Washington, D.C. – Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), a member of the House Rules Committee and Republican Leader of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, managed the Rule for House Republicans as they considered the first appropriations bills for the fiscal year 2021.
As Prepared for Delivery:
The rule we are debating today provides consideration for fiscal year 2021 appropriations for State and Foreign Operations, Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration, Interior and Environment, and Military Construction and the Veterans Affairs Administration.
While I am glad that we are considering these appropriations measures two months prior to the end of the fiscal year, I am disappointed that they do not adhere to the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019 and include numerous policy provisions that are simply untenable to Republicans.
Division A appropriates $65 billion for State and foreign operations, including $8 billion in cap-exempt Overseas Contingency Operations funding and $10 billion in emergency coronavirus funding. Funding is continued for important global health programs to support maternal and child health; combat AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria; contribute to vaccine administration; and for the PEPFAR program.
Funding to the northern triangle countries of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras is provided to help those countries create economic opportunities, reduce violence, and strengthen rule of law. The Secretary of State is required to certify that these countries meet certain conditions before 50% of the funding can be obligated. While they have made progress recently, we must continue oversight of taxpayer-funded foreign assistance to ensure the citizens of these countries are benefitting and that we are effectively working to combat the drivers of irregular migration.
However, this division also prohibits the use of funds to implement the Mexico City Policy, which requires non-governmental organizations to certify they will not perform or actively promote abortion as a condition of receiving U.S. funds. It also removes conditions that promote transparency and accountability at international organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO). We know that China has withheld information from the WHO, leading to the global pandemic under which we now suffer. It is disappointing that these partisan provisions were included in this bill. We could have had a bipartisan bill to provide for the American people. These poison pill provisions virtually guarantee that will not be the case.
The Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration division appropriates nearly $24 billion in discretionary funding, $487 million over the fiscal year 2020 level. In the midst of a global pandemic, it is critical that our Food and Drug Administration be fully funded and staffed to stand at the ready to process applications for medical countermeasures, such as therapeutics and vaccines for the 2019 novel coronavirus.
This bill continues to fund the FDA Innovation Account from 21st Century Cures and the various user fee arrangements.
But again, I do have some concerns about attempts to include authorizing language in an appropriations bill about issues that authorizing committees have not yet debated. One of these issues is giving the FDA mandatory recall authority. Currently, manufacturers typically recall their products if the FDA requests they do so because if they fail to act on a voluntary recall, it would be a big liability for the manufacturer. FDA also has other tools to keep a product off the market. The section of code that this appropriations bill seeks to amend is specific to controlled substances, which may not be an appropriate place to incorporate such a policy. Future consideration of such policies should happen at the Committee of jurisdiction, Energy & Commerce.
Agriculture is the lifeblood for many American families, especially in rural communities. This coronavirus pandemic has greatly impacted our nation’s food supply, and this bill works to strengthen food security and promote agricultural research. As communities continue to work through the “new normal” we are experiencing with many people working from home and remote learning, efforts to bolster rural broadband are critical.
Once more, rather than simply providing for the American people, this bill includes language that would permanently prevent any administration from making changes to SNAP programs. This policy would result in working age, non-disabled adults without children not being required to seek employment during times of low unemployment in order to seek benefits. When we are in the middle of a national emergency, flexibility is appropriate. However, we should not be permanently barred from making the program more beneficial to the recipient and the taxpayers.
Next, Division C of this bill includes provisions that ensure our nation’s environment and public lands are preserved for future generations. These funds will be used to combat invasive species, mitigate harmful algae blooms, and stop the trafficking of endangered animals. They will also provide essential resources to maintain our nation’s national park system.
Unfortunately, the bill threatens the advancement of fundamentally pro-business and pro-worker policies. It adds unnecessary barriers to administrative efforts to reduce regulation. Eliminating bureaucratic red tape will be key to unlocking future economic growth.
Division C also threatens the continued development of America’s energy resources, thus, its energy independence and thousands of jobs tied to the energy sector. Specifically, it prohibits federal funds to be used for oil and gas sales on federal lands and offshore leases in federal waters. These projects are important to America’s economic recovery, its national security, and its energy independence. We should not be limiting economic opportunities in the middle of a global recession.
Division C of this bill contains many important provisions, but its pro-regulation and anti-energy provisions will harm our economy and hurt jobs throughout the country.
I would last like to discuss the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs division. As a historically bipartisan committee, I am grateful for the support the committee has provided for important Veterans programs, especially Veterans health, military construction programs, and for prioritizing military family housing.
We learned during last year about the unacceptable condition of private military housing that is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative. Some reforms were included in last year’s National Defense Authorization Act, and I hope we can continue funding and oversight to ensure our Armed Forces and their families feel safe at home.
Although I agree and support veterans’ healthcare programs and am encouraged by the robust mental health programs and opioid abuse prevention and treatment assistance included in this bill, being fiscally responsible is critical in a time like this when the Congressional Budget Office estimated the budget deficit exceeding $3.7 trillion this fiscal year. I share my Republican colleague’s concerns on designating $12.5 billion dollars as emergency funding, disregarding the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019. Why do we work to agree on spending caps if our Democratic colleagues are going to disregard them to fund their partisan priorities?
Furthermore, I have serious concerns regarding provisions which restrict funds for military construction projects, specifically, a prohibition on funding for any type of border barrier. These restrictions unfairly jeopardize our military’s safety and wellbeing. We are in the middle of a global pandemic. Mexico agreed to limit border crossings with the United States, so legal and illegal entries have been significantly reduced, limiting Coronavirus transmission to domestic cases. Despite our best hopes, Coronavirus cases are increasing, particularly in southern states. Now is not the time to restrict the ability of the President to act to further protect our country.
Last, I would like to note report language that presents pro-life concerns. This language grants flexibility to the VA without pro-life protections, thus including abortion referrals for veterans referred to outside care resources for services not provided by the department.
Again, this appropriations package incorporates many provisions that both Democrats and Republicans can agree on. It also busts through the Bipartisan Budget Act agreement and includes poison pill policy provisions that Republicans cannot support. I hope my Democratic colleagues come to the table and negotiate so that we do not abandon the American people as the end of the fiscal year approaches.
