Remarks
Good morning, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield. Welcome to the Subcommittee's first hearing of the 118th Congress on oversight of the United Nations.
While the President's Budget has been delayed, this Subcommittee has important oversight work that must be done to prepare for our next appropriations bill. This includes a review of our engagement at the United Nations where the United States is the largest donor providing over $12 billion annually.
Good morning. Welcome.
Today's hearing is on the quality of life for our enlisted soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians, and their families.
The five witnesses at the table represent the highest enlisted level of leadership for their respective branches.
This is the first time since 2019 that we've had all of the senior enlisted leaders together to testify on quality-of-life issues. They are truly an impressive group.
This hearing is a great opportunity to identify areas where we can do more to help our service members and their families.
The Subcommittee on Defense will come to order.
Today, the Subcommittee will receive testimony on the war in Ukraine.
First, I would like to welcome our two witnesses: Celeste Wallander, who serves as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, and Lieutenant General Douglas Sims II, the Director for Operations at the Joint Chiefs of Staff. We look forward to your testimony.
Good morning and welcome to the first meeting of the Committee on Appropriations for the 118th congress.
The business today is to consider the Committee Rules and Subcommittee Jurisdictions.
Before we do that, I want to start by saying that serving on this committee has been one of the greatest honors of my time in Congress.
I am humbled to serve as your Chair.
We have our work cut out for us this year.
In many ways, the odds are stacked against us.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 2617, an omnibus appropriations package to fund the government through the end of the fiscal year.
First, I have concerns about the size and scope of this package.
It totals almost $2 trillion, and it comes after nearly $3 trillion of spending was pushed through this Congress.
This $3 trillion was enacted completely outside of the normal process and many programs received staggering increases.
This record-high spending has been a key driver of inflation.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 6833, a short-term continuing resolution extending government funding through December 16th.
I oppose this CR for several reasons.
First, we should be here addressing the border crisis, the energy crisis, and the inflation crisis. This bill does nothing to fix any of these issues.
Madam Chair, thank you for yielding.
The revised allocations presented today do not change the spending levels that were adopted on a party-line vote last week. Because there are no substantive changes, I must once again oppose them.
It is unacceptable to Members on my side of the aisle to underfund our national defense while giving significant increases to the same social programs that received trillions of dollars over the last year. I hope we can find common ground as these bills move to the floor.
Madam Chair, thank you for yielding.
First, I want to thank the chair and ranking member for their work on the fiscal year 2023 bill for Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies. I also want to acknowledge the committee staff for their efforts.
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.
