News

Lowey Statement on Administration’s Request for Additional Border Funding

May 1, 2019

“Through its callous immigration policies, the Trump administration has contributed to a humanitarian emergency on the border. As a country, we must do more to meet the needs of migrants – especially children and families – who are arriving in increasing numbers."

Chairwoman Lowey Statement at Subcommittee Markup of FY 2020 Military Construction-Veterans Affairs Funding Bill

May 1, 2019

Statements

“The timeliness of this bill honors our commitment to servicemembers, veterans, and thousands of military families who sacrifice every day for our nation. We are investing billions more to ensure they have the facilities needed to confront emerging threats, guaranteeing access to reliable family housing, and delivering healthcare, benefits, and assistance veterans have earned. In addition to these investments is a provision ensuring we protect these vital military construction resources from misappropriation for the President’s wasteful border wall.”

Subcommittees

Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (116th Congress)

Issues:Military Construction, VA

Chairwoman Wasserman Schultz Statement at Subcommittee Markup of FY 2020 Military Construction-Veterans Affairs Funding Bill

May 1, 2019

Statements

Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Chair of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, delivered the following remarks at the Subcommittee's markup of its fiscal year 2020 bill:

This meeting of the subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies will come to order. Today, we are considering the fiscal year 2020 funding for the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies bill.

This bill highlights our continued commitment to our servicemembers and their families, and to our Veterans.

Subcommittees

Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (116th Congress)

Issues:Military Construction, VA

Chairwoman Lowey Statement at Subcommittee Markup of FY 2020 Legislative Branch Funding Bill

May 1, 2019

Statements

“House Democrats are committed to an orderly appropriations process that gets the people’s business done on time – and that includes the business of the People’s House. The Fiscal Year 2020 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill is an example of that commitment. By providing a total of $3.943 billion, $135 million above FY 2019 levels, this bill would ensure that members of Congress can effectively work on behalf of their constituents and that the public can safely visit the Capitol campus.”

Subcommittees

Legislative Branch (116th Congress)

Issues:Legislative Branch

Chairman Ryan Statement at Subcommittee Markup of FY 2020 Legislative Branch Funding Bill

May 1, 2019

Statements

"Fundamentally, our bill provides modest increases to support the staffing and other resources needed by Congress to do its job well, to maintain and build analytic capacity in the Legislative Branch, and to address high-priority needs in areas like information technology and security. Our bill also increases the allowance for paying interns, from $20,000 to $25,000 per Member office. Internships are a valuable means of gaining work experience and opening doors to future employment—and that opportunity shouldn’t be available only to those who can afford to work for free."

Subcommittees

Legislative Branch (116th Congress)

Issues:Legislative Branch

Chairwoman Lowey Statement at Hearing on FY 2020 DOD Budget Request

May 1, 2019

Statements

"We owe it to our service members and their families to put forth serious spending proposals. The idea of using OCO spending for base requirements is a thinly-veiled attempt to skirt budget caps and increase defense spending without a complementary increase for non-defense spending. Moreover, requesting OCO funds for base is fiscally irresponsible, as costs to increase end strength dovetail in future spending bills as service members receive raises and eventual pensions. Our service members deserve the stability and to know they will be taken care of in the future, and the Administration’s proposal makes that less likely."

Subcommittees

Defense (116th Congress)

Issues:Defense

Chairman Visclosky Statement at Hearing on FY 2020 DOD Budget Request

May 1, 2019

Statements

"I must also say that as a Member of the Legislative Branch, I am grossly offended by the unconstitutional actions taken by the Executive Branch to fund the construction of the unauthorized wall on the southern border. Using funds that Congress declined to appropriate for that purpose and over the denial of this Committee and others, the Defense Department is in the process of conveying billions to the Department of Homeland Security. There is no emergency at the border that requires the use of the armed forces. We are here to appropriate funds needed for the military, not to make good on a campaign promise."

Subcommittees

Defense (116th Congress)

Issues:Defense

Chairwoman Roybal-Allard Statement at Hearing on FY 2020 CISA Budget Request

May 1, 2019

Statements

"In March, at a time when then-Secretary Nielsen was focused on managing a surge of migrants at our southern border, the secretary cited cyberthreats as her top priority. She said, 'The cyberdomain is a target, a weapon, and a threat vector all at the same time.' I share her concerns -– not only for federal networks, but also for the nation’s critical infrastructure, because our adversaries are moving and adapting at a pace that far exceeds our own. Yet the FY 2020 request, once again, proposes a reduction to these missions."

Subcommittees

Homeland Security (116th Congress)

Issues:Homeland Security

Appropriations Subcommittee Approves Fiscal Year 2020 Labor-HHS-Education Funding Bill

April 30, 2019

Press Release

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies today approved its fiscal year 2020 bill. In total, the bill includes $189.8 billion in discretionary funding, an increase of $11.7 billion over the 2019 enacted level and $47.8 billion over the President’s 2020 budget request.

Issues:Labor, HHS, Education

Subcommittees

Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (116th Congress)

Appropriations Committee Releases Fiscal Year 2020 Military Construction-Veterans Affairs Funding Bill

April 30, 2019

Press Release

WASHINGTON — The House Appropriations Committee today released the draft fiscal year 2020 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies funding bill, which will be considered in subcommittee on Wednesday, May 1, 2019. The legislation funds the Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, and other related agencies, including the American Battle Monuments Commission and Armed Forces Retirement Home.

In total, the legislation provides $108.1 billion in discretionary funding – $10 billion above the fiscal year 2019 enacted level. This includes $921 million in Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) funding as well as $2 billion for emergency needs related to Hurricanes Michael and Florence at military bases in North Carolina and Florida.

Issues:Military Construction, VA

Subcommittees

Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (116th Congress)