Remarks

Thank you, Madam Chair, for yielding.

First, I want to recognize Chairman Quigley and Ranking Member Womack for their work on putting this Financial Services bill together.

In many cases, the bill before us reflects priorities of Members on both sides of the aisle, such as support for small businesses, drug control programs, and counterterrorism and financial intelligence efforts.

However, I am concerned that there are several controversial items included in the bill related to immigration policy, union activities, and school choice for low-income students in the District of Columbia.

It is also disappointing that the bill does not include long-standing pro-life provisions regarding the use of D.C. local funds and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.

Thank you, Madam Chair, for yielding.

I want to thank Chairman Ryan and Ranking Member Herrera-Beutler for the work they have done to address critical issues that affect the Congress.

This bill before us today takes steps to make the House of Representatives more effective, efficient, and transparent on behalf of the American people.

This bill recognizes the service and sacrifice of our Capitol Police and supports the department's evolving mission.

This bill also allows the Architect of the Capitol to maintain and better protect the Capitol Complex, as well as promote the health and safety of the people who work and visit here.

Unfortunately, I have concerns that will prevent me from supporting this bill in its current form.

This bill is based on a funding framework that the Majority Party developed without Republican support.

Madam Chair, thank you for yielding.

I want to thank you and Ranking Member Rogers for your work on the State and Foreign Operations bill for fiscal year 2022.

Unfortunately, this bill, like all of the ones we have marked up so far, is based on a topline funding level that only the Majority Party has agreed to.

We must work together to come up with spending levels we can all support.

We also must agree to drop controversial policy provisions. This bill contains some of the most troubling items yet, and I will address those specifically later in my remarks.

First, there are some areas where we agree, and I want to highlight those.

I want to thank the chair for including the full amount for Israel - $3.3 billion. Full funding makes it clear that the members of this committee are steadfast supporters of our great ally and partner.

I want to congratulate the chair on presenting this Interior and Environment bill today, her first as subcommittee chair.

I also want to thank the ranking member, Mr. Joyce, for his continued leadership on this subcommittee.

As a result of the chair and ranking member's efforts together, this bill addresses priorities for Members on both sides of the aisle and does many good things for the conservation of our natural resources.

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

In addition, the bill helps local communities across the country with education, health, and safety needs, particularly in Indian Country.

Even though the bill funds many shared priorities, I have concerns about our path forward.

The bill eliminates several long-standing, common-sense provisions that have had bipartisan support for many years.

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, reaching across the aisle to fund many projects important to our Members.

Unfortunately, just like the bills we discussed yesterday, this bill is based on a funding framework that the Majority party developed without Republican support.

This difference of opinion on funding priorities and on policy positions could slow down our appropriations process this year.

There is nothing more important than funding our nation's military and veterans, and we must try to resolve these disagreements so that important bills like this one can be signed into law.

One area that is particularly concerning in this bill is that it fails to include long-standing language prohibiting the transfer of detainees currently at Guantanamo Bay to the United States.

Chairman Bishop, thank you for presenting the fiscal year 2022 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies appropriations bill.

I also want to recognize the ranking member of the subcommittee, Mr. Fortenberry.

I know both of you have worked together to fund priorities of Members on both sides of the aisle.

While this bill funds many important programs, it is based on a funding framework that does not have bipartisan support.

To put it simply, the increases proposed for non-defense bills like this one are just too high.

At the same time, the funding for our nation's defense is too low to meet the security challenges we face worldwide.

If we want to fund the good things contained in this bill, we must work together to develop spending levels both sides can support. We also need to agree to leave out controversial provisions.

I want to begin by thanking the subcommittee chairman, Mr. Ryan, for presenting the fiscal year 2022 Legislative Branch appropriations bill.

I also want to recognize the ranking member, Ms. Herrera Beutler.

Over the last six months, I have seen the dedication you both have given to solving issues important to all Members of Congress. You have truly worked overtime, and we are grateful for your service on this subcommittee.

This bill before us today takes steps to make the House of Representatives more effective, efficient, and transparent on behalf of the American people.

This bill recognizes the service and sacrifice of our Capitol Police. It increases personnel benefits, grows the workforce of sworn and civilian personnel, and provides critical training and resources to safely carry out the department's evolving mission.

I want to thank Chairman Quigley for presenting the Financial Services and General Government bill, the first appropriations bill we will consider for fiscal year 2022.

I also want to recognize my friend, Mr. Womack, in his first markup as ranking member. I thank him for his years of service on the Budget Committee and now his leadership on this subcommittee.

It takes a lot of hard work to put a bill together, and it is even more challenging when you are the first bill in the line-up, so I want the chair and the ranking member to know how much we all appreciate their sacrifice.

In many cases, the bill before us reflects priorities of Members on both sides of the aisle, such as support for small businesses, drug control programs, and counterterrorism and financial intelligence efforts.