Granger Delivers Opening Statement at First Committee Meeting of 116th Congress

WASHINGTON – House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Kay Granger (R-TX), the top Republican on the Committee, delivered the following remarks at the panel’s first organizational meeting of the year.

Thank you, Chairwoman Lowey.  I would like to begin by congratulating you, not only for becoming the chair of this great Committee, but for being the first woman to hold the gavel.

We have had the opportunity to work together over many years.  When there are issues we agree on, we are an unstoppable team.  While we haven’t always agreed, we were able to disagree without being disagreeable. I look forward to continuing our productive relationship.

I also want to welcome the eight new Members of the majority party and Mr. Hurd, my friend and colleague from Texas, to our side of the aisle.

The Committee has a lot of work to do. 

We must start with completing our fiscal year 2019 bills.  While I am proud that the Committee was able to enact five appropriations bills, including defense, I am very disappointed with the current situation we find ourselves in.

Now, we have a unique opportunity to come together to support what the experts on the border say they need to address both our security and the humanitarian crisis.

We owe this to the American people. How we proceed on these issues will set the tone for how we can work together this Congress. 

We produce the best policies when all ideas are able to be heard.  I am hopeful that Members on the other side of the aisle will work with us and find common ground where we can. 

It is important that this Committee follows regular order, and I hope to work with Chairwoman Lowey to achieve this.  

Subcommittee members from both parties should be involved in crafting our bills.  Members should be able to offer and debate amendments in Committee.

It is also important that appropriations bills are considered under an open rule so that all Members of the House have an opportunity to be heard and offer amendments.

In closing, I look forward to working with Chairwoman Lowey and all of you over the next two years.  We will face many challenges. 

I am optimistic that we can work in a bipartisan and collegial manner and will have many accomplishments.

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