First, I want to thank Chairman Quigley and Ranking Member Womack for their work on the fiscal year 2023 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Bill. I also want to acknowledge the committee staff for their efforts.
The bill before us includes many priorities of Members on both sides of the aisle, including:
- Support for small businesses;
- Drug control programs; and
- Sanctions programs.
Inflation is at historic levels, and we must find ways to reduce spending. Instead, this bill increases the size and scope of the federal government and does nothing to help Americans struggling with record-high prices on everyday needs such as gas and groceries. There are other serious issues with this bill that will prevent it from gaining support from Members on our side of the aisle.
It does not include long-standing pro-life provisions regarding the use of D.C. local funds and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. There are also significant new policy riders related to immigration, radio and T.V. advertising for marijuana, and school choice for low-income students in the District of Columbia.
As this process moves forward, we will continue to try to secure an agreement. We want language carried in the bills in the past to be retained, and controversial policies to be dropped.
With that framework in place, we will work to reach an agreement on funding levels that takes into account the national debt and does not further contribute to inflation.
Thank you, Madam Chair, I yield back.
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