Granger Remarks at FY23 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Full Committee Markup

Jun 30, 2022
Statements

Madam Chair, thank you for yielding.

First, I want to thank the chair and ranking member for their work on the fiscal year 2023 bill for Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies. I also want to acknowledge the committee staff for their efforts.

While this bill funds many important programs, it is based on a funding level that passed the House without Republican support. In addition to my concerns about excessive spending, the bill includes controversial policies that I strongly oppose. 

First, this bill once again drops long-standing, bipartisan language that prevents federal tax dollars from being used to pay for abortions. It also removes language carried for the last seventeen years that protects American doctors and nurses from being forced to participate in abortions.

In addition to the abortion provisions, there are many other highly controversial items included in the bill, such as:

  • Language relating to labor law;
  • Excessive spending on new, unauthorized programs; and
  • Provisions relating to immigration enforcement.

For these reasons, my Republican colleagues and I strongly oppose this bill. Until the pro-life protections have been restored and the other controversial issues have been addressed, we will not be able to vote for it.

Just a few short months ago, we were able to come to an agreement and enact the fiscal year 2022 appropriations bills that continued long-standing riders and dropped new controversial provisions.

I am hopeful we will be able to do the same this year.

Madam Chair, I look forward to finding common ground and finishing our work in a timely manner.

Thank you, and I yield back.