Washington, D.C. – As the Senate considers bipartisan legislation to set funding for a portion of the federal government, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley offered an amendment to reaffirm that bipartisan funding agreements made by Congress cannot be undone by the Administration or partisan maneuvers in Congress.
Merkley offered an amendment to an annual appropriations package that would prevent the Trump Administration from undermining another bipartisan agreement through the Impoundment Control Act. As Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee and a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Merkley offered the amendment to reaffirm that Congress stands by the bipartisan appropriations agreements as passed.
“As the Trump Administration tramples on Congress’ authority in its reckless pursuit of impounding funds, Congress must reassert its Constitutionally-granted Power of the Purse,” said Merkley. “My amendment simply states that bipartisan funding bills passed by Congress shouldn’t be undone by partisan politics. As the Senate considers this funding package supporting veterans’ health, infrastructure for military readiness, and support for our farmers and agricultural economy, this amendment is a commonsense bipartisan statement that Congress stands by its word.”
Merkley offered the amendment at a time when the Trump Administration has taken several illegal and unconstitutional actions to impound funds, and Congress just passed a partisan rescissions package to dismantle America’s foreign assistance infrastructure and strip funding from PBS, NPR, and local and Tribal news and radio outlets.
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