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March 3, 2026
Washington, D.C. – Today, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) spoke before the House Committee on Rules in support of H.R. 7744, the Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026. Read Chairman Cole's remarks as prepared here and below:
March 3, 2026
Chairwoman Foxx, Ranking Member McGovern, members of the Rules Committee, I appreciate the opportunity to testify today. I come before you today on H.R. 7744, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026. The bill before us today is substantively identical to the bill that previously passed the House in January. It represents a bipartisan and bicameral negotiated compromise that provides full funding for the Department of Homeland Security for Fiscal Year 2026. As members will recall, in January, House and Senate negotiators from both parties reached a final agreement on our then-remaining six appropriations bills for 2026. After Republicans and Democrats in the House and Senate reached agreement, the House fulfilled its part of the bargain and passed all six bills across the floor.
February 28, 2026
Washington, D.C. – House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) released the following statement in support of President Trump’s launch of Operation Epic Fury against the Iranian regime – the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism – which has long brutally suppressed and executed its own people – while exporting violence across the globe:
February 27, 2026
Washington, D.C. – ICYMI: This week, President Trump delivered a historic State of the Union address, sharing the positive impact renewed leadership in the White House has had on our nation. Our Commander in Chief presented his vision for a strong America – a nation that has not yet reached its peak.
February 25, 2026
Washington, D.C. – This week, the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs (NSRP) Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL), hosted a hearing with the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) President and CEO, Damon Wilson. The hearing provided Appropriators the opportunity to give serious attention to, and rigorous oversight of, the programs funded in the NSRP bill, as well as support the Trump Administration's America First foreign policy. The National Endowment for Democracy, founded by President Ronald Reagan, is a critical tool to advance U.S. foreign policy priorities around the world and support those fighting for freedom under authoritarian regimes in Iran, North Korea, and Cuba.
February 25, 2026
Washington, D.C. – Today, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) released guidance for Fiscal Year 2027 programmatic, language, and Community Project Funding requests. Chairman Cole said in a dear colleague to Members, I am pleased to announce the beginning of the Fiscal Year 2027 appropriations process. On Wednesday, February 25, Members may begin submitting programmatic and language requests and Community Project Funding requests for the upcoming year.
February 24, 2026
Washington, D.C. – Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) released the following statement in response to President Donald J. Trump's State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress and the American people: “Tonight, President Trump delivered a powerful and forward-looking speech. American exceptionalism is not just an idea – it is the discipline to lead by the people, govern for the people, and defend the people with strength and conviction.
February 24, 2026
Good morning and welcome to the NSRP Subcommittee hearing on the National Endowment for Democracy. Our witness today is Damon Wilson, President and CEO of NED. Thank you, Mr. Wilson, for agreeing to testify. It should be no surprise to anyone why the Subcommittee’s first hearing of the year is to discuss oversight of the National Endowment for Democracy. At this moment in our country’s history, under the tremendous leadership of President Trump, our foreign policy has been awakened and strengthened in an unprecedented manner. The work of NED is a critical tool advancing the foreign policy priorities of this Administration, including by defending international religious freedom in places like Nigeria, Nicaragua and Communist China, and supporting those struggling for freedom in places like Iran, North Korea, and Cuba.
February 23, 2026
Washington, D.C. – Today, the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security enters double digits. For ten days, DHS has been operating without appropriated funding, forcing workers in critical national security roles to work without pay. This didn't have to happen – Democrats shut the government down intending to hurt President Trump's effective immigration efforts, border wall construction, and removal operations, all of which have reserve funding from last year's OBBBA and will continue uninterrupted during this shutdown.
February 23, 2026
Washington, D.C. – Following President Trump’s call-to-action and redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), the House Appropriations Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee delivered a joint report on the persecution of Christians in Nigeria to the White House. The findings follow a comprehensive investigation that included interviews with expert witnesses, a hearing and roundtable, two on-the-ground assessments through bipartisan congressional delegations to Nigeria, and close partnership with the Trump Administration.
