Remarks

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 3237 – a bill to provide funding for Capitol security and other purposes.

Unfortunately, after several weeks of discussions, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have chosen the path of partisanship instead of working together, and I want to explain how we ended up in this situation.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Admiral Faller, it's good to see you again.

SOUTHCOM is an extremely important area of operations that frequently does not get the priority it deserves because of conflicts in other areas of the world. It has been, and will continue to be, a priority of mine.

The crisis on our southern border is just the most recent reminder of how critically important the region is to the security of our own country.

I have seen for myself on many visits to the border and to the region that this is not a new problem we are trying to solve.

Thank you, Chairman Price, for holding this hearing today.

I want to welcome the secretary for his first hearing with our Committee.

Mr. Secretary, I know you come to Washington with the perspective of a former mayor. You have said that there are no Democratic or Republican potholes. And, as a former mayor myself, I completely agree with you on that point.

You reached out to me early on, and I look forward to continuing our conversation as we work together to address our nation's transportation infrastructure needs.