Smucker Statement on FY2019 Spending Package

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-Pa.) released the following statement after he voted against H.J. Res. 31, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, on Thursday:

"As I've said before, we need a permanent fix to secure our border. That requires Congress to allocate adequate funding for security resources – and this bill doesn't do that. Not only is this border funding well below President Trump's request of $5.7 billion but it is also well below the number our Border Control agents requested to get their jobs done to keep our country safe. The problems with this bill don't stop there though. This bill also decreases the number of illegal immigrants ICE can detain, which will increase ‘catch and release' policies, only worsening our immigration crisis.

"Beyond that, this bill increases spending in nearly all areas – except border security funding – only furthering irresponsible governing which will push our country into more debt. It also makes no sense to drop a 1,200-page bill funding a quarter of our government after 1 a.m. and give lawmakers less than 18 hours to read, review and vote on it.

"I cannot vote in favor of continuing this broken process. These are short-term ‘fixes' for long-term problems and this is not how we should govern. The American people deserve better."