Bentz votes to cut spending, protect veterans’ 2nd Amendment rights, pass 6 spending bills

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) — Rep. Cliff Bentz (OR-02) issued the following statement Thursday regarding the passage of H.Res. 1061, a bill containing six of the twelve appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2024 (which began on October 1st, 2023):

“These appropriations bills represent a long, demanding, and labor-intensive effort to address the budgetary issues facing our country,” Congressman Bentz stated. “This legislation is not perfect, but it emphasizes fiscal responsibility and marks the first overall reduction in non-defense and non-VA spending in almost a decade. It also succeeds in securing crucial conservative victories such as preventing the Biden Administration from stripping Second Amendment rights from veterans. With the crisis taking place at our Southern Border, high-interest rates, and international challenges of enormous importance, it was time to pass this legislation and move to the next step in this long process.”

Highlights from FY24 Appropriations Legislation:

Key Changes To Funding: 

• Fully funds veterans’ health care and benefits.
• 10% cut to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
• 7% cut to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
• 6% cut to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
• Increases funds to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), including increased funds for efforts to combat fentanyl.

Key Policy Provisions:

• Prevents the Department of Veterans Affairs from attacking Second Amendment rights by sending information on those seeking assistance with their benefits to the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check (NICS) system, without a judge's consent.
• Prohibits the Department of Justice from targeting or investigating parents who exercise their right to free speech at local school board meetings.
• Strengthens tracking and review of foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land.
• Prevents the sale of oil in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to China.
• Cuts endangered species listing activities at U.S. Fish and Wildlife.

Groups in Support:

• Gun Owners of America
• American Farm Bureau Federation
• American Trucking Associations
• National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA)
• National Milk Producers Federation
• American Veterans (AMVETS)
• Mission Roll Call (MRC)
• Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
• American Petroleum Institute
• Associated General Contractors of America (AGC)
• Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA)
• Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA)
• Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA)
• National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO)
• National District Attorneys Association (NDAA)
• National Fusion Center Association (NFCA)
• National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition (NNOAC)
• National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA)
• Sergeants Benevolent Association NYPD
• American Trucking Associations
• National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA)
• Job Creators Network
• Nuclear Energy Institute
• American Nuclear Society