Today, U.S. Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) voted to reopen the government by funding six appropriations bills through the end of Fiscal Year 2019, and funding the Department of Homeland Security until February 8, 2019. The bill would put 380,000 federal employees back to work, and ensure the 420,000 federal government workers who were working without pay will be reimbursed for the duration of the shutdown.

“President Trump has held nearly a quarter of the federal government hostage in his ill-advised quest to build a wasteful border wall. That’s why on the first day of the Democratic-controlled House in the 116^th Congress, I voted to pass a bill to reopen the government, and continue the conversation on border security with a bill that funds Homeland Security through February 8.

“It’s a terrible disservice to this nation that the President has gone back on his word, and now refuses to negotiate at all. The only disagreement we have is on one item - the wall - in the budget for Homeland Security. Let’s fund the other departments through next September with the bipartisan agreements we already have, fund the Department of Homeland Security into February at current levels and reopen the government while we negotiate a solution to border security. The obstruction coming from the White House must not stand,” said Rep. Peters.

The six spending bills fund the Departments of Agriculture, Justice, Commerce, Interior, State, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other related agencies. Congress also considered a bill funding the Department of Homeland Security until February 8.

The bill includes funding for various San Diego priorities:

• $15 million to address water and wastewater management at the US-Mexico border and may mitigate the Tijuana sewage spill
• $7.8 billion for Humanitarian and Disaster Assistance, which could be used for providing relief to families that may otherwise flee to America in the midst of tragedy
• $3.4 billion for Refugee Assistance, a boost of $73 million from last year’s spending levels
• $40 million for HUD-VA Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers to address veteran homelessness
• $17.7 billion for the Federal Aviation Administration, including $750 million for infrastructure investments at airports for which San Diego can compete
• $2.6 billion for Homeless Assistance Grants
• $160 million for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) climate-focused research
• $2.9 billion for state and local law enforcement, including $182 million to address the rape victim test kit backlog
• $100 million for the STOP School Violence Act to address school shootings
• $75 million for grants to improve firearm purchasing background checks
• $498 million for the Violence Against Women Act, funding programs that assist survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault
• $8.1 billion for the National Science Foundation
• $699 million for the Small Business Administration, including $241.6 million for Entrepreneurial Development Programs, whose funds support women- and veteran-owned small businesses across the country
• $4.36 billion for Wildland Fire Management, including wildfire prevention and suppression efforts
• $3.22 billion for the National Park Service, benefitting Cabrillo National Monument
• $425 million for the Land and Water Conservation Fund

In December, Rep. Peters blasted Congressional Republicans for their willingness to shut down the government over a border wall. He remains committed to bipartisan governing solutions that are fiscally responsible and wisely use American taxpayer dollars.