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. CARTER of Texas. Madam Speaker, I really wish I was here expressing my support for the fiscal year 2022 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies bill, because it includes funding for many important construction projects and programs for veterans. But, unfortunately, I cannot support the bill for three reasons.

The responsibility of the Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies is to provide adequate resources for our servicemembers, ensure that we fulfill the promises America made to our veterans, and be good stewards of tax dollars.

While this bill includes funding for many priorities, including child development centers, barracks, suicide prevention programs, and electronic health records, it is not part of a bipartisan funding framework that appropriately allocates funding between defense and nondefense programs.

The bill also drops two restrictions on funding that have protected Americans from the transfer of detainees, terrorists, to the United States for more than 10 years. There is no reason to allow these terrorists on U.S. soil. They need to remain in Guantanamo Bay and pay for their heinous crimes.

Finally, I oppose the majority party's attempt to force hardworking citizens to pay to end unborn human life. The Hyde amendment protects every American from seeing their tax dollars used to fund something that is the exact opposite of the American value of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.

It is simple. Congress must maintain the Hyde amendment.

Despite my concerns, I think we can resolve our differences, address these issues, and provide responsible levels of funding for the next fiscal year.

In closing, I want to thank Chairwoman Wasserman Schultz for her work on this bill and stewardship of the Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies. Along with the staff, she has personally worked to address many requests from all Members in this bill.

Also, I thank Ranking Member Granger and Chairwoman DeLauro for their support.

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