Congress is notorious for waiting until the eleventh hour to get its work done ā especially during the lame-duck session when Christmas is just around the corner.
As you may know, government funding was set to expire at midnight last Friday. Despite knowing about this deadline for months, Congress waited until just days before a looming shutdown to consider a spending solution. In fact, House Republican Leadership didnāt release its first short-term spending bill, known as a Continuing Resolution (CR), until Tuesday evening. Between this time and Friday night, lawmakers considered three different CRs.
Due to the chaotic and rushed process, thereās been a lot of confusion about these spending measures. Thatās why Iād like to take the opportunity to briefly explain what was in each of these bills, as well as how I voted on them.Ā
CR #1: The Christmas Cramnibus
Overview:
Instead of crafting a clean short-term CR to simply keep the lights on, the Swamp released a 1,500+ page, $110+ billion unpaid-for spending package. My conservative colleagues and I dubbed this legislation the Christmas Cramnibus because it resembled an omnibus (a massive package containing numerous bills) far more than a CR. Think of it like a Christmas tree, where Members hang completely unrelated measures onto a bill ā no matter the cost or consequences.
Thatās exactly what the Cramnibus turned into. While it extended government funding to March 2025, it also contained everything from transferring RFK Stadium to Washington, D.C. to allowing Members of Congress to opt-out of Obamacare. The monstrous package also included a one-year extension for the State Departmentās Global Engagement Center (GEC) ā a left-wing-focused agency that funded speech suppression efforts.Ā
Additionally, the Cramnibus contained $110 billion in disaster relief and farm aid. Yet this critical assistance was being held hostage by the Swamp. This aid was not only unpaid-for, but it was also being used to guilt lawmakers into voting for all the other garbage stuffed into the bill.
Outcome:
Like many of you, I was a hard no on this legislation. Americans across the country sparked outrage over the bill, leading everyone from Elon Musk to President Trump to blast the reckless measure. Thankfully, the Christmas Cramnibus died before ever coming to the House floor.
CR #2: Deficit Spending + Debt Ceiling Hike
Overview:
Following the downfall of the Cramnibus, Speaker Johnson tried to advance a second CR. While the legislation went from a 1,547-page package to a 116-page bill, I was far more concerned about what was on the pages than the number of pages each CR contained. This version continued current funding to March 2025 and contained the same $110 billion in unpaid-for disaster relief and farm aid. It also removed many of the āornamentsā placed on the previous Christmas tree bill, such as the transfer of RFK Stadium, opt-out of Obamacare for Members of Congress, and reauthorization of the GECās censorship.
Yet this CR added something new: a two-year unlimited debt ceiling increase. The proposal hiked the debt ceiling to a date, not by a number.Ā
Outcome:
Folks, North Georgia sent me to Congress to save our Republic ā not to worsen Washingtonās deficit spending problem and increase the debt ceiling with zero reforms or spending cuts. I joined more than 30 of my conservative colleagues in voting against this egislation, which subsequently failed on the House floor.
CR #3: Deficit Spending - Debt Ceiling Hike
Overview:
After the second CR failed, I participated in negotiations focused on finding the best path forward. Part of these conversations included an agreement to raise the debt ceiling by $1.5 trillion while cutting $2.5 trillion in net mandatory spending through reconciliation next year. Iām pleased with this framework, as I believe Congress should only increase the debt limit with subsequent spending cuts.
We also discussed breaking the various parts of the CR into separate votes: one vote on a clean 3-month spending bill, one vote on $100 billion unpaid-for disaster relief, and one vote on $10 billion unpaid-for farm aid. Unfortunately, Speaker Johnson decided against this plan. Instead, he took the second CR, removed the debt ceiling increase given our new agreement, and brought it to the House floor.
Outcome:
Let me be clear: I fully support delivering disaster and farm aid. Yet, as with all government funding, this aid must be done in a fiscally responsible manner. I could not in good conscience vote for legislation that adds $110 billion plus continuing interest to the deficit, which is why I offered House Republican Leadership numerous options to pay for this disaster aid. Unfortunately, all of these offsets were rejected. Therefore, I ultimately voted against the third and final CR. The measure passed, as all but one House Democrat voted for the legislation. In fact, it passed with more Democrat votes than Republican votes.
While this process and outcome were frustrating, Iām optimistic that Republicans will unite behind efforts to get our nationās fiscal house in order next year. With President Trump back in the White House and Republican majorities in both chambers of Congress, we can take on the challenge of cutting government spending and addressing our ballooning national debt.
Please know that as your voice in the Peopleās House, I will never abandon our shared principles of fiscal responsibility. After all, Congress canāt rescue our country if it canāt get serious about Washingtonās spending problem.
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