2018: Fitzpatrick Voted For A February 2018 Two-Year Budget Deal
Which, Among Other Things, Increased Spending By $300 Billion,
Suspended The Debt Ceiling And Provided Nearly $90 Billion In Disaster
Relief For The 2017 Hurricanes And Wildfires. In February 2018,
Fitzpatrick voted for a two-year budget deal that re-opened the
government after a brief shutdown. According to the New York Times,
"With Mr. Trump's signature, the government will reopen before many
Americans were aware it had closed, with a deal that includes about
$300 billion in additional funds over two years for military and
nonmilitary programs, almost $90 billion in disaster relief in response
to last year's hurricanes and wildfires, and a higher statutory debt
ceiling." In addition, according to Congressional Quarterly, the
legislation "would provide funding for federal government operations and
services at current levels through March 23, 2018 [...] [and]
retroactively extends numerous tax breaks that expired at the end of
2016. It also extends the CHIP program for another four years (through
FY 2027) and funds community health centers for another two years." The
vote was on a motion to concur in the Senate amendment to the House
amendment to the bill. The House agreed to the motion, essentially on
passage, by a vote of 240 to 186. The bill was then sent to the
president, who signed it into law. [House Vote 69,
2/9/18; New York Times,
2/8/18;
Congressional Quarterly,
2/9/18; Congressional Actions,
H.R.
1892]
2017: Fitzpatrick Voted For $81 Billion In Supplemental Aid For The
2017 Hurricanes And The California Wildfires. In December 2017,
Fitzpatrick voted for supplemental funding for Hurricanes Harvey, Irma,
and Maria and wildfires from 2017. According to Congressional Quarterly,
"Passage of the bill that would make further supplemental appropriations
for fiscal 2018 for disaster assistance for Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and
Maria and wildfires that occurred in calendar year 2017. The bill would
authorizes $81 billion in aid for ongoing response and recovery from
2017 hurricanes and wildfires, and would authorize Puerto Rico to use
surplus toll credits to cover the local share of federal highway
emergency relief. The bill would remove a cap on federal highway
assistance to U.S. territories for fiscal 2018 and 2019." The vote was
on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 251 to 169. The
Senate took no substantive action on the legislation. [House Vote 709,
12/21/17; Congressional
Quarterly, 12/21/17; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
4667]