Cole on H.R. 6938: "Difficulty is What Separates Serious Legislating from Political Convenience."
Washington, D.C. – Today, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) delivered the following remarks while leading debate on the House Floor in support of H.R. 6938, the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026.
Watch Chairman Cole's remarks here.
Read Chairman Cole's floor speech here and below:
"I rise today in support of H.R. 6938, a three-bill package covering the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment appropriations measures for Fiscal Year 2026. These bills are the product of bipartisan, bicameral consensus and are grounded in a member-driven process.
"As I stand here today, I think of the genius of our Founding Fathers. They designed Congress to be an engine of thoughtful and deliberate policymaking. It wasn’t meant to be easy. In fact, difficulty is what separates serious legislating from political convenience. In her 250 years, America has never shied away from hard work. Nor does the Appropriations Committee in carrying out our constitutional responsibilities for Fiscal Year 2026. Even after the longest government shutdown in history, partisan obstruction, and tough deadlines, we remained resolute and took responsible steps forward to restore regular order.
"I am proud to say we have ended the cycle of pork-filled omnibuses decided at the last minute. And just as importantly, we have been turning America First priorities into action. President Trump set a critical foundation by signing three appropriations bills into law in November, and we are carrying that momentum forward today. The measure before us keeps us on track to complete all twelve appropriations bills for fiscal year 2026.
"With passage of these three bills, we will provide full-year funding for many of our most critical programs. We prioritize public safety by supporting law enforcement and stopping the flow of fentanyl into our communities. We advance American strength by unleashing energy dominance, securing critical minerals, and investing in nuclear power. And we uphold stewardship by protecting public lands, supporting wildland firefighters, and ensuring responsible resource management.
"All of this is achieved while cutting waste and keeping total FY26 spending below the current continuing resolution. These results are not accidental – they are by design. And they are the result of the hard work of our Subcommittee Chairmen: Chairman Hal Rogers, Chairman Mike Simpson, and Chairman Chuck Fleischmann. Thanks to their leadership, their goodwill, their attention to detail, and their strong relationships with their negotiating partners, the power of the purse is once again being exercised by lawmakers through the committee process, as Article I intended. And to their accompanying Ranking Members: Grace Meng, Chellie Pingree, and Marcy Kaptur – I thank them for their partnership and collaboration, which was instrumental to this effort.
"As we look ahead to today’s action: Republicans are strongest when we stay focused, Democrats are more effective when they negotiate in good faith, and the country is better off when Republicans and Democrats work together. In its Statement of Administrative Policy on this package, the White House said in part, 'The Administration urges every Member of Congress to support this fiscally responsible bill, which is a win for the American taxpayer.' I completely agree!
"I look forward to enacting these full-year appropriations and taking every action to complete our work. With that, I reserve the balance of my time."
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