Press Releases

Mr. Chairman. As you all know, this bill has a strong reputation for finding bipartisan common ground as members work together to fund the construction of military facilities and strive to improve the quality of life and care afforded to our veterans and military families. Once again, Chairman Culberson has continued this tradition. The bill before us provides funding levels that I think most members on both sides of the aisle agree are appropriate, while avoiding contentious legislative riders that complicate passage.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. I would like to also thank the subcommittee chairman and ranking member for their work on this bill.

This is the first of the twelve spending bills that the House will consider for FY 2015. I am pleased that we are beginning the process with a bill, as reported out of committee, that includes reasonable spending levels and is devoid of controversial riders. I hope this is a sign of what is to follow.

Despite fiscal constraints, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill would meet the needs of service men and women and continue to support our veterans.

I am particularly pleased with the emphasis on the increased need for prosthetics for our female servicemembers.

Before I make my statement, I'd just like to take a moment to thank Chairman Wolf for his service to this Committee and our country. Chairman Wolf, it has been a pleasure working with you on our shared commitment to keep our country safe, and I wish you the best of luck in your next chapter.

The Fiscal Year 2015 Commerce, Justice and Science bill before us today provides good funding levels for important programs to support public safety, such as Byrne Justice Assistance Grants, National Instant Criminal Background Check System, and Violence Against Women Act services.

WASHINGTON—Today, Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA), Ranking Member on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) and Related Agencies joined in approval of the FY2015 CJS Appropriations Bill, praising the bipartisan nature in the subcommittee's work and highlighting several of his own priorities.

The legislation is responsible for funding the Departments of Commerce and Justice, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and other related agencies. Following today's subcommittee consideration, the bill now moves to the full Appropriations Committee.

Thank you Chairman Crenshaw. I'd like to join you in welcoming Secretary Lew before the subcommittee for the second time. You lead a Department with a variety of missions important to our economy, our government, and our nation as a whole.

The Treasury Department plays a central role in promoting economic growth and opportunity through programs like the CDFI Fund, ensuring financial stability through the implementation of Dodd-Frank, enforcing our tax laws fairly, and managing our nation's finances. Your budget request for fiscal year 2015 promotes all of these things. Most of the agency is held to pretty austere budget levels, but there are significant requested investments at the IRS, which is the largest part of your budget.

Highlights of 2015 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act

2014 Enacted: $73.299 billion

President's Request: $71.897 billion

Committee Mark: $71.499 billion

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION: $6.557 billion, a decrease of $3.3 billion million below 2014 and equal to the budget request, is provided for Military Construction programs.

· The Committee recommendation fully funds the 2015 budget request for all Reserve Components at $426.5 million, which is $239 million below the 2014 enacted level.

Highlights of 2015 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act:

2014 enacted: $3.33 billion

2015 President's request: $3.45 billion

2015 Committee mark: $3.33 billion

*Committee mark excludes Senate items

The Chairman's mark provides:

· $1.18 billion for the U.S. House of Representatives, which is equal to the 2014 enacted level and $19.8 million less than the President's budget request.

· $347.96 million for the Capitol Police, which is $9.5 million more than the 2014 enacted level and $7.7 million less than the President's budget request.

· $45.7 million for the Congressional Budget Office, which is equal to the 2014 enacted level and $378,000 less than the President's budget request.

Thank you, Chairman Cole, Ranking Member Wasserman Schultz, and Chairman Rogers for your work on this bill. Today we consider the smallest of the appropriations bills, which funds the operations of our nation's legislative branch.

Without Senate items, the bill is $3.326 billion, the same as 2014. While I am pleased with the overall funding level, it was my hope that after years of cuts to member representational allowances, or MRAs, we might provide a modest increase this year.