to Ranking Member Nita Lowey, our appropriators, their staff and the House and Senate Leadership staff, the omnibus reflects significant progress defeating dangerous Republican riders and securing key victories for Democratic priorities.

In a defeat for President Trump, the omnibus does not fund the immoral and unwise border wall or create a cruel new deportation force.  We have also eliminated more than 160 Republican poison pill riders, ranging from undermining a woman's right to reproductive health to dismantling Dodd-Frank's vital Wall Street consumer protections.

Democrats also succeeded in securing policy priorities and funding increases for critical non-defense items in the omnibus, which will save lives and create jobs:

  • Medical Research – In a stark contrast with President Trump's dangerous plans to steal billions from lifesaving medical research, the omnibus increased funding for the National Institutes of Health by $2 billion;

  • Coal Miners' Health – Democrats secured more than a billion dollars to deliver permanent health benefits for the thousands of coal miners and their families who stood to lose their health benefits this month;

  • Opioid Epidemic – Democrats secured an additional $600 million for fighting the opioid epidemic;

  • Protects EPA – The omnibus protects 99 percent of EPA's budget, despite Republicans' hopes to gut it;

  • Year-Round Pell Grants – Democrats restored hard-working students' access to year-round Pell Grants;

  • Science Funding – The omnibus increases funding for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the Department of Energy Office of Science and ARPA-E, all initiatives President Trump wanted cut;

  • Puerto Rico's Medicaid – The omnibus includes vital funds to stabilize Puerto Rico's underfunded Medicaid program, which threatened so many of our fellow Americans in Puerto Rico;

  • Emergency Famine Relief – Democrats secured $1 billion in humanitarian assistance to alleviate famine resulting from war, drought and displacement in Africa and the Middle East, saving countless lives around the world.

Now, the Members of our Caucus will assess the whole package and weigh its equities.

Thank you for your leadership.

best regards,

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