Granger Remarks at FY23 302(b) Allocations

Madam Chair, thank you for yielding.

As we sit here today, inflation is 8.6 percent above last year, the highest it’s been in more than 40 years. Economists are saying American households should budget an extra $5,000 this year to cover rising prices – that’s over $400 a month. Many families simply cannot afford this.

Prices of everyday goods have skyrocketed over the last year under the Biden Administration. For example:

• At more than $5 a gallon, gas prices are now the highest they have ever been;
• Energy services like electricity and natural gas are up 16%;
• Groceries have increased nearly 12%, the biggest jump since 1979;
• The cost of new and used cars is up 12%;
• Rent is rapidly increasing;
• And airfare has increased more than 37%, the largest increase since 1980.

Americans are paying more for just about everything. It’s clear the large spending packages pushed through Congress by the president and Members on the other side of the aisle have been a key driver of inflation. Simply put, record-high spending equals record-high prices.

As appropriators, we have the responsibility to exercise oversight and fiscal restraint. Instead of stopping the out-of-control spending we’ve seen over the last year, these bills are written to an unprecedented level. That is why no Republican supported the Majority’s resolution setting the appropriations topline spending level. 

The allocations by subcommittee are also a problem. They short-change defense and over-fund social programs. More spending on the same social programs that received trillions of dollars over the last year will only make matters worse. 

At a time when Americans are struggling to pay for gas, housing, and groceries, we should not be adding to our nation’s debt and expanding the size and scope of the federal government. We must cut spending where we can and focus resources on our core federal responsibilities, such as national security.

As expected, these allocations do not adequately fund our military. With increasing threats from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, under-funding our national defense is completely misguided.

In closing, I hope we can find common ground over the months ahead. We will need to restore important language from prior bills, agree to remove controversial policy riders, and set responsible funding levels, so that bills can get to the president’s desk and signed into law.

I urge a no vote and yield back my time.