Joe Neguse: “I thank the distinguished gentleman, my friend from Pennsylvania, for the customary 30 minutes, and I yield myself such…”

“I thank the distinguished gentleman, my friend from Pennsylvania, for the customary 30 minutes, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as the gentleman said, today's rule provides for consideration of three bills. The first of those bills is H.R. 4366, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024. Mr. Speaker, this is typically a bipartisan bill, one of the most bipartisan bills that we consider in the United States Congress. That is not the case this year. Why? Because House Republicans decided to inject into this bill extreme policy riders that threaten the freedoms of each and every American. They have kicked off appropriations season by doubling down on funding bills that endanger essential services. Just to speak frankly, neither this bill nor any of the others that they will bring to the floor on the appropriations side have any chance of becoming law. My colleagues across the aisle know that. Today, they come to the floor to proudly tout a bill that would slash $1.3 billion--not my number; their number--from military construction programs that support quality-of-life services for members of the Armed Forces and their families. Democrats fight against cuts to vital programs that help the American people. Unfortunately, House Republicans are doing the opposite. We saw this cycle many times, Mr. Speaker.…”