“The failure of the former Republican leadership in the House and Senate to pass required appropriations legislation, combined with a myriad of competing funding priorities, has stretched already limited funding availability even thinner,” said Langevin. “As a result, the new Democratic leadership worked to carefully to craft this continuing resolution to address the most urgent federal funding needs while remaining within the tight budget constraints imposed by the previous Congress.”

H.J.Res. 20 is a $463.5 billion continuing resolution that ensures the federal government remains open and continues to provide services. The measure generally funds the government at the fiscal year 2006 level (adjusted for increased pay costs) and is free of earmarks. The former Republican leadership failed to complete nine of the 11 appropriations bills for FY 2007 before the 109th Congress adjourned in December 2006.

“Now I am looking forward to working toward timely passage of a FY ‘08 budget that provides needed funding for our nation’s most important programs,” continued Langevin. “The Democratic leadership has reinstated the pay-as-you-go budget rule, requiring new spending to be offset by a decrease in spending somewhere else in the budget. This is a promise that was made last year, when we told the voters that we would bring this Congress in a new direction and be fiscally responsible.”

-30-