Rogers Remarks at FY25 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Bill Subcommittee Markup

Washington’s spendthrift habits continue to come with significant consequences. 

Everyday goods cost more due to elevated levels of inflation, and as a result interest rates remain painfully high. 

These are real-world effects of reckless and wasteful spending that happens all too often in Washington. 

And just last week, the nation received a dire warning from the Congressional Budget Office. 

Without mincing words, CBO announced that in the next ten years the debt held by the public will skyrocket to more than $50 trillion. Let me repeat this number – $50 trillion. 

We are on an unsustainable path for all mandatory and discretionary spending.

These ill-advised spending trends require us to make difficult decisions for the fiscal future of our country. 

Importantly, we must all do our part and that is how I approached the fiscal year 2025 CJS Bill.

The critics of this bill and my friends across the aisle, will suggest that we are not spending enough on certain offices or decreasing funding levels too much across the board. 

However, when accusations are made, I must remind folks of the $50 trillion debt warning. 

We can, and must, do everything in our power to create a sustainable economic trajectory. 

This legislation, which provides a total discretionary allocation of $78.288 billion, which is effectively $1.275 billion or 2 percent below the Fiscal Year 2024 spending level, right sizes and appropriately funds the agencies under CJS jurisdiction and restrains government overreach by Washington bureaucrats.

The politically motivated and weaponized Department of Justice is restrained and will no longer follow the political whims of the Biden Administration.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation will be refocused on its core competencies, and numerous ill-advised rulemakings by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that challenge constitutional rights will be stopped in their tracks.   

Importantly, this bill also takes the fight directly to fentanyl and all its supply chains, including the precursor chemicals coming out of China. 

Our country must firmly get a grip on the opioid epidemic that is ravaging our communities from coast to coast, including mine in Kentucky.

This legislation will ensure the Drug Enforcement Administration remains at the tip of the spear as we tackle this crisis. 

It also provides increased funding to the Bureau of Prisons and invests heavily in local law enforcement to ensure our cities and towns are safe and secure and to provide the peace of mind that hard-working Americans deserve.   

Additionally, this bill addresses China and its aggressive overreach by making considerable investments in American science agencies. 

The global economic race is underway, and it is pitting America and its allies against China. 

Legislation like the fiscal year 2025 CJS bill, will deliver the resources needed to guarantee the United States remains the leader in science, technology, and research. 

Moreover, the moon is once again within our reach, and we will soon go beyond the next frontier.

This bill makes strategic investments in order to ensure NASA is not bound by the limits of gravity.  

In short, the fiscal year 2025 CJS bill is an important step in the right direction.

I would like to thank all the Subcommittee Members for their attentive attitude and diligent participation in budget hearings these past few months. 

I especially want to thank Ranking Member Cartwright for his partnership in this endeavor. 

We may not agree on every policy or funding level, but it is a pleasure to sit beside you.

I would also like to acknowledge Chairman Cole and thank him for his measured hand atop the Full Committee as he steers the entire team through this difficult, yet critically important process of funding the government. 

Additionally, I would like to thank Ranking Member DeLauro as she continues to be a force for her party as Congress crafts these bills from the beginning stages.  

Lastly, thanks to both the Majority and Minority staff for assisting with the development and production of this year’s bill. 

As I said earlier, the fiscal year 2025 CJS Appropriations bill makes the right investments for our nation, our economy, our competitiveness, our security, and for the American public.