Rep. Wagner Issues Statement on Passage of All 12 Appropriations Bills

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 -- Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Mo., issued the following statement on passage of the Make America Secure and Prosperous Appropriations Act (H.R. 3354):

"For the first time in more than a decade, the U.S. House of Representatives passed all 12 appropriations bills to responsibly fund the federal government and advance the conservative Republican principles we promised to pursue.

"The appropriations work we completed today prioritizes the needs of the American people, cuts wasteful government spending, and takes concrete steps to help lift up Missouri's families and small businesses.

"These bills include big wins for the St. Louis region and underscore my commitment to defending life, supporting and strengthening our military, and energizing the local economy."

BACKGROUND ON KEY ISSUES ADDRESSED IN THE FY18 APPROPIATIONS BILLS

* Protecting the Sanctity of Life: Strips funding for Planned Parenthood, saving $330 million in taxpayer dollars. Eliminates elective abortion coverage that was part of Obamacare, repeals Washington D.C.'s assisted suicide law, prevents DC from using federal or local funds from being used for abortions, and fully applies the Mexico City Policy. Prohibits funding to the UN Population Fund. Stops federal funding for research using aborted fetal tissue and redirects those funds to ethical alternatives. Prohibits abortion funding for immigration detainees. Provides conscience protection for entities that do not wish to participate in abortion, as well as a private right of action for victims of abortion discrimination.

* Combatting the Opioid Crisis: Increases funding to combat the opioid crisis placing a priority on anti-opioid and other illegal drug enforcement efforts. Includes $103M to help stem opioid abuse - fully funding the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 as authorized. Continues funding of $500M that was provided for in 21st Century Cures.

* Protecting 2nd Amendment: Protects 2nd Amendment rights and makes several provisions permanent including import applications on shotguns for sporting purposes, the importation of "curios and relic" firearms, the export of firearms to Canada, and a prohibition on "gun-walking" such as "Fast and Furious." Includes prohibitions on forcing an unauthorized reporting and registration on consumers purchasing multiple rifles or shotguns. Prohibits implementation of the UN Arms Trade Treaty. Continues the longstanding prohibition against using federal funds to advocate or promote gun control.

* Ending Burdensome Obamacare Mandates: Stops the IRS from implementing the Obamacare individual insurance mandate.

* Reining in the Internal Revenue Service: Cuts funding for the IRS by $149M and holds their budget to below the 2008 level. Includes funds for the IRS to support customer service, such as phone call and correspondence response times, as well as fraud prevention and cybersecurity. Prohibits the IRS from targeting groups for regulatory scrutiny based on ideological beliefs; prohibits the IRS from targeting individuals for exercising their First Amendment rights; and prohibits determining church exemptions unless the IRS Commissioner has consented and Congress has been notified.

* Prioritizing Homeland Security: Includes $1.6B for physical barrier construction (wall) along the Southern border meeting the full White House request.; includes funding to hire 500 new border patrol agents, 1,000 new additional ICE law enforcement officers, and 4,676 additional detention beds. With a total of 44,000 detention beds, this is the most since the creation of DHS.

* Supporting Local Military Families: Includes $5 million in funding for the Fisher House Foundation, a not-for-profit that provides military families housing close to a loved one during hospitalization for an illness, disease, or injury. An amendment sponsored by Congresswoman Wagner doubled the amount this foundation received to $10 million dollars.

* Strengthening National Defense: Includes both the 14 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets in the Budget Request and the additional 10 Super Hornets from the Navy's FY18 Unfunded Priorities List (UPL). Also includes $5 million in funding for the Fisher House Foundation, a not-for-profit that provides military families housing close to a loved one during hospitalization for an illness, disease, or injury. An amendment sponsored by Congresswoman Wagner doubled the amount this foundation received to $10 million dollars.

* Protecting Investments of Low and Middle Income Families: Stops the fiduciary rule from being enforced.

* Rolling Back EPA Overreach: Authorizes the withdrawal of the Waters of the U.S. rule.

* Increasing Medical Research: Increases funding by $1.1B to NIH including high priority research for pediatric cancer, the Cancer Moonshot and Alzheimer's.

* Stopping the Onerous Joint Employer Rule: Prohibits the National Labor Relations Board from applying its revised "joint-employer" standard in new cases and proceedings. This rule exposes businesses (ranging from contractors and subcontractors to franchisors and franchisees) to workplace liability for another employer's actions and for workers they don't employ.

* Standing with Israel: Fully funds the $3.1B commitment to Israel marking the last year of the 10-year MOU that totaled $30B.