Omnibus Spending Bill Strongly Repudiates Trump Budget

WASHINGTON – Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement on the omnibus spending bill passed by Congress:

“How our government spends our money is a direct reflection of our values, and the $1.3 trillion, 2,232-page omnibus spending bill, overall, is a strong repudiation of the Trump budget proposal. The Leadership Conference, along with a broad coalition of stakeholders, pushed for a significant increase in funding for the Census Bureau so that it can prepare for a fair and accurate count of all persons living in the U.S. in 2020. Congress demonstrated that it takes its responsibility under the Constitution seriously by including a dramatic increase in resources for that important task. That increase, along with a provision that will prevent employers from taking tips from tipped workers and the rejection of many dangerous poison pill riders are steps in the right direction.  The overall bill falls short on many fronts, notably in its failure to provide certainty for Dreamers and TPS recipients who so desperately need protection. Congress must invest in families, and support efforts that lift all who live and work here.”

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.