SEEC Blasts Republican Spending Cuts that Jeopardize US Global Leadership and National Security
Washington, D.C. – The leaders of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), including Co-Chairs Reps. Doris Matsui, Mike Quigley, and Paul Tonko, Vice Chairs Reps. Don Beyer, Matt Cartwright, Sean Casten, Chellie Pingree, and Katie Porter, and Chair Emeritus Rep. Gerry Connolly, released the following statement in response to the House passage of the Fiscal Year 2025 Department of Defense Appropriations Act (H.R. 8774), Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act (H.R. 8771), and Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act (H.R. 8752).
“Having learned nothing from last year’s chaotic spending fights, House Republicans are once again attempting to hijack the appropriations process to push their unpopular, extreme right-wing agenda. These Republican spending bills undermine American national security, both at home and abroad, and jeopardize our leadership and credibility on the international stage.
“At a critical moment when our allies are looking to the U.S. for leadership in confronting shared global challenges, House Republicans have signaled to the world that they would rather abandon our allies and turn our back on vulnerable populations facing the existential threat of the climate crisis. The House-passed State and Foreign Operations bill eliminates funding to implement the landmark Paris Agreement, which would hamstring our global efforts to collectively work towards limiting climate change. This bill further guts funding that flows to international organizations, including numerous United Nations programs designed to support communities dealing with the effects of extreme weather, growing hunger, and worsening pandemics.
“Meanwhile on the home front, the House-passed Defense and Homeland Security bills undermine our domestic security and leave Americans across our nation defenseless against the rapidly worsening climate crisis. These extreme bills prohibit the use of funds to implement several of President Biden’s Executive Orders that combat and mitigate the risks of climate change for Americans.
“Last fiscal year, we were ultimately able to pass bipartisan spending bills, but only after House Republicans dragged the nation through months of dysfunctional chaos, ultimately failing to achieve any of their extreme right-wing priorities. This week, House Republicans have demonstrated they’re more than happy to do the same thing all over again. We at SEEC stand ready to engage with House Republicans once they have finished with their partisan antics and are ready to pass responsible spending bills.”