ICYMI: Top Senate Appropriators on Both Sides of Aisle Affirm Importance of Working Together to Pass Bipartisan Spending Bills
ICYMI: Senators Murray and Collins Release Tentative Appropriations Subcommittee Hearings Calendar – MORE HERE
ICYMI: Senators Murray and Collins Respond to President’s Budget: Full Steam Ahead on Appropriations Process – MORE HERE
(Washington, D.C.) – In case you missed it: last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee continued with a busy slate of subcommittee hearings to examine the President’s FY 2024 budget, assess our country’s needs for the year ahead, and begin work on bipartisan funding bills that strengthen our economy, keep our communities safe, and help our nation stay ahead of competitors like China.
During last week’s hearings to assess our nation’s funding needs for the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps, Department of Justice, Department of the Interior, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Homeland Security, top Senate appropriators on both sides of the aisle affirmed their commitment to returning to regular order and working together to produce funding bills to deliver for the American people.
SENATOR MARTIN HEINRICH (D-NM), Chair of the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
At March 29 Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request for the U.S. Department of Agriculture:
“The programs and activities of this department affect every single American—from farmers and rural communities to children and families who depend on healthy and nutritious food.
“I’m looking forward to starting the appropriations process and working with all the members of this subcommittee to draft an agriculture bill that supports these vital programs. I want to briefly reiterate the importance of reaching a bipartisan, top line agreement.
“We have important work to do and we need to come together to bring back regular order. That will not be easy, but I stand ready to work with every member as we continue to move this process forward.”
SENATOR JOHN HOEVEN (R-ND), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
At March 29 Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request for the U.S. Department of Agriculture:
“Department of Ag affects every American, every day. Our farmers and ranchers produce the highest quality, lowest cost food supply in the world that benefits every single American every single day. So what you do [Secretary Vilsack] is incredibly important. What we do here in Ag Approps is incredibly important.”
SENATOR JON TESTER (D-MT), Chair of the Subcommittee on Defense
At March 28 Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request for the Navy and Marine Corps:
“Our key priority this year must be to get the budget done on time. Continuing resolutions kill military modernization and cause billions in wasteful spending, and it is no secret that the Chinese don’t operate under continuing resolutions. I am encouraged by the work by Chair Murray and Vice Chair Collins have already put in to restore regular order to the Appropriations Committee. Their commitment to writing bipartisan appropriations bill that addresses the critical challenges facing our nation have my full-throated support.”
SENATOR SUSAN COLLINS (R-ME), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Defense
At March 28 Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request for the Navy and Marine Corps:
“I want to echo the Chairman’s ‘thank you’ to each of our witnesses for your service. It is greatly appreciated, and I would ask that you also pass on our gratitude to the sailors and marines that you represent. I also want to recognize the Department’s many civilians and their industry partners who build and maintain the ships, aircraft, and munitions that sustain the Navy and the Marine Corps. They make invaluable contributions, and I’m personally proud that so many Mainers have chosen to serve their country in these capacities, such as by working at Bath Iron Works, the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, and the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Center in Cutler, Maine.”
SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN (D-NH), Chair of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
At March 28 Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request for the U.S. Department of Justice:
“The first thing I would like to do is to recognize my Ranking Member Senator Moran for the great work that we have done together over the years—both when he was chair and I was ranking, and now that I am chair and he is ranking. We have worked in a collaborative bipartisan manner that I think has been good for this committee and good for the Senate.
“The other thing I wanted to just point out in terms of our ability to work together is that we have new leadership in both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees.
“They have given us a very aggressive schedule and said that we are going to return to regular order. We are going to go through the bills and bring them to the floor. I think that’s good news.”
SENATOR JERRY MORAN (R-KS), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
At March 28 Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request for the U.S. Department of Justice:
“I would echo your comments [Chair Shaheen] in which you indicate the desire and evidence that we fulfill that desire on most instances of you and I working together in this committee working in a nonpartisan way—a bipartisan way—to get a result.
“And I appreciate your compliments of Senator Collins and Senator Murray, the vice chairman and the chairman of the full committee. I’m anxious for us to have a number in which you and I and this committee can begin determining some important answers to some significant questions about the funding of the agencies and departments under the jurisdiction of the subcommittee.”
SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY (D-CT), Chair of the Subcommittee on Homeland Security
At March 29 Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security:
“As we start this effort, I’d like to share my intention to work with Ranking Member Britt and the rest of the members of the subcommittee to develop and pass a bipartisan bill that protects our nation. And I’m very glad that Chair Murray and Vice Chair Collins, who is here, are committed to restoring regular order. … I think that’s good for the country. I think that’s good for the Senate.”
SENATOR KATIE BRITT (R-AL), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Homeland Security
At March 29 Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security:
“I am looking forward to serving alongside you [Chair Murphy] on this important committee. I also want to thank Chair Murray and Vice Chair Collins for your leadership. Ensuring that we do everything possible to get back to regular order is of the utmost importance, and we’re proud to be a part of it.”
SENATOR JEFF MERKLEY (D-OR), Chair of the Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
At March 29 Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request for the U.S. Department of the Interior:
“As I commented at our first hearing, I fully support Chair Murray and Vice Chair Collins in their resolve to move appropriation bills through committee and onto the floor this year.
“And I appreciate the aggressive schedule that they have laid out with that goal in mind, and look forward to getting to work with my partner in this effort, Ranking Member Senator Murkowski.”
The sentiment from Senate Appropriations Committee members last week echoes the prior week’s hearings, during which appropriators on both sides of the aisle voiced strong support for the Committee’s return to regular order and bipartisan work on spending bills.
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