Remarks

I think Chairman Kingston and his Subcommittee did a great job with their $19.4 billion 302(b) allocation in this Agriculture Appropriations bill. They cut spending wherever possible – saving $365 million from last year and more than $1.7 billion from what the President would have liked to spend.

However, while this bill brings down discretionary spending – what we control as appropriators – mandatory spending continues on autopilot. While it's important to help those in greatest need – children who rely on nutrition programs for their health, and the millions of Americans who depend on SNAP for example – there has to be a realization that this rapid spending can't continue when our debts are so high. Something must be done across all areas of mandatory government spending before we automatically spend ourselves into catastrophe.

Ladies and gentlemen of the House, we bring before the House today the 2013 appropriations bill for the Legislative Subcommittee. This is a bill that spends $3.3 billion, which is approximately 1 percent less than last year. That's a $33.4 million reduction from last year.

I think all of us know that we are living in difficult economic times in this country. Taxpayers want to know that when they send their money to Washington it's being spent wisely. We also know that government needs money to provide services, but right now government needs something more. The government needs a sense of discipline to rein in spending. The government needs a commitment to make sure that every task of government is accomplished and completed in a most efficient and most effective manner, more so than ever before.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 5882, the fiscal year 2013 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill.

This legislation on the floor today provides funding for the Legislative Branch, allowing us to keep the doors of the Capitol open, the offices of our Members functioning, and our staff and visitors safe.

This is the fifth appropriations bill we've brought to the floor so far this year, and considering that it's June eighth, that's a remarkable achievement. But what's even a greater achievement is how much we've been able to tighten our belts in the House. Over the last two years, we've cut funding for the House by 10.5%. As Members of Congress, we represent hundreds of thousands of Americans who've found themselves with less, and so, with our limited federal resources and astronomical deficits in mind, we too should spend less wherever possible

Madam Chair, it was 68 years ago today that more than 9,000 Allied soldiers were killed and 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 not free. It is with this solemn commitment to both freedom and security that I respectfully present to the people's House the FY 2013 appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security.

Similar to our committee's work over the past 2 fiscal years, this bill demonstrates how we can sufficiently fund vital security programs while also at the same time reducing discretionary spending overall. This bill does not represent a false choice between fiscal responsibility and our Nation's security. Both are national security priorities and both are vigorously addressed in this bill by focusing upon four key priorities:

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for yielding.

Today we consider the Fiscal Year 2013 appropriations bill for the Departments of Transportation and Housing & Urban Development. I would like to begin by thanking Chairman Latham, Ranking Member Olver, as well as staff on both sides, for the important work they've done to bring this job-creating legislation before the subcommittee today. I also want to give special thanks to Mr. Olver, as this will be his last subcommittee markup on this bill. I thank you for all you have done for this committee over the years.

As May's job report indicates, our economic woes continue. Unemployment continues to hover over 8%, and the message is clear – the overspending, overtaxing, and over-regulating must stop if we're to grow our economy and put our nation back to work.

Today we are meeting to consider the fiscal year 2013 transportation and housing and urban development bill.

Before we get to the bill, I want to congratulate my colleague and the ranking member of this subcommittee, John Olver, for his years of service. As many of you know, Mr. Olver is retiring at the end of this Congress, and I have to say, this Subcommittee and the institution will be a lesser place without him. His attention to detail, his quest for knowledge about the programs and stakeholders of this bill, and his kindness and compassion are to be admired. Plus, his inability to complete a question in a five minute hearing round has made us all the wiser about the programs in question. It is a pleasure working with you, and thank you.

We have before us today the Chairman's mark for the fiscal year 2013 appropriations bill and report for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies.

Our discretionary 302(b) allocation in budget authority is $19.405 billion, a decrease of $365 million 1.85 percent below the fiscal year 2012 funding level, and a decrease of $1.7 billion below the President's request. Within this total, is a security allocation of $1.33 billion for international food assistance programs. Mandatory spending in the bill totals $121.3 billion, an increase of $4.4 billion above the fiscal year 2012 level, and a decrease of $2 billion below the request.

Welcome to the mark up of the fiscal year 2013 Financial Services and General Government bill. As you know, this Subcommittee has jurisdiction over a diverse group of agencies and activities including financial regulators, tax collections, the White House, the Federal courts, DC, GSA and the Small Business Administration.

The bill we are considering today provides $21.15 billion which is $376 million or 1.7% less than fiscal year 2012 and $2 billion below the request. Compared to fiscal year 2010, the allocation is a reduction of 12.6% or $3 billion. The bill includes sufficient funds for agencies to complete their work while forcing them to continue to find ways to become more efficient.

The funding priorities in the bill include the drug task forces, public safety and education in the District of Columbia, and Treasury's antiterrorism and financial intelligence activities.