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It has been six years since the full committee last considered the Labor-HHS-Education bill, and for that reason alone I would like to express my appreciation to Chairman Cole, Ranking Member DeLauro, and Chairman Rogers.

WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) made the below opening remarks at today's House of Representatives Appropriations Committee markup of the Labor-Health and Human Services-Education bill. This marks the first time the full committee has considered the legislation in six years. The below remarks are as prepared for delivery:

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the efforts of Chairman Rogers, Chairman Aderholt, and Ranking Member Farr in putting this bill together and holding this markup.

Despite the President's proposal more than four months ago to end sequestration through more reasonable and realistic budgeting, Republicans have yet to engage on finding a workable solution. This is the eleventh bill to be considered in subcommittee, and like its predecessors, it has no chance of being signed into law because it would shortchange vital investments that help hardworking American families.

The 2016 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill would place the health and safety of the American people at risk by slashing critical funding for drinking water and sanitary sewer infrastructure, climate change, and environmental enforcement. Ideological policy riders continue the assault on our environment by undermining the Administration's ability to keep our land, water, and air clean and protect threatened species.

Highlights of 2016 Interior and Environment Appropriations Act

This is a difficult bill, and I'd like to recognize Chairman Cole, Ranking Member DeLauro, and the staff for their commitment. In addition, I thank Chairman Rogers for holding this markup.

Let me start with the good. The National Institutes of Health performs vital research and makes sure medical breakthroughs happen here, rather than abroad. I support doubling NIH funding in the long run, but am very pleased with the increase of $1.1 billion.

Thank you Mr. Chairman.

I want to begin by commending our Chairman for the sincere and collaborative manner in which he has carried out his duties while laboring under an inadequate allocation. Chairman Calvert chaired 14 budget hearings where we received testimony from nearly 150 witnesses. I greatly appreciated the Chairman's willingness to hear from so many agency and citizen voices.

Let me also express my appreciation to the subcommittee staff on the minority and majority sides for their hard work during another difficult budget year.

I'd like to thank Chairmen Calvert and Rogers, as well as my good friend, Betty McCollum, in her first full committee markup as Ranking Member.

While I appreciate the chairman's willingness to accommodate some Democratic priorities, this is the latest in a series of bills that drastically shortchanges job- creating investments and vital environmental protections while carrying a wish list of special interest giveaways that hurt hardworking American families' health and safety.

The 2016 Financial Services & General Government Appropriations bill is merely a vehicle for accomplishing the most extreme policy priorities of the Republican majority. It would undermine key elements of the Affordable Care Act and Dodd-Frank financial reform, diminish women's access to legal health services, meddle in the District of Columbia's internal affairs, undermine the President's Cuba policy, and prevent fair treatment of internet content to benefit the interests of a few large corporations.