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Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Let me begin by thanking you for the way you have conducted this subcommittee. You have been fair with our side throughout this year's appropriations process, and although there are lots of things here that we don't agree on, you have always sought out our opinion and attempted to find the middle ground where it was available.
I also want to thank the staff on both sides of the aisle for all the hours they have put into creating this bill and report. We are all thankful for the time and energy they have put into this endeavor.
Mr. Chairman, I yield myself as much time as I may consume and ask unanimous consent that my full remarks be entered into the record.
I would like to begin by expressing my appreciation to Chairman Frelinghuysen and congratulate him on the collegial and transparent manner in which he crafted H.R. 2685, the Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Defense Appropriations Act. I also want to express my sincere appreciation for the efforts of Chairman Hal Rogers, Ranking Member Nita Lowey, and all the members of the Defense Subcommittee.
The 2016 Defense Appropriations bill would shatter caps on defense spending by adding $38 billion in base costs to off-budget war accounts, creating a massive hole in next year's budget, destabilizing long-term planning, and allowing domestic priorities to wither on the vine. By making a new budget agreement less likely, it would have drastic and negative consequences on our schools, roads and bridges, law enforcement, scientific research, and other domestic priorities critical to military families and all hardworking Americans.
In testimonies and responses to direct questions from Congress, U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and uniformed leaders of our Armed Forces have made clear the risks of relying on Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) to fund core and enduring defense costs. This approach would create a massive $38 billion hole in next year's budget and destabilize critical long-term planning. Additionally, it would have a negative impact on domestic priorities critical to military families and all hardworking Americans.
Thank you, Chairman Rogers and Chairwoman Granger.
As I said last week, the Republican budget resolution has led to clear winners and losers in the subcommittee allocations. The State and Foreign Operations bill is $6.1 billion, or 11.3%, less than the President's request and uses OCO to partially make up for shortfalls imposed by the inadequate allocation.
Our security comes from more than military might. Development and diplomatic initiatives around the world are our best defense against political instability, economic disparity, and widespread poverty.
The 2016 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill drastically shortchanges critical components of our national security – diplomacy and development – cutting more than 11% from the President's budget request. Additionally, it includes new and politically motivated ideological riders designed to feed Republicans' sham Benghazi investigation and undermine President Obama's normalization of relations with Cuba.
2015 base enacted: $40.01 billion
2015 OCO enacted: $9.26 billion
Thank you, Chairwoman Granger. It is a pleasure to work with you. Thank you, also, to our full committee chairman, Mr. Rogers.
I also want to express my appreciation to the Majority staff: Anne Marie Chotvacs, Craig Higgins, Alice Hogans, Susan Adams – a new mother-, Clelia Alvarado, David Bortnick, Miki Smith and Johnnie Kaberle; as well as my hardworking staff: Steve Marchese, Erin Kolodjeski and Marin Stein. We have a great team.
Chairman Frelinghuysen, I want to thank you on the collegial and transparent manner in which you crafted the Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Defense bill. You have been placed in a very untenable position and have produced a sterling work product.
FY 2016 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations Act
Highlights and Key Points
The 2016 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill fails to protect the safety and security of hardworking Americans, proposing massive cuts to critical community policing services, law enforcement grants, and priorities important to coastal communities. Further, the bill expands ideological policy riders benefiting special interests to undermine gun safety laws.
Someone once said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. We don't need this wisdom to understand the 2016 appropriations process is going off the rails by repeating past mistakes.