Banks Statement on Vote Against Continuing Resolution/Debt Ceiling Increase

Statement

Congressman Jim Banks (IN-03) today issued the following statement explaining why he voted against legislation that increases the debt ceiling, funds the federal government for three months and provides emergency assistance for those affected by recent natural disasters:

"Earlier this week, I voted to provide $8 billion in immediate relief to address the damage done by Hurricane Harvey. Disaster relief funding should be about disaster relief, and nothing more. Attaching other issues to this bill plays politics with an issue that should rise above it.

"Additionally, with our country $20 trillion in debt, simply maintaining the status quo and allowing more debt to accumulate on the national credit card is unacceptable. I cannot support legislation that increases the debt ceiling but makes no effort to address our country's debt problems.

"Finally, continuing resolutions do a disservice to our military and the men and women serving in uniform. A "CR' forces the Pentagon to spend the same amount of money on the same things as last year. In the midst of a readiness crisis that has contributed to a series of fatal accidents, we must fully fund our Department of Defense.

"Voters elected a Republican majority and a Republican Congress to "drain the swamp' in Washington. This bill maintains the status quo."

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