Remarks

Chairman Cole, Ranking Member McGovern, and Members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify on the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act.

The bill includes $14.3 billion in urgently needed funding to support Israel in their war against some of the world's most evil and vile terrorists, Hamas.

Let us not forget what happened. On October 7^th, Hamas murdered, raped, and maimed thousands of Israelis, including babies, toddlers, and the elderly. Hundreds of hostages were taken into Gaza. It was pure evil.

Israel must defeat Hamas and the U.S. must urgently support Israel in this task.

Just today, Hamas declared, "we must teach Israel a lesson and we will do this again and again." And the Hamas charter calls for Israel to be obliterated.

We must take them at their word and help Israel. That's what this legislation being considered today does.

Thank you for the opportunity to testify on the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies bill for Fiscal Year 2024.

I would also like to thank Chairwoman Granger, Ranking Member DeLauro, and my partner on this bill, Ranking Member Mike Quigley.

This bill responsibly funds our most critical transportation and housing needs, which will have a positive impact in every congressional district.

At the same time, the bill meets the challenge before us to reduce spending and get our debt under control.

The bill reduces spending 25% below Fiscal Year 2023 levels, with a CBO score of $65 billion. We achieve these savings through a rescission of IRS funds and by reducing billions in excessive spending.

To really compare this bill to last year, we need to be honest about what was in the Fiscal Year 2023 bill.

Thank you to the Members of the Committee for the opportunity to discuss H.R. 4821, the Fiscal Year 2024 Interior and Environment appropriations bill.

H.R. 4821 provides $25.4 billion in new non-defense discretionary spending – which is $13.4 billion or 35 percent below the Fiscal Year 2023 level. The bill also rescinds $9.4 billion in funding provided to EPA, the Presidio Trust, and the Council on Environmental Quality through the Inflation Reduction Act.

In drafting this bill, we worked very hard to rein in federal spending while prioritizing critical needs within our reduced allocation.

The bill fully funds Payments in Lieu of Taxes – estimated at $515 million – and provides an additional $1.6 billion to fund essential wildfire activities without using irresponsible budgetary gimmicks.

Mr. Chairman, it's my distinct honor to bring the Fiscal Year 2024 Energy and Water bill before you today.

Before I go into the details, I'd like to recognize the hard work of Chairwoman Granger and Ranking Member DeLauro on this bill and the appropriations process. I'd also like to thank my Ranking Member, Ms. Kaptur, for being a tremendous partner throughout this year's process.

At a total of $56.958 billion, the Energy and Water bill advances our national security, our energy security, and our economic competitiveness in a fiscally responsible manner.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am pleased to present to the Committee the Fiscal Year 2024 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations bill.

Mr. Chairman, before I review the bill, I'd like to thank you, Ranking Member McGovern, and other Members of the Committee for all the hard work you do to ensure a fair and orderly process. I'd also like to thank Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Granger and Ranking Member DeLauro for their leadership on this bill. I'd like to especially thank my Ranking Member, Ms. Kaptur, for being a tremendous partner throughout this year's process.

The Subcommittee received almost 5,000 Member requests and worked hard to be as accommodating as possible within the overall priorities of the bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5860, a bill that keeps the government open until November 17^th.

While I would rather be here speaking on the floor about final appropriations bills, I want members to understand why passing this short-term funding bill today is so important.

First, I want to explain how we find ourselves in this situation.

Just nine months ago, when Republicans took back the Majority in the House, our commitment was to Regular Order for appropriations.

No more omnibus measures released in the dead of night. No more Christmas Eve votes on thousands of pages of text that Members of Congress had not read.

Unfortunately, there were a few stumbling blocks as we sought to change the process.

For example, the Administration's budget request was more than a month late. It then took months for the President to come to the table on the debt ceiling negotiations.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to speak on the Spending Reduction and Border Security Act of 2024.

The most basic duty Congress must complete every year is our Constitutional power to fund the government. This bill will provide funding to keep our government open until October 31^st. Unless we act now the government will shut down at midnight on Saturday.

The House of Representatives has already passed 4 appropriations bills, constituting the majority of funding for our government, while the Senate continues to sit on their hands and has failed to pass anything. Typical.

The country has nearly 32.9 trillion dollars in debt, and our deficit this year is $1.9 trillion. The Biden administration has gone on a spending binge with money we do not have to spend. It is time we slow our funding to a more sustainable level.

Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5692, which provides security assistance to Ukraine and funds a Special Inspector General to oversee these and other funds provided by the American taxpayers.

In 2016, the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, referred to as USAI, was created in response to increased Russian aggression. These funds, along with the National Guard's State Partnership Program with California and other efforts, have transformed the Ukrainian military from a remnant of the Soviet empire to a capable and increasingly western fighting force.

This funding is not sent directly to Ukraine.

Since 2016, these funds have been used to pay for the training U.S. troops provide Ukrainian troops and for U.S. manufactured weapons we provide to Ukraine.