Remarks
Thank you, Chairman Aderholt and Ranking Member Price. As we meet today to address the funding of the Department of Homeland Security, I wish to extend my congratulations to both of you and the subcommittee staffs on both sides who have put in long hours to craft this important piece of legislation.
This week, we mark the one-year anniversary of Seal Team Six's surgical removal of America's number one terrorist target, Osama bin Laden. While this is certainly cause for salutation, we cannot rest on our laurels. When we also learned that the CIA this week foiled a plot by al-Qaida's affiliate in Yemen to bomb a U.S.-bound airliner, we were reminded that our country, our freedom and our way of life remain under constant siege - and our job is not done.
I thank the Chairwoman for yielding, and I congratulate her and Ranking Member Lowey on producing a fiscal year 2013 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations bill. The Chairwoman, Ranking Member, and staff on both sides have worked tirelessly to bring this important legislation before the subcommittee today.
Unquestionably, the fiscal situation confronting our nation is of the utmost importance to our national and economic security. The unsustainable trajectory of federal spending in recent years has left us in a precarious situation. With our debt-to GDP ratio at a startling 100%, it is becoming even more abundantly clear that we cannot spend our way out of continuing economic woes.
Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of HR 5326, the Fiscal Year 2013 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations bill.
The bill before you today – the first for FY13 – marks one of the earliest starts to the Appropriations process in recent memory – which is a good sign for moving these 12 bills before our September 30 deadline. I look forward to an open and transparent process as we consider each of the bills, staying faithful to our commitment to smart, reduced levels of spending to help do our part in controlling the federal deficit.
I would like to thank Chairman Young and Mr. Dicks for their remarks as well as their continued leadership involving important issues facing the Department of Defense. Mr. Dicks, we will greatly miss your leadership and expertise in this subcommittee as you leave us for greener pastures next year. In addition, I would like to commend the committee staff on their hard work and tireless efforts. I am pleased that this bill is a result of a bipartisan effort.
I thank Chairman Culberson for yielding, and I congratulate him and Ranking Member Bishop on producing a bipartisan fiscal year 2013 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. The Chairmen, Ranking Member, and staff have worked tirelessly to bring this important legislation before the subcommittee today.
Today, the Subcommittee will mark up the fiscal year 2013 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies appropriations bill.
The fiscal situation facing the Nation requires significant and difficult spending reductions. The need for reductions was reflected in the Budget Resolution that passed the House, and in the allocation we have been given pending adoption by the Full Committee.
There are a number of areas in this bill that, under different circumstances, many would prefer to fund at different levels. However, the bill in front of the Subcommittee today is a strong bill with strategic investments in national security, job creation and science.
I thank the Chairman for yielding, and I congratulate him on completing the FY13 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriation Bill. Mr. Wolf, Mr. Fattah and staff on both sides have worked tirelessly to bring this important legislation before the subcommittee today.
Unquestionably the fiscal situation confronting our nation is of the utmost importance to our national and economic security. The alarming trajectory of federal spending in the last three years is simply unsustainable if we are to grow our economy and create jobs. And perhaps nowhere in the Congress have we made more meaningful progress in reversing these startling trends than here in the Appropriations Committee. This bill is no exception, representing our commitment to restoring austerity, restraint and thoughtfulness to the appropriations process.
I'd like to call the subcommittee to order.
Before we get started, I would like to thank Mr. Visclosky and all members for their participation in putting this bill together and their participation in many oversight hearings.
The bill for fiscal year 2013 totals $32.1 billion, $965 million below the request and $88 million above 2012.
This last figure – the above 2012 part – is a little misleading. There were many rescissions that we took in 2012 that we can't take this year. Setting those aside, the bill is actually $623 million below last year.
Not surprisingly, we had to make some hard choices to reach that level, and I appreciate everyone's help to get there. The recommendation continues to prioritize investments in our nuclear security enterprise, programs to address gasoline prices, and opportunities to advance American competitiveness, including the Corps of Engineers.
