Majority News Releases
Vice Chairwoman Mikulski Statement on Senate Passage of First Fiscal Year 2017 Appropriations Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), Vice Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement after the Senate passed the fiscal year 2017 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill, the first appropriations bill passed by the Senate this year.
Continue Reading04.28.16
Mikulski Floor Statement on Urgent Need to Pass Zika Emergency Supplemental
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), Vice Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, spoke on the Senate floor about the need to take immediate action and pass the President’s $1.9 billion emergency supplemental request to address the threat of the Zika virus. Earlier, Republicans objected to Senator Reid’s and Senator Nelson’s effort to take up the emergency Zika supplemental.
The following are Vice Chairwoman Mikulski’s remarks, as delivered:
Continue Reading04.21.16
Mikulski Statement at Full Committee Markup of FY17 CJS & THUD Appropriations Bills
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), Vice Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS), participated in a Full Committee markup to consider the fiscal year 2017 CJS and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) Appropriations bills.
The following are Vice Chairwoman Mikulski’s remarks, as prepared for delivery:
Continue Reading04.21.16
FY17 CJS Full Committee Markup Bill Summary
Washington, D.C. – The fiscal year 2017 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations Bill provides a total of $56.3 billion in discretionary funding, $563 million more than fiscal year 2016 and $1.6 billion more than the President’s request.
The CJS bill invests in a wide range of critical programs that affect the lives of all Americans. The bill provides $29.2 billion, $156 million more than fiscal year 2016, for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to keep America safe from criminals and terrorists. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is funded at $19.3 billion to support key priorities like commercial crew transportation for astronauts to the International Space Station, Earth Science, satellite servicing, NASA’s next missions beyond low-Earth orbit and the James Webb Space Telescope to keep the United States first in astronomy. The Department of Commerce receives $9.3 billion to warn Americans about severe weather, promote American businesses and exports, protect American ideas, foster economic development, enable sustainable development of ocean resources, and create cybersecurity standards to protect dot-mil, dot-gov and dot-com.
Continue Reading04.21.16
FY17 THUD Full Committee Markup Bill Summary
Washington, D.C. – The fiscal year 2017 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) Appropriations bill is $56.5 billion. When taking into consideration certain rescissions and estimated receipts, the allocation is effectively $1.4 billion more than fiscal year 2016.
Continue Reading04.19.16
FY17 CJS Subcommittee Markup Bill Summary
Washington, D.C. – The fiscal year 2017 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations Bill provides a total of $56.3 billion in discretionary funding, $563 million more than fiscal year 2016 and $1.6 billion more than the President’s request.
The CJS bill invests in a wide range of critical programs that affect the lives of all Americans. The bill provides $29.2 billion, $156 million more than fiscal year 2016, for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to keep America safe from criminals and terrorists. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is funded at $19.3 billion to support key priorities like commercial crew transportation for astronauts to the International Space Station, Earth Science, satellite servicing, NASA’s next missions beyond low-Earth orbit and the James Webb Space Telescope to keep the United States first in astronomy. The Department of Commerce receives $9.3 billion to warn Americans about severe weather, promote American businesses and exports, protect American ideas, foster economic development, enable sustainable development of ocean resources, and create cybersecurity standards to protect dot-mil, dot-gov and dot-com.
Continue Reading04.19.16
FY17 THUD Subcommittee Markup Bill Summary
Washington, D.C. – The fiscal year 2017 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) Appropriations bill is $56.5 billion. When taking into consideration certain rescissions and estimated receipts, the allocation is effectively $1.4 billion more than fiscal year 2016.
Continue Reading04.14.16
FY17 Military Construction & VA Full Committee Markup Bill Summary
Washington, D.C. – Today the U.S. Senate Appropriations Full Committee ordered reported the fiscal year 2017 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, which provides $83 billion in discretionary funding, $3.2 billion above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level.
In addition to discretionary funding, the bill provides $102.5 billion in mandatory compensation and pension funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The bill also provides $66.4 billion in fiscal year 2018 advance funding for veterans health care and $103.9 billion for fiscal year 2018 advance funding for the VA’s compensation and pensions mandatory accounts.
Continue Reading04.14.16
FY17 Energy and Water Development Full Committee Markup Bill Summary
Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Senate Appropriations Full Committee ordered reported the fiscal year 2017 Energy and Water Development funding legislation that totals $37.5 billion in discretionary budget authority, which is $355 million more than fiscal year 2016 and $261 million more than the President’s request.
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All of the total increase is within defense activities with Weapons Activities receiving $438 million more than fiscal year 2016. The one notable increase in non-defense activities is an additional $50 million for the Office of Science. Nearly all other non-defense accounts are even or close to even with the fiscal year 2016 enacted levels.
Continue Reading04.14.16
Mikulski Statement at First Full Committee Markup of Fiscal Year 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), Vice Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, participated in the first fiscal year 2017 Full Committee markup. The Committee considered the fiscal year 2017 subcommittee allocations as well as the fiscal year 2017 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill and the fiscal year 2017 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill.
The following are Vice Chairwoman Mikulski’s remarks, as prepared for delivery:
Continue Reading04.13.16
FY17 Energy and Water Development Subcommittee Markup Bill Summary
Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development approved fiscal year 2017 funding legislation that totals $37.5 billion in discretionary budget authority, which is $355 million more than fiscal year 2016 and $261 million more than the President’s request.
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All of the total increase is within defense activities with Weapons Activities receiving $438 million more than fiscal year 2016. The one notable increase in non-defense activities is an additional $50 million for the Office of Science. Nearly all other non-defense accounts are even or close to even with the fiscal year 2016 enacted levels.
Continue Reading04.13.16
FY17 Military Construction & VA Subcommittee Markup Bill Summary
Washington, D.C. – The fiscal year 2017 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill provides $83 billion in discretionary funding, $3.2 billion above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level.
In addition to discretionary funding, the bill provides $102.5 billion in mandatory compensation and pension funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The bill also provides $66.4 billion in fiscal year 2018 advance funding for veterans health care and $103.9 billion for fiscal year 2018 advance funding for the VA’s compensation and pensions mandatory accounts.
Continue Reading04.06.16
Vice Chairwoman Mikulski Statement on President Obama’s Zika Funding Announcement
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), Vice Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement in response to President Obama’s efforts to stop the spread of the Zika virus:
Continue Reading03.10.16
Mikulski Opening Statement at CJS Hearing on NASA’S FY17 Budget Request
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), Vice Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Subcommittee, attended her final CJS Subcommittee hearing. The hearing reviewed the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) fiscal year 2017 budget request. Senator Mikulski has helped oversee NASA’s budget throughout her tenure on the Appropriations Committee, which began in 1987, and has been the lead Democrat overseeing its budget since 1989. She joined the then Commerce, Justice, State, and Judiciary Subcommittee in 1997, and became the top Democrat on the Subcommittee in 2005 when it became Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, and included the NASA account.
The following are Vice Chairwoman Mikulski’s remarks, as prepared for delivery:
Continue Reading03.08.16
Mikulski Fights to Protect Families from Being Victims of Tax Identity Fraud in Hearing with Treasury Department and IRS
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), Vice Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today continued her fight to protect families from being victims of tax identity fraud. The Senator today spoke at a Financial Services Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on the Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) budget requests for fiscal year (FY) 2017, which featured testimony from Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner John Koskinen and Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration J. Russell George.
Continue Reading03.03.16
Mikulski Opening Statement at CJS Hearing on Department of Commerce FY17 Budget Request
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), Vice Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Subcommittee, attended a CJS hearing on the Department of Commerce’s fiscal year 2017 budget request.
The following are Vice Chairwoman Mikulski’s remarks, as prepared for delivery:
Continue Reading02.25.16
Mikulski Opening Statement at CJS Subcommittee Hearing on Department of Justice FY17 Budget Request
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), Vice Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Subcommittee, attended a CJS hearing on the Department of Justice’s fiscal year 2017 budget request.
The following are Vice Chairwoman Mikulski’s remarks, as prepared for delivery:
Continue Reading02.09.16
Vice Chairwoman Mikulski Applauds Priorities in President Obama’s FY17 Budget Request
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), Vice Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement in response to President Obama’s fiscal year 2017 budget request:
Continue Reading02.04.16
Mikulski Calls on Senate to Act on Flint Lead Crisis
WASHINGTON –U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), Vice Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today took to the Senator floor to call for action on the water crisis in Flint, Michigan.
Senator Mikulski’s statement, as delivered, follows:
Continue Reading01.20.16
Mikulski Focused on Resources and Actions Needed to Keep American Communities and Families Safe from Gun Violence
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), Vice Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Subcommittee, attended a CJS hearing on the Department of Justice’s role in implementing new executive actions related to gun violence.
The following are Vice Chairwoman Mikulski’s remarks, as prepared for delivery:
Continue Reading