Congressman Smith Statement on the passage of the Continuing Resolution for Fiscal Year 2017

“To ensure the continued operation of the federal government, I voted in favor of the Continuing Resolution, also known as the CR.  This legislation extends funding levels for the federal government through April 28, 2017.  Aside from necessary government funding, the bill also contains critical funding for the people of Flint, Michigan, the 21st Century Cures Act, and resources to prevent the continued rise in opioid abuse. 

“I am concerned that Congress, under Republican leadership, has continued to bypass the regular budget process by failing to enact appropriations bills.  Funding our government by continuing resolutions undermines our national security and the economic health of our country. The CR is problematic for two reasons. First, the funding provided by this measure is short term, in this case less than six months, which creates a fiscal cliff in April and prevents federal agencies and outside stakeholders from planning ahead or operating in optimal fashion.  The second problem presented by using a CR instead of the regular appropriations process is that all CRs extend the funding levels from the previous year.  Forcing agencies to live with last year’s budget prevents the completion of past initiatives and hampers efforts to address new challenges.  All of this makes it more difficult to properly run the government.

“I will continue to urge House leaders to return to regular order to ensure we run an effective and efficient government that supports our communities.”