State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
Madam Chair, thank you for yielding.
As we sit here today, inflation is 8.6 percent above last year, the highest it's been in more than 40 years. Economists are saying American households should budget an extra $5,000 this year to cover rising prices – that's over $400 a month. Many families simply cannot afford this.
Prices of everyday goods have skyrocketed over the last year under the Biden Administration. For example:
Thank you, Madam Chair, for yielding, and for your work on the fiscal year 2023 State-Foreign Operations appropriations bill. I also want to recognize the work of the former chairman of the committee and the current ranking member of the subcommittee, Mr. Rogers.
I previously served as chair of this subcommittee and know that this bill funds many programs that have bipartisan support – the most important being the funding for Israel. I am pleased to see that Chairwoman Lee has included $3.3 billion for Israel's security.
Even though we can agree on some spending priorities in the bill, the 15 percent funding increase overall is far too high and is based on a funding level that passed the House without support from Republicans. At a time of record-high national debt and soaring inflation, we should try to reduce spending where we can.
WASHINGTON – Today, the full committee met to consider the fiscal year 2023 subcommittee spending levels, known as "302(b)" allocations. The appropriations bills for the subcommittees on Defense and Legislative Branch were also considered by the full committee.
WASHINGTON – Today, the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee and the Commerce, Justice, and Science Subcommittee considered their appropriations bills for fiscal year 2023. The measures were reported out to the full committee with concerns raised by Republicans.
WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Kay Granger (TX), the Lead Republican on the House Appropriations Committee, announced Rep. Julia Letlow (LA) will fill the vacant Republican seat on the committee for the remainder of the 117th Congress. Following the Republican Steering Committee's meeting Tuesday, the Republican Conference ratified the Steering Committee's recommendation for Letlow to fill the seat. Letlow will serve on the Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration Subcommittee and the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7691, a bill that would provide additional assistance to Ukraine and other partners in the region.
Ten weeks ago, we witnessed Russia begin its attack on the sovereign nation of Ukraine.
To support Ukraine and our allies during this unprovoked, illegal, and appalling attack, Congress provided nearly 14 billion dollars in emergency funding through the fiscal year 2022 appropriations bills.
That funding has been crucial in Ukraine's efforts to fight back against Putin's evil invasion.
The bill before us today would provide roughly $40 billion in assistance to address the ongoing conflict.
With Russia continuing to take control of the country, more resources are needed to:
