Remarks
"It's been a pleasure to work with my Ranking Member, Mr. Bishop, in this inaugural year of my Chairmanship. He has been by my side through every hearing we have had this year, providing thoughtful insights. His prior experience with the agencies has been most helpful.
"The bill before you was posted yesterday morning, and you and your staffs have had an opportunity to review it. In addition, the Subcommittee staff briefed all of your staff yesterday.
"This bill addresses the most urgent needs of our active duty servicemen and women, and our Nation's veterans, while also recognizing the need to constrain federal spending as the country wrestles with large deficits. The total discretionary fiscal year 2012 funding is $72.535 billion, a decrease of $1.252 billion from the budget request, and $615 million below the fiscal year 2011 appropriation.
"As President Eisenhower famously said, our country is entitled to both safety AND solvency. ‘We need an adequate defense, but every arms dollar we spend above adequacy has a long-term weakening effect upon the nation and its security,' he said. In that vein, this bill maintains the crucial measures that keep our citizens safe while also protecting them from the very real dangers of uncontrolled debt.
"I want to welcome everyone to the first meeting of the full Committee for the 2012 Appropriations process. We started this year in uncharted territory with none of the 2011 appropriations bills passed into law, and in fact most of the bills not having made it past Subcommittee. That led to a very difficult 4 months and a seemingly endless CR process for 2011.
"Now that that process is finally over, I'm sure you all share my relief that we have moved on to our very important work funding the government for the next fiscal year –in regular order. I can't stress enough how important it is to our economic recovery that Americans feel secure that the government is moving to put our fiscal house in order, while making hard decisions that can and will protect and fund the crucial programs and services on which they rely.
"It is my honor to present to the Committee 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.
"I am under no illusion that everyone here today will agree with the spending reductions included in this bill; but now, more than ever, our government needs fiscal discipline, and this bill takes necessary steps toward that goal.
House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers made the following statement at today's Subcommittee mark up of the Fiscal Year 2012 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Appropriations Act:
"I would like to thank the Chairman, Mr. Culberson, for his remarks. I'm very pleased to be in attendance at the first subcommittee markup of the fiscal year 2012 appropriations cycle.
"I share the relief of all of you that we've finally made it to consideration of fiscal year 2012 bills, after the long, painful process to finish 2011. And what a great bill to begin with. The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill provides great support to our servicemembers and their families, as well as our veterans.
"I would also like to thank the Ranking Member, Mr. Bishop, for his work on the subcommittee and for his efforts to get us here today.
House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Chairman John Culberson made the following remarks at today's Subcommittee mark up of the Fiscal Year 2012 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Appropriations Act:
"I want to welcome everyone to the markup of the fiscal year 2012 appropriations bill for Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies.
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.
