Shelby Highlights Urgent Need to Advance FY2020 Process Together
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 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies; Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; and Financial Services and General Government. Chairman Shelby stressed the urgent need to fund our military and, again, encouraged his colleagues to honor the agreed-upon terms of the budget deal negotiated by Republicans and Democrats.
“Funding our military in a timely manner should not just be a Republican priority; it should be an American priority. I know that my Democratic colleagues want to restrict the President’s ability to transfer funds to secure our border. But the budget agreement — negotiated by Republican and Democratic Leaders — plainly prohibits such restrictions. If that agreement was negotiated in good faith, then a bill containing no such restrictions should be our common goal — not a source of division,” said Shelby.
“Ultimately, we have to move forward together. To do that, we have to be able to work in good faith. If we cannot, this process will not work very well at all. The Members of this committee on both sides know how to work together to get the job done. We demonstrated as much in the FY19 process. Today we find ourselves at a critical point in the FY20 process. Hopefully, the three bipartisan bills we are considering today will help move us in the right direction, which is bipartisan cooperation.”
Chairman Shelby’s full remarks, as prepared, are as follows:
“The committee will come to order. Today the committee considers the FY20 appropriations bills approved by the subcommittees on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development; Agriculture; and Financial Services.
“I want to congratulate the chairs and ranking members of these subcommittees for their hard work in crafting these bills: Senators Collins, Hoeven, and Kennedy on the Republican side; Senators Reed, Merkley, and Coons on the Democratic side.
“I also want to thank each you for working together in a bipartisan manner.
“Together, these three bills account for 20 percent of non-defense discretionary spending.
“They contain critical investments that will enhance our nation’s infrastructure, aid America’s farmers, and strengthen our financial system.
“Momentarily, I will turn to each of the chairs and ranking members to present their respective bills.
“First, I want to briefly comment on where we are in the overall appropriations process and how we need to proceed.
“Yesterday on the floor, we tried to bring up the first package of appropriations bills sent over by the House.
“Unfortunately, our Democratic colleagues would not allow us to do so.
“Because we were not allowed to proceed, our military’s efforts to plan deliberately in countering Russian and Chinese influence could be undermined.
“Because we were not allowed to proceed, our plans to provide soldiers with the largest pay increase in a decade will be delayed.
“Funding our military in a timely manner should not just be a Republican priority; it should be an American priority.
“I know that my Democratic colleagues want to restrict the President’s ability to transfer funds to secure our border.
“But the budget agreement — negotiated by Republican and Democratic Leaders — plainly prohibits such restrictions.
“If that agreement was negotiated in good faith, then a bill containing no such restrictions should be our common goal — not a source of division.
“I also understand that my Democratic colleagues want to move domestic spending bills promptly.
“So do Republicans — that is why we tried to proceed yesterday to the same package of bills the House sent over.
“Since that package was crafted by a Democratic majority in the House, it is puzzling why the Democratic minority in the Senate believes it shortchanges domestic spending.
“Ultimately, we have to move forward together. To do that, we have to be able to work in good faith. If we cannot, this process will not work very well at all.
“The Members of this committee on both sides know how to work together to get the job done. We demonstrated as much in the FY19 process.
“Today we find ourselves at a critical point in the FY20 process.
“Hopefully, the three bipartisan bills we are considering today will help move us in the right direction, which is bipartisan cooperation.
“I now recognize the Vice Chairman for any remarks he may have and to make a motion.”
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