WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, voted to fully fund government operations through an appropriations package that makes strong investments in border security and funds other priorities for Mississippi. Hyde-Smith supported the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 (H.J.Res.31), a seven-bill package to complete the FY2019 appropriations process and avoid a second partial government shutdown. “This is an imperfect bill that doesn’t have everything the President or I wanted, but the overall package does fund physical barriers, law enforcement, and detention facilities to improve border security. It is certainly a far cry from the ‘not one dollar’ threat made by Democratic leaders,” Hyde-Smith said. “For Mississippi, the completion of the last seven FY2019 appropriations bills will bring greater certainty to priority projects and programs around the state,” she said. “It also moves us away from another government shutdown and clears the field to keep fighting for priorities like stronger national defense and border security.” The measure bill will fund programs related to rural development, agriculture, aviation, transportation infrastructure, civil rights preservation, and water resources in Mississippi.Hyde-Smith said she is pleased that the final package protects pro-life provisions that Democrats sought to eliminate or weaken as the legislation was finalized.
It retains all longstanding pro-life riders and protects the Trump administration’s pro-life policies. For example, it rejects a House Democrat attempt to repeal the President’s Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance Policy (the expanded Mexico City Policy), as well as an effort to increase funding for the United Nations Populations Fund. Instead, the bill retains the President’s authority under the Kemp-Kasten provision to defund the Populations Fund due to its involvement with China’s forced abortion regime.
Overall the package includes the FY2019 appropriations bills for: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Financial Services and General Government; Homeland Security; Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies; and State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs.
H.J.Res.31 language, conference report, and bill summaries from the Senate Appropriations Committee are available here.
A summary review of Mississippi impacts in the seven bills is available here.