Political Quotes

“Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Chair, I am pleased to present to the House the fiscal year 2017 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill. As you know, this bill funds a diverse group of agencies and activities, including financial regulators, tax collection, the White House, the Federal courts, the District of Columbia, the General Services Administration, and the Small Business Administration. This bill is the product of eight hearings that we have had and the result of nearly 2,000 requests by Members from both sides of the aisle. The bill provides $21.7 billion for fiscal year 2017. That is $1.5 billion less than last year, or a 6\1/2\ percent reduction, and it is $2.7 billion, or 11 percent below the request. The subcommittee's allocation is a significant reduction compared to 2016. Nonetheless, the allocation is sufficient to fund vital Federal programs as well as the one-time set-asides for the expenses of the Presidential transition. Among the priorities of this bill are law enforcement and the administration of justice. Funding for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas and the Drug-Free Communities programs are at record- high levels. The funding for the Treasury's Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, the agency that enforces our sanction programs, received a substantial increase. In addition, there is a healthy amount of funding for both the Federal and the D.C.…”