WASHINGTON, DC– U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) today issued the following statement after the Senate voted on and passed a year-long, $1.1 trillion omnibus funding bill. Booker voted in favor of the bill.
“This bill gets a passing grade. It’s not ideal, but it is a bipartisan compromise I can accept that extends tax relief for low-income and middle class Americans, permanently renews the health care program for 9/11 first responders and survivors, and averts a number of unnecessary policy riders that would have set our country back.
"I am proud of the wins I was able to secure in this package, including an additional $500 million to the New Starts account to help with the Gateway project and several funding boosts to critical programs to keep streets safer, hire police officers, and reduce recidivism. I’m also pleased the tax package adheres to the “permanent for permanent” principle I’ve advocated to make tax relief apply to both businesses and working families.
"While there are some meaningful environmental provisions included, it is disappointing and frustrating to see a repeal of the oil export ban included in this bill, especially without a more robust set of clean energy investments. The ban should not be lifted without being offset by transformative investments in clean energy programs that aim to end our dependence on fossil fuels. This provision should have been negotiated independently from this funding bill.
"I’m hopeful Congress can build on this measure with a more reliable appropriations process next year, free from toxic policy riders, to keep our country moving forward."
