Senator Carper on the CR: “This bill fails to keep our promises to American workers”

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), who will serve as the ranking member of the Environment and Public Works Committee in the 115th Congress, released the following statement on his vote against yet another short-term spending bill that fails to keep numerous promises made to hardworking Americans over the past year.

“Ensuring that our government has the funds to operate is the most basic job of Congress. But the American people also expect us to keep our promises when we say we’re going to fight for them.

“Last year, when a drafting error in the omnibus funding bill inadvertently excluded tax credit extensions for fuel cell manufacturers and other clean energy technology industries, leadership in both the House and the Senate promised to do the right thing and correct the mistake. Similarly, we heard candidates make campaign pledges to stand up and fight for American workers. Unfortunately, it is now clear that the people making these assurances were all hat and no cattle.

“Our failure to extend the Section 48 tax credits means that more than 20,000 Americans could lose their jobs in the coming months through no fault of their own. Our failure to find a long-term solution to address the looming shortfall of healthcare benefits for hardworking coal miners means that 20,000 men and women and their families have four more months of fear about what’s next. It’s beyond shameful to me that the will to follow through on promises made to decent, working people across this country is nowhere to be found, especially when they are counting on us. It’s also shameful that we continue to lurch from one funding crisis to the next, making the basic function of the federal government more expensive and less efficient. 

“When the Senate returns in the new year, we have a great deal of work to do. We must actually live up to the many promises made to workers and we must fund our government in a responsible way, rather than scrambling to keep the lights on every few months. Enough with the rhetoric – it’s time to show the American people what our priorities are.”