Shelby Urges Passage of FY22 Appropriations Package
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) today spoke on the Senate floor ahead of the vote on the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) omnibus appropriations package, which contains all 12 appropriations measures and approximately $14 billion in emergency funding in response to the situation in Ukraine:
Vice Chairman Shelby stated, “The bill represents a massive bipartisan effort that rests upon a framework that preserves all legacy riders, rejects poison pill policy provisions from both sides, and achieves dollar-for-dollar funding parity for defense and non-defense increases. … Because the international security situation demands a greater emphasis on, and investment in our national defense, this omnibus bill provides $782 billion for the Department of Defense and for other defense functions – $4 billion more than the level authorized in the FY22 National Defense Authorization Act – $30 billion more than President Biden’s budget request, and nearly $42 billion more than FY21.
“The package also provides critical emergency assistance to our military, Ukraine, and our European allies without reducing base defense spending by a single dollar. Mr. President, is an omnibus appropriations bill ideal? No, it’s not. But, at this critical time and this late date, it is necessary. My hope is that we can pass this bill and use the same framework that made this bill possible as we begin the FY23 appropriations process.”
Shelby’s full remarks, as prepared, are as follows:
“Mr. President, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support the FY22 Omnibus Appropriations bill.
“The bill represents a massive bipartisan effort that rests upon a framework that preserves all legacy riders, rejects poison pill policy provisions from both sides, and achieves dollar-for-dollar funding parity for defense and non-defense increases.
“As political compromise has become more and more difficult, great credit belongs to Chairman Leahy for making the tough choices that needed to be made to reach an agreement.
“The senior Senator from Vermont has accomplished many things in his long and distinguished career. Each and every one of those accomplishments were made possible by his unparalleled ability to get things done. And, this bill needed to get done.
“Mr. President, because the international security situation demands a greater emphasis on, and investment in our national defense, this omnibus bill provides $782 billion for the Department of Defense and for other defense functions – $4 billion more than the level authorized in the FY22 National Defense Authorization Act – $30 billion more than President Biden’s budget request, and nearly $42 billion more than FY21.
“The bill also provides an 11% increase over FY21 for the Department of Homeland Security, including $6.5 billion for much needed investments in border security resources and a 7% increase for ICE operations. Critically, the package restores $2 billion in funding for wall construction on the southwest border.
“The bill also cuts nearly $65 billion in wasteful non-defense spending proposed in the Biden Administration’s budget – a nearly 10% decrease from the request level.
“Finally, the package also provides critical emergency assistance to our military, Ukraine, and our European allies without reducing base defense spending by a single dollar.
“Mr. President, is an omnibus appropriations bill ideal? No, it’s not. But, at this critical time and this late date, it is necessary.
“My hope is that we can pass this bill and use the same framework that made this bill possible as we begin the FY23 appropriations process.
“I have no illusions that it will once again be a difficult process. I do know, however, that our Chairman can get it done and I look forward to working with him one last time.
“Mr. President, before I complete my remarks I would like to recognize the incredible effort put forward by the staff members of both the Senate and House Appropriations Committees, as well as the staff of the respective Leader’s offices.
“We asked them to do the impossible, and they delivered . . . as they always do. On behalf of the entire Senate, thank you all very much.”
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