Cole Testifies at Rules Committee on the Senate Amendment to H.R. 7148
Washington, D.C. – Today, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) spoke before the House Committee on Rules in support of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026.
Watch Chairman Cole's remarks here.
Read Chairman Cole's remarks as prepared here and below:
"Chairwoman Foxx, Ranking Member McGovern, members of the Rules Committee, I appreciate the opportunity to testify today. While the moment certainly feels familiar, the issues before us remain critically important.
"Let me start with a simple reminder: legislating is challenging by design. The path here may have been different than expected, but our responsibility is the same – to fund the government and keep it working for the nation.
"Members are already acquainted with the legislation at hand. The underlying package was assembled and passed by the House two weeks ago and represents the final six FY26 appropriations measures. It has now been sent back with a Senate amendment that fully funds five divisions for the year and places the remaining division – the Department of Homeland Security – under a two-week continuing resolution.
"To underscore the scope of funding before us, today’s full-year bills cover:
- The Department of Defense;
- The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education;
- The Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development;
- The Department of State;
- The Department of the Treasury; and
- Many agencies related to each of these departments.
"Funding these missions is not optional – it is part of our Article I duties – and we must see the work through.
"Two weeks ago, the House and Senate struck a bipartisan and bicameral deal to move forward on our remaining appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2026. As I knew we would, the House acted expeditiously and appropriately and approved these negotiated bills before leaving for our scheduled district work period. Now, however, the Senate has altered the deal.
"I acknowledge the frustrations of this situation, and I share in those sentiments. Trust me, I speak from direct experience – but our obligation is not to our feelings – it is to the American people. Getting ninety percent of something is better than one hundred percent of nothing.
"I still believe the best and most appropriate course of action was for the Senate to approve the six-bill package as we negotiated it. The Senate, however, has chosen a different path. And so, we are left here in the House with a classic Hobson’s Choice: we can take the amended bill, or we can leave it.
"My view is that we should take it. Today’s bill will close out five of our remaining six appropriations bills for FY2026, including our two largest measures, covering Defense and the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education departments. It will also include a two-week continuing resolution for our sixth and final bill – the Department of Homeland Security – which will give some time for additional negotiations on that measure.
"President Trump has directly engaged Democrats in good-faith conversations while making clear that holding the government or the American people hostage is wrong.
"I am confident that once these discussions are completed, the final outcome will closely mirror the measure Chairman Amodei negotiated and the House passed two weeks ago – a comprehensive bill that, unlike this stopgap, funded ICE body-worn cameras and deescalation training, delivered a pay raise for our Coast Guard and air traffic controllers, increased support for firefighters and first responders, strengthened disaster preparedness, and enhanced efforts to combat fentanyl.
"So, today is Groundhog Day – both literally and figuratively – but doing the right thing for the American people never gets old.
"I thank each of you for your time, and I urge all members to support this bipartisan package. I look forward to your questions today."
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