Remarks
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present H.J.Res 59, the Continuing Resolution that will keep the government operating into the next fiscal year.
The base CR is straight-forward – it is clean, it is short-term, and it continues reductions in federal discretionary spending. Most importantly, it will prevent a government shutdown.
The legislation also includes an amendment to the base bill, which adds the text of H.R. 2682, the Defund Obamacare Act of 2013, and the text of H.R. 807, the Full Faith and Credit Act.
Good afternoon, Chairman Sessions, Ranking Member Slaughter, and members of the Rules Committee. I am here before you today to present H.J.Res. 59, the Continuing Resolution that will keep the government operating following September 30, 2013, the end of the current fiscal year.
I'm here before you today to seek an appropriate rule to provide for the timely consideration of this legislation. Time is running out, and the House must take up – and pass – this bill as soon as possible.
Mr. Chairman, today I present H.R. 2610, a bill providing fiscal year 2014 appropriations for the Department of Transportation, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies.
Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 2397, the Fiscal Year 2014 Department of Defense Appropriations Bill.
This bill provides more than $512 billion in base funding for our national security and military efforts, and $85.8 billion in "Overseas Contingency Operations" war funding. This is a base funding decrease of $5.1 billion below the fiscal year 2013 enacted level, but is approximately $28.1 billion above the current level caused by automatic sequestration spending cuts.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield myself 5 minutes to discuss the fiscal year 2014 Defense Appropriations bill.
The bill includes base funding of $512.5 billion for the Department of Defense, which is $3.4 billion below the CBO estimate of the President's request, and approximately $28.1 billion above the estimated fiscal year 2013 sequestration level. For Overseas Contingency Operations, the bill includes $85.8 billion, which is $1.5 billion below last year's level.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield myself three minutes.
It's my honor to bring the Fiscal Year 2014 Energy and Water bill before the membership of the House.
However, before I go through its highlights, I'd like to thank my ranking member, Congresswoman Kaptur, and all members for their participation in putting this bill together so quickly, and so responsibly.
I'd also like to recognize the hard work of Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Lowey to bring this bill, and the several others before it, to the floor under an open rule.
Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 2217, the Fiscal Year 2014 Homeland Security Appropriations.
I'd like to thank my colleagues for their careful consideration of the MilCon Appropriations bill yesterday, and I'd like to ask them to continue these efforts on this bill today – a conscientious piece of legislation that I believe can and should pass this House on a bipartisan basis.
The bill before you today provides $38.9 billion for the Department of Homeland Security.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
Mr. Chairman, it was 69 years ago this Thursday that more than 9,000 Allied soldiers were killed or wounded during the D-Day invasion in Normandy, France. That courageous operation, as well as the sacrifice of so many brave individuals, serves as a sobering reminder that freedom and security are in fact not free.
Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 2216, the Fiscal Year 2014 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill.
This is the first of 12 Appropriations bills I hope to bring to the floor under regular order. Although we received the President's budget nearly 2 months late, I have every intention of drafting and considering all 12 appropriations measures in a timely fashion and in the traditional open process that allows all members to have their say in how taxpayer dollars should be spent.
