Granger Remarks on H.R. 2471, FY22 Full-Year Appropriations Bills

Mar 9, 2022
Statements

Mister Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2471, a bill that will provide funding for the Federal Government through the end of this fiscal year.

While it has taken us far too long to get here, I am glad we were able to produce a bill that includes many funding priorities that I support.

Since last summer, I have made it clear that House Republicans wouldn't oppose appropriations bills unless they:

  • Increase defense spending,
  • Restrain non-defense spending,
  • Include all long-standing policy provisions, and
  • Do not include any poison pill riders.

After months of negotiations, we reached a deal that meets all four of these criteria.

The bill before us:

  • Increases defense spending by roughly 6%, which is $4.5 billion above the NDAA,
  • Rejects the president’s proposed 16% increase in non-defense spending,
  • Includes the Hyde Amendment and other critical pro-life policies, and
  • Drops other controversial language. 

For defense, the bill provides our military and our troops with the resources they desperately need.

The roughly $42 billion increase in defense spending across all of the appropriations bills will:

  • Improve military readiness;
  • Start key modernization initiatives; and
  • Support our brave warfighters and their families so they can improve their quality of life.

The package also contains an additional $1 billion for Israel’s Iron Dome to allow Israel to replace the interceptors that were used in the most recent conflict.

The bill also ensures the safety and security of the American people by increasing overall funding for Homeland Security by 11%, including increases for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection.

New funding is also included to increase staff for the Border Patrol to address the crisis at our southwest border.

Because of this bill, President Trump’s successful Remain-in-Mexico program will continue, and President Biden’s plan to cancel existing border wall funding will be rejected.

I am proud to say that this bill not only funds the police, it increases resources for law enforcement agencies to address the troubling nationwide increase in crime.

Also before us today is crucial assistance to help the Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian government respond to Russia’s invasion.

I know we all share the feeling of shock and grief as we witness Russia’s attack on the sovereign nation of Ukraine and its aggression against innocent people.  

To close, I want to thank my colleagues – Chairwoman DeLauro, Senator Shelby, Senator Leahy, and the subcommittee chairs and ranking members – for their work on this bill.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the items in this bill that enhance our national security, and I reserve the balance of my time.