DeLauro Statement on Second Appropriations Committee Markup Delay

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today released the following statement after the Republican majority on the House Appropriations Committee delayed markup on the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies bill for a second time in two weeks. DeLauro serves as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee.

"Republicans are afraid to debate the crisis the Trump administration's created at the border, separating more than 2,300 children from their parents through an inhumane zero tolerance policy. Democrats were prepared to offer solutions and to take this issue head on for the past two weeks, despite Republicans delays. We are ready with more than a dozen amendments on issues like reunifying children with their parents, expanding mental health services, keeping siblings together, and conducting proper oversight. But Republicans refuse to even show up."

"Republicans' refusal to debate the immediate crisis also comes at the cost of discussing other urgent issues facing people across the country, such as rising healthcare costs, stagnant wages for workers, economic security for our seniors, and the gun violence epidemic. The majority's partisan spending bill shortchanges priorities like job training programs, women's health, worker protections, and investments in education and medical research—and Democrats had even more amendments to protect and expand these programs. The people's bill deserves a proportional increase of this year's budget increases, yet it has been left with nothing. Zero. If I was a Republican and it was my responsibility to defend this bill, I would not want to mark it up either. But that is what Members of Congress are elected to do, and failing to do so shamefully abandons their promise to those they serve."