Minority News Releases
Shelby Encourages Bipartisan Work, Stresses Importance of Parity in Defense, Non-defense Increases
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) today delivered remarks during the first full committee markup for the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) appropriations process, during which the committee is considering the FY22 bills for the subcommittees on Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies; Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; and Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies. Vice Ch… Continue Reading
08.02.21
FY22 Agriculture Appropriations Bill Advanced By Subcommittee
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies today approved a $25.855 billion in discretionary funding to support federal agriculture and nutrition programs in Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22).
Continue Reading07.29.21
Senate Passes Security Supplemental to Fund National Guard, Capitol Police
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) today applauded Senate passage of a $2 billion security supplemental appropriations bill, which advanced by a vote of 98-0.
Continue Reading07.27.21
Shelby Announces Bipartisan Deal on Security Supplemental
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) today announced that he has reached an agreement with Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) on a $2 billion security supplemental appropriations bill.
Continue Reading07.12.21
Shelby Releases Bill to Fund National Guard, Capitol Police
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) today introduced a security supplemental appropriations bill to provide $632.9 million in needed funding for the National Guard and the U.S. Capitol Police due to additional costs incurred related to the events of January 6th. Without supplemental resources, the National Guard and the U.S. Capitol Police will run out of funding before the end of the fiscal year. Vice Chairman Shelby stated, "We all agre… Continue Reading
06.24.21
Shelby Underscores Danger of Defense Cuts During Hearing to Review Navy and Marine Corps FY22 Budget
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), the lead Republican on the subcommittee on defense, today questioned top U.S. Navy and Marine Corps officials during a defense subcommittee hearing on the President's fiscal year 2022 (FY22) budget request. The witnesses who testified before the subcommittee were Acting Navy Secretary Thomas W. Harker, Admiral Michael Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations, and General David H. Berger, Commandant of the Marine … Continue Reading
06.22.21
Shelby Reviews Army Budget Request, Highlights Concerns Surrounding Decreased Funding
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), the lead Republican on the subcommittee on defense, today questioned top U.S. Army officials during a defense subcommittee hearing to review the President's funding request and budget justification for the U.S. Army. During the hearing, Army Secretary Christine E. Wormuth and General James C. McConville, Army Chief of Staff, testified before the subcommittee. Vice Chairman Shelby's remarks, as prepared… Continue Reading
06.17.21
Shelby: Cutting Defense Funding Will Jeopardize National Security
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) today delivered opening remarks during a full committee hearing to review the President's Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) Department of Defense budget request. During the hearing, Department of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testified before the committee. Vice Chairman Shelby, also the lead Republican on the subcommittee on defense, stated, "The N… Continue Reading
06.15.21
Shelby, Capito Statement on GAO Decision Regarding Biden's Freeze of Wall Funding Amid Border Crisis
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) and Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) released the below joint statement following the Government Accountability Office (GAO) ruling on President Joe Biden's suspension of border wall funding and construction. Today's decision follows a request-initiated by Ranking Member Capito-in March for a ruling from the GAO on the administration's unprec… Continue Reading
06.08.21
Shelby Reviews Air Force and Space Force Budget Requests
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations and its subcommittee on defense, today questioned top officials regarding the budget request for the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Space Force during a defense subcommittee hearing. During the hearing, The Honorable John P. Roth, Acting Air Force Secretary; General Charles Q. Brown, Jr., Air Force Chief of Staff; and General John W. Raymond, Chief of Space Operations testified about th… Continue Reading
05.28.21
Shelby Statement on President Biden's FY22 Budget Request
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) today released the following statement regarding President Joseph Biden's Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) $6 trillion budget request: "President Biden's FY22 budget request is a blueprint for the higher taxes, excessive spending, and disproportionate funding priorities the American people can expect from his Administration over the next four years. The proposal completely disregards our debt of more than $28 tr… Continue Reading
05.26.21
Shelby Highlights Importance of Maintaining a Robust Intelligence Apparatus
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations and its subcommittee on defense, today delivered opening remarks during a defense subcommittee hearing on the intelligence community. During the closed hearing, the following officials testified, providing an update on the intelligence community and the challenges our country faces: Avril Haines, Director of National Intelligence, William J. Burns, Director of the Central Intelligenc… Continue Reading
05.20.21
Shelby: Lack of Defense Parity Shortchanges America's Military
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) today spoke on the Senate floor ahead of a vote on his amendment to the U.S. Innovation and Competitiveness Act that would provide dollar-for-dollar parity between increases to defense and non-defense spending.
Continue Reading05.19.21
Shelby, Inhofe Offer Amendment to Prioritize Defense Spending in U.S. Strategy to Compete With China
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) and U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), lead Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, today filed an amendment to the U.S. Innovation and Competitiveness Act that would provide dollar-for-dollar parity between increases to defense and non-defense spending. The senators highlighted the necessity for robust defense spending to counter China's global ambitions and criticized President Biden's plans to… Continue Reading
05.18.21
Shelby Reviews Resources for National Guard and Reserves
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations and its subcommittee on defense, today questioned witnesses during a defense appropriations subcommittee hearing on the U.S. National Guard and Reserve forces. The four witnesses who testified in the hearing were General Daniel R. Hokanson, Chief of the National Guard Bureau; Lieutenant General Jody J. Daniels, Chief of the Army Reserve; Vice Admiral John B. Mustin, Chief of the Navy… Continue Reading
05.12.21
Shelby: Mayorkas Denial on Catch and Release Contradicts DHS Data
Vice Chairman Presses DHS Secretary to Clarify Comments from Senate Hearing
Continue Reading05.12.21
Shelby Highlights Need for Rule of Law at Southern Border
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) today delivered opening remarks during a full committee hearing focused on domestic violent extremism in the United States. During the hearing, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testified before the committee. Vice Chairman Shelby stated, "Domestic violent extremists threaten the rule of law. But so too does turning a blind eye… Continue Reading
05.12.21
Shelby, Capito Correct False Claims by Biden Administration on Border Wall Construction
Link to GAO Follow-Up Letter WASHINGTON, D.C. - Following a letter U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, sent along with more than 100 colleagues highlighting President Joe Biden unlawfully freezing of border wall funding, the administration has continued to make false or misleading claims about its actions. As a result, Senator Capito, along with Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropri… Continue Reading
04.20.21
Shelby Questions Scope of Democrats' Massive "Infrastructure" Proposal
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) today delivered opening remarks during a full committee hearing on President Biden’s recent infrastructure proposal, “The American Jobs Plan.” During the hearing, Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan, Department of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, and Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge testified before the committee regarding the proposed $2.3 trillion plan.
Continue Reading04.09.21
Shelby, McConnell, Graham, Inhofe, Rubio Statement on Biden’s Disappointing Defense Budget
Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), and Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Vice Chairman Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) issued the following joint statement regarding the Biden Administration's Fiscal Year 2022 budget: "President Biden recently said, 'If we don't get moving, [C… Continue Reading