Remarks

Thank you, Chair McCollum. I would first like to commend you for your diligent and detailed work in crafting the bill before us today. I would also like to recognize and thank all the members of the subcommittee for their hard work and commitment to our national security.

Madam Chair, thank you for yielding.

As we sit here today, inflation is 8.6 percent above last year, the highest it's been in more than 40 years. Economists are saying American households should budget an extra $5,000 this year to cover rising prices – that's over $400 a month. Many families simply cannot afford this.

Prices of everyday goods have skyrocketed over the last year under the Biden Administration. For example:

Thank you, Madam Chair, for yielding.

Before I start, I want to recognize the subcommittee chair, Mr. Ryan. This is the last Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill he will bring before this committee, and I want to thank him for his dedication to improving the Congress during his time as chair.

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.

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.

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:

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:

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.