Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Young Kim (CA-40) released the following statement after voting in favor of the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, a commonsense government funding package that funds the government at FY24 levels through September 30, 2025.
“While we must cut wasteful spending and get America back on the right fiscal track, shutting down the government is not the solution. A government shutdown is costly, gets us nowhere, and hurts the American people,” said Rep. Kim. “This commonsense bill keeps our commitments to seniors, veterans, and hardworking Americans as we work on FY26 Appropriations and a budget that uses taxpayer dollars as effectively as possible.”
Rep. Kim continued, “I want to be very clear that I understand how important Medicaid is for many in our community to access health care services. This bill protects Medicaid, Social Security, and Medicare services, and a government shutdown would put these programs in limbo for so many Americans. As this process moves forward, I will continue to make clear that a budget resolution that does not protect vital Medicaid services for the most vulnerable, provide tax relief for small businesses, and address the cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions will not receive my vote.”
This clean, commonsense CR keeps our government running and working for the American people by:
- Fully funding core government services without increasing the spending of taxpayer dollars.
- Ensuring full funding for veterans’ healthcare services and benefits and boosting the Toxic Exposure Fund.
- Supports federal wildland firefighters and their work to protect our communities and public lands.
- Protects Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid recipients from the disruptions and confusion a shutdown will cause.
- Enhancing defense investments and giving the largest pay raise for junior enlisted troops in over 40 years.
- Increasing funding for air traffic control priorities over FY24.
- Secures funding for law enforcement, including COPS grants.
- Fully funding the program that provides important nutrition assistance to mothers, infants, and children, including a more than $500M increase for WIC for a total of $7.6B.
- Safeguarding legislation from any poison pills, ensuring a clean CR.
