On the recordSeptember 27, 2023
I close out by saying that we know that the Department of Defense is necessarily a hierarchical institution where the top leaders identify the most important priorities across a very vast swath of departments within the Department of Defense, and they are the ones who we confirm, frankly, to be in charge of that appropriations request and budget. What is happening now with this unfunded priorities list--and we have had testimony on this in the Budget Committee and other committees--is that these lists are just coming from people who simply do not have any authority to determine the importance. Mr. Chair, I urge adoption of the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Griffith). The question is on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Jayapal). The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes appeared to have it.
