Rogers Remarks at FY26 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Bill Full Committee Markup

Thank you, Chairman Cole, and thank you for the leadership that you bring to the House of Representatives, this Committee, and the entire process of appropriately funding our federal government. I would also like to thank Ranking Member Meng, Ranking Member DeLauro, and all Members of this Committee.  

The House Appropriations Committee does some of the most important work in Congress, and it cannot be completed without Members’ dedication to this effort. Additionally, I would also like to thank both the Majority and Minority staff for their hard work.  

Today, we will be taking up the fiscal year 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies bill. Over the last eight months, America has been revitalized. Under President Trump, and ushered in by his Administration, we are charting a course of recovery, growth, and reinforcing our standing on the world stage. As a nation, we are putting the safety and soundness of the American people first.  

We are tackling immigration by securing our borders while standing up for what is right and just. We are addressing crime that has been infiltrating our neighborhoods and cities for far too long. We have a unified approach, and we are starting to see results. Unfortunately, the size of the Federal government swelled over the last four years under the Biden Administration.

However, we have an answer to the mission creep of many of these Agencies and the red-tape that has plagued our businesses and prevented innovation. Through this bill, and the other bills that have been marked up in this Committee, we are right-sizing Federal government agencies to ensure they are working on behalf of the American public, not against them. The CJS bill provides a total discretionary allocation of $76.824 billion which represents a 2.8 percent decrease when compared to the total effective spending of the fiscal year 2025 enacted level. Wisely, the bill makes strategic investments in several agencies while appropriately reducing others.  

Despite recent progress in the fight against fentanyl and other opioids, overdose deaths continue to plague our communities and neighborhoods. Transnational Criminal Organizations, such as Mexican drug cartels, remain a serious threat to the United States. As a result, this bill continues to ensure the DEA within the Department of Justice receives the funding it needs to combat illicit drug use and dismantle drug cartel networks.  And I am proud to report that the funding level for the DEA is making a difference.
 
Since January 20, 2025, the DEA seized approximately 246 million lethal doses of fentanyl. Additionally, the DEA has made over 2,000 fentanyl-related arrests. In August, the Department of Justice secured a guilty plea from the co-founder and former lead of the Sinaloa Cartel. This is important news and this fight must continue. Moreover, the fiscal year 2026 bill strongly supports the men and women in blue that protect our families and neighborhoods by increasing funding for state and local law enforcement. The bill includes increased funding levels for the Byrne JAG program and COPS Hiring program, to put our State and local law enforcement first.

To ensure America is the leader in space exploration and maintains a competitive advantage over China, the FY26 CJS bill also continues to sustain strong funding levels for NASA and its endeavor to return to the moon and beyond. The legislation also protects and reinforces Constitutional rights such as the Second Amendment by reining in and refocusing the ATF. As shown by deadly floods in Kentucky and Texas, now is the time to ensure the National Weather Service is equipped with the funding it needs to warn and protect our citizens.  This bill does just that by appropriately funding NOAA’s weather units.  

Overall, the provisions and funding levels in the fiscal year 2026 CJS bill will protect our children, our families, our neighborhoods, and our country. With that, I yield back.