Congressman Biggs votes to fund America's military personnel

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the House of Representatives passed a six-week short-term spending bill – or continuing resolution (CR) – which included funding for the U.S. military through the end of the current fiscal year. Congressman Biggs voted in favor of the latest CR and issued the following statement:

"Although I was not happy to see another CR brought to the floor, I was pleased that our military will be funded for the entirety of the fiscal year. America's military personnel should not be held hostage to Washington's ineptitude at passing a budget. Our heroes and their families make tremendous sacrifices for our freedoms, and they deserve financial stability. The House-adopted CR allows our soldiers to complete their vital missions, unhindered by monthly threats of a government shutdown.

"While I voted for this CR – solely to support our military men and women and their families – our budgetary problems cannot be ignored. This is the fifth CR we have passed this fiscal year, and we have set the stage for a sixth CR next month. Over 100 days ago, the House approved its appropriations bills, yet the Senate has not even considered them. The Senate's refusal to execute its constitutional responsibility to ratify a budget enacts long-term damage to our nation.

"The continuous reliance on these short-term spending bills – used more than 100 times since 1996 – has helped to quadruple our national debt, left us with an annual structural deficit, and pushed the United States closer to the brink of bankruptcy. I call on our leaders and our Congress to perform the jobs the American people elected us to do. Let's pass a real budget!"

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Congressman Andy Biggs is a first-term Representative from Arizona's Fifth Congressional District, representing parts of Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, and Queen Creek. Congressman Biggs is a member of the House Judiciary and Science, Space, and Technology committees, and is the chairman of the Environment Subcommittee. He lives with his wife, Cindy, in Gilbert.