Walz Statement on Appropriations Bill

Statement

Today, Representative Tim Walz (D-MN) voted in favor in the bipartisan appropriations bill. He released the following statement.

"This bill works to fulfill one of Congress' most basic duties: to keep the government open and accountable to the public. It also works to ease the harmful and irresponsible across-the-board cuts included in the sequester by making critical investments in things that will move our country forward such as Alzheimer's research, early childhood education, all-American energy research, and veterans' jobs.

"Like any bill, however, it is certainly not perfect. While the bill does provide a solution to military retiree cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) cuts for veterans under age 62, it doesn't solve the entire problem. We must repeal the entire provision that Representative Paul Ryan proposed to ensure our veterans get what they were promised. I will not rest until that happens."

Representative Walz, along with Representative Maffie of New York, has introduced the Military Retirement Restoration Act, which would fully repeal the unwarranted COLA cuts for military retiree's under age 62. In addition, Representative Walz is working on legislation to conduct an audit of the Pentagon that would find savings by rooting out waste and inefficiencies at the Department of Defense.

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