Press Releases

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Nathaniel Moran (TX-01) released the following statement after voting against the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024:

“Today, I voted against the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024, which was the consolidated appropriations package for Defense, State and Foreign Operations, Homeland Security, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Legislative Branch, Financial Services, and General Government.

Although I applaud Speaker Johnson’s efforts to push back against the Biden Administration’s bad policies, today’s appropriations package did not include enough border security policy wins to outweigh the aspects of this bill that did not align with East Texas priorities. The men and women of East Texas have been clear: security at our southern border is our top priority.

And, from the start of the FY24 appropriations process, I have made clear that border security is my top priority, as well. This package falls short of that commitment. Without more substantial reforms, I cannot support more funding to the Department of Homeland Security that only further empowers Secretary Mayorkas (whom I just voted to impeach) to push dangerous policies at our borders. Additionally, this package contains disturbing earmarks that advance woke agendas on our youth and include funding for abortion care.

I recognize that this package did include some wins for our country. For instance, it prohibits any taxpayer funding from going to the corrupt United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), claws back $4.3 billion in unnecessary COVID-19 funding, provides a 5.2% increase in basic military pay- which was much needed thanks to Biden’s skyrocketing inflation- and increases the number of border agents, money for border security technology and increases the number of detention beds for migrants at our southern border, which is a priority of former President Trump and an item included in H.R. 2.

There is no doubt that we need legislation to control spending over the next decade; however, this bill fails to address the critical needs at our southern border. While I appreciate the work of Speaker Johnson to reach an agreement, I simply could not support this legislation today because of its failure to adequately address our country’s border crisis.”

###