Remarks

Good afternoon, Chairman Sessions, Ranking Member Slaughter, and members of the Rules Committee. I am pleased to appear before you today on a momentous occasion, the conclusion of our work on the 12 appropriations bills for fiscal year 2014.

We have been working toward completion of the fiscal year 2014 bills for months. We have said over and over that what we needed was a common, overall discretionary budget cap number to allow the House and Senate Appropriations to work together toward the same overall target, instead of two different numbers nearly $100 billion apart.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers today spoke on the House floor in support of H.J. Res. 106, a short-term continuing resolution to keep the government open until January 18. The House approved the extension on a voice vote.

Chairman Rogers's statement follows:

"Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present H.J. Res 106.

"This is a very, very short-term continuing resolution to keep the government open and operating until January 18.

"I rise today in strong support of H.J. Res. 59, the Ryan/Murray budget agreement.

"First, I would like to commend Chairman Ryan on achieving a resolution to our immediate budget challenges. It takes a good deal of courage, persistence, and dedication to reach a bipartisan agreement such as this, and we appreciate your hard work. While everyone might not like everything in it, it is the best product that is achievable right now, and I urge its passage.