Political Quotes

“I rise in support of both the omnibus appropriations bill and the bill to provide funds for disaster relief. They have been approved by the other body by overwhelming, bipartisan votes. I urge the Senate to approve these bills. They fully comply with the requirements of the Budget Control Act. Together with appropriations bills already enacted, the omnibus brings appropriations for the basic operations of government to the $1.043 trillion level established in the Act. The disaster bill provides an additional $8 billion for disaster relief in response to the floods, tornados and hurricanes that plagued much of the country during the spring and summer months. These funds are within the limits established in the BCA specifically for disaster relief. Total discretionary spending carried in all of the fiscal year 2012 appropriations bills will be $31 billion below last year's level. Within the omnibus there are many adjustments in funding levels for individual programs. The bill increases the base budget for the Department of Defense by $5 billion. It provides increases for border security, nuclear weapons modernization, the National Institutes of Health, and veterans medical care. The bill maintains the maximum Pell grant award at its current level, but pays for that with a series of needed reforms. The bill reduces funding for the National Labor Relations Board, the Environmental Protection Agency, FEMA grants, and the Election Assistance Commission.…”