WASHINGTON, March 13 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today released the following statement regarding his upcoming vote on the continuing resolution (CR) passed by the House of Representatives:

Since President Trump has been in office we have seen chaos, shock and heartbreak. We have seen oligarchs take over our government and the wealthiest person in the world decimate programs that provide support for a struggling working class – including massive cuts for the Veterans Administration, the Social Security Administration and the Department of Education.

We have seen a move toward authoritarianism where the president is illegally usurping the powers of Congress, while his administration challenges the role of the federal courts in constraining unconstitutional administrative actions.

The continuing resolution passed Tuesday in the U.S. House will provide a blank check for the administration and Mr. Musk to continue their savage war against working families, the elderly, children, the sick and the poor in order to lay the groundwork for massive tax breaks for the billionaire class. This legislation will also provide a green light for the administration to continue its illegal and unconstitutional activities.

This is a bill I cannot support. Instead, the Senate must pass a 30-day CR so that all Members of Congress, not just the House Republican leadership, can come together and produce legislation that works for all Americans, not just the few.