{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://pittenger.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pittenger-congress-votes-to-strengthen-america", "Pittenger: Congress votes to strengthen America", "2015-12-18", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Robert Pittenger", "P000606", "pittenger.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\n CONGRESSMAN PITTENGER JOINS BIPARTISAN MAJORITY TOSTRENGTHEN NATIONAL SECURITY, REIN IN OBAMACARE, END BAN ON OIL EXPORTS, GROW ECONOMY AND CREATE JOBS \n\nWASHINGTON  This morning, Congressman Robert Pittenger joined a strong bipartisan majority to pass the Consolidated Appropriations Act (omnibus spending bill). Today, Congress worked together to responsibly fund the government, strengthen national security, and help grow the economy and create jobs, said Congressman Pittenger (NC-09). No, this bill isnt perfect. No bill is perfect. But this bill strengthens America and brings to a close the era of governing by crisis. The Consolidated Appropriations Act includes several of Congressman Pittengers priorities:  \n\t\n TERRORISM: Included Congressman Pittengers initiative to significantly strengthen security in the Visa Waiver program, making it more difficult for terrorists to slip into the U.S. undetected.\n\tNATIONAL SECURITY: Reversed President Obamas potentially dangerous cuts to defense spending and readiness.\n\tOIL EXPORTS: Lifts the 1975 ban on oil exports, which experts predict will create 1 million new jobs. There are also enormous geopolitical implications, as many American allies are currently at the mercy of adversarial states like Russia for energy supplies.\n\tOBAMACARE: Stopped taxpayer funded bailouts of health insurance companies under Obamacare. As part of Thursdays separate tax legislation, Obamacares Cadillac tax and Medical Device Tax were also delayed by two years.\n\tVETERANS: Speeds up VA claims processing, prioritizes the modernization of VAs electronic records system, ensures veterans receive the health benefits they deserve.\n\t\t\n The Consolidated Appropriations Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a strong bipartisan vote of 316-113.  \n\t\n###", 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": ["http://pittenger.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pittenger-congress-votes-to-strengthen-america"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.6619660891592503, "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"}