Full committee
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for yielding.
Today we consider the Fiscal Year 2013 appropriations bill for the Departments of Transportation and Housing & Urban Development. I would like to begin by thanking Chairman Latham, Ranking Member Olver, as well as staff on both sides, for the important work they've done to bring this job-creating legislation before the subcommittee today. I also want to give special thanks to Mr. Olver, as this will be his last subcommittee markup on this bill. I thank you for all you have done for this committee over the years.
As May's job report indicates, our economic woes continue. Unemployment continues to hover over 8%, and the message is clear – the overspending, overtaxing, and over-regulating must stop if we're to grow our economy and put our nation back to work.
Today we are meeting to consider the fiscal year 2013 transportation and housing and urban development bill.
Before we get to the bill, I want to congratulate my colleague and the ranking member of this subcommittee, John Olver, for his years of service. As many of you know, Mr. Olver is retiring at the end of this Congress, and I have to say, this Subcommittee and the institution will be a lesser place without him. His attention to detail, his quest for knowledge about the programs and stakeholders of this bill, and his kindness and compassion are to be admired. Plus, his inability to complete a question in a five minute hearing round has made us all the wiser about the programs in question. It is a pleasure working with you, and thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5855, the Fiscal Year 2013 Homeland Security Appropriations bill.
After successfully thwarting several attempts at terrorist attacks in our skies, and eliminating the world's most heinous terrorist Osama bin Laden, we can agree our country is safer today than it was ten years ago.
But we face constant reminders that the war on terror is far from over. Our freedom isn't free, and we cannot skimp on our national security if we want to stay vigilant and – most importantly – safe.
I know that my colleagues feel the same way I do that one of the most gratifying, most rewarding parts of this extraordinary job that we're entrusted with in addition to being guardians of the Treasury, to being good stewards of the public's business, is to do everything in our power to help ensure that our men and women in uniform have all that they need to do their job as they stand guard and over this Nation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in every scary, dark corner of the world.
Today, Madam Chair, it's my privilege, with my good friend from Georgia (Mr. Bishop), to lay before the House and ask for its approval the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill for 2013.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5854, the fiscal year 2013 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill.
Earlier this week, we celebrated Memorial Day – a day to commemorate those warfighters who made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of our nation. I can think of no better bill to take up this week in honor of these heroes. We know the risks our troops take to fight for our freedom – and it is the duty of Congress to care for them accordingly.
This bipartisan legislation ensures that our troops and veterans have the vital resources they need and deserve to fight successfully, have a sufficient quality of life, and stay healthy. This bill is funded at the same level as last year - $71.7 billion in discretionary funding for construction efforts here and abroad, and for veterans' health, job training, and disability and education benefits programs.
The recommendation for FY 2013 provides $3.3 billion, excluding Senate items, which are traditionally left to the Senate to determine. This is a decrease of $34.4 million, or 1% from the FY 2012 enacted level and a decrease of $190 million, or 5.3% from the requested level.
Americans are sending hard-earned dollars to Washington and deserve to know they are being cost-effectively spent. This Subcommittee has taken that philosophy to heart in hearings and meetings where members have listened to agency heads lay out their priorities and budget requests. We've made tough, but workable choices that will allow our agencies to move forward in an efficient manner.
Since becoming Chair of the Subcommittee last year, we have cut the spending by 7.9% and with this mark we will bring that cut to 8.8% excluding the Senate.
Thank you, Chairman Crenshaw and Ranking Member Honda, for your comments and for your hard work on this Appropriations Bill. You and your staffs have put in a great deal of effort into drafting this legislation, and we appreciate it.
The bill before us today provides funding for the functions of the Legislative Branch – which we all know is needed to accomplish the work of this branch of government, and maintain the safety and security of Members, staff, and the thousands of visitors who come to the Capitol Complex each day. With this bill, we are in a position to lead by example – to be ever mindful of our limited tax dollars and to spend less wherever possible.
