DEMOCRATS OMNIBUS SPENDING BILL SHORT ON NATIONAL SECURITY

WASHINGTON, DC. December 18, 2007 – Today Congressman Calvert (R-CA) expressed disappointment over the Democratic Omnibus Spending bill that passed the House last night without Rep. Calvert’s support.

"Our most important duty is to provide for our men and women in harms way and this bill fails disastrously," said Rep. Calvert. "How can we stand here and pass a $933 billion spending bill and not include the funding for our troops?"

Republicans were successful in forcing the overall total of the bill down from $955 billion but the Leadership refused to add in the supplemental war spending. The Democratic leadership inserted last minute language that will hamper the ability of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to construct the border fence as mandated by The Secure Fence Act (PL – 109-367).

"The American people have stated, in no uncertain terms, that Congress has the responsibility to secure our borders," said Rep. Calvert. "Republicans acted on the American people’s concerns and passed the Secure Fence Act in 2006. Now the Democrats have stripped the two-tier fencing requirement and subjected DHS to more red tape. It is obvious that the Democratic leadership has little interest in either national security or border security."

The Omnibus funds all Cabinet agencies, except the Department of Defense, for FY2008. The 3,500 page bill was released less than 24 hours to the Minority Party before it was voted on.