WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Thursday, the House of Representatives considered passage of a one-month continuing resolution (CR), the fourth short-term CR in five months. The bill extends government funding at current levels, but fails to address a range of immediate and overdue issues, including a permanent extension of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), funding to manage the opioid epidemic, reauthorization of Community Health Centers, critical safety-net hospital programs, and more. Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) voted against the CR when it passed the House.

“I voted against today’s bill because the American government, from the brave men and women in the Armed Forces to Social Security recipients, deserves better than broken promises and month-to-month funding,” said Rep. Sewell. “Families in my district need this Congress to pass long-term solutions on issues like funding for rural hospitals, veterans, and the opioid epidemic. Many Medicare programs, such as those for small hospitals, rural ambulances, and juvenile diabetes patients, expired in September 2017 and the Republicans have done nothing to provide certainty to the Americans who rely on those programs. Rather than working in a bipartisan way to tackle our biggest challenges, Republican leaders continue to kick the can down the road while ignoring our most urgent priorities.”

“This week, I cosponsored legislation that includes a permanent reauthorization of CHIP, reauthorization of funding for Community Health Centers, payments for rural hospitals and ambulances, and home health providers. I also cosponsored a bipartisan bill that would give DREAMers a chance to stay in the country they call home. Members on both sides of the aisle are ready to work together and it’s time for Republican leaders to bring bipartisan, long-term solutions to the floor.” 

The CR offered by GOP leadership fails to address a number of urgent, overdue healthcare priorities, including damaging Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital cuts, failing to reauthorize funding for Community Health Centers, and funding for the bipartisan Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting.

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Rep. Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) is serving her fourth term representing Alabama’s 7th Congressional district. She sits on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and was recently appointed to the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. Sewell is a Chief Deputy Whip and serves on the prestigious Steering and Policy Committee of the Democratic Caucus. She is also a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, and serves as Vice Chair of the Congressional Voting Rights Caucus, and Vice Chair of Outreach for the New Democrat Coalition.