Remarks

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the distinguished acting Ranking Member, and I too, send my prayers to the family of Jim McGovern for the hardship that the family is facing right now. It's an honor to be before you today as we tee up the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee appropriations bill. I also want to thank my good friend and Ranking Member, Steny Hoyer. He is a dear friend, and I say that with all sincerity.

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to stand before you as we consider the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies bill for Fiscal Year 2024. I am glad that we are back at work, moving appropriations bills through the House Floor under our new Speaker. We are continuing to fulfill our constitutional duty. I would like to thank Chairwoman Granger, Ranking Member DeLauro, and my partner on this bill, Ranking Member Mike Quigley.

I am pleased to begin consideration of H.R. 4821, the Fiscal Year 2024 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill.

Before I get into the bill, I want to commend Chairwoman Granger for her steadfast leadership of the Appropriations Committee and her ongoing support. I'd also like to thank the Ranking Member of the Full Committee, Ms. Delauro, for her important work on this legislation and other things.

Earlier this month, we saw Hamas carry out its evil attack on the Israeli people. Now more than ever, we must stand firm with our great ally and do all we can to ensure Israel has what it needs to defend itself.

The bill before us provides $14.3 billion dollars in emergency funding for much-needed military assistance. This funding will cover everything requested by the Israelis. Specifically, this bill includes funding for:

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 6126, which provides security assistance to Israel, supports the security of our embassy personnel, enables the evacuation of U.S. citizens, and strengthens the ability of our industrial base to respond to this crisis.

On October 7, Hamas terrorists carried out a barbaric attack on Israel that took the lives of more than 1,400 innocent Israelis, including 32 American citizens.

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.

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.

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.