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The Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies will come to order.

We are here today to markup the Fiscal Year 2024 Interior bill. I would like to welcome Full Committee Ranking Member DeLauro, Subcommittee Ranking Member Pingree, and the other Members of the Subcommittee.

The Fiscal Year 2024 Interior bill provides $35 billion in spending, which is 10 percent below the Fiscal Year 2023 level, and it includes $9.4 billion of rescissions from the Inflation Reduction Act. This brings the Subcommittee's discretionary allocation to $25.4 billion, which is $13.4 billion or 35 percent below the Fiscal Year 2023 level.

I will be honest – if you're looking for a pretty bill, this is not it. This is a hard bill, but frankly, it is a necessary bill.

It is an honor to serve as Chairman of the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee. I want to thank my friend—Chairwoman Kay Granger—for giving me this opportunity. Thank you, also, to Ranking Member DeLauro for her commitment to the work of this committee. And to my Ranking Member, Steny Hoyer, thank you for your leadership and friendship through the years. It's a real privilege to work with you. I know that despite our disagreements on matters relating to our work today, we have a shared passion for doing the work of the American people. I trust it becomes evident as we move through this process.

The Subcommittee will come to order.

I want to welcome everyone to the Subcommittee Markup of the Fiscal Year 2024 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill.

I am pleased to be joined by Ranking Member DeLauro, Ranking Member Quigley, and the Members of the Subcommittee.

I believe the bill before the subcommittee 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.

Thank you very much, Madam Chairwoman.

I am pleased to present the fiscal year 2024 Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs appropriations bill to the full committee for consideration and for approval.

I want to thank Chairwoman Granger for her leadership to get us to this point in the process. I also want to recognize her previous chairmanship and leadership of this subcommittee, as well as the Chairman Emeritus and my friend, Hal Rogers.

I want to acknowledge Ranking Member Lee. While we may not see eye-to-eye on most issues, I know she cares deeply about the programs funded in this bill, and I look forward to continuing to work with her as this process moves forward.

Finally, I want to thank the Members of the State-Foreign Operations Subcommittee on both sides of the aisle for their meaningful engagement during this budget process.

As we continue our work on the Fiscal Year 2024 bills, I want to remind everyone of the situation we find ourselves in.

During the last Congress, trillions of dollars were spent outside of the appropriations process.

We have no choice but to take a hard look at the spending this Committee oversees.

The State and Foreign Operations appropriations bill before us strikes the right balance.

It funds important national security priorities while reducing spending on unnecessary programs.

For example, the bill prioritizes resources to counter China, Russia, Iran, and other hostile countries.

At a time when our enemies are becoming more aggressive, we must continue to support our partners and allies around the world.

For example, the Chairman has included the funding requested for Israel to defend itself. The bill also addresses the harmful and growing bias against Isreal at the United Nations.