NJ's Frelinghuysen Praises House Passage Of $1 Trillion Budget Bill

The U.S. House of Representatives approved the fiscal year 2017 Consolidated Omnibus Appropriations bill on Wednesday, the legislation that will provide discretionary funding for the federal government for the current fiscal year.

The $1.163 trillion spending plan now goes to the U.S. Senate, where Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he hopes to hold a vote Thursday.

“If the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017 were presented to [President Trump] in its current form, his advisors would recommend that he sign the bill into law,” the White House stated Tuesday.

Appropriations Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen, who represents New Jersey’s 11th Congressional district, said that the bill will help will “help make our nation stronger, safer, and more resilient.”

“This bill makes the smart decisions to invest funding where it is needed most – rebuilding our military, securing our borders, and bolstering economic growth,” Frelinghuysen said following the bill’s passage.

According to a House news release, the legislation represents a $25 billion increase in national defense funding over current levels, as well as a $1.5 billion “down payment” on additional measures to bolster border security.

Read more about the bill’s highlights and funding summaries here.

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