Remarks
Mr. Speaker, I rise to present H.J.Res. 117, the Continuing Resolution making appropriations for the first half of fiscal year 2013.
This 6-month CR will keep the government's doors open and its wheels turning until March 27, 2013. It's a necessary bill that ensures that the Congress is doing its job – even if this is not our preferred way of going about it. Funding the government in short increments – without addressing the details for each program – is not the right way to govern and not something that should be common practice. It is essential to our nation's financial future that the Congress complete these important Appropriations bills in regular order.
However, the Senate failed to act on any of the 12 Appropriations bills this year, instead choosing to default on their most basic fiscal duty in the name of election-year politics.
Rep. Frank Wolf's (R-VA) prepared statement at a hearing of the Subcommittee on Commerce-Justice-Science regarding the final report of the William H. Webster Commission on the FBI, Counterterrorism Intelligence, and the events at Fort Hood, Texas on November 5, 2009:
Today's hearing is on the Final Report of the William H. Webster Commission on the FBI, Counterterrorism Intelligence, and the Events at Fort Hood, Texas. I would like to welcome the witness, Mark Giuliano, the FBI's Executive Assistant Director for National Security. Thank you for your appearance today.
Today we will discuss the Department of Homeland Security's Chemical Security Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program. To help us better understand the difficulties that this program has experienced, we welcome NPPD Deputy Under Secretary Suzanne Spaulding and Mr. Steven Caldwell from the Government Accountability Office.
Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 5856, the Fiscal Year 2013 Defense Appropriations Bill.
This essential bill provides more than $519 billion dollars in critical resources for a strong national defense, supporting our warfighters and protecting the American people. This is an increase of $1.1 billion over last year and more than $3 billion more than the President's request. This is also more than $8 billion over what the Senate Democrats would like to provide.
This nation – with all the opportunities it provides and the rights it grants – would not be the bastion of freedom it is without the greatest defense system in the world. Freedom isn't free. As we continue to face threats to our safety and way of life, we must deal with the costs of war, keep our military at the ready, and stay constantly vigilant.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman for yielding. We have before us the bill to fund the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and related agencies for Fiscal Year 2013. The members of the Subcommittee and staff have worked diligently to put forward a good bill that balances the realities of our dire fiscal situation with the need to protect our most vulnerable citizens in the face of these continued economic woes.
Overall, this bill right-sizes these departments and agencies, providing roughly $150 billion in funding, which is $6.3 billion below last year and some $8.8 billion below the President's request. Through Chairman Rehberg's keen eye, the Subcommittee has endeavored to fund proven and effective programs covering everything from workplace safety, to rural health care, to early childhood education. A lot of thoughtful work has gone into the discretionary accounts in this bill.
Good morning, welcome to the Labor, HHS, Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee for consideration of legislation making appropriations for fiscal year 2013.
This legislation appropriates $150 billion in discretionary funds, which is a little more than $6 billion less, or 4% below, fiscal year 2012 levels.
The American people are well aware that runaway government spending is slowing economic recovery and costing jobs. For the first time in U.S. history, our credit rating has been downgraded. If we do not act now, we, our children, and grandchildren will pay a heavy price for our lack of discipline.
Real leaders make difficult choices. The Senate, which has not passed a budget in three years, has shown no leadership. This legislation represents a clear step toward returning to fiscal responsibility, while still ensuring that funding for critical and high-priority programs are maintained.
Welcome to the full Committee markup of the fiscal year 2013 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. I want to personally thank Mr. Moran and each of the Members of the subcommittee for their active participation and the bipartisan spirit that continues to be a hallmark of our subcommittee's work.
Before I get into the details of the bill, I'd like to take a moment to recognize a couple of people. For Mr. Dicks, today's full Committee markup is his last markup of a bill that he loves so much. He has served on this Subcommittee for nearly 36 years and served as its Chairman for three years. Norm—and I say this sincerely—this subcommittee just won't be the same without you and we will miss you.
The fiscal year 2013 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill does a good job providing adequate funding for important programs, while reducing funding for departments and agencies that have been known for rampant, wasteful and over-inflated spending, bringing their budgets down to more sustainable, reasonable levels.
The $28 billion provided in this bill addresses threats to our natural resources and wildlife, bolsters public safety, and nurtures economic growth and domestic energy production. Bipartisan priorities, such as programs dedicated to improving the lives of Native American populations, and forest fire fighting and prevention efforts, have been increased.
Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 5972, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2013.
This is the sixth bill we've considered on the House floor, which means the House is nearly halfway done with its Appropriations bills for fiscal year 2013. The Appropriations Committee has considered 11 of the 12 annual bills so far this year, in record time. I'm proud of our quick and thorough progress, and also that we've been able to work in regular order – which has been a goal of this Committee from the get-go last January.
Thank you all for being here today. After many long hours of debate yesterday, I appreciate your timeliness and readiness coming into today's meeting.
Today, we are marking up our tenth bill of the fiscal year 2013 season, the Financial Services and General Government bill. This bill is the latest in our series of bills that work to help balance our budgets and reduce federal discretionary spending to responsible, sustainable levels. Already, since January 2011, the Appropriations Committee has led the way to cut discretionary spending by more than $95 billion, and we've continued this trend in the bills we've considered so far this year.
