U.S. House Passes Government Funding Bill with ISIS Amendment

Press Release

Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed a continuing resolution to keep the government funded through December 11, 2014. An amendment to the resolution, passed on a separate vote, would grant President Obama the authority he requested to train and arm properly vetted Syrians to combat ISIS, so long as certain accountability measures are followed. Congressman Kevin Cramer voted for both the continuing resolution, and the amendment - which he said includes much greater accountability and transparency than the President requested.

"I believe the President's request was too open-ended, and so the amendment we approved today is much more strict. It specifically authorizes the President to allow the training and equipping of moderate Syrian forces, and provides additional oversight, requiring the Administration to submit detailed progress reports, and implement procedures to monitor this effort closely. We also have specific language in the amendment to make it clear no additional funding is authorized, and this is not considered an authorization to use military force. The President, and most of Congress, believe he already has that authority as an extension of the 2001 and 2002 authorizations in the War on Terror and a reprogramming request to utilize current funding can be made."

Cramer also voted for the continuing resolution, which keeps the government funded at the same spending level for Fiscal Year 2014 approved in the omnibus spending bill in January. This amount is $21 billion below the Fiscal Year 2013 level, and represents the first time federal spending has been cut four years in a row since the Korean War.

"After Congress came together in January to pass the omnibus spending bill, the House went to work passing appropriations bills in an effort to restore regular order and return to the open budgeting process. Unfortunately the Senate did not pass a single appropriations bill. As a result, we are again required to pass today's continuing resolution to keep the government funded."

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