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WASHINGTON – Today, the House of Representatives met to consider H.R. 4364, The Legislative Branch Appropriations Act. The measure was approved by the House with a vote of 214 to 197.
Thank you to the Members of the Committee for the opportunity to discuss H.R. 4821, the Fiscal Year 2024 Interior and Environment appropriations bill.
H.R. 4821 provides $25.4 billion in new non-defense discretionary spending – which is $13.4 billion or 35 percent below the Fiscal Year 2023 level. The bill also rescinds $9.4 billion in funding provided to EPA, the Presidio Trust, and the Council on Environmental Quality through the Inflation Reduction Act.
In drafting this bill, we worked very hard to rein in federal spending while prioritizing critical needs within our reduced allocation.
The bill fully funds Payments in Lieu of Taxes – estimated at $515 million – and provides an additional $1.6 billion to fund essential wildfire activities without using irresponsible budgetary gimmicks.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify on the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies bill for Fiscal Year 2024.
I would also like to thank Chairwoman Granger, Ranking Member DeLauro, and my partner on this bill, Ranking Member Mike Quigley.
This bill responsibly funds our most critical transportation and housing needs, which will have a positive impact in every congressional district.
At the same time, the bill meets the challenge before us to reduce spending and get our debt under control.
The bill reduces spending 25% below Fiscal Year 2023 levels, with a CBO score of $65 billion. We achieve these savings through a rescission of IRS funds and by reducing billions in excessive spending.
To really compare this bill to last year, we need to be honest about what was in the Fiscal Year 2023 bill.
Chairman Cole, Ranking Member McGovern, and Members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify on the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act.
The bill includes $14.3 billion in urgently needed funding to support Israel in their war against some of the world's most evil and vile terrorists, Hamas.
Let us not forget what happened. On October 7th, Hamas murdered, raped, and maimed thousands of Israelis, including babies, toddlers, and the elderly. Hundreds of hostages were taken into Gaza. It was pure evil.
Israel must defeat Hamas and the U.S. must urgently support Israel in this task.
Just today, Hamas declared, "we must teach Israel a lesson and we will do this again and again." And the Hamas charter calls for Israel to be obliterated.
We must take them at their word and help Israel. That's what this legislation being considered today does.
