On the recordJune 9, 2015
I want to thank the ranking member, first, for his kind words towards me right now but, more importantly, for his willingness to work with me, to spend the time, the effort. Both he and his staff, the committee staff, have, frankly, worked awfully hard on making sure we do the best job that we can, and I am grateful for that. I just very briefly want to just mention that this bill, this is a bill that prioritizes funding and funds our country's priorities. It is a balanced bill. And very important, Madam Chair, this is a bill, that, yes, it does not raise taxes. Now, I know that a lot of folks have talked about the President's requests and the President's requests. And the President's requests for this area are much higher in many areas than what this bill is funding. But let's remember a couple of things. The President has massive taxes, tax increases in his proposals, number one. And also, that this bill adheres to not only the budget that was passed by Congress, House and Senate, but this bill adheres to the law, the law that was passed by Congress and signed by the President of the United States, the so- called ``sequester'' law. So if we go above and beyond that level, which some people, I guess, don't remember, it is fake. It gets sequestered. So, Madam Chair, again, I thank the ranking member for his hard work. This is a balanced bill. It is a good bill. It is a responsible bill. It pays and funds the priorities of this great country.…
