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Thank you, Chairman Diaz-Balart, for presenting the Fiscal Year 2024 State and Foreign Operations appropriations bill.
As the former chair of this Subcommittee, I know the importance of these programs.
But, as I have said before, we must take a hard look at everything we oversee.
I thank the Chairman and the Members of the Subcommittee for doing just that.
This bill strikes the right balance in supporting the highest priorities, while reducing spending where we can.
Instead of funding unnecessary programs, such as climate change initiatives, the bill before us re-focuses spending on programs that strengthen our national security.
For example, the bill prioritizes resources to counter China, Russia, Iran, and other hostile countries.
Finally, the bill includes many provisions important to Members on my side of the aisle.
The Subcommittee will come to order.
I'd like to welcome everyone to today's subcommittee markup of the fiscal year 2024 appropriations bill for the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs.
At the outset, I would like to ask my colleagues for their indulgence, as my opening statement is longer than normal to explain the changes in this year's bill.
I want to thank Chairwoman Granger for her leadership and commend her for the substantial work it has taken to get to this point. I also want to recognize her previous leadership of this subcommittee, as well as the Chairman Emeritus and my friend, Hal Rogers.
I also want to acknowledge Ranking Member Lee. While we may not see eye-to-eye on most issues, I know you care deeply about these topics, and I look forward to continuing to work with you as this process moves forward.
As we continue to move through markups, it is important to remember that this is not a normal funding year. Trillions of dollars were spent outside of the annual appropriations process during the last Congress, and we must re-evaluate our spending priorities.
The Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Services bill reflects that goal – and ensures that misplaced spending is re-prioritized to meet our most pressing needs. As we seek to fully fund our national defense, veterans, and border security, unnecessary spending will be lower on the priority list.
I am pleased to see that the bill before us rejects significant increases in the President's Budget Request, and instead saves billions of dollars by:
Thank you, Chairwoman Granger. I appreciate your leadership and your continued support of our men and women in uniform.
I also want to recognize my friend, our Subcommittee's Ranking Member, Ms. McCollum. We have been each other's Chair or Ranking Member for many years now, and I appreciate our relationship.
The fiscal year 2024 Defense Appropriations bill provides $826.45 billion for the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community.
This is $286 million above the President's request and $27.8 billion above the Fiscal Year 2023 enacted level.
The stated mission of the Department of Defense is "to provide the military forces needed to deter war and ensure our nation's security." Our bill does exactly that by focusing on the DOD's most vital task – protecting our homeland and our national interests.
