Cole Applauds Passage of the Make America Secure and Prosperous Appropriations Act, 2018

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 3354, the Make America Secure and Prosperous Appropriations Act, 2018. This legislation packages the remaining eight Fiscal Year 2018 appropriations measures together to include: Agriculture; Commerce, Justice and Science; Financial Services; Homeland Security; Interior; Labor, Health and Human Services and Education; State and Foreign Operations; Transportation, Housing and Urban Development. It was passed in the House by a vote of 211-198 with Cole's support.

"The House has passed all 12 appropriations bills through the House before the October 1 deadline," said Cole. "This has not been accomplished since 2006. I hope that this momentum will continue and carry over to future negotiations on funding our government.

"I am especially proud to bring forth this year's Labor, Health and Human Services and Education appropriations bill in this package. Within this portion are funding priorities that millions of Americans value from cancer research to IDEA funding. Additionally, for the third consecutive year, we have increased funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by $1.1 billion from the previous year's levels. Funding in the House bill will advance research in a number of key areas, to include Alzheimer's and pediatric cancer research among others.

"I'd like to thank Chairman Frelinghuysen and Speaker Ryan for their leadership in getting all 12 bills to the House Floor before our fiscal year deadline. I look forward to its passage in the Senate and its arrival to the President's desk."