Hal Rogers: “I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I urge Members to support this bill. This is a good bill. It provides…”

“I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I urge Members to support this bill. This is a good bill. It provides $21.3 billion to fund many, many important programs and services that help our government function and our economy grow. For example, the bill includes $862 million for the Small Business Administration, to assist our small businesses--and we all know those small businesses are the backbone of our economy--to help them prosper. It also includes $6.7 billion for our Federal courts, to ensure the faithful execution of our laws and the timely processing of Federal cases. The bill also demonstrates a commitment to keeping poor-performing or misbehaving agencies and programs in check. It cuts funding for the IRS, as the chairman has said, by $341 million from last year, nearly 12 percent below the President's request. This funding level will allow the agency to perform its core duties, but will require IRS management to streamline and make the very best use of its allocated dollars. We have also included language that will help ensure that each and every dollar spent by the IRS is spent legally, responsibly, and appropriately. For instance, the bill prohibits funding for the production of inappropriate videos and conferences that many of us have seen on television and for employee bonuses or awards, unless their performance is considered. The bill also prohibits funding for the IRS to implement the ObamaCare individual health care mandate on the American people.…”