Hearing of the House Appropriations Committee - FY2014 Report on the Suballocation of Budget Allocations

Hearing

The last order of business is the report on the 302(b)'s, allocating the amount provided in the budget resolution to the Subcommittees.

These allocations will allow us to bring our bills through the Committee process and to the floor. Unless these are approved, and unless the allocations equal the level set in the Ryan budget and the sequestration law -- which is $967 billion -- we cannot bring any bills to the floor as per the Rules of the House.

Clearly, this is an austere budget year. Sequestration is taking a huge toll on discretionary spending, leaving us with this very low topline number. Yet our hands are tied, and we must try and make do with the level we have right now.

It is my sincere hope that there will soon be a budget compromise that will undo the damaging sequestration law and give us a single, common top-line allocation with the Senate.

However, until that time, we cannot sit by the wayside waiting for a deal to be made. The work of our Committee takes time and careful effort -- and we have a fast approaching deadline of September 30, the end of the fiscal year. If we are to reach our goal of passing all 12 bills through a regular order process, we must approve these suballocations today.

Breaking down the top-line allocation into twelve smaller pots was no easy task. As you can see from the numbers in front of you, virtually all areas of the government will face cuts -- including critical national security programs.

This is in no way ideal, but this is the hand sequestration has dealt us. We crafted these allocations with sharp scissors and clear heads, but also with an understanding of the unfortunate sacrifices that must be made. We are targeting funding in areas with the highest national priority, and where it will be most efficiently used to preserve our security and our economy.

We must now move forward under the law of the land, which includes sequestration, until the time comes when we have a long-term, sustainable budget solution in place. I ask the Committee to approve these sub-allocations today to allow us to get the wheels in motion on these must-pass bills

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