ICYMI: Top Senate Appropriators Express Strong Support for Return to Regular Order and Timely Passage of Bipartisan Spending Bills
ICYMI: Senators Murray and Collins Release Tentative Appropriations Subcommittee Hearings Calendar – MORE HERE
ICYMI: Senators Murray and Collins Respond to President’s Budget: Full Steam Ahead on Appropriations Process – MORE HERE
(Washington, D.C.) – In case you missed it: over the last week plus, the Senate Appropriations Committee has been busy with subcommittee hearings to examine the President’s FY 2024 budget, assess our country’s needs for the year ahead, and begin work on bipartisan funding bills that deliver for the American people.
During the hearings, top Senate appropriators on both sides of the aisle shared their priorities and approach to the appropriations process this year and voiced strong support for the Committee’s return to regular order and bipartisan work on spending bills. Here are a few highlights:
SENATOR CHRIS COONS (D-DE), Chair of the Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
At March 22 Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request for the U.S. Department of State:
“I’m very fortunate to have Senator Graham as the ranking member on this subcommittee and strong subcommittee membership on both sides of the aisle. I am confident we can forge and maintain bipartisan support to address the most critical challenges facing us and to advance America’s interests, including supporting Ukraine’s determined fight against Russian aggression, countering the threats posed by China and leveraging our trade tools in the private sector to drive our core economic interests. We have made real progress together to advance our national security priorities over the last two years.”
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-SC), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
At March 22 Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request for the U.S. Department of State:
“I want to also welcome Senator Collins and Senator Murray. They’ve done a good job of getting the committee back in business. We’re gonna do markups. We’re having hearings. We’re gonna do markups. We’re gonna become appropriators again, and that is welcome news to me.”
SENATOR TAMMY BALDWIN (D-WI), Chair of the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
At March 22 Hearing on the President’s Fiscal Year 2024 Funding Request and Budget Justification for the Department of Health and Human Services:
“The Labor-HHS Bill includes important investments that touch the lives of every American. We won’t agree on everything, but I’m committed to working together to find common ground and make progress for Wisconsinites, West Virginians, and communities across this country. I look forward to the hard work of finding compromise and marking up a bipartisan Labor-HHS bill later this year.”
SENATOR SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO (R-WV), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
At March 22 Hearing on the President’s Fiscal Year 2024 Funding Request and Budget Justification for the Department of Health and Human Services:
“We’ve worked together in the past. There’s no reason we can’t do that here on the Labor-HHS Subcommittee. And so, we’ve both been on this Subcommittee for several years, and I know we have a great vision.”
“Speaking of new roles, I would like to take a moment to recognize the Senators Murray and Collins, who are the new Chair and [Vice Chair] of the Full Committee… They are committed to returning to regular order to write and pass appropriations bills in a bipartisan and timely manner. I wholeheartedly support this approach, and this budget hearing is a necessary first step of the process.”
SENATOR JEFF MERKLEY (D-OR), Chair of the Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
At March 22 Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2024 President’s Budget for the U.S. Forest Service:
“This is our first hearing of the year. I’m excited that the leadership on the full committee—Chair Murray and Vice Chair Collins—are working in a bipartisan manner to move our appropriation bills down the fiscal year 2024 path through committee and to the floor. They believe our committee members have a lot of shared bipartisan priorities that will power us through to enact appropriation bills this year. And I think it is so important that we try to establish that rhythm. I think we all agree that a continuing resolution or government shutdown would be a disaster. So, we’re ready to get to work.”
SENATOR BRIAN SCHATZ (D-HI), Chair of the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
At March 23 Hearing on the President’s Fiscal Year 2024 Funding Request and Budget Justification for the U.S. Department of Transportation:
“Good morning and welcome everyone, especially the new Ranking Member Senator Hyde-Smith. I am excited to work with you. I know you appreciate the importance of infrastructure and housing in your home state, and we’ve already talked about some of these priorities. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Senator Collins for the last two years, and we’ve been able to find common ground on everything from aviation safety to youth homelessness and affordable housing. Every member on this committee knows the importance of stable bridges, efficient airports, and safe cars—and so I look forward to continuing the bipartisan and cooperative nature of this subcommittee with you, Senator Hyde-Smith.”
SENATOR CINDY HYDE-SMITH (R-MI), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
At March 23 Hearing on the President’s Fiscal Year 2024 Funding Request and Budget Justification for the U.S. Department of Transportation:
“Let me begin by thanking the chairwoman and the vice chairman of the Appropriations Committee for joining us today. And Vice Chairman Collins, I’m certainly committed to upholding your thoughtful and your effective leadership on this subcommittee for the past several years and appreciate your work there, because you have truly been a strong advocate for your constituents and such success on bipartisan working relationships.”
“But I’d also like to thank the Chairman Schatz for that kind welcome. Mississippi and Hawaii may be in different time zones and face different transportation infrastructure challenges, but I’m confident that we will find common ground to work together in the subcommittee and address the obstacles facing not only our constituents, but all Americans.”
“And as we work to craft responsible funding legislation for fiscal year 2024, I look forward to continuing the collaborative spirit that you and Vice Chairman Collins have established. I also welcome our witness, Secretary Buttigieg, and I certainly enjoyed our visit yesterday when you came to my office, and I look forward to your testimony and I look forward to working with you.”
SENATOR JACK REED (D-RI), Chair of the Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch
At March 15 Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Requests for the Congressional Budget Office, the Government Accountability Office, and the Government Publishing Office:
“I’m delighted to be working with [Ranking Member Fischer] and the other members of the subcommittee and crafting responsible funding legislation that supports the legislative branch. With that said, the goal of the Senate Appropriations Committee is to return to normal order for appropriations bills. As such, this subcommittee will be aggressively working to produce a thoughtfully crafted bill that can be considered by the full Committee and the Senate in the coming months.”
SENATOR DEB FISCHER (R-NE), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch
At March 22 Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Requests for the Library of the Congress and the Architect of the Capitol:
“As the chairman noted in our last hearing, it is important to restore regular order in the appropriations process. The American people deserve a transparent and on-time budget from their elected officials. It is my hope to craft a fiscally responsible bill with Chairman Reed through regular order this year.”
###
Next Article Previous Article