Remarks

Thank you, Madam Chair. Before I start, I want to join Mr. Diaz Balart and pause and recognize the subcommittee chair, Mr. Price. I know I speak for all of us when I say we are praying for Chairman Price and his family during this very difficult time.

Chairman Price has also decided to retire after 30 years of serving North Carolina in Congress. Chairman Price has been a dedicated public servant, both as chair of this subcommittee and the Homeland Security Subcommittee. He will certainly be missed, but I wish him all the best, and I know you all do, in his next chapter.

Thank you, Chair DeLauro, so much for presenting the THUD bill to our committee today. I also want to thank Ranking Member Granger for her leadership and her stewardship. Thank you, Vice-Chair Quigley, for standing in today and doing such a good job for our good friend, Chairman Price. And obviously, all of our hearts go out to Chairman Price as he mourns the loss of his wife Lisa. David and Lisa were true partners, and one can just imagine the tremendous loss he is feeling.

Madam Chair, thank you for yielding.

First, I want to thank Chair Pingree and Ranking Member Joyce for their work on the fiscal year 2023 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill.

I also want to acknowledge the committee staff for all of their efforts.

I appreciate that this bill addresses priorities of Members on both sides of the aisle.

It prioritizes funding to maintain our national parks and supports efforts to stop the trafficking of endangered species.

Madam Chair, thank you for yielding.

First, I want to thank Chairwoman Lee and Ranking Member Rogers for their work on the fiscal year 2023 State-Foreign Operations Appropriations bill.

I also want to thank the committee staff. All of them understand the importance of these issues for our country and the entire world.

I previously served as chair of this subcommittee and know this bill funds many programs that have bipartisan support – the most important being the funding for Israel. I am pleased to see that Chairwoman Lee has included 3.3 billion dollars for Israel's security.

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.

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.

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.

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.