Remarks

Thank you for yielding, Madam Chair.

I am pleased to be here with my colleagues today to consider the fiscal year 2023 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill.

I want to thank Chair DeLauro and Ranking Member Granger for their continued leadership on the committee. I appreciate the work, dedication, and collaboration it has taken to get to this important step in the process.

I also want to recognize my friend and colleague, Chair Pingree. Chair Pingree has been a fair and trusted leader, and I thank her for the work she has done on the many bipartisan priorities in this bill, and to her staff for their tireless efforts as well, as well as our staff.

Thank you, Madam Chair for the time.

The chairman's mark before us provides $64.58 billion for the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, that is a 15 percent increase over the fiscal year 2022. I have serious concerns about this funding level and how the resources were allocated in the bill.

As I told the administration witnesses that came before this subcommittee seeking billions more in spending this year, increases of this magnitude are not realistic and create expectations that cannot be met.

Madam Chair, thank you for yielding.

First, I want to thank Chairwoman Kaptur and Ranking Member Simpson for their work on the fiscal year 2023 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill. I also want to acknowledge the committee staff for their efforts.

This bill addresses priorities of Members on both sides of the aisle and does many good things.

In particular, the bill continues significant funding for the Army Corps of Engineers for navigation and flood control projects. These investments are critical in our local communities to boost the economy and enhance public safety.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am pleased to be here today to consider the Fiscal Year 2023 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill.

I'd like to thank Chairwoman Kaptur for putting together this year's bill in her typical cooperative style. It is clear that she, and the Majority staff, worked hard to address individual Member priorities from both sides of the aisle, and I thank the chair for that consideration.

I'd also like to thank Chair DeLauro and Ranking Member Granger of the full committee for their leadership and support of the important programs in this bill.

Madam Chair, thank you for yielding.

First, I want to thank Chairman Cartwright and Ranking Member Aderholt for their work on the fiscal year 2023 Commerce, Justice, Science, Appropriations bill.

I also want to thank the committee staff for the time and effort they have devoted to this very important bill.

The Commerce-Justice-Science bill supports initiatives that:

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Good afternoon, everyone. Chairwoman DeLauro, Ranking Member Granger, and of course Chairman Cartwright.. I do want to thank the Majority for bringing forth today the Fiscal Year 2023 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. Chairman Cartwright and his staff have put a great deal of effort into this bill. I am very proud to have worked with him. He has been very fair through this process, and he has been a great partner as we have hammered out this bill. I appreciate all of the hard work everyone has done to make this bill successful and make sure the priorities of Members on both sides of the aisle are in this bill and included.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Before I start, I want to pause and thank the subcommittee chair, Ms. Roybal-Allard. Unfortunately, she has decided to retire at the end of this Congress. Lucille has been a tireless advocate for her constituents for more than three decades. I know I speak for all of us when I say that she will be missed. She always handled this extremely difficult Homeland Security Bill in a very fair way. I wish her the best in her next chapter.

Before I get into my formal remarks, I would like to thank the distinguished chair, Ms. Roybal-Allard for her tremendous service to this body. I know her father was a valued Member of this House before she came here.

Madam Chair, you articulated the highlights and the differences of this bill. I think very well for our respected members, but personally thanks to you. There are bona fide differences, very strong differences of opinion, not only in this great committee but in our nation right now.