Media

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I rise today in opposition to H.R. 7608, the first package of fiscal year 2021 appropriations bills to be considered by the House.

I wish the circumstances were different and I could support this very important piece of legislation that funds many key programs.

This bill supports –

• The veterans who have honorably served our country;
• The diplomats who promote American businesses and our values around the world;
• The farmers and ranchers who put food on our tables; and
• The custodians of our parks and public lands who protect our national treasures.

Unfortunately, I am not able to support the bill before us because it has some fatal flaws.

I would like to thank the Subcommittee Chairwoman and the Ranking Member for their leadership on the Homeland Security appropriations bill.

All of our states and communities are experiencing a public health crisis, and the Department of Homeland Security is one of the agencies on the front lines.

During these challenging times, the men and women of the Department of Homeland Security have continued their mission at the ports of entry, along the border, and in our communities – responding to emergencies and saving lives across the nation.

That is why I am particularly concerned about some of the choices made in this bill.

The Department has demonstrated continuously how important it is that they have the resources to protect our nation from threats.

Thank you, Chairwoman Lowey.

I want to recognize Chairman Quigley and Ranking Member Graves for their work on putting this Financial Services bill together.

I also want to thank Tom for his service in the House and on this Committee, as well as his work on the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress.

The bill before us today includes many priorities for Members on both sides of the aisle, such as support for small businesses, drug control programs, and funding for vital counter-terrorism and financial intelligence efforts.

However, I am concerned that there are several controversial items that:

Madam Chair, thank you for yielding.

Before I begin my remarks about the Defense bill, I want to take a moment to recognize the Chairman of the Subcommittee, Mr. Visclosky.

I had the honor of working closely with him when I chaired the Defense subcommittee. Chairman Visclosky is one of a kind. His passion and commitment to our servicemen and women and their families is absolute.

He serves with dignity, with modesty, and with determination. Like Nita Lowey, he is also a joy to work with.

He leaves behind an extraordinary legacy and will be greatly missed.

I also want to thank my friend, Ken Calvert, for the outstanding job he is doing leading this subcommittee as our ranking member. You cannot find anyone more committed to our national security.

I want to thank Chairman Serrano and Ranking Member Aderholt for their work on the fiscal year 2021 Commerce-Justice-Science appropriations bill, and for their leadership on this Committee.

From efforts to combat criminal threats and protect children, to programs that strengthen U.S. competitiveness, this bill supports many important priorities of Members on both sides of the aisle.

It helps our nation's innovators and manufacturers and invests in cutting-edge research and technology.

I commend Chairman Serrano and Chairwoman Lowey for maintaining provisions that protect life.

However, there are several items that concern me. For example, long-standing language carried for many years to protect Second Amendment rights is stripped from the bill.

Also, the bill makes new investments in science, but only selectively. For example, there is not a penny more for NASA.

I want to start by thanking Chairman Price and Ranking Member Diaz-Balart for their hard work on this Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development bill.

The programs funded in this bill reach into all of our communities - creating more economic opportunity and improving the quality of life for the American people.

This bill continues key transportation infrastructure and safety programs, including highway, transit, and port funding.

The funding provided for airport infrastructure and air traffic modernization will be critical for the aviation industry as it recovers from the coronavirus pandemic.

I want to thank Chairman Price for working with Ranking Member Diaz-Balart to include many of the priorities of Members on our side of the aisle.

Unfortunately, there are some provisions in this bill that will prevent me from supporting it.