Political Quotes

“I thank my esteemed colleagues, full committee Chairwoman Lowey, and Ranking Member Granger. This six-bill appropriations package represents a lot of hard work for many of us on the Appropriations Committee. Broadly speaking, this package is a fine example of compromise--Members working across the aisle to do the important work of funding our government in an efficient and thoughtful manner. Our Appropriations Committee delivered. Nevertheless, while this legislation addresses many bipartisan concerns, I fear that it has no chance of becoming law in its current form without a compromise on border security. That is truly unfortunate. We are holding up the government, we are causing a lot of people a lot of unnecessary pain and suffering, and we need to get this done. Regarding funding for the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and other related programs; this portion of the bill provides important resources for our national security. It supports our allies and partners, including $3.3 billion in foreign military financing for Israel--a $200 million increase from last year, by the way. It also maintains funding at or above last year for Egypt, Jordan, and Tunisia, as well as countries facing Russian aggression, such as Ukraine and Georgia. In our own hemisphere, the bill supports programs to counter transnational criminal organizations and the flow of illegal drugs.…”