Ranking Member Pingree Floor Remarks on the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024

WASHINGTON — Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01), Ranking Member of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, delivered the following remarks on the House floor in support of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024:

I rise to support the Fiscal Year 2024 Consolidated Appropriations Act.

I want to thank Ranking Member DeLauro for her leadership and perseverance.

Thank you, Chairman Simpson, for your collaboration
and partnership through this process. And thank you, Chairwoman Granger.

I am pleased that this bill continues investments to care for our planet, fight the climate emergency, and meet our trust obligations to tribal nations. It rejects the $13 billion in devastating cuts imposed in the House Republican bill and does not include more than 100 poison pill policy riders.

The bill provides necessary resources to deal with the threat of wildfires in the West and provides additional funding to continue the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act pay supplement for wildland firefighters.

The bill also protects the Arts and Humanities, maintaining the enacted funding level for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, supporting the arts in communities across the country.

And finally, this bill supports Native American families by investing in a strong and resilient Indian Country, including through education and health care programs.

The investments in this bill will improve the lives of Americans and I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Thank you, I yield back.