Remarks

Today's hearing is on the VA's Electronic Health Record Modernization program. I'd like to welcome our witnesses: Dr. Neil Evans and Dr. Jonathan Nebeker, who are leading the program for VA, and Mr. Mike Sicilia with Oracle Global Industries.

A modern, interoperable electronic health record system that fully integrates VA, Defense Department, and community providers is a fundamental part of fulfilling our promise to provide world-class health care to our country's Veterans.

The Defense Subcommittee has held hearings, classified briefings, and had many engagements with senior defense officials to shape our recommendation for the Fiscal Year 2024 Defense Appropriations bill.

To maintain our strong national defense, this bill provides $826.45 billion for the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community. This is $286 million above the President's request and $27.8 billion above the Fiscal Year 2023 enacted level.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4366, a bill that will provide funding for military construction and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

During the last Congress, three trillion dollars was spent outside of the normal appropriations process. As spending soared, so did inflation.

There was damage done to the economy, and the work of the Appropriations Committee changed significantly over those two years.

That is why earlier this year, I asked Subcommittee Chairs to evaluate all of the funding in the pipeline.

I'm honored to present the FY24 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations bill to the House today.

This bill is special because it supports our troops and their families, and the Nation's veterans.

The bill provides $17.5 billion for military construction and family housing projects. This is less than the FY23 enacted amount. However, it is nearly $800 million above the President's request.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Mr. McGovern, and members of the Committee. I want to thank each of you for the opportunity to testify on the FY24 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill.

This is a good bill because it supports our troops and their families and the Nation's veterans.

We provide almost $800 million above the budget request for military construction and family housing.

We focus this funding to deter China's aggression in the Pacific and on barracks and child development centers.

I am pleased to be here with my colleagues to present the Fiscal Year 2024 Interior bill.

I'd like to thank the Chairwoman for her strong support and leadership of the Committee. I appreciate the commitment and dedication it has taken to get us to this important step in the appropriations process.

First, I want to thank Chairman Cole for his work on the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development bill.

This bill is another example of the real progress we are making to reduce overall spending while funding our highest priorities.

The bill before us today refocuses spending on programs that support affordable housing and safe, effective transportation systems.

Instead of giving the Administration more grant funding to spend, this bill gets us back to funding core missions.

Thank you, Chairwoman Granger.

The bill before the Committee 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.