WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva issued the following statement in response to the passage of the Bipartisan Budget Act:

“It’s taken five continuing resolutions and two government shutdowns, but Congress finally has a budget agreement. While I applaud the provisions of the bill that fund important health programs, disaster relief, and veterans infrastructure; I voted ‘no’ because it failed to protect Dreamers and provide true parity between domestic and defense spending.

“Congressional Republicans spent the last year focused on passing their tax scam to serve the interests of their wealthy donors at the expense of governing. After increasing the deficit with tax cuts for the wealthy and an out-of-control defense budget, it doesn’t take a ‘stable genius’ to see that Republicans will ramp up their attacks on Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security to make up the difference.

“It is time for Donald Trump and Paul Ryan to come to grips with reality. The American people know that Trump is to blame for ending the DACA program and for the government shutdowns. They know Ryan is to blame for refusing to allow a vote on bipartisan legislative solutions to protect Dreamers. Their continued obstruction efforts compromise the lives of countless families and communities, and it must end. If not, they will pay the ultimate political price.”