Granger: FY23 Bills Fail to Address Concerns of the American People

Jun 16, 2022
Press Release

WASHINGTON – Today, the Homeland Security Subcommittee and Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee met to consider their fiscal year 2023 appropriations bills. The measures were reported out to the full committee with concerns raised by Republicans.
 
Ranking Member Kay Granger (R-TX), the lead Republican for the Appropriations Committee, said of the measures, “Unfortunately, the Majority’s proposals fail to address two of the American people’s top concerns: record-high costs and illegal immigration. Instead of implementing policies that reduce spending and secure our border, these bills increase the size and reach of the federal government and lay the groundwork for more illegal immigration.”
 
Problematic Funding Levels and Provisions:
 
Homeland Security

  • Provides a 4.6% increase ($2.7 billion), yet the priorities are misplaced:
    • Does not provide any new funds for a border wall system and changes the use of existing wall funds to address environmental concerns rather than new construction.
    • Funds Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the requested level, resulting in a reduction of 9,000 adult detention beds below last year’s level.
    • Provides $615 million to increase Transportation Security Officer pay and fund their newly created unionization authority.
  • Prohibits ICE agents from deporting illegal migrants unless those migrants are accused of additional crimes.
  • Allows the Biden Administration to quickly grant migrants asylum, allowing them to stay in the country without seeing an immigration judge to adjudicate their case.


Financial Services and General Government

  • Provides a 17% increase ($4.3 billion).
  • Drops long-standing pro-life language prohibiting the use of DC local funds and the Federal Employee Health Benefits program from funding abortions.
  • Includes new restrictions on the DC private school voucher program, effectively terminating the program.
  • Allows federal agencies to hire people participating in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

 
Ranking Member Granger’s remarks in each subcommittee are linked below:
Homeland Security Subcommittee Markup
Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee Markup

117th Congress