Late into the night on Tuesday, House leadership shared a 2,741 page spending bill with members that planned to invest more in defense and military than in our own communities. And the urgency of this vote set us on track to make a $1.5 trillion dollar decision within 24 hours.
This is because members of Congress are expected to toe the line with little regard to the impact it has on our communities. This massive spending package consisting of 12 separate funding bills was split into just two votes: $730 billion for domestic and foreign aid, and $784 billion for defense and military spending.
I was proud to vote YES on the $730 billion portion of the bill for domestic and foreign aid — which includes nearly $5.5 million in direct project funding for our district that would create jobs and bring much-needed resources to our neighbors. This portion of the bill also includes over $7 billion in humanitarian aid to the Ukrainian people who are facing an unjust and tyrannical invasion.
That said, I voted NO on the $784 billion defense and military portion of the spending package. This package includes exorbitant amounts of money for ICE, prisons and weapons. At a time when working people are struggling to make ends meet and keep their mental health together, it is alarming that we are spending more money to incarcerate and detain them than we are investing towards their promise.
You supported me to fight for jobs and education, not bombs and incarceration. I'm keeping my commitment no matter how much the status quo in Congress gives me a tough time. Undocumented, incarcerated and poor people don't have lobbyists in Congress. Neither do countries who are subjected to US military power with no one to speak up for them. I am fighting to be their voice.
Every tough vote takes political courage, and we need your support to continue fighting for the world we want. If you agree that we should continue holding our representatives accountable for the role they play in supporting militarization and incarceration, please consider contributing to our movement today.
In solidarity,
Jamaal Bowman
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