WASHINGTON, DC, Thursday, June 27, 2013 - U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today delivered the following statement at a full committee mark up of the Fiscal Year 2014 appropriations bills for Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies as well as Energy and Water Development:

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"Thank you.

"I want to applaud the Chair for moving these bills and keeping this Committee on track. Whether one supports or opposes a particular bill, it is important that this Committee move forward and our Chairwoman is making sure that it does.

"I remain concerned, however, with the road we are on.

"The bills before the Committee today are funded at levels that are leading to a top line which is not supported by current law.

"If we continue down this road, we will force a sequester larger than the one we are currently experiencing. There is no denying that fact.

"It is not too late to adjust our course and work together to allocate funds in accordance with current law. I remain ready to work with the Chair to achieve that goal.

"Until that time, however, I will continue to oppose each of these bills. Not because they have no merit, but because they are leading us to a statutory dead end.

"Thank you."