Remarks

"Welcome everyone to today's Full Committee mark up of the fiscal year 2012 Financial Services and General Government bill.

"The bill before us today matches the Subcommittee's discretionary allocation of $19.9 billion. This allocation is nine percent less than fiscal year 2011, 18 percent less than fiscal year 2010, and 22.5 percent less than the President's request. This reduction resulted in some very tough decisions, but they are necessary to reduce the Federal government's unsustainable level of spending.

"The funding priorities in the bill include the Small Business Administration's business and disaster loan programs, drug task forces, public safety and education in the District of Columbia, and Treasury's antiterrorism and financial intelligence activities.

"Thank you, Chairwoman Emerson and Ranking Member Serrano, for your remarks. We appreciate your hard work and bipartisan spirit on this Subcommittee.

"Today, we are considering the Fiscal Year 2012 Appropriations bill that funds our Financial Services and General Government programs and agencies. The $19.9 billion in funding included is nearly $2 billion less than last year, and nearly $6 billion below the President's request. It's safe to say that the Subcommittee and its staff have ensured that we have found real, responsible savings wherever possible in this bill.

"Many of the agencies and programs funded within this legislation can withstand reductions, and so we've returned funding levels to below the pre-stimulus, pre-bailout levels of 2008 – making the necessary steps to reduce spending to help get our budgets back into balance.

"Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2112, the Fiscal Year 2012 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill.

"This bill answers the call from Americans to reduce government spending while still providing for critical programs that keep American agriculture competitive in a global economy. The $125.5 billion in both discretionary and mandatory funding in this bill will help our rural communities to thrive, provide daily nutrition to children and families across the country, and keep our food and drug supply safe.

"However, we can't spend at the rate we used to. We've hit the debt ceiling, we're borrowing more than 42 cents on every dollar we spend – we're mortgaging our children's futures. We must rein in our spending - even if it may not be the most popular thing to do.

"I'd like to thank the Chairman, Mr. Frelinghuysen, and the Ranking Member, Mr. Visclosky, for their remarks and for their hard work on the FY 2012 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill.

"This legislation represents your commitment, Mr. Chairman, and that of the Republican majority, to restoring restraint and responsibility to the appropriations process in a time when we cannot spend as we used to. The Committee has taken a hard look at each and every line in this bill to make sure that we are prioritizing taxpayer dollars in programs that have the most benefit to the American people, while cutting back funding for programs that we simply cannot afford or that are not performing up to snuff.

"The fiscal year 2012 Department of Defense base budget recommendation before us today is $530 billion, which is $8.9 billion below the request. The overseas contingency operations recommendation is $118.7 billion, which is $842 million above the request. This increase is mostly attributable to the transfer of the Pakistan Counterinsurgency Fund from the State/Foreign Operations Subcommittee to the Defense Subcommittee.

"To reach the reduced base allocation of $530 billion, the Subcommittee reviewed in detail the budget request, and found areas and programs where reductions are possible without adversely impacting the warfighter or readiness.

"I would like to start by thanking Chairman Young and Ranking Member Dicks for your remarks and for your commitment to crafting a bipartisan Defense bill that supports our troops and addresses our critical national security needs.

"The $530 billion in non-emergency funding contained within this Defense bill will provide our armed forces with the resources they need, and will allow for the advancement of our nation's missions abroad and the protection of our people here at home.

"As our soldiers and Marines continue to put their lives on the line to eliminate terrorism and protect freedom around the globe, Congress must support and fund their actions in a timely and reasonable manner. This bill sustains our military readiness, facilitating the continued modernization and preservation of the greatest armed forces in the world.

"I would like to thank Mr. Pastor and all members for their participation in putting this bill together and in many oversight hearings.

"The Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill supports programs critical to our nation's security, safety, and economic competitiveness. This year, we make tough choices to balance these critical needs against the equally-pressing mandate of getting our nation's fiscal house in order.

The bill for fiscal year 2012 provides $30.639 billion, $1.043 billion below fiscal year 2011 and $5.9 billion below the President's request — bringing the total down to approximately the fiscal year 2005 level.

"The highest priorities are protected by supporting the Department of Energy's national defense programs, and by preserving activities that directly support American competitiveness, such as water infrastructure and basic science research.