Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration
(202) 225-3481
Thank you, Chairman McGovern and Ranking Member Cole, for allowing me to testify on H.R. 4502, a package of seven fiscal year 2022 appropriations bills.
I wish the circumstances were different and I were here speaking in favor of this important piece of legislation.
Unfortunately, there is not bipartisan support, so I am here to ask the Rules Committee to allow amendments to H.R. 4502, so that it can be improved.
Madam Chair, thank you for yielding.
The revised spending allocations presented today contain only technical corrections to the initial allocations, which were adopted on a party-line vote two weeks ago.
Because there are no substantive changes from the initial allocations, I must once again oppose them.
They do not change the topline spending levels for any of the subcommittee bills – even though Members on my side of the aisle have consistently asked for bipartisan cooperation on funding levels.
Madam Chair, thank you for yielding.
These spending allocations will increase discretionary spending by hundreds of billions of dollars to an all-time high of $1.5 trillion.
This nearly 9% increase above fiscal year 2021 comes at a time of record-high deficits and debt:
WASHINGTON – Today, the subcommittees on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration met to consider their appropriations bills for fiscal year 2022. The measures were reported out to the full committee with concerns raised by Republicans.
Chairman Bishop, thank you for presenting the fiscal year 2022 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies appropriations bill.
I also want to recognize the ranking member of the subcommittee, Mr. Fortenberry.
I know both of you have worked together to fund priorities of Members on both sides of the aisle.
While this bill funds many important programs, it is based on a funding framework that does not have bipartisan support.
To put it simply, the increases proposed for non-defense bills like this one are just too high.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding this hearing today so that we can hear Secretary Vilsack's plans for the Department of Agriculture.
The events of the past year have affected virtually every sector of our economy. This is especially true for our farmers and ranchers. Thanks to the staff at USDA, programs were quickly implemented to help those affected by the pandemic.
WASHINGTON – Today, Appropriations Committee Republicans sent a letter to the Acting Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requesting details on unobligated and unspent funds provided to address the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter, led by the Republican Leader of the Committee, Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX), comes as the Congress prepares to consider additional legislation.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I would like to begin by congratulating you for taking over the gavel of the Appropriations Committee as we begin our first official meeting of the 117th Congress.
I wish we were all in the same room today to hear the sound of that gavel, but I know you will continue to look for ways for us to meet in person.
WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Kay Granger (TX), Republican Leader of the House Appropriations Committee, announced Republican subcommittee assignments for the 117th Congress.
"We have assembled a strong team that is committed to reviewing the federal budget, conducting oversight of taxpayer dollars, and upholding conservative principles.
"Each Member will be key to advancing Republican priorities, and I am honored to work alongside each of them as we fight for the American people."
