Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies (113th Congress)

Mr. Speaker, I rise to present H.R. 933, the Department of Defense and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations, and Full-Year Continuing Resolution for fiscal year 2013.

Our nation faces a three-pronged threat to its finances as we deal with sequestration, the debt ceiling, and, most immediately, a looming government shutdown. This bill takes the risk of a government shutdown off the table – funding the government for the remainder of the fiscal year, while helping maintain our national security, and providing our troops and veterans with consistent, adequate funding.

First and foremost, this bill contains fiscal year 2013 Appropriations bills for the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. These bills passed the House with broad support last year, have been negotiated on a bipartisan basis by the House and the Senate, and do not add a cent to the overall top line of the CR.

Good afternoon, Chairman Sessions, Ranking Member Slaughter and members of the Committee. I am here before you today to present H.R. 933, a Continuing Resolution to provide funding for the remainder of the 2013 fiscal year, and to provide full-year appropriations for the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs.

The current six-month Continuing Resolution expires on March 27, so there is a need to move this legislation quickly, get it over to the Senate, and ultimately on to the White House. As you know, the White House has indicated it does not want a government shutdown, and neither do we. Consequently, Mr. Chairman, I would request an appropriate rule to bring this bill to the floor.