Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Leger Fernández released the following statement after voting for a Continuing Resolution that passed the House tonight by a widely bipartisan vote of 366-34-1 and will keep the government open until March 14, 2025.

“Today, in time for Christmas, Democrats saved our country from a dangerous government shutdown. We defeated Elon Musk and Donald Trump's attempt to set up a $4 trillion giveaway in tax breaks for billionaires and the wealthiest corporations. We stood united and saved disaster assistance for the people of Chaves County. We increased the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project budget by $770 million to finally get drinking water to those most in need. We secured $1.5 billion for Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Fire victims and extended the deadline to file a Notice of Loss until March 14—all major wins for New Mexico,” said Congresswoman Leger Fernández.

“While this Continuing Resolution is not perfect, we knew that if we failed to act, millions of Americans would suffer. That is why I voted alongside all my Democratic colleagues to put People Over Politics today and pass a government funding bill,” she continued.

“It is outrageous, however, that Republicans took so many programs that help everyday Americans out of the original bill. After Musk and Trump ordered them to vote no on the original bill_,  they showed America their true values and removed programs to help kids with cancer, lower the price of prescription drugs, and improve maternal health. Republicans also tore up the pages that would have stopped wealthy investors like wannabe President Elon Musk from moving manufacturing and critical business to China,” she continued.

“We will continue fighting for those priorities and against Republican efforts to put the rich and powerful over working people,” she concluded.

Bill Highlights:

• $1.5 billion to compensate survivors of the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire and extend the deadline to file a Notice of Loss until March 14, 2025
• Increases the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project budget by $770 million to continue the project
• $110 billion for disaster relief programs that will benefit communities across the country, including Chaves County, which was affected by flooding in November. This includes:

• $29 billion for the Disaster Relief Fund, from which FEMA makes payments for Individual and Public Assistance
• $2.25 billion for SBA Disaster Loans for businesses and individuals
• $21 billion for disaster assistance to farmers and producers
• $10 billion for economic assistance to farmers and producers
• $828 million for the Emergency Conservation Program
• $920 million for the Emergency Watershed Protection Program
• $12 billion for Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery to assist with the long-term housing, infrastructure, and economic recovery needs

• Extends all Medicare telehealth flexibilities. This includes extending audio-only telehealth for Medicare beneficiaries in tribal communities as Rep. Leger Fernandez’s Telehealth Access for Tribal Communities Act provides.
• Reauthorizes community health centers and national health service corps to maintain access to primary care in underserved communities.
• Reauthorizes the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) program that trains physicians in rural and underserved areas.
• Reauthorizes the Special Diabetes Program for T1D and the Special Diabetes Program for Indians.
• Delays the Medicaid DSH cuts until April 1, 2025, to help support rural safety net hospitals so they can provide essential services for patients. 
• $250 million in emergency supplemental funding to increase access to quality childcare for working families.

Republicans removed the following bipartisan provisions from this bill: 

• A section to prevent wealthy investors from moving production of critical sectors, like semiconductors and AI, and U.S. intellectual property out of the United States and into China. Elon Musk has significant China investments that could have been subject to these restrictions.
• Payment increases for Medicare-participating physicians who face a payment cut of 2.8% in January 2025, further harming doctors and patients in rural and underserved areas.
• Reforms to cut out the pharmaceutical middlemen who charge health plans and employers a higher price for prescription drugs than what they pay pharmacies, passing the costs down to consumers. 
• Medicare coverage of multi-cancer early detection screening tests.
• Maternal Health Programs, including those that support prenatal and postnatal health research and children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
• Treatment and recovery programs for those suffering from substance use. This includes programs that support pregnant and postpartum women, peer support centers, and youth prevention. 
• Flexible child welfare funding, which includes family preservation services, foster care maintenance, and foster care training. 
• Childhood cancer research programs, incentives to develop drugs for rare pediatric diseases, and the requirement that drug companies study adult therapies in children.
• Increased funding and strengthening of workforce development programs
• Ban on junk fees by requiring upfront, all-in pricing for hotels, vacation rentals, and live-event tickets.
• Mandated refunds for canceled events, bans on speculative ticketing, and prohibiting deceptive ticketing websites.

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