Media
Latest News
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I want to thank Chairwoman Delauro and Ranking Member Cole for their work on the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education bill that the Committee is considering today.
The bill continues to fund important programs that improve public health, and it sustains research into diseases such as cancer and Alzheimers disease. Funds are also included to defend the nation against biological threats.
Investments in education are essential for our country to remain competitive with the rest of the world, and I appreciate the funding this bill provides for this purpose.
I also want to thank Chairwoman Delauro and Chairwoman Lowey for including long‑standing language that protects life.
However, there are several provisions that raise concern, and unfortunately, these will make it impossible for me to support the bill in its current form.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I want to begin by thanking Chairwoman Kaptur and Ranking Member Simpson for their leadership on the Energy and Water Subcommittee.
I appreciate that the bill continues significant funding for our nation's water resources infrastructure. Almost every Congressional district across the country benefits in some way from the important work of the Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation.
These agencies are responsible for projects that protect the public and property from floods and hurricanes.
At the same time, improvements that are made to ports and waterways generate and sustain millions of jobs.
Many of these projects are also a significant source of drinking water and irrigation water for our communities and farmers.
I want to thank Chairman Ryan and Ranking Member Herrera-Beutler for the work they have done to address critical issues that affect the Congress.
This bill recognizes the important, bipartisan work of the House Select Committee on Modernization and takes steps to make Congress more effective, efficient, and transparent on behalf of the American people.
This bill funds priorities of the Architect of the Capitol in order to support the Capitol's aging infrastructure and promote the safety and health of employees and visitors.
The men and women of the Capitol Police demonstrate the highest standard of professionalism, and this bill recognizes their service and sacrifice by ensuring they have the resources they need to continue keeping the complex safe.
Unfortunately, I have concerns that will prevent me from supporting this bill in its current form.
I want to thank Chair McCollum and Ranking Member Joyce for the work they've done on many important programs supported by the Interior bill.
This bill funds priorities and concerns of Members on both sides of the aisle and does many good things for the preservation of our natural resources.
In addition, the bill helps local communities across the country with education and safety needs, particularly in Indian country.
Even though the bill funds many shared priorities, there are several policy items that raise concern.
The bill eliminates several long-standing, common-sense provisions that have had bipartisan support for many years.
Instead, the bill adds many new poison pill riders and directives that would limit domestic energy and mineral production and prevent the Administration from reducing regulatory burdens.
WASHINGTON – Today, the full committee met to consider the fiscal year 2021 appropriations bills for the subcommittees on Interior-Environment and the Legislative Branch. Committee Republicans were unable to support these two bills due to several new policy proposals and a total spending level that is hundreds of billions of dollars above the budget agreement.
WASHINGTON – Today, the full committee met to consider the fiscal year 2021 subcommittee allocations, known as "302(b)" allocations. The appropriations bills for the subcommittees on State and Foreign Operations; Agriculture, Rural Development, and the Food and Drug Administration; and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs were also considered. Committee Republicans were unable to support the allocations or the individual bills due to a total spending level that is well above the current budget agreement and controversial policy provisions that are in the bills.
Madam Chair, thank you for yielding.
As we turn to the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill, I want to thank Chairwoman Wasserman-Schultz and Ranking Member Carter for the work they have done this year.
They have come together to address many critical issues that affect military installations and our nation's veterans – reaching across the aisle to fund many projects important to our Members.
This bill funds the military construction priorities that were requested by the Department of Defense, and it helps improve family housing for the military.
This bill also ensures our nation's veterans are given the care they deserve and makes certain our veterans have a dignified final resting place.
Unfortunately, as I said during the subcommittee markup, I am very concerned with the $12.5 billion dollars in emergency spending outside of the budget caps established last August.
Madam Chair, thank you for yielding.
I want to thank Agriculture Subcommittee Chairman Bishop for his hard work on this bill.
I also want to recognize the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee, Mr. Fortenberry.
The coronavirus pandemic has shown us the importance of programs funded by this subcommittee. For example, I am glad we were able to help children continue to have access to the meals they rely on while their schools were closed over the past several months.
Support for our farmers and ranchers has been a lifeline during this crisis after many years of economic challenges.
We also expanded internet coverage into rural areas and continue to do so with this fiscal year 2021 bill.
This bill also ensures we have safe and effective drugs, including those that are imported.
Madam Chair, thank you for yielding.
During this time of instability around the world, it is important to remember that our investments abroad can make us more secure at home. The fiscal year 2021 bill funds many programs that would do just that.
The bill provides $3.3 billion for Israel, demonstrating our unwavering support for the security of our great ally and partner.
It protects funding for embassy security and counter-terrorism programs. The bill also includes funds to advance global health, promote democracy, and address human trafficking.
Unfortunately, while there are areas where we agree, I have serious concerns about partisan riders that have been inserted and the negative impact they could have.
As I said during the subcommittee markup, the bill includes permanent changes in law that would overturn the current Mexico City Policy.
Madam Chair, thank you for yielding.
I rise in opposition to the subcommittee allocations because they do not give a complete picture of all of the spending in these appropriations bills.
Instead of working with us to develop bills consistent with the budget agreement that was reached last year, our colleagues on the other side of the aisle have unilaterally decided to include hundreds of billions of dollars in so-called "emergency" spending for things that really are not emergencies.
- Almost $200 billion dollars for infrastructure;
- Nearly $35 billion dollars to respond to the coronavirus on top of the trillions already appropriated; and
- $12.5 billion for veterans, even though it was known last year that these costs would rise.
In total, there is more than a quarter of a trillion dollars in additional deficit spending not included in these allocations.
