Haiti Development, Accountability, and Institutional Transparency Initiative Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for the introduction.

Mr. Speaker, I want to salute Chairman DeLauro and Ranking Member Granger of the full committee for putting together a final appropriations package for the year. It is a fair compromise that includes funding for many priorities here at home and abroad.

As ranking member of the Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, I want to highlight a few priorities included in the SFOPS section of the bill that provide critical funding to our allies and partners during a time of great angst around the globe.

Although essential military and economic aid for the brave people of Ukraine is included elsewhere in the bill as an emergency supplemental appropriation, base funding for State-Foreign Operations is essential to our national security.

Following the chaotic Afghan withdrawal by this administration, and a full-scale assault on Ukraine by President Putin, it is critically important that this Congress sends a signal to the rest of the world that the United States stands by its allies and partners.

We do so here by including $3.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing for Israel and robust, continued support for other key partners in the Middle East like Egypt and Jordan. Funding is also increased for our efforts to counter the malign influence of the Chinese Government.

In our own hemisphere, the bill increases funding for one of our most important partners in the region, Colombia, as they continue to work to thwart drug producers and traffickers. The bill also prioritizes funding to address the flow of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids into the United States from Mexico and China.

I am also pleased to report that the agreement restores all protections for the unborn that are in current law, including a prohibition on the use of funds to pay for abortion. At no time should U.S. taxpayer dollars be used to kill the unborn. We must always protect the sanctity of life.

Finally, this omnibus provides critical resources for southern and eastern Kentucky, I am proud to say. It continues our fight against the opioid epidemic, which is as important now as it has ever been.

It provides record funding for my Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization Program, which is creating new economic opportunities across Appalachia and throughout my district.

It includes my community project funding requests, which will provide important resources to our first responders, help protect Kentuckians from future floods, improve access to clean water, fight the scourge of opioids, improve medical care, and promote economic growth.

This bill is a substantial improvement on the House-passed bill, and I commend our chairwoman and ranking member for their hard work on this package.

Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote.

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