Remarks

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I appreciate Chairman Ryan working with you on the Legislative Branch Bill, it's really been a pleasure. Chair and Ranking Member Granger, I appreciate the chance to get to work with you all on this tiny, but mighty subcommittee.

The recommendation for the fiscal year 2023 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill provides $5.7 billion, excluding funding for Senate programs.

Thank you, Madam Chair, for yielding, and for your work on the fiscal year 2023 State-Foreign Operations appropriations bill. I also want to recognize the work of the former chairman of the committee and the current ranking member of the subcommittee, Mr. Rogers.

I previously served as chair of this subcommittee and know that 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 for Israel's security.

Even though we can agree on some spending priorities in the bill, the 15 percent funding increase overall is far too high and is based on a funding level that passed the House without support from Republicans. At a time of record-high national debt and soaring inflation, we should try to reduce spending where we can.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for yielding and for your work on the fiscal year 2023 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. I also want to recognize and thank my friend, the ranking member of the subcommittee, Mr. Aderholt. I know both of you have worked together to address priorities of Members on both sides of the aisle.

The Commerce-Justice-Science bill supports initiatives that:

• Strengthen the ability of the United States to be competitive around the world;
• Invest in cutting-edge research and technology; and
• Protect children and our communities.

It also contains vital funding for NASA, which is critical to maintain our path toward renewed dominance in space. Unfortunately, while this bill funds many important programs, it is based on a funding level that passed the House without Republican support.

Thank you, Madam Chairwoman.

Thank you and Ranking Member Fleischmann for your work on the Homeland Security Bill before us today.

Unfortunately, I see areas where the funding and policies included in this bill are political and polarizing.

We all know this is a must-pass bill, and these issues will have to be addressed as we move forward, because they are very serious issues that need our consideration.

I will start with the funding. While this bill adds more than $2.7 billion above last year, it does nothing to seriously address the ongoing crisis at our southern border.

This bill fails to include new funds for the border wall. We know that walls work, and they have shown to effective in stopping illegal immigration.

Instead, this bill lays the groundwork for more illegal immigration.

The policies proposed only enhance the ability of drug cartels to smuggle drugs into our country.

I want to thank Chairman Quigley for presenting the fiscal year 2023 Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill. I also want to recognize the work of the ranking member of the subcommittee, Mr. Womack.

As a result of the chairman and ranking member's efforts, the bill before us includes many priorities of Members on both sides of the aisle, including:

Chairman Bishop, thank you for presenting the fiscal year 2023 bill that funds Agriculture, Rural Development, and the Food and Drug Administration.

I also want to recognize the hard work of the acting ranking member of the subcommittee, Dr. Harris.

I appreciate both of you working to fund priorities of Members on both sides of the aisle.

While this bill funds many important programs, it is based on a funding level that passed the House without Republican support.

In addition to concerns about spending, I have a few examples of what must be carefully reviewed as this particular bill moves through the process.

Madam Chair, thank you for presenting the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill today. I appreciate the work that you and Ranking Member Carter have done this year to fund many projects important to our Members.

Unfortunately, just like the other bills we marked up earlier today, this bill is based on a funding level that passed the House without Republican support. In addition, we disagree with policy provisions that were dropped from, and added to, this particular bill.

This bill fails to include long-standing language prohibiting the transfer of detainees currently at Guantanamo Bay. These detainees are the worst of the worst, and we need assurance that they will never be moved to the United States.

Thank you, Chairman Ryan, for presenting the fiscal year 2023 Legislative Branch appropriations bill. I also want to recognize Ranking Member Herrera Beutler for her work on this subcommittee. Both of you are dedicated to addressing priorities of all Members of Congress, and I will start with some of the items you have worked on together.

The bill before us will enable more collaboration between Members and staff, specifically through funding to develop new electronic systems to draft legislation. Across the Capitol campus, buildings and infrastructure are in desperate need of attention. This bill allows the Architect of the Capitol to perform delayed maintenance, as well as implement safety enhancements.