Press Releases

On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 244, the Consolidated Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2017, by a vote of 309 to 118. Rep. Mike Johnson (LA-04) voted against the spending bill and released the following statement:

"Releasing a 1,700-page bill only three days before the vote is taken is classic Washington dysfunction. The provisions within this bill simply don’t line up with the values I was sent to Congress to uphold, and due to the rushed nature, there are many areas left completely unaddressed.

“Among its many problems, this $1.2 trillion Omnibus will further expand the federal government, increase spending above existing statutory limits, and still allow Planned Parenthood to receive taxpayer dollars--while providing inadequate funding for border security, no repercussions to sanctuary cities that blatantly ignore federal law, and no prohibition on diversion of critical Department of Defense resources for pet projects. While I strongly support funding the military needs outlined by President Trump, this bill falls far short of what was asked by the president and what is actually needed. Without a clear offset or way to balance the budget, this bill is short-sighted, and I could not, in good conscience, vote for legislation that so clearly fails to address these and many other important issues.”