releases: http://byrne.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/funding-bill-includes-conservative-reforms-alabama-priorities
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| http://byrne.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/funding-bill-includes-conservative-reforms-alabama-priorities | Funding Bill Includes Conservative Reforms, Alabama Priorities | 2014-12-11 | 2014 | 2014-12 | Republican | House | AL | Bradley Byrne | B001289 | byrne.house.gov | legacy | Congressman Bradley Byrne (AL-1) called a government funding bill passed by the House of Representatives today “good news” for Southwest Alabama and the best strategy for reining in President Barack Obama’s recent executive action on immigration. A government funding bill must be passed by the House and the Senate and signed into law by President Obama in order to avoid a government shutdown. The current funding measure expires at midnight tonight. The funding bill included a number of provisions of particular importance to Southwest Alabama: Littoral Combat Ship (LCS): fully funds the construction of 3 new ships and includes $80 million for the advance procurement of materials for a ship to be built in fiscal 2016 Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV): fully funds an additional vessel Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund: boosts funding for the Harbor Maintenance Fund, which is used to keep the Port of Mobile maintained and operating smoothly, by $100 million Waters of the US Rule: makes clear the proposed Waters of the US rule cannot apply to farm ponds and irrigation ditches. This is important to Alabama farmers and an issue Congressman Byrne has spoken out on. Byrne said: “The government funding bill approved in the House of Representatives today includes some good news for families and businesses in Southwest Alabama. From fully funding three Littoral Combat Ships to easing a burdensome regulation on our local farmers, there are many positive reforms included in this bill. Additionally, the bill includes no new funding for ObamaCare, slashes the budgets of the EPA and IRS and includes strong 2nd Amendment and pro-life policies.” The bill funds most government agencies through October 1, 2015, but funding for immigration programs and the Department of Homeland Security only runs through February 27 of next year, giving the Republican controlled House and Senate a chance to rein in President Obama’s recent executive action on immigration. Byrne said: “I have been perfectly clear about the harmful impact President Obama’s executive action on immigration will have on our country, and I am committed to fighting it tooth and nail. That said, until Republicans take control of the Senate in January, any piece of legislation must be able to get through Harry Reid’s Democrat controlled Senate. “By only funding the Department of Homeland Security through February, this strategy gives us the best chance to actually make meaningful attempts to rein in the President’s ill-conceived executive action. With the help of a Republican-controlled Senate, that will be my top priority in the next year. “Most importantly, passing this bill will allow Congress to return to ‘regular order’ and pass individual appropriations bills instead of relying on these large scale funding measures. I have made clear I won’t make a habit of supporting these giant funding bills, and I don’t consider this the best way to do the people’s business. If Senate Democrats had followed ‘regular order’ earlier this year and passed individual funding bills, we wouldn’t have been facing yet another fiscal crisis.” In addition to the funding provisions important to Southwest Alabama, the bill also included many conservative reforms: ObamaCare No new funds for ObamaCare, Requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Treasury Department to report to Congress on improper payments of ObamaCare tax subsidies Cuts the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) by $10 million Pro Life Maintains all existing pro-life policy and funding provisions Bans public funding for abortions in the District of Columbia, within the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and for federal prisoners Three new pro-life provisions: Obamacare transparency - requires ObamaCare healthcare plans to tell customers if they provide abortion services Conscience protection - requires HHS Office of Civil Rights to address complaints of violations Provides $12 million in unused abstinence education funds Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Cuts EPA by $60 million (fifth consecutive year of cuts, totaling a 21% reduction since Fiscal Year 2010 and a decrease in 2,000 positions) Second Amendment Protects Second Amendment rights and prohibits EPA from regulating lead content in ammunition or fishing tackle IRS Cuts IRS funding $345.6 million ($1.5 billion below the president’s request) Prohibits IRS targeting organizations based on their ideological beliefs or for exercising their First Amendment rights Prohibits the White House ordering review of tax-exempt status Prohibits IRS funds for inappropriate videos and conferences Israel Fully funds the US-Israel Memorandum of Understanding at $3.1 billion Prohibits funds for the Palestinian Authority if it unilaterally seeks membership at the UN and does not counter incitement of violence Other provisions Stops the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) regulations related to e-Card Check No funds for high-speed rail The House passed the bill by a vote of 219 to 206, with many liberal Democrats, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, voting in opposition. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |