WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Thursday, Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) opposed an omnibus spending bill which passed the House of Representatives in a party-line vote. The bill underfunds and makes significant cuts to top national priorities, including workforce training, economic development, education, infrastructure, and law enforcement. The omnibus bill included an amendment offered by Rep. Sewell which prohibits grant funding for child care centers with a history of injury or death due to health or safety violations.

“Today’s omnibus spending bill fails to adequately address critically important issues like workforce development needs, persistent unemployment, our nation’s ongoing infrastructure crisis, and helping ensure access to quality and affordable healthcare,” said Rep. Sewell. “Here in Congress, I’ve made it a top priority to bring better jobs, better pay, and a better future to our state. But today’s omnibus bill cuts important investments in each of those priorities and includes poison pill riders to sabotage the Affordable Care Act and repeal important financial reforms. Rather than trying to score political points, Republicans should work with Democrats to craft a bipartisan budget agreement that invests in working American families.”

“I was proud to see my amendment stopping funding for unsafe daycares adopted with bipartisan support. While I could not support the underlying bill, I look forward to continuing my advocacy for inclusion of this amendment as today’s appropriations bill continues moving through Congress.”

On Tuesday, the House of Representatives adopted an amendment by Rep. Sewell prohibiting federal grant funding from going to child care centers with a record of injury or death due to health or safety violations. The amendment’s adoption follows the death of five-year-old Kamden Johnson at an Alabama day care center.

###

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