Remarks

I would like to thank Chairman Ryan for presenting this bill today that provides funds for the operations of the Legislative Branch for fiscal year 2021.

I appreciate the work you and the Ranking Member have done to address critical issues that affect the Congress.

This bill recognizes the important, bipartisan work of the House Select Committee on Modernization by establishing a new account to begin implementing recommendations to make Congress more effective, efficient, and transparent on behalf of the American people.

I would like to thank the Chairwoman for presenting the fiscal year 2021 Homeland Security appropriations bill. I would also like to recognize Ranking Member Fleischmann for his leadership on the subcommittee.

All of our states and communities are experiencing a public health crisis, and the Department of Homeland Security is one of the agencies on the front lines. The Department has demonstrated over and over again how important it is that they have the resources to protect our nation from threats.

This Department has many important functions:

I want to thank Chair Mccollum for presenting the fiscal year 2021 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill today.

I also want to thank the Ranking Member, Mr. Joyce, for his leadership on this subcommittee.

I appreciate the work you've done on many important programs supported by the Interior bill.

This bill funds priorities and concerns of Members on both sides of the aisle and does many good things for the preservation of our natural resources.

Madam Chair, thank you for presenting the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill today.

I appreciate the work that you and Ranking Member Carter have done this year.

You have addressed many critical issues that affect military installations and our nation's veterans. You have reached across the aisle to fund many projects important to our Members.

This bill funds the military construction priorities that were requested by the Department of Defense, and it helps improve family housing for the military.

Madam Chair, thank you for yielding.

Before I begin my remarks about the State-Foreign Operations bill, I want to take a moment to recognize you, Mrs. Lowey, as you begin your last appropriations season.

Nita and I took turns as chair and ranking member of this subcommittee, and we accomplished many things, even though we had policy disagreements.

I want to thank Chairman Bishop for presenting the fiscal year 2021 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and related agencies appropriations bill.

I also want to recognize the work of the Ranking Member of the subcommittee, Mr. Fortenberry.

This bill funds priorities and concerns of Members on both sides of the aisle, and the programs supported have a direct impact on all Americans, every day.

The coronavirus pandemic has shown us the importance of programs funded by this subcommittee.