Chairman Frelinghuysen Statement Before the Rules Committee on Continuing Resolution Through February 16, 2018

House Appropriations Committee Rodney Frelinghuysen gave the following statement before the Rules Committee today while testifying on the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 195, the Extension of the Continuing Appropriations Act of 2018:

;od afternoon, Chairman Sessions, Ranking Member Slaughter, and members of the Rules Committee.

Thank you for having me before the Committee today to testify on the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 195, the Extension of the Continuing Appropriations Act of 2018.

I am here to seek an appropriate rule to provide for prompt consideration of this important legislation.

It is critical that we move quickly on this bill. Our current funding legislation expires this Friday, and without additional action, the government will shut down.

This legislation extends government funding through February 16, 2018. This will allow time for congressional Leadership and the White House to come to a final budget agreement and avoid a costly, destabilizing, government shutdown.

This legislation includes a very limited number of anomalies to ensure good governance.

It also extends several health care-related tax provisions, and includes language to continue the Children’s Health Insurance Program through FY 2023, which is so very important to many American families, especially children.

This measure is another step – and hopefully, one of the last – toward completing our Appropriations work for Fiscal Year 2018.

It is my hope that Leadership in the House and Senate and White House will quickly come to a budget agreement that allows us to move forward and complete our work.

In sum, this bill will provide funding for the important federal programs and services that the American people depend on, and avoid a shutdown.

Thank you again for having me before you today.

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