Friend,

Like President Trump, I’m not pleased with the process that created the omnibus funding bill signed into law this week. The House passed all 12 individual funding bills through “regular order.” Unfortunately, the Senate failed to do the same, which left us with the choice of the bill passed on Thursday or a shutdown of the federal government that put our military at risk.

Despite my frustrations with the process, this legislation makes significant reforms that are wins for Southern Illinois:

• Rebuilds U.S. military and fully funds a 2.4% pay raise for the troops
• Boosts funding to secure our borders and enforce our laws by 30%
• Fights the opioid epidemic with largest investment to date
• Invests in school safety efforts and mental health training programs
• Improves the nation’s aging infrastructure through transportation, energy, water, and cyber projects
• Provides the VA with the highest dollar amount in history to care for our veterans
• Increases medical research at NIH
• Fixes the ‘grain glitch’ (Sec 199A of the Tax Code) to provide an equitable solution for the agriculture community
• Preserves the sanctity of life and BLOCKS attempts to force the Administration to fund Planned Parenthood centers
• DOES NOT provide a salary increase for Members of Congress

As we face threats at home and abroad, we must ensure our fighting men and women have the tools and equipment they need to overcome any enemy. That is, above all else, why I supported this spending bill. But we also have an obligation to be good stewards of your taxpayer dollars. I’m frustrated that some D.C. politicians use these funding measures as a game of chicken: give me what I want – even if it has nothing to do with keeping our country safe or fulfilling the basic responsibilities of government – or I’ll vote to shut down it all down. That is ridiculous and the American people deserve better.

I hope you have a great week ahead.

Mike