WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued this statement following Senate passage of a continuing resolution that includes tens of millions of dollars in new investments for Dover Air Force Base and the Delaware National Guard:

“I’m pleased the bill passed by the Senate today contains a number of Delaware priorities I fought for during the appropriations process,” said Senator Coons. “That includes more than $83 million in investments for Dover Air Force Base. These additional resources will enable Team Dover to construct a new hangar, enhancing the quality of maintenance on Dover’s airplanes, and renovate two schools, improving the quality of life for families stationed at the base. I’m also thrilled the bill contains funding to support National Guard military construction.

“More broadly, this bill averts a government shutdown for the next ten weeks and funds the fight against the Zika virus. But as members of Congress, we shouldn’t pat ourselves on the back for keeping the government open or providing emergency relief for public health crises like Zika that we should have addressed months ago. Let’s not forget that Republicans are adjourning without taking a vote or holding public hearings on the nomination of Chief Judge Merrick Garland to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court. We have to do better than this. The American people elected us to do more than just keep the lights on.”

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