Remarks
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Before us today is the Subcommittee recommendation for the fiscal year 2013 Department of Defense budget. This recommendation includes base funding of $519.2 billion, which is $3.1 billion above the CBO estimate of the President's request, and overseas contingency operations funding of $88.5 billion, the same as the request.
This allocation provided the Subcommittee with the resources to address shortfalls contained in the budget request. We examined these shortfalls very closely during the Subcommittee's multiple hearings and briefings the past few months – especially the risks associated with Navy shipbuilding and Air Force force structure decisions. Let me take just a moment on each of these.
I thank the Chairman for yielding.
I want to begin by thanking Ranking Member Lowey for her continued dedication to the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee. Mrs. Lowey and I have a unique relationship. While we do not agree on everything, we do have a strong working relationship and I respect her very much.
I want to thank all the Members of our Subcommittee – from both sides of the aisle – for their participation and thoughtful contributions to this bill.
The bill before us saves taxpayer dollars by spending 9 percent less than last year. We do this by terminating ten programs, rescinding funds, and not providing new appropriations if funds are still in the pipeline.
At the same time this bill supports critical activities related to our national security, such as assistance for Israel and Mexico.
Thank you, Chairman Young and Mr. Dicks, for your remarks and your laudable leadership on this Committee. You both, as well as our dedicated staffs, have helped craft an excellent bill that provides the necessary resources to keep our country safe and that will advance our important missions around the globe.
I'd like to take this time to express my gratitude to Mr. Dicks for being an excellent partner and leader over the years. His involvement and expertise has been a tremendous asset to the Committee, and we look forward to working with him for as long as he graces us with his presence. The same goes for Jerry Lewis, who has been both a member and a chairman of this subcommittee for many years. It won't be the same without them.
Thank you both for your remarks, and I congratulate you on producing a solid Appropriations bill and for bringing this bill to the Full Committee. It's a sign of the important progress we have made in making the appropriations process more open, transparent and thorough.
Another achievement of this Committee has been our unprecedented success in reining in federal spending. For two fiscal years in a row, we cut discretionary spending below the previous year – more than $95 billion – without decimating the programs and services our citizens rely on, and we are on track to continue that trend this year.
Thank you, Ranking Member Bishop and Chairman Culberson, for your comments and for your hard work in crafting this bill.
One of our many tasks on this Committee is to ensure the health and well-being of those who proudly serve and have served in our nation's great military, and though I do not always see eye-to-eye with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, this task is one we can all support without hesitation.
Our troops, veterans and military families deserve to have the programs and services they have earned as a result of their service and sacrifice. The FY 2013 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill is funded at the same level as last year - $71.7 billion in discretionary funding. This bill provides for the most urgent needs of our nation's veterans and active military members, and supports Department of Defense construction here and abroad.
Thank you, Chairman Aderholt and Ranking Member Price, for your remarks and your skillful work on this bill. As a founding member of this subcommittee, I'm fully aware of the intricacies and time needed to craft such an important piece of legislation, and thanks to you and your staffs, we have a comprehensive, well-written bill before us today.
Since the Department was established nearly ten years ago, we've seen some real progress. Not only have we marked the one-year anniversary of Seal Team Six's successful mission eliminating our number-one terrorist target Osama Bin Laden, but we continue to make visible strides protecting air passengers, securing our borders, and thwarting terrorist threats.
But we are constantly reminded the war on terror is far from over. We must remain vigilant and ahead of the game.
It is my honor to present to the Committee the fiscal year 2013 appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security.
Similar to our work over the past two fiscal years, this bill demonstrates how we can sufficiently fund vital security programs while also reducing discretionary spending overall.
It is my honor to present to the Subcommittee the fiscal year 2013 appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security.
Similar to the Subcommittee's work over the past two fiscal years, the bill before us today demonstrates how we can sufficiently fund vital security programs while also reducing discretionary spending overall.
Good morning and welcome to the Subcommittee markup of the fiscal year 2013 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill.
I want to begin by thanking Ranking Member Lowey for her continued dedication to this Subcommittee. Mrs. Lowey and I have a unique relationship. While we do not agree on everything, we do have a strong working relationship and we are both invested in the important work of this Subcommittee. It is a pleasure to work with her and I respect her very much.
I want to thank all the Members of our Subcommittee – from both sides of the aisle - for their participation and thoughtful contributions to this bill. Members have been passionately engaged in the important work of the Subcommittee.
I am pleased to begin the consideration of H.R. 5326, making appropriations for fiscal year 2013 for Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies. The bill provides funding for programs whose impacts range from the safety of people in their homes and communities to the farthest reaches of space.
The bill before the House today reflects a delicate balancing of needs and requirements. We have drafted what I consider to be a responsible bill for FY 2013 spending levels for the departments and agencies under the subcommittee's jurisdiction. We've had to carefully prioritize the funding in this bill and have had to make hard choices about how to spend scarce revenue.
