Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Agriculture, Rural Development, Energy and Water Development, Financial Services and General Government, Interior, Environment, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2022

Floor Speech

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Mr. QUIGLEY. Madam Speaker, first, I want to thank staff on both sides for putting this together. On the majority side: Laura, Marybeth, Elliot, Aalok, Parker, and Matt. On the minority side, John Martens; and from my own staff, Charlie and Max.

I do want to thank Mr. Womack, the ranking member, who is a friend, a gentleman, and very easy to work with at a complicated time and his apparent insistence on being a Cardinals fan, as he just raised. He doesn't seem to mind when I bring up the St. Louis professional football and basketball teams, but we will leave that to another day.

As to the bill, the bill recommends $29 billion. This is an increase of $4.8 billion over the comparable year of 2021.

It includes $13.6 billion for the IRS, an increase of $1.7 billion above fiscal 2021, a first step toward restoring the cuts this agency has suffered. The increase will improve enforcement activities and support better customer service.

Notably, the bill includes $330 million for Community Development Financial Institutions, which is $60 million above the fiscal year 2021 level to provide critical resources to underserved communities.

The bill provides $324 million for the Small Business Administration's Entrepreneurial Development Programs, which is $52 million above fiscal year 2021.

It also includes significant funding for the General Services Administration, including $300 million for a new Electric Vehicles Fund, $100 million for the GSA to manage climate change risks, and over $1 billion to modernize and improve the GSA real property portfolio by reducing their climate impact and improving resiliency.

The bill also includes $300 million for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program, an increase of $10 million, and the Drug- Free Communities Program is funded at $110 million.

In the lead-up to our country's 250th anniversary, the bill includes much-needed funding for the modernization of the National Archives building, which houses the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.

The bill includes $8.15 billion in discretionary appropriations for the judicial branch, an increase to fund protective services and physical security needed in courthouses and ensure the continued operations of the judiciary.

The bill also increases funding for agencies to protect everyday consumers and retail investors, including the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

I am proud this bill removes several longstanding policy riders, including many that dictate to the District of Columbia how to manage its own affairs or spend its own money or that harm and limit transparency in political spending.

Finally, I would like to take a moment to highlight an issue that is a priority of mine, election security.

This bill today includes $500 million for payments to States to help them meet the challenge of ensuring the real security and integrity of American elections. This represents our continued commitment to long- term funding for election security.

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