Remarks

House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers gave the following statement today at the Subcommittee's mark up of the Fiscal Year 2012 Homeland Security Appropriations Act:

"Thank you, Chairman Aderholt and Ranking Member Price. As we meet today to address the funding of the Department of Homeland Security, our nation faces more than one threat to its national security – a critical and historic deficit crisis, as well as continual terrorist threats.

"In all areas of government, we must make the most of our limited resources. When it comes to our national security, we must maintain crucial measures to keep our citizens safe while also protecting them from the real dangers of uncontrolled deficits and debt. This means prioritizing our most important and effective programs – and in many cases, making difficult choices and cuts to rein in our federal spending.

House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security Chairman Robert Aderholt gave the following statement today on the Subcommittee's mark up of the Fiscal Year 2012 Homeland Security Appropriations Act:

"It is my honor to present to the Subcommittee the fiscal year 2012 appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security. This bill before us today, perhaps more than any other bill, exemplifies the difficult choices that need to be made in order to address our Nation's fiscal crisis.

"This bill demonstrates how we can fully fund vital security programs while also reducing spending overall. Furthermore, this bill does not represent a false choice between fiscal responsibility and security – both are national security priorities, and both are vigorously addressed in this bill.