News
August 3, 2026
Washington, D.C. – House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) released the following statement on the passing of former Chairwoman Kay Granger, whose life, legacy, and work have left a lasting mark on the House Appropriations Committee and nation:
July 28, 2026
Washington, D.C. – As the August work period begins, members have traded the dais for the district. Before the cameras turn toward local events and conversations back home, we're taking another look through the full committee lens at moments from our final hearing before flyout.
July 23, 2026
Washington, D.C. – The power of the purse is a fundamental responsibility – the Founders made that unmistakably clear in Article I. Yet, too many members have disregarded and obstructed that mandate, which was never intended to become a partisan bargaining chip or a casualty of political dysfunction. After Senate Democrats instigated the two longest government shutdowns in American history, broke bipartisan and bicameral funding agreements, and forced reconciliation pathways simply to fund certain agencies, there is no denying that the American people – and this institution – deserve better.
July 22, 2026
Washington, D.C. – After gaveling in the first full committee hearing in years, titled "Funding Lapses: Analyzing Shutdown Reform," House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) delivered opening remarks reaffirming that government shutdowns should never become an accepted feature of governance and that Congress has a constitutional duty to uphold Article I responsibly. The proceeding is examining legislative proposals intended to reduce lapses, considering their implications, and discussing ways to promote a more stable process. Protecting the American people from the consequences of needless, partisan shutdowns should be an objective shared by all lawmakers.
