Republican Appropriations Committee RSS Articles

Appropriations Committee Approves Fiscal Year 2014 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:00:00 GMT

The House Appropriations Committee today approved the fiscal year 2014 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations bill. The bill provides funding to help strengthen America’s homeland security efforts while cutting wasteful or unnecessary programs.

The legislation includes $38.9 billion in discretionary funding for DHS. This is a decrease of $617.6 million below the fiscal year 2013 enacted level and a decrease of $34.9 million compared to the President’s request. This funding level is approximately $981 million above the current, post-sequestration level for DHS as estimated by the Congressional Budget Office.*

“Terrible natural disasters like the tragic tornados in Oklahoma and the Midwest, as well as manmade disasters like the attack on the Boston Marathon, serve as reminders that we must work to protect and preserve our way of life,” Rogers said, “We must always be at the ready, and this bill funds critical programs to keep us that way – including border security efforts, grants for first responders, cyber security protection, disaster relief, and many other important programs to keep our communities and our country safe,” Rogers continued.

“This bill demonstrates how we can fund vital security programs while also reducing discretionary spending overall. We have prioritized essential security programs, including front-line operations, while streamlining other areas to get the most out of each and every taxpayer dollar," Homeland Security Subcommittee Chairman John Carter said.

The following amendments to the fiscal year 2014 Homeland Security Appropriations bill were approved by the full committee today:

Rep. Carter – The amendment made technical and other non-controversial changes and additions to the report. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

Rep. Carter/Rep. Aderholt/Rep. Nunnelee – The amendment restates current law prohibiting federal funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to provide for abortions, except in certain life-threatening cases, rape, and incest. The amendment was adopted on a vote of 25-21.

Rep. Dent/Rep. Price – The amendment waives restrictions on SAFER firefighter grants, allowing the retention of existing firefighter personnel. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

Rep. Culberson – The amendment prohibits funding for DHS from making reductions in programs, unless the change is enacted into law or unless it complies with existing transfer and reprogramming requirements. The intention of the amendment is to prevent DHS from making program funding changes to comply with the President’s budget request without Congressional approval. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

Rep. Owens –The amendment prohibits funding to impose a "border crossing fee," or fund for any study relating to the imposition of such a fee. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

Rep. DeLauro (as amended by Rep. Carter) –The amendment adds report language to ensure that that all DHS contracts and subcontracts comply with existing law with respect to wage discrimination and retaliation against all employees. The amendment was adopted on a vote of 26-20.

Rep. Ryan – The amendment prohibits funds for approval of visa petitions filed for or by a citizen of Brazil. The intent of the amendment is to protest the lack of extradition of a Brazilian individual for criminal prosecution. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

The FY 2014 Homeland Security Appropriations bill was approved by the full committee on a voice vote.

For the text of the bill and report, please visit:

http://appropriations.house.gov/uploadedfiles/bills-113hr-fc-ap-fy2014-ap00-hsecurity.pdf and

http://appropriations.house.gov/uploadedfiles/hrpt-113-hr-fy2014-hsecurity.pdf

For a summary, please visit: http://appropriations.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=333903

*Due to lack of current fiscal year 2013 information provided to Congress by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), post-sequestration funding levels are estimates only.

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Appropriations Committee Approves Fiscal Year 2014 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Legislation

Tue, 21 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

The House Appropriations Committee today approved the fiscal year 2014 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill.

The legislation provides the nation’s military with the infrastructure needed to house, train, and equip military personnel, supports the quality of life of our troops and their families, and maintains our military base structure. The bill also funds veterans’ benefits and programs to ensure that all veterans receive the services they have earned as a result of their sacrifices and service to the country

The bill totals $73.3 billion in discretionary funding, which is $1.4 billion above the enacted level for fiscal year 2013, and approximately $2.4 billion* above the current level caused by automatic sequestration spending cuts, which do not affect Veterans spending. This level is nearly $1.4 billion below the President’s request for these programs.

Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers made the following statement on the legislation:

“This bill funds critical Department of Defense infrastructure, and fulfills our duty to our brave servicemen and women to provide an acceptable quality of life both during their service and when they return home,” Chairman Rogers said. “It is a comprehensive, bipartisan bill that will support our troops and veterans, but stay within the boundaries of fiscal responsibility during these tight budget times.”

Military Construction-Veterans Affairs Subcommittee Chairman John Culberson also commented on his bill:

“The funding provided continues our longstanding tradition of bipartisan support of our military, our veterans, and their families. It reflects our commitment to the men and women who have served our country and their families to provide what they need and have earned as a result of the sacrifices that they have made for our freedom,” Chairman Culberson said.

The following amendment to the FY 2014 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill was approved today in the full committee:

Rep. Culberson – The manager’s amendment makes technical and non-controversial changes and additions to the bill and report. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

The FY 2014 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill was approved by the full committee on a voice vote.

The committee also adopted the subcommittee top line allocations, also known as the 302(b) allocations, on a voice vote.

For the text of the FY 2014 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill and report, please visit:

http://appropriations.house.gov/uploadedfiles/bills-113hr-fc-ap-fy2014-ap00-milcon.pdf and

http://appropriations.house.gov/uploadedfiles/hrpt-113-hr-milcon-report.pdf

For a summary of the bill, please visit: http://appropriations.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=333737

*Due to lack of current fiscal year 2013 information provided to Congress by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), post-sequestration funding levels are estimates only.

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Appropriations Committee Releases Fiscal Year 2014 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill

Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

The House Appropriations Committee today released its proposed fiscal year 2014 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations bill, to be marked up in subcommittee tomorrow. The bill provides funding to help strengthen America’s homeland security efforts while cutting wasteful or unnecessary programs.

The bill provides $38.9 billion in discretionary funding for DHS. This is a decrease of $617.6 million below the fiscal year 2013 enacted level and a decrease of $34.9 million compared to the President’s request. This funding level is approximately $981 million above the current, post-sequestration level for DHS as estimated by the Congressional Budget Office.

Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers made the following statement on the bill:

“This bill provides critical resources for our homeland security efforts – from border security enforcement, to cyber-crime protection, to first responder support, to programs that directly relate to terrorist attacks like the recent tragic event in Boston. However, given our limited resources due to sequestration budget cuts, the bill seeks to prioritize funding and trim excess to help save precious tax dollars wherever possible,” Chairman Rogers said.

Homeland Security Subcommittee Chairman John Carter also commented on the bill:

“This bill strongly supports our most vital homeland security programs, and it does so with fiscal discipline. The President sent Congress a flawed fiscal year 2014 budget request for DHS that relies upon unauthorized fee increases and reckless reductions to vital operational programs for the Coast Guard, ICE, and the Secret Service, among others. This bill rejects this proposal, and instead reduces DHS’s overall budget while prioritizing funding for critical programs such as operations, FEMA’s First Responder grants, and bombing prevention,” Subcommittee Chairman Carter said. “In addition, our bill bolsters congressional oversight to ensure every dollar goes towards strengthening our national security. In short, this bill provides our frontline operators the tools they need to enforce the law and keep our country safe.”

Bill Highlights:

The bill provides $38.9 billion in discretionary funding for DHS. Within this total, the bill prioritizes funding for frontline security operations, including all operational, intelligence, and threat-targeting activities, and the acquisition of essential tactical equipment.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) – The bill contains $10.6 billion for CBP – an increase of $35 million above the President’s request. Adjusted for direct program comparisons, this amount is $255 million above the fiscal year 2013 enacted level.

This funding will provide for 21,370 Border Patrol agents and nearly 22,800 CBP officers – the largest totals in history. This also includes increases for CBP’s threat-targeting systems to fund needed improvements identified following the Boston Marathon attacks, such as enhancements for the identification of known and suspected terrorists and criminals.

The bill also includes $803 million for Air and Marine operations and procurement to continue critical air patrol efforts on the U.S. border – $88 million more than the President requested – as well as $351 million for border security infrastructure and technology, and $12 million for trade enforcement and improvements at land ports of entry.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) – The bill provides $5.4 billion for ICE – an increase of $387.6 million above the President’s request and $43.1 million below the fiscal year 2013 enacted level. The bill denies the President’s request to make steep, harmful cuts to many ICE programs.

ICE funding within the bill includes $1.8 billion for both domestic and international investigation programs, including efforts to combat human trafficking, child exploitation, cyber-crime, and drug smuggling.

The bill also includes a $10 million increase above the fiscal year 2013 enacted level to visa security and overstays enforcement programs, aimed at addressing weaknesses identified after the Boston Marathon attack.

ICE would also receive $2.8 billion for detention programs, including funding to sustain 34,000 detention beds – the highest detention capacity in history and 2,200 beds above the President’s proposed level – and $96.5 million for alternatives to detention that the President proposed to reduce. The bill also fully funds E-Verify, a program that helps companies check if their employees may legally work in the United States, at $114.2 million.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) – The bill includes $4.8 billion for TSA – a decrease of $388 million below the fiscal year 2013 enacted level. This includes funding for security enforcement, cargo inspections, canine detention teams, and intelligence functions.

Within TSA, the bill includes: $163.2 million(a $15.6 million increase above the fiscal year 2013 enacted level) for privatized screening operations; $12.4 million for Federal Flight Deck Officers; $93.7 million (a $5 million increase over the President’s request) to support 40 additional canine enforcement teams; and a total of $108.2 million ($2 million above the request) for improvements to SecureFlight and watchlisting systems.

Additionally, the bill encourages reform of passenger screening operations by capping full-time screening personnel at 46,000, reducing TSA’s federal screener workforce, and supporting TSA’s shift to more risk-based screening.

The bill reflects additional spending cuts both for efficiency and to offset the President’s proposed but unauthorized passenger fee increase, including a nearly $80 million reduction to managerial overhead for Federal Air Marshals, a reduction of $18 million in uniform costs, and a 5% reduction to TSA’s managerial programs.

Cybersecurity – The bill includes a total of $786 million for cybersecurity operations, $24 million below the President’s request and $30 million above the fiscal year 2013 enacted level. This funding will continue improvements to the Federal Network Security program to help blunt cyber-attacks and foreign espionage.

Bombing Prevention & Awareness – The bill rejects the President’s proposed 39% to cut to Bombing Prevention programs, providing $16.5 million – an $8.3 million increase above the President’s request and almost $3 million above the fiscal year 2013 enacted amount. This funding will support efforts to enhance the nation’s counter-improvised explosive device (C-IED) capabilities and reduce the threat of explosive attacks.

Coast Guard – The bill contains $9.9 billion for the U.S. Coast Guard – a decrease of $297 million below the fiscal year 2013 enacted level. The bill sustains military pay and allowances, and denies the President’s requested cuts that would have gutted vital Coast Guard operations. Targeted funding is also provided for: cutter and aviation operating hours and training, acquisition of the seventh National Security Cutter (NSC) and long-lead time material for the eighth NSC, four Fast Response Cutter (FRC) patrol boats, two additional MH-60 helicopters, a C-130J aircraft, and urgently needed upgrades to family housing.

Secret Service – The bill includes $1.6 billion for the U.S. Secret Service – a decrease of $25 million below the fiscal year 2013 enacted level due to savings from the normal downturn in operations following the Presidential election. The bill increases funding for investigations, and continues funding for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which the President proposed to zero out.

FEMA– The bill fully funds FEMA’s stated requirement for disaster relief at $6.2 billion. The bill also provides a total of $2.5 billion for first responder grants, $36.4 million above the fiscal year 2013 enacted level and $402 million above the President’s proposed level. This includes: $1.5 billion for State and Local grants, $675 million for Assistance to Firefighter Grants, and $350 million for Emergency Management Performance Grants.

Research and Development – The bill includes $1.2 billion for Science and Technology, $302 million below the President’s request and $391 million above the fiscal year 2013 enacted level. This funding sustains investment in high-priority research and development efforts. The bill includes $404 million in incremental construction funding for the National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF).

Funding Restrictions and Policy Provisions – The bill continues a prohibition on funds to transfer or release detainees from Guantanamo Bay, and includes numerous other funding restrictions to prevent waste and abuse. Some of these provisions include: a restriction on another “Fast and Furious” type program, extensive reporting requirements for DHS’s procurement and usage of ammunition, and limitations and reporting requirements on spending for conferences and ceremonies.

For the complete text of the FY 2014 Subcommittee Draft Homeland Security Appropriations bill, please visit: http://appropriations.house.gov/uploadedfiles/bills-113hr-sc-ap-fy2014-hsecurity.pdf

*Due to lack of information provided to Congress by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), fiscal year 2013 post-sequestration funding levels are estimates only based on preliminary CBO scoring.

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Appropriations Committee to Consider Fiscal Year 2014 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Legislation

Tue, 14 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

The House Appropriations Committee today released the initial fiscal year 2014 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill, which will be considered in subcommittee tomorrow.

Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers made the following statement on the legislation:

“This will be a tough budget year, and almost every area of government will be affected by the austere funding levels caused by sequestration. However, this legislation prioritizes spending to protect critical programs, including infrastructure for our troops, programs for our military families, and the quality care our nation’s veterans deserve,” Rogers said.

Military Construction-Veterans Affairs Subcommittee Chairman John Culberson also commented on his bill:

“Our subcommittee is committed to ensuring that our men and women in uniform are the best-equipped and best-cared-for in the world. Once again, this year, we have been able to protect the high-quality services provided to our troops, their families, and our veterans,” Chairman Culberson said.

Bill Highlights:

The bill totals $73.3 billion – $1.4 billion above the enacted fiscal year 2013 level and $1.4 billion below the President’s budget request. The increase is primarily due to advance funding approved last year for veterans medical care, and an increase in veterans spending for essential benefits and programs such as those to reduce the backlog in claims processing. Some of this funding is offset by reductions in the Military Construction portion of the bill.

The bill also seeks to save taxpayer dollars wherever possible, without impacting critical programs for our military or veterans. For example, the legislation includes rescissions of unused, unobligated funding from previous years, it does not provide funding for 10 proposed military construction projects that are not needed or justified at this time, and it reduces excess or unnecessary funding for six other projects.

Military Construction – The bill provides $9.9 billion for military construction projects – a decrease of $646 million below the enacted fiscal year 2013 level. These programs include large and small construction and rehabilitation projects on military bases within the U.S. and overseas.

Military Family Housing –The bill provides $1.5 billion to fund construction, operation and maintenance of military family housing for fiscal year 2014. This is $106 million below the enacted fiscal year 2013 level, due to savings from the privatization of family housing. The funding will ensure quality housing is continued for 1,231,044 military families whose loved ones are serving the country.
Military Medical Facilities – The bill includes $927 million for construction and alterations for new or existing military medical facilities. These facilities support and care for 9.8 million eligible beneficiaries, including our wounded troops abroad.
Department of Defense (DOD) Education Facilities –The bill includes $798 million for essential safety improvements and infrastructure work at 17 DOD Education Activities facilities located within the U.S. and overseas. This funding will help address health, safety, and efficiency problems at these facilities for military children and families.
Guard and Reserve – The bill includes $676.3 million for construction or alteration of Guard and Reserve facilities in 25 States.

Veterans Affairs (VA) – The legislation includes a total of $147.6 billion in both discretionary and mandatory funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs. This funding will help provide our nation’s veterans with the services and care they have earned from their dedicated service to the country.

Discretionary funding for Veterans programs in the bill is $63.1 billion – $2.1 billion above the enacted fiscal year 2013 level. Approximately $54.5 billion of this discretionary total was provided last year via advance funding in the fiscal year 2013 Appropriations bill.

VA Medical Services –The bill funds VA medical services at $43.6 billion – providing for approximately 6.5 million patients to be treated in fiscal year 2014. Some of these funds include: $7.2 billion in mental health care services; $103 million in suicide prevention activities; $246 million for traumatic brain injury treatment; $6.2 billion in homeless veterans treatment, services, housing, and job training; and $250 million in rural health initiatives.
DOD-VA Electronic Health Record – The bill contains $344 million in funding to jumpstart a single, integrated Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs electronic health record system. The legislation requires that a unified system be certified by the Secretaries of DOD and the VA, and confirmed by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), before the majority of funding for the program is released.
Disability Claims Processing Backlog – To help the VA meet its goal of ending the disability compensation claims backlog by 2015, the bill provides $155 million for the paperless claims process system and $136 million for digital scanning of health records. In addition, rigorous reporting requirements would be put into place to track the performance of each regional office on claims processing.
Construction – Major and Minor Construction within the VA is funded at approximately $1.06 billion. The bill does not provide funding for major new hospital construction projects, but allows the VA to make progress on the hundreds of projects already scheduled, including the construction or renovation of health clinics, medical residences, and nursing homes.
VA Mandatory Funding – The bill fulfills mandatory funding requirements such as: veteran disability compensation programs for 4.2 million veterans and their survivors; post-9-11 GI bill education benefits for more than 764,000 veterans; and vocational rehabilitation and employment training for more than 175,000 veterans.
Oversight –The legislation includes provisions to increase oversight of taxpayer dollars at the VA, including requiring the agency to report on construction expenditures and savings, forbidding new changes in the scope of construction projects, and restricting the agency from taking certain spending actions without notifying Congress.

Advance Appropriations for Veterans Medical Programs – The bill contains $55.6 billion in advance fiscal year 2015 funding for the VA – the same level provided in the House-passed Budget Resolution. This funding will provide for medical services, medical support and compliance, and medical facilities, and ensure that our veterans have continued, full access to their medical care needs.

Arlington National Cemetery – The legislation includes $70.7 million for the Arlington National Cemetery, a decrease of $93.9 million from the fiscal year 2013 enacted level.

For the complete text of the FY 2014 Subcommittee Draft Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill, please visit: http://appropriations.house.gov/UploadedFiles/BILLS-113HR-SC-AP-FY14-MilConVA.pdf

*Due to lack of current fiscal year 2013 information provided to Congress by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), post-sequestration funding levels are estimates only.

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Simpson to BLM: Efforts to Prevent Sage-Grouse Listing Must Work

Wed, 08 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson examined the President’s budget proposal for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) during an appropriations subcommittee hearing yesterday. Simpson chairs the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, which oversees the budget for the BLM and other land management agencies. During the hearing, Simpson questioned BLM Principle Deputy Director Neil Kornze on grazing, sage-grouse, and the impact of frivolous litigation on the agency.

In his opening statement, Simpson commended BLM, which is working to meet a court-imposed listing deadline, for its efforts on sage-grouse conservation. “That being said,” he continued, “I want to make sure this investment will actually improve sage-grouse habitat and prevent the species from being listed in 2015, which would be devastating across the west. Now more than ever we need to see a return on this investment, not just wasting this funding on planning exercises that don’t help us reach our goal.”

As Simpson continued, he criticized BLM’s focus on limiting existing uses of BLM land, like grazing and recreation, in order to protect sage-grouse, rather than focusing on the primary threats to the species. “As we all know after the last fire season, the greatest threat to sage grouse is wildfire,” Simpson continued. “Two million acres of priority sage grouse habitat burned in wildfires. But as BLM focuses on sage grouse, it seems that the agency is looking mostly at limiting existing uses rather than controlling invasives like cheat grass and preventing wildfires. In fact, your budget decreases funding for hazardous fuels removal. Last year’s fire season shows us that no matter how much we limit existing uses of public lands, wildfires could easily be the nail in the coffin for sage grouse listing. This is a top priority for me—and we need to work together on a real solution. ”

Simpson also raised his concerns about the cost of frivolous litigation to the taxpayer and the impact it has on the ability of the BLM to carry out its mission. “When I raised this issue with outgoing Interior Secretary Salazar a couple of months ago,” he said, “he responded that he was, at the time, the defendant in 3,000 lawsuits. Three thousand! That number alone tells you that we have a problem with frivolous lawsuits.”

The hearing also covered issues including renewable energy production on public lands, proposals to increase grazing fees, and invasive species.

House Gives FAA Authority to Avoid Controller Furloughs

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 17:00:00 GMT

Today, the House of Representatives passed legislation to allow the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to transfer funds to stop the furloughing of air traffic controllers. These furloughs were the result of automatic budget cuts under the sequestration law, and have caused recent air traffic delays.

House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers, who criticized the FAA this week for not working with Congress or the aviation industry earlier to manage the sequestration cuts and avoid furloughs, voted in favor of the legislation today.

“This bill will allow the Federal Aviation Administration to transfer funding from lower-priority areas to avoid personnel and operational cuts that slow our air traffic and potentially put safety at risk,” Rogers said. “As I’ve said before, sequestration is a dumb way to do business – it cuts the good with the bad, without regard for critical federal programs or the needs of the American people. These furloughs are just the most recent example of why we must have a long-term, comprehensive solution to fix sequestration and provide sustainability and stability to federal budgets,” Rogers continued.

Chairman Tom Latham Floor Statement on H.R. 1765, Providing Transfer Authority to the FAA

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:55:00 GMT

Mr. Chairman, I come today with H.R. 1765, a bill to provide up to $253 million from the Airport Improvement Program – or ANY other account in the FAA – to the Operations Account. The purpose of this transfer authority is to restore reliable and safe service in the commercial air traffic system by reducing or eliminating employee furlough days.

I think we all agree the FAA and the administration has handled the sequester poorly. The FAA has negotiated in bad faith with the FAA employees, the airlines, the flying public and the Congress. And the Administration has played shameful politics with sequestration at the cost to hardworking American families. As I have often said - this is simply no way to run a government.

But the Congress is stepping in to correct the problems created by the Administration’s inaction. We are taking this step because of the gross mismanagement of this important function for the safety of all Americans who fly, and on behalf of the commerce that depends on a reliable air system.

We are taking this action to end the Administration's political games that threaten passenger rights and safety.

The fact that we are here today, trying to solve this problem, is a result of the sequester. I remind you that the President brought sequester to the table. And in an effort to avoid the arbitrary $1.2 trillion of cuts mandated by the Budget Control Act, twice the majority of members in the House have passed commonsense legislation that would have replaced sequestration with targeted spending cuts of an equal dollar amount.

Unfortunately, the Senate never considered either of these bills — and thus sequestration was triggered.

Further, this situation goes to show that we need to return to regular order and consider appropriations bills in their entirety and not rely on continuing resolutions to fund the government.

Under a CR, there’s no way for us to prioritize cuts or protect programs related to the safety of the American public. It also goes to show that we must have a long term, comprehensive solution to our budget challenges – one that solves the sequester, and that provides sustainability and stability in the federal budget.

I put the administration, the Secretary, and the agency on alert – we are watching. We have questions, and we want answers about how you are using these funds, and how you are managing the rest of your department. Like I said at the FAA hearing on Wednesday, the safety of our air space cannot be subject to political posturing.

Thank you, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Chairman Rogers: President’s Budget is Overdue and Overstuffed

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 14:00:00 GMT

House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers commented on the President’s fiscal year 2014 Budget request, which was released today – more than nine weeks past the February 4 deadline.

“The President’s budget request released today is months overdue and is overstuffed with spending and tax increases that will continue to hinder economic growth. Unfortunately, it is simply an anticlimactic political exercise, containing “par for the course” policies at a time when we need a real, substantial change in how government manages the nation’s finances.

“In order to have a successful long term budget solution, the President must come to the table with more than what he has put forward today. Mandatory, auto-pilot spending on entitlement programs – the driver of our deficits and the root of our spending problem – must be substantially reformed to bring down costs, not just given a passing nod. This, combined with the President’s proposed tax increases, will only perpetuate the nation’s deficits and debt, taking the nation further away from a balanced budget, financial stability, and economic growth."

Chairman Rogers Announces New Deputy Staff Director, Jim Kulikowski

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 15:30:00 GMT

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers this morning announced that Jim Kulikowski will serve as Deputy Staff Director of the Committee, effective April 1.

“Jim has served us knowledgably and adeptly as Chief Counsel and Parliamentarian, and his experience with the process will serve the Committee well in his new position as Deputy Staff Director,” Rogers said. “I know from working with him closely for years that he has a shrewd understanding of what it takes to complete these essential bills, and I look forward to working with him in his new role.”

Prior to being appointed to this position, Kulikowski was Chief Counsel and Parliamentarian for the Committee. He has worked for the Committee in various capacities for more than 19 years, including tenures as Minority Staff Director, and Clerk of the Commerce, Justice, and Science Subcommittee when Rogers was its chairman. He also has worked in international affairs at the Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Health and Human Services, serving as Acting Director of the Office of Global Health. Prior to that, he was Deputy Assistant Director General for External Relations and Cooperation for UNESCO.

Kulikowski succeeds Will Smith, who has been named the new Staff Director of the Committee.

Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee Releases Instructions for Outside Witness Testimony Submission

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 04:00:00 GMT

The House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies today released instructions for outside witness testimony submission for FY 2014.

Submissions are due April 26, 2013.

Please find instructions for submitting testimony to the Subcommittee by clicking here.

Oversight Hearing - Department of Justice and the Department of Commerce - Inspector Generals

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:00:00 GMT

Witnesses: Todd Zinser, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Commerce; Cynthia A. Schnedar, Acting Inspector General, U.S. Department of Justice

Oversight Hearing - National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) - Inspector Generals

Thu, 10 Feb 2011 15:00:00 GMT

Budget Hearing - Securities and Exchange Commission - Inspector General

Thu, 10 Feb 2011 15:00:00 GMT

Witness: H. David Kotz, Inspector General.

An Assessment of Reentry Initiatives, Recidivism and Corrections Spending

Fri, 11 Feb 2011 15:00:00 GMT

Budget Hearing - Postal Service - Inspector General

Fri, 11 Feb 2011 15:00:00 GMT

Witness: David C. Williams, Inspector General.

Budget Hearing - Department of Justice - Attorney General

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 14:00:00 GMT

Witnesses: Attorney General Eric Holder

Major Management Challenges at the Department of the Interior

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 14:30:00 GMT

Budget Hearing - Department of Energy Weapons Activities - Under Secretary for Nuclear Security

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 15:00:00 GMT

Witnesses: Thomas D'Agostino, Under Secretary for Nuclear Security; Dr. Donald L. Cook, Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs; Brig. Gen. Sandra E. Finan, Principal Assistant Deputy Administrator for Military Application

Budget Hearing - Internal Revenue Service - Commissioner

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 15:00:00 GMT

Budget Hearing - US Department of Agriculture - Secretary of Agriculture

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 15:30:00 GMT

Witnesses: The Honorable Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture