Remarks

It is my pleasure to present the FY26 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill and report for your consideration today. I appreciate the opportunity to work once again with Ranking Member Espaillat and the minority staff throughout the FY26 process. I’d also like to thank Chairman Cole and Ranking Member DeLauro for their continued leadership. 

We received a record number of requests from our colleagues and the Members present today, and we had the pleasure of accommodating items from both sides of the aisle in a bipartisan manner.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume and I thank my good friend Judge Carter for yielding me time.

I rise today in support of this important piece of legislation.

Prioritizing veterans and troops says everything about our values—and that’s exactly what this first FY26 bill does.

The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act is a testament to caring for those who’ve selflessly worn America’s uniform, their families, and the defenders who follow their path of service. 

I am honored to present the FY26 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill to the House today. This bill supports our troops, their families and the nation’s veterans. 

The bill includes nearly $18 billion for military construction efforts. It is critical that our servicemembers and their families have the infrastructure and support they need. This bill delivers to construct and improve military housing, child care centers, and other quality of life components that are so important to those that risk so much. 

With our agriculture priorities advanced, we now turn to our Homeland Security bill to ensure a comprehensive approach to protecting Americans. To start, I want to thank Chairman Amodei and Ranking Member Underwood for their attention and work. Everyone in this room understands that the safety of our citizens is paramount. 

The bill before us today provides $66.3 billion, an increase of $1.3 billion above fiscal year 2025, and $26.5 billion for major disaster response and recovery activities. 

What a difference a year makes. When we were marking up our fiscal year 2025 bill, the border was in disarray. We were spending billions of dollars on sole-source contracts for soft-sided tents to process and manage a Biden policy-driven crisis. 

Thank you, Chairman Valadao, and thank you to Ranking Member Espaillat, Ranking Member DeLauro, and to all the members of the subcommittee for being with us today.

I’d like to begin by associating myself with all of Chairman Valadao’s opening statements. 

Violence has no place in our nation – not in our politics, not in our communities, and not in our values.

The targeted attacks in Minnesota were heartbreaking and deeply disturbing. We stand with the victims, their families, and all those affected as they face this difficult time.

I am pleased to introduce the Fiscal Year 2026 Legislative Branch Appropriation bill for the subcommittee’s consideration.

I’d like to begin by thanking our subcommittee Members in attendance for their input and support throughout the hearing season and during the formulation of the bill we present for consideration this evening. I’d like to specifically thank Ranking Member Espaillat for his contributions and valuable insights.

I’d like to welcome our witness, the Honorable Pam Bondi, Attorney General of the United States, to testify on the Department of Justice’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget. To begin, I want to thank the Attorney General for speaking at the Rx and Illicit Drug Summit this past April.