Defense (116th Congress)
Madam Chair, thank you for yielding.
Before I begin my remarks about the Defense bill, I want to take a moment to recognize the Chairman of the Subcommittee, Mr. Visclosky.
I had the honor of working closely with him when I chaired the Defense subcommittee. Chairman Visclosky is one of a kind. His passion and commitment to our servicemen and women and their families is absolute.
He serves with dignity, with modesty, and with determination. Like Nita Lowey, he is also a joy to work with.
He leaves behind an extraordinary legacy and will be greatly missed.
I also want to thank my friend, Ken Calvert, for the outstanding job he is doing leading this subcommittee as our ranking member. You cannot find anyone more committed to our national security.
WASHINGTON – Today, the full committee met to consider the fiscal year 2021 appropriations bills for the subcommittees on Defense, Commerce-Justice-Science, and Transportation-Housing and Urban Development. Committee Republicans were unable to support these three bills due to several controversial policy proposals, a total spending level that is billions of dollars above the budget agreement, and some questionable funding decisions that were made within the amounts provided.
Madam Chair, thank you for yielding.
I rise in opposition to the subcommittee allocations because they do not give a complete picture of all of the spending in these appropriations bills.
Instead of working with us to develop bills consistent with the budget agreement that was reached last year, our colleagues on the other side of the aisle have unilaterally decided to include hundreds of billions of dollars in so-called "emergency" spending for things that really are not emergencies.
- Almost $200 billion dollars for infrastructure;
- Nearly $35 billion dollars to respond to the coronavirus on top of the trillions already appropriated; and
- $12.5 billion for veterans, even though it was known last year that these costs would rise.
In total, there is more than a quarter of a trillion dollars in additional deficit spending not included in these allocations.
WASHINGTON – Today, the subcommittees on Commerce, Justice, and Science; Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development; Financial Services and General Government; and Defense met to consider their appropriations bills for fiscal year 2021. The measures were reported out to the full committee with concerns raised by Republicans.
WASHINGTON – Top Appropriations Committee Republican Kay Granger (R-TX) released the following statement after the House passed the CARES Act.
"Our nation is facing an unprecedented pandemic, and I am proud that Congress has come together again to provide desperately needed resources and relief to the American people.
