Remarks

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.

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.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I want to begin, Madam Chair, by reciprocating your very gracious personal remarks. It has been a pleasure to work with you and your staff and your team and frankly our colleagues on both sides of the aisle over these many years together. I'm proud of what we've been able to do in partnership and look forward to us being able to work together as we go through this process.

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.

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.

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.

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.