Remarks

Chairman Joyce, thank you for presenting the Homeland Security bill for Fiscal Year 2024. I appreciate the great work that you have done in your first year chairing this Subcommittee.

I also want to thank Ranking Member Cuellar for what we have done together on issues that affect our security. I am glad you are in this role on the Subcommittee.

A few weeks ago, several of us traveled to the southwest border. I have visited the border many times, and it has never been this bad.

Welcome to the subcommittee markup of the Fiscal Year 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations bill.

I would like to welcome Full Committee Chairwoman Granger and Ranking Member DeLauro, our Subcommittee Ranking Member Cuellar, and all the Members of the Subcommittee.

Let me begin by thanking the Members of the Subcommittee for their participation and insightful questions during our budget hearings over the last few months. As we put together the bill and report in front of you, we made a concerted effort to address as many Member priorities as possible.

Thank you, Chairman Amodei, for presenting the Fiscal Year 2024 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill. I appreciate the work you have done on this bill.

The bill funds the many important functions of the Legislative Branch, including:

Welcome to the Subcommittee markup of the Fiscal Year 2024 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill. Welcome Ranking Member DeLauro and Ranking Member Espaillat.

Colleagues, as we go into our last Subcommittee meeting, I want to say thank you for your hard work and collegial attitude and particularly the cooperation and patience of our Ranking Member, Mr. Espaillat.

Thank you, Chairman Carter, for presenting the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill, the first appropriations bill we will consider for Fiscal Year 2024.

I appreciate the work that you have done on this bill.

With our markups this week, we will demonstrate how we are able to reduce overall spending without impacting our commitment to veterans, national defense, or homeland security.

This bill before us fully and responsibly funds veterans' health care.

It will ensure our veterans get the medical treatment they deserve.

I am proud to present the Fiscal Year 2024 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill to you today.

The bill fully funds veterans' health care and matches the President's Budget Request for veterans' benefits, other veterans' programs, and the VA's activities and functions.

We kept our promise! And we did it responsibly!

The Subcommittee will come to order. I'd like to remind everyone that we will follow the five-minute rule for opening remarks, questions, and comments. Members will be recognized in order of seniority based on who is seated at the beginning of the hearing rotating between the parties. Members that arrive after the gavel will be recognized in the order of arrival.

I would like to welcome everybody to the Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government.

Good afternoon.

The subcommittee will come to order. Without objection, the Chair is authorized to declare a recess at any time.

We welcome everyone to this morning's hearing, and I will begin by recognizing myself for an opening statement.