Shelby Applauds Consideration of Five FY2020 Bills, Encourages Continued Bipartisan Work
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) today convened a full committee markup for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 appropriations process, during which the Committee will consider the FY2020 bills for the Appropriations Subcommittees on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs; Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Homeland Security; and the Legislative Branch. Chairman Shelby commended his committee colleagues for their work to advance ten of the FY2020 bills and urged bipartisan cooperation throughout upcoming negotiations to complete the year’s appropriations process, stressing the importance of adhering to the terms of the 2019 Bipartisan Budget Agreement.
“These are good bills that seek to address important objectives for nation and our constituents. I want to congratulate the chairs and ranking members of the subcommittees whose bills we are considering today. … Combined with the other FY2020 measures reported this month, the Committee has taken action on 79 percent of FY2020 discretionary spending,” said Shelby.
“As we close out this month, we must acknowledge the progress we have made, while also recognizing that we still have a long way to go in fulfilling our duty to fund the government. Ultimately, the factors determining our success in fulfilling that obligation will have to be decided through bicameral, bipartisan negotiations – not by the Senate alone. … I believe we must find a way to work together to produce the outcome the American people expect of us – what they deserve from us, which is to fund the government in a deliberate and bipartisan manner. I encourage my colleagues on both sides to set aside partisan politics so we can get the job done sooner rather than later.”
Chairman Shelby’s full remarks, as prepared, are as follows:
“The Committee will come to order. Today the Committee considers the FY2020 appropriations bills approved by the Subcommittees on Interior; State-Foreign Operations; Commerce-Justice-Science; Homeland Security; and the Legislative Branch.
“These are good bills that seek to address important objectives for nation and our constituents.
“I want to congratulate the chairs and ranking members of the subcommittees whose bills we are considering today:
“Chairwoman Murkowski and Ranking Member Udall on Interior; Chairman Graham and Vice Chairman Leahy on State-Foreign Operations; Chairman Moran and Ranking Member Shaheen on Commerce-Justice-Science; Chairwoman Capito and Ranking Member Tester on Homeland Security; and Chairwoman Hyde-Smith and Ranking Member Murphy on the Legislative Branch.
“You have each worked diligently to produce the bills before the committee today.
“And, I believe it is worth noting that, where possible, you have worked together in a bipartisan manner to craft these recommendations.
“Combined with the other FY2020 measures reported this month, the Committee has taken action on 79 percent of FY2020 discretionary spending.
“Before turning to Vice Chairman Leahy, I want to comment briefly on where we stand and the path ahead in the FY2020 process.
“It is no secret that we have shared mixed success in getting bills through the committee this cycle.
“We have successfully marked up ten bills consistent with the bipartisan budget deal – including the bills before us today – and many of those have received strong bipartisan support.
“At the same time, some of the FY2020 bills have stalled.
“As we close out this month, we must acknowledge the progress we have made, while also recognizing that we still have a long way to go in fulfilling our duty to fund the government.
“Ultimately, the factors determining our success in fulfilling that obligation will have to be decided through bicameral, bipartisan negotiations – not by the Senate alone.
“For those negotiations to begin in earnest and on a level footing, the House will have to cut its total non-defense spending recommendations by $21 billion just to live within the statutory limit set by the Bipartisan Budget Act.
“Both sides will also have to reckon with the terms of the bipartisan budget agreement that were negotiated and agreed to by our respective Leaders.
“Most importantly, for those negotiations to end in success, my Democratic colleagues and the President will have to reach an agreement, once again, on border security.
“If these conditions are not met, I fear we are moving headlong toward a full-year continuing resolution.
“That is not the outcome I am hoping for and, I trust, neither are my colleagues.
“It would be a shame to shortchange our military and all the federal agencies funded by these bills after an agreement to increase the spending caps was just recently signed into law.
“So as we head into the two-week recess and turn toward discussions with the House, I hope we will all work to avoid that outcome.
“I believe we must find a way to work together to produce the outcome the American people expect of us – what they deserve from us, which is to fund the government in a deliberate and bipartisan manner.
“I encourage my colleagues on both sides to set aside partisan politics so we can get the job done sooner rather than later.
“With that I turn to Vice Chairman Leahy to make his opening statement and a motion to report the bills on the agenda today.”
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