Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies
Chairman John Carter
HT-2 The Capitol
(202) 225-3047
Majority | Minority |
| John Carter – Chair | Debbie Wasserman Schultz – Ranking Member |
| John Rutherford | Sanford Bishop, Jr. |
| Michael Guest | Veronica Escobar |
| Ryan Zinke | Mike Levin |
| Stephanie Bice | Henry Cuellar |
| Scott Franklin | |
| Mark Alford – Vice Chair | |
| Nick LaLota |
Recent Activity
Madam Chair, thank you for presenting the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill today.
I appreciate the work that you and Ranking Member Carter have done this year, reaching across the aisle to fund many projects important to our Members.
Unfortunately, just like the bills we discussed yesterday, this bill is based on a funding framework that the Majority party developed without Republican support.
This difference of opinion on funding priorities and on policy positions could slow down our appropriations process this year.
There is nothing more important than funding our nation's military and veterans, and we must try to resolve these disagreements so that important bills like this one can be signed into law.
One area that is particularly concerning in this bill is that it fails to include long-standing language prohibiting the transfer of detainees currently at Guantanamo Bay to the United States.
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.
Madam Chair, I want to say a few words about you personally. You have served with distinction on Appropriations for many years, and you have already shown you are going to hit the ground running.
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."
WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Kay Granger (TX), Republican Leader of the House Appropriations Committee, announced the Republican Steering Committee's recommendations for subcommittee ranking members and new Republican committee members for the 117th Congress. The recommendations will need to be ratified by the Republican Conference.
"Mister Speaker, I rise today in support of this bill that will provide funding for the Federal Government through the end of this fiscal year, as well as provide another round of desperately needed relief for those affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 8900 – a continuing resolution that will fund the government through December 18th.
Members of the Appropriations Committee have been negotiating night and day for weeks to reach agreement on full-year appropriations bills.
At the same time, House and Senate leaders continue to discuss a coronavirus relief package with the Administration.
It is my hope that we can complete both of these important pieces of legislation as soon as possible.
There is so much at stake – our national security, the health and well-being of millions of Americans, and our economic recovery.
Passing this one week C.R. is simply a stop-gap measure. I expect we will be back on the floor next week to complete the year's work.
I urge my colleagues to join me in voting in favor of this continuing resolution so that the Senate can pass it and send it to the president for signature.
WASHINGTON - Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX) issued the following statement after being reelected by Members of the House Republican Steering Committee to serve as Lead Republican of the House Appropriations Committee.
"It is an honor to have served on the Committee for more than two decades now, and I am once again humbled by the support of my colleagues to continue serving as the Committee's Lead Republican.
WASHINGTON - Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX), Lead Republican for the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement after the House passed yet another partisan coronavirus relief bill forced by Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats.
"Our nation has relied on the actions of Congress and the Administration to weather this pandemic. Up to this point, four bipartisan relief bills have been signed into law, but today that spirit of bipartisanship was abandoned by Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats.
Mister Speaker, I rise today in opposition to this bill.
Unfortunately, by considering this bill today we are abandoning the spirit of bipartisanship that has allowed us to work across the aisle four times this year to pass critical coronavirus relief legislation.
This bill was crafted without input from Members on our side of the aisle, and it does not have the support needed to pass the Senate or be signed by the President.
There are some things included that I support, such as –
- Helping small businesses that are desperate for a lifeline,
- Enabling the airline industry to continue to pay its employees,
- Providing additional assistance to help schools continue reopening, and
- Increasing testing for the virus.
Yet, I cannot overlook – nor can I overstate – the significant problems I have with this bill.
