Financial Services and General Government and National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2026

Floor Speech

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Mr. ALFORD. Mr. Chairman, today we are voting on a two-bill appropriations package that funds Financial Services and our National Security and State Department. This bill keeps the government running, protects America, and respects the taxpayer. This package contains two bills with real cuts, real security, and real governing, Mr. Chairman, not bloated omnibuses, not last-minute shutdown threats or games, but Members on both sides of the aisle who are actually doing the work line by line and in the open.

This package cuts nearly $9 billion compared to last year. Financial Services is flat-funded. National Security and State are cut by a whopping 16 percent. It is proof that we can fund priorities without growing our government.

We rein in Washington by cutting IRS enforcement back to Trump 45-era levels. Chairman Joyce blocked Democratic efforts to tie the administration's hands and help refocus spending so that taxpayer dollars only go where they actually make America safer.

Chairman Diaz-Balart delivered DOGE-era USAID cuts while still funding national security investments. In fact, I was honored to help Chairman Diaz-Balart retain some of these programs under the new banner of national security investment programs at the State Department under the direction of Secretary Rubio.

The bottom line, sir, is if it is not having to do with our national security interests, we are not funding it. We fully fund CFIUS to stop foreign threats from buying up America, keep longstanding pro-life protections in place, and deliver a bill with no poison pills. This package keeps spending below the current continuing resolution and moves us closer to finishing all 12 appropriations bills. They said it couldn't be done. We are going to do it.

The bottom line is, this bill delivers three critical things: safety, strength, and freedom. Two bills, real cuts, real security, real governing, a bill so good the White House just endorsed it.

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Mr. ALFORD. Mr. Chairman, this bill is so good, the White House just endorsed this bill, and I want to read the last paragraph: ``The administration urges the Congress to support this fiscally responsible bill and looks forward to working with the Congress on the remaining appropriations bills to address key priorities and avoid another disastrous government shutdown.''

Mr. Chairman, I along with Donald J. Trump, the White House, and the OMB Director urge my colleagues to vote for this funding bill. Let's get `er done.

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