Utah Valley Times

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) expressed his support for the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024, which passed by a vote of 74-24. In a statement, Senator Romney highlighted the importance of the bill in providing crucial funding for military and border security amidst national security challenges. He stated, “While it’s far from perfect, I voted for this appropriations bill because it provides critical funding for our military and for border security at a time of serious national security challenges. The bill is also good for Utah—containing measures that will reduce passport backlogs and support priorities for Hill Air Force Base like the F-35 program and the Sentinel program.”

Senator Romney also acknowledged the bill's reduction in non-defense spending, marking the first decrease in almost a decade. However, he expressed concerns about the limited impact this cut would have on the country's fiscal situation. He emphasized the ongoing overspending issues and urged for a comprehensive approach to address the main drivers of the national debt. Senator Romney declared, “Our country’s overspending problems will continue as long as Congress only votes on one-third of federal spending. We must come together to address the main drivers of our national debt and bring our books into balance. I will continue to work with Senator Manchin and others on the Fiscal Stability Act to force Congress to act.”