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Before I get into my formal remarks, I would like to thank the distinguished chair, Ms. Roybal-Allard for her tremendous service to this body. I know her father was a valued Member of this House before she came here.

Madam Chair, you articulated the highlights and the differences of this bill. I think very well for our respected members, but personally thanks to you. There are bona fide differences, very strong differences of opinion, not only in this great committee but in our nation right now.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

First, let me thank the chairman of the subcommittee for his friendship and approach to the committee's work. I recognize the hard work from him and his staff, which have allowed us to move the process forward. I would also like to thank my staff as well.

I am grateful the chairman included many priorities for Republican Members and addressed several bipartisan priorities such as helping small businesses, supporting sanctions programs, and providing additional security funding for the Supreme Court.

Unfortunately, as currently drafted, the bill's uncontrolled baseline spending is just simply without justification and ignores our unsustainable fiscal trajectory. It also includes several controversial policy changes I cannot support.

Thank you, Chair DeLauro. I want to thank you and Ranking Member Granger for your leadership in moving this process forward. I also appreciate the hard work of Chairman Bishop in crafting the fiscal year 2023 Agriculture Appropriations Bill that is before us today.

There are a number of programs and provisions in this bill that I support, such as funding for rural broadband programs, rural electrification and telecommunication loan programs, critical research programs, and protections to ensure we have safe food, drugs, and medical devices.

Good afternoon. Thank you for recognizing me, Madam Chair.

I am pleased we are considering the FY23 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill today.

Even though I would have done some things differently, this is a good bill. My chair, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, deserves credit for her great hard work and I am happy to work with her.

I hope we can agree on a framework, which must take into account the PACT Act that will be considered in the House soon. We need an agreement to allow us to resolve our differences and finalize the FY23 bills in a timely manner.

Thank you, my good friend, Mr. Diaz-Balart, for having us think about what's happening right now. We all work together and develop these bills that are so important, but we also work together as family. So thank you for that recognition. I know we're thinking about Chairman Price.

this bill is important because it has programs that will keep our roads and airways safe and invest in critical assets like ports, airports, and highways. It's a very important bill.

I want to thank the chair for yielding and for her work on the fiscal year 2023 bill for Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies.

I also want to recognize the ranking member of this subcommittee, Tom Cole. He serves as the vice ranking member for the Republicans on our committee. I truly value your advice and your expertise.