Financial Services and General Government

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to begin consideration of H.R. 4664, the Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill.

Before I get into the details, I'd like to recognize the hard work of Chairwoman Granger on this bill and the entire appropriations process. We are one step closer to passing the last remaining few appropriations bills.

I also want to thank my good friend and Ranking Member Steny Hoyer for his input on this bill and the many conversations we've had. Steny is a dear, dear friend of mine. Somebody I've worked very closely with, not only with this bill but on other matters of importance to our country. I consider him a very dear, dear friend and it is an honor to have him at my side as the Ranking Member. And I mean that Steny, sincerely.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the distinguished acting Ranking Member, and I too, send my prayers to the family of Jim McGovern for the hardship that the family is facing right now. It's an honor to be before you today as we tee up the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee appropriations bill. I also want to thank my good friend and Ranking Member, Steny Hoyer. He is a dear friend, and I say that with all sincerity. We've had a lot of conversations through the years, we've worked on a lot of things in a really bipartisan way, but it is an honor to serve with him, and I'm deeply honored that he is the Ranking Member of this Subcommittee.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5860, a bill that keeps the government open until November 17^th.

While I would rather be here speaking on the floor about final appropriations bills, I want members to understand why passing this short-term funding bill today is so important.

First, I want to explain how we find ourselves in this situation.

Just nine months ago, when Republicans took back the Majority in the House, our commitment was to Regular Order for appropriations.

No more omnibus measures released in the dead of night. No more Christmas Eve votes on thousands of pages of text that Members of Congress had not read.

Unfortunately, there were a few stumbling blocks as we sought to change the process.

For example, the Administration's budget request was more than a month late. It then took months for the President to come to the table on the debt ceiling negotiations.

It is an honor to serve as Chairman of the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee. I want to thank my friend—Chairwoman Kay Granger—for giving me this opportunity. Thank you, also, to Ranking Member DeLauro for her commitment to the work of this committee. And to my Ranking Member, Steny Hoyer, thank you for your leadership and friendship through the years. It's a real privilege to work with you. I know that despite our disagreements on matters relating to our work today, we have a shared passion for doing the work of the American people. I trust it becomes evident as we move through this process.

First, I want to thank Chairman Womack for his work on the Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Services bill.

As I have said before, to fully fund our national defense, veterans, and border security, other unnecessary spending must be reduced.

This bill rejects significant increases in the President's Budget Request, and instead saves billions of dollars by reclaiming unspent funds from the Inflation Reduction Act and preventing the I.R.S. from hiring tens of thousands of new agents.

This bill addresses requests from members to include important policy riders and prohibit funding.

This bill stops controversial programs and Executive Orders; regulations that harm businesses and consumers; and unnecessary climate change rules.

It also continues long-standing pro-life protections.