Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012

Floor Speech

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Mr. DIAZ-BALART. I thank the chairman for this opportunity, and I really congratulate him. This is the first time in many years, since 2009, that we've actually come to the floor with a conference report.

Think about that.

Before, things just kind of came out of the blue, and we were forced to deal with them without having an opportunity to see them and without going through regular order. But this would have not happened without the leadership of our chairman, Chairman Rogers.

I cannot thank you enough, sir, for, once again, making the people's House do its work and do it in a responsible way.

I also want to commend the ranking member for working hand-in-hand with the chairman.

Look, there is no denying that we are on an unsustainable path of borrowing too much and spending too much. In past appropriations bills, they were judged to be successful by how much more taxpayer money we were spending. I guess Congress felt good because we were spending more money. Well, that has changed dramatically. This bill actually cuts funding. It actually spends less than the previous year's level.

So, again, it is a huge step in the right direction, but it also funds the essential services that the American people depend on.

I want to recognize the work of Chairmen Kingston and Wolf, who have balanced the funding for necessary food safety and for, as an example, law enforcement. They also made some very difficult choices--but necessary choices--to reduce spending.

I had the privilege of serving on the Transportation and Housing Subcommittee, and I want to commend Chairman Latham for the work that he has devoted to this bill.

On the transportation side, this bill prioritizes rail and transit projects that improve and expand existing systems. It funds NextGen to help reduce traffic delays, and it funds the Federal highway program. It provides sufficient funding to renew every individual and family voucher, for example, and it includes new oversight reforms at HUD to root out waste, fraud, and abuse, which is such a huge issue.

This conference report prioritizes government spending for vital programs, but it also reduces waste and, again, puts us on a path where we will not bankrupt the United States of America.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this fine piece of legislation. Is it perfect? No. But it's the best piece of legislation and the only one in many, many years that has actually come to the floor through regular process after an amendatory process.

I commend the chairman, and I support the legislation wholeheartedly.

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