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Good afternoon, Chairman Sessions, Ranking Member Slaughter, and members of the Rules Committee. I am pleased to appear before you today on a momentous occasion, the conclusion of our work on the 12 appropriations bills for fiscal year 2014.
We have been working toward completion of the fiscal year 2014 bills for months. We have said over and over that what we needed was a common, overall discretionary budget cap number to allow the House and Senate Appropriations to work together toward the same overall target, instead of two different numbers nearly $100 billion apart.
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers today spoke on the House floor in support of H.J. Res. 106, a short-term continuing resolution to keep the government open until January 18. The House approved the extension on a voice vote.
Chairman Rogers's statement follows:
"Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present H.J. Res 106.
"This is a very, very short-term continuing resolution to keep the government open and operating until January 18.
"The continuing resolution that ended the government shutdown in October provided funding until January 15 – which is tomorrow.
"As you know, yesterday, I posted the full, fiscal year 2014 omnibus to fund the government for the rest of year. We hope to pass this comprehensive legislation tomorrow, and send it to the Senate in short order.
"I rise today in strong support of H.J. Res. 59, the Ryan/Murray budget agreement.
"First, I would like to commend Chairman Ryan on achieving a resolution to our immediate budget challenges. It takes a good deal of courage, persistence, and dedication to reach a bipartisan agreement such as this, and we appreciate your hard work. While everyone might not like everything in it, it is the best product that is achievable right now, and I urge its passage.
"As our Budget Chairman has said, this agreement reflects a compromise in policies, but not in our conservative principles. Not only does this deal hold the line on spending, it actually puts a dent in our annual deficit – a significant accomplishment. Plus, it opens the door for future progress on the problem of runaway entitlements, and paves the way toward budget and economic stability for the next two years.
