(Washington, DC) – U.S. Congressman Chip Cravaack (MN-8) released the following statement on passage of H.J.Res. 48, which makes further continuing appropriations for Fiscal Year 2011, in the U.S. House of Representatives:

“After today’s vote to cut $6 billion in spending and keep the government open, it is time to draw a line in the sand. So far, my colleagues and I in the House have given the Senate and White House every opportunity to follow our lead on making major spending cuts and improving our nation’s perilous fiscal position. The silence from both of those bodies has been deafening.

“With this legislation we have given them a further three weeks to approve a bill that makes significant cuts for the rest of the fiscal year. This is on top of the full year bill we passed in the House a month ago and a two week extension. It is past time for them to act. We must provide our nation with a clear, fiscally responsible path forward. I cannot continue to support short-term extensions indefinitely.”

Congressman Cravaack serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee – where he is Vice Chair of the Aviation Subcommittee – the Homeland Security Committee, and the Science, Space and Technology Committee. The 8th Congressional District covers 18 counties in Northeast Minnesota.