Michael Burgess: “I thank the gentleman from Georgia for yielding. I rise today to speak in support of the rule and the underlying bills…”

“I thank the gentleman from Georgia for yielding. I rise today to speak in support of the rule and the underlying bills: H.R. 8771, the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act; H.R. 8752, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act; and H.R. 8774, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act. Each of these bills, Mr. Speaker, serves an important role in ensuring our Nation's defense while also holding the Federal agencies and the Biden administration accountable to the American public. These bills eliminate funding for unnecessary and unjustified Federal programs, saving taxpayers' money in the process. At the same time, these bills will work to secure the southern border, counter threatening activity by the People's Republic of China, and enhance the ability of the Federal Government to combat the flow of fentanyl and other illegal drugs crossing our borders, while providing a 4.5 percent pay increase to all military personnel, including, very importantly, a 15 percent increase in pay for junior enlisted servicemembers. Importantly, these bills narrow their scope to what appropriations bills are intended to do, fund the core missions of Federal agencies and not some fanciful wish list.…”