Granger Remarks on Interior and Environment FY21 Full Committee Markup

I want to thank Chair McCollum and Ranking Member Joyce for the work they’ve done on many important programs supported by the Interior bill.

This bill funds priorities and concerns of Members on both sides of the aisle and does many good things for the preservation of our natural resources.

In addition, the bill helps local communities across the country with education and safety needs, particularly in Indian country.

Even though the bill funds many shared priorities, there are several policy items that raise concern.

The bill eliminates several long-standing, common-sense provisions that have had bipartisan support for many years.

Instead, the bill adds many new poison pill riders and directives that would limit domestic energy and mineral production and prevent the Administration from reducing regulatory burdens.

Additionally, I am concerned about spending across all the fiscal year 2021 appropriations bills and, in particular, the funding levels proposed in this bill.

This bill includes $15 billion in new emergency spending, including components of the infrastructure bill that was pushed through the House last week without Republican involvement.

I did not support that bill because it was a departure from years of bipartisan work on infrastructure priorities, and I cannot support this additional spending today.

We must find ways to rein in federal spending while addressing our nation’s most pressing needs.

I hope that we can resolve these policy and funding differences. 

In closing, I want to recognize all of the subcommittee Members for their dedication to the important programs in the bill and the staff for their hard work.

Thank you, Madam Chair, I yield back.