{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases/bentz-votes-fund-government-through-fiscal-year-2024-and-win-conservative", "Bentz Votes to Fund the Government Through Fiscal Year 2024 and Win Conservative Policy Victories", "2024-03-22", "2024", "2024-03", "Republican", "House", "OR", "Cliff Bentz", "B000668", "bentz.house.gov", "bentz", "https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "March 22, 2024\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Cliff Bentz, (OR-2) released the following statement regarding his vote in favor of the \u201cThe Further Consolidated Appropriations Act\u201d (FCAA):\n\n\u201cThis was a difficult vote. There is much I dislike in this bill, but when we Republicans barely control only one of the three branches of government (House, Senate, White House), the results our team obtained after months of work and thousands of amendments are deserving of serious respect. Additionally, failing to move this bill forward now would not in any way guarantee a better outcome and could result in a far worse one. We are now five months into the fiscal year to which this bill applies. We absolutely cannot keep kicking the budget can down the road, and we cannot shut down the government when we Republicans have not agreed on what it would take to reopen it. Our leadership team has negotiated, among many other things, reductions in overall spending, an increase in our military\u2019s pay, and a stronger more modern fighting force. With this budget behind us, we will immediately begin work on the 2025 budget. For those interested in reviewing a summary of what we Republicans were able to do in this budget, here is a link to a summary of the six budgets that make up the FCAA. And in case you are wondering, yes, I have plowed my way through the 1012 pages of the bill!\u201d\n\nHighlights from the Remaining FY24 Appropriations Legislation:\n\nOregon:\n\n26 F-35s jets to be stationed at Kinsley Field, thus maintaining the huge value of this fighting force in Oregon.\n\nH\u20132B SUPPLEMENTAL VISAS EXEMPTION will help alleviate these workforce shortages and in doing so, will help create and sustain the jobs of American workers who rely on the H-2B workers to support their jobs during their peak seasons. These workers will come and work, pay income, FICA and Medicare taxes, then return to their home countries.\n\nLong overdue pay raise of 5.2 percent to our men and women of the armed forces.\n\n$364.6 million for rural health programs.\n\nPro Life Inclusions:\n\nHyde Amendment - Protects federal funding from being used for abortions, except in cases of rape, incest or life of the mother. The Hyde Amendment has bee enacted in various forms from FY 1976-2023. [Division D, Title V \u2013 General Provisions, Sec. 506-507.]\n\nHyde Amendment Maintenance of the prohibition on federal funding for abortion coverage in federal and local DC programs, respecting the sanctity of life.\n\nWeldon Amendment - Prevents HHS funding recipients from discriminating against health care entities because they refuse to provide, pay for or refer for abortion. This provision has been enacted from FY2005-2023. [Division D, Title V \u2013 General Provisions, Sec. 507(d).]\n\nDickey-Wicker Amendment \u2013 Prevents federal funding of harmful human embryo research. This provision has been enacted from FYs 1996-2023.\n\nBorder Security:\n\nExpansion of ICE beds by 25% (from 34,000 to 42,000) to allow a strengthening of enforcement of immigration laws and enhance border security efforts.\n\nAllocation of resources for 22,000 border agents to bolster security along our nation's borders.\n\nA 25% increase in spending on border technology to modernize and enhance surveillance capabilities.\n\nProhibits the federal government from hiring illegal aliens.\n\nProhibits funds for programs that encourage, organize, facilitate, or promote migrant caravans to the United States-Mexico border\n\nFiscal Discipline:\n\n20% cut to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to encourage a better use of taxpayer dollars are used efficiently and effectively.\n\nCuts to the Pentagon\u2019s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs and Department of Defense\u2019s (DOD) climate programs to prioritize national security and operational effectiveness.\n\nCulture:\n\nProhibits the flying of flags other than the American flag over U.S. diplomatic facilities. (aka prohibits flying pride flag over US consulates and embassies)\n\nPrevention of banning gas stoves by the Biden Administration.\n\nCuts totaling $2.16 billion in COVID-19 funding, reflecting a strategic approach to pandemic response.\n\nProhibiting funds from being used in contravention of the FY23 Congressional repeal of the COVID Vaccine Mandate\n\nTakes back $10 billion from the Administration, partially defunding President Biden\u2019s supercharged army of 85,000 IRS agents.\n\nA prohibition on a Federal Law Enforcement transfer of firearms to individuals if they are suspected of being an agent of a drug cartel.\n\nProhibiting funding for the Wuhan Institute of Virology and EcoHealth Alliance in China\n\nCuts $50 million in DEI programs\n\nProtects American frees speech \u2013 continues current law language prohibiting the IRS targeting groups or individual citizens for their Fist Amendment rights.\n\nDefense/Foreign Affairs\n\nDefunds portions of the UN \u2013 defunds UNRWA, which has employees that participated in the October 7th attack on Israel\n\nIncreases military spending by $26 billion\n\nPays our troops more \u2013 includes 5.2% increased in basic military pay, the largest increase in over 20 years\n\nGroups Supporting:\n\nAdjutants General Association of the United States (AGAUS)\n\nAerospace Industries Association (AIA)\n\nAIPAC\n\nAir and Space Forces Association (ASFA)\n\nAmerican Hotel and Lodging Association\n\nAmerican Trucking Associations\n\nAnduril Industries\n\nArmy Aviation Association of America (AAAA)\n\nChief Warrant and Warrant Officers Association of the US Coast Guard (CWOA)\n\nCoalition for Jewish Values\n\nCommissioned Officers Association of the USPHS (COA)\n\nCUFI Action Fund\n\nEnlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS)\n\nFDD Action\n\nFoundation for American Innovation\n\nGeneral Aviation Manufacturers Association\n\nGlobal Special Operations Forces Foundation (GSOF)\n\nIndependent Electrical Contractors\n\nIndependent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (Big \u201cI\u201d)\n\nInternational Foodservice Distributors Association\n\nInternational Franchise Association\n\nJewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA)\n\nJewish War Veterans of the United States of America (JWV)\n\nJob Creators Network\n\nMarine Corps Reserve Association (MCRA)\n\nMilitary Chaplains Association of the United States of America (MCA)\n\nMilitary Officers Association of America (MOAA)\n\nNational Association of Home Builders (NAHB)\n\nNational Association of Wholesaler-Distributors\n\nNational Defense Industrial Association\n\nNational Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS)\n\nNational Military Family Association (NMFA)\n\nNational Restaurant Association\n\nNational Retail Federation\n\nNon Commissioned Officers Association (NCOA)\n\nRepublican Jewish Coalition\n\nService Women\u2019s Action Network (SWAN)\n\nSmall Business & Entrepreneurship Council\n\nThe United States Army (AUSA)\n\nTREA: The Retired Enlisted Association\n\nUnited States Army Warrant Officers Association (USAWOA)\n\nU.S. Army Warrant Officers Association (USAWOA)\n\nU.S. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officers Association & Enlisted Association (CPOA)\n\nWith Honor Action", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T20:32:04Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases/bentz-votes-fund-government-through-fiscal-year-2024-and-win-conservative"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5168751124292612, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}