{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.enzi.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=ac3d385b-bc5c-4035-843b-2f032a3b65f3", "Enzi statement on federal funding bill vote", "2014-12-17", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "WY", "Michael Enzi", "E000285", "www.enzi.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., issued the following statement after the Senate passed a bill to fund the government on December 13. \u00a0\r\n\"The process that this\u00a0last-minute funding bill went through\u00a0is\u00a0the result of those in the out-going Senate majority not doing\u00a0their\u00a0job.\u00a0It's the wrong way to appropriate,\u00a0but be that as it may it is still Congress' job to\u00a0ensure our government has enough funds to continue to operate. There was no opportunity to amend or go back and do this the right way.\u00a0It was a take it or leave it choice and I chose to take it. What unfortunately seems to be getting lost in the discussion about this bill and the process is that this bill actually contains some really great legislation for Wyoming.\r\n\"There are prohibitions against\u00a0a taxpayer bailout of Obamacare and cuts to funding for the EPA and IRS.\u00a0These and other reasons are why many Democrats opposed the bill.\u00a0This bill contains prohibitions against some gun control, listing the sage grouse, school lunch mandates and more.\u00a0It includes funding for payments in lieu of taxes and keeps ICBMs in ready status.\u00a0 This bill gives us a lot of what we've been working very hard to get. \u00a0Sometimes we have to take \"yes\" for an answer.\u201d\r\nA partial list of what Enzi said were wins for Wyoming include:\r\n\u00a0Guns \u2013 Prohibits funds to enforce the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act except for the operation of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NCIS). The bill also contains a funding prohibition on implementing any provision of the UN Arms Trade Treaty.\r\n\u00a0Payment in Lieu of Taxes \u2013 The bill provides $372 million for Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funds for FY 2015.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0EPA\u00a0\u2013 Cuts the EPA by $60 million below the fiscal year 2014 level. Overall, EPA funding has been reduced by $2.2 billion \u2013 or 21% \u2013 since 2010.\r\nAlso includes:\u00a0\r\n \r\nA prohibition on funding for the EPA to regulate lead content in ammunition or fishing tackle;\r\nExemptions for livestock producers from greenhouse gas regulations;\r\nRequirements for\u00a0the Administration to report to Congress on federal agency obligations and expenditures on climate change programs;\r\nA directive to enhance congressional oversight of EPA\u2019s review of mining permits;\r\nProvisions restricting the application of the Clean Water Act.\r\n \r\nDomestic Energy Production\u00a0\u2013 The bill encourages domestic energy production to further the nation\u2019s goal of energy independence and to reduce energy costs for consumers.\r\nEnergy Programs\u00a0\u2013\u00a0The bill includes $571 million for research and development to advance coal, natural gas, oil, and other fossil energy technologies.\r\nCoal \u2013\u00a0The bill prohibits the administration from changing the definition of fill material. Such a step, while not in the administration's public plans, could make it tougher for strip coal and hardrock mining.\u00a0 A related policy directive speeds up Clean Water Act Section 404 dredge-and-fill permits for coal mines.\u00a0 It would roll back new policies by the U.S. Export-Import Bank and the Overseas Private Investment Corp. meant to limit funding for power plant projects overseas.\u00a0 It provides $150 million for the Office of Surface Mining, including $69 million in state grants to allow states to implement programs without increasing fees on the mining industry.\r\nICBMs\u00a0\u2013 The language prohibits funds for reducing or preparing to reduce the number of deployed ICBMs.\u00a0\r\nC-130 Modernization\u00a0\u2013 Helps\u00a0provide flexibility for the Avionics Modernization Program. \u00a0\u00a0\r\nSage Grouse ESA Listing Prohibition \u2013\u00a0The bill imposes a restriction on allowing the Department of Interior from going forward with writing a proposed rule listing the Greater Sage Grouse under the Endangered Species Act. It could block the effort into 2016.\u00a0\r\nObamacare\u00a0\u2013 The bill provides no new funding for Obamacare and holds the line on funding for the IRS and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). \u00a0The bill stops any taxpayer bailout\u00a0health insurance companies, blocks the Prevention\u00a0and Public Health Fund\u00a0from being used as an Obamacare slush fund\u00a0and\u00a0requires a\u00a0report on improper payments of Obamacare tax subsidies.\r\nAnimal Health \u2013\u00a0$1.5 million for sheep program,\u00a040 percent state match of federal funds for the brucellosis eradication program.\r\nSchool Nutrition\u00a0\u2013 Allows states to opt out of Michelle Obama\u2019s healthier school meal standards.\r\nInternational Monetary Fund (IMF)\u00a0\u2013 The legislation includes no funding for the IMF.\u00a0\r\nSecurities and Exchange Commission (SEC)\u00a0\u2013 Rescinds $25 million from the SEC \u201creserve fund\u201d \u2013 a slush fund.\u00a0\r\nDodd-Frank Act\u00a0\u2013 Includes language amending Dodd-Frank\u00a0banking law\u00a0requirements to protect farmers from having to put down excessive collateral to get a loan. Includes a requirement to report the costs to the government of the Dodd-Frank Act.\r\nFederal Communications Commission (FCC)\u00a0\u2013 The bill freezes funding for the FCC at $340 million. \u00a0This is the fourth consecutive year funding has been frozen for the FCC.\r\nSmall Business Administration (SBA)\u00a0\u2013The bill fully funds business loans. \u00a0The bill also fully funds the disaster relief program\u00a0for small businesses.\u00a0\r\nPro-life provisions\u00a0\u2013 Maintains all existing pro-life policy\u00a0including the Hyde Amendment\u00a0and\u00a0allows states increased access to abstinence education funding. \u00a0Includes\u00a0new language directing the HHS Secretary to increase the transparency of abortion coverage within federal exchange health care plans.\r\nIRS\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Provides $10.9 billion for the IRS \u2013 a reduction of $345.6 million below fiscal year 2014. This level will bring the IRS below its fiscal year 2008 total. The bill also does not provide any additional funds for the IRS to implement Obamacare.\u00a0 Also\u00a0contains several important oversight and policy provisions related to inappropriate videos and conferences, language t stop\u00a0targeting of\u00a0organizations for regulatory scrutiny based on their ideological beliefs or for exercising their First Amendment rights.\r\nDepartment of the Interior\u00a0\u2013 The legislation contains $1.1 billion \u2013 $27 million above the fiscal year 2014 enacted level. This funding will help manage, develop, and protect the water resources of Western states.\r\nNational Labor Relations Board (NLRB)\u00a0\u2013 The bill continues a provision intended to stop the NLRB\u2019s harmful anti-business regulations related to the implementation of \u201ce-Card Check,\u201d which could promote coercion in union elections.\r\nDepartment of Education\u00a0\u2013 The bill funds the Department of Education at $70.5 billion. This is $133 million below the fiscal year 2014 enacted program level.\r\nVA Medical Services \u2013\u00a0The bill includes\u00a0$209 million to help address new costs related to the Veteran access.\r\nDisability Claims Processing Backlog\u00a0\u2013\u00a0To assist the VA in meeting its goal of ending the disability compensation claims backlog by the end of 2015, the bill includes $2.5 billion for the costs of processing disability claims. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\r\nState & Foreign Operations\u00a0\u2013 The bill\u00a0maintains U.S. commitments to Israel\u00a0and provides\u00a0$624 million in support for Ukraine\u00a0to counter Russian aggression. It includes\u00a0restrictions on foreign assistance for several countries.\u00a0\r\nTransportation\u00a0\u2013\u00a0The bill\u00a0fully funds the MAP-21 programs,\u00a0reduces AMTRAK\u00a0operations\u00a0funding\u00a0and\u00a0blocks a new airline passenger fee.\r\n Enzi statement on government funding bill point of order \r\nThe Senate passed a bill December 13 to keep the federal government open through Fiscal Year 2015 (September 30, 2015) for all departments except Homeland Security. The bill funded Homeland Security through February 27, 2015.\r\nA point of order was brought against the funding bill.\u00a0 U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., voted against the point of order. \u00a0\u00a0\r\n\u00a0Enzi released the following statement in relation to the point of order vote.\r\n\u00a0\u201cI agree with the anti-amnesty sentiment of the effort, but the point of order didn\u2019t make practical sense and wouldn\u2019t help achieve the objective of preventing President Obama\u2019s executive amnesty.\u00a0 It was like a player in a close basketball game throwing up a three-point shot just before the buzzer, but shooting at the wrong basket. The amendment in essence declared funding the government unconstitutional.\u00a0 Funding the federal government is unquestionably constitutional so I could not support the amendment.\r\n\u00a0\u201cThe point of order was about amnesty, but it wouldn\u2019t have eliminated amnesty.\u00a0 The point of order made a statement, but it's more important that we make a difference.\u00a0 What we've needed in Congress in order to be able to solve federal problems has been more conservative voters in Congress.\u00a0 We already have the good ideas. In January we will have more votes.\u00a0 We will\u00a0challenge President Obama on his immigration policy and I will make every effort to ensure we are successful.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "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://www.enzi.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=ac3d385b-bc5c-4035-843b-2f032a3b65f3"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9596343152225018, "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"}