Ranking Member Hoyer: Cursory Consideration is Not Sufficient if We Really Want a Good, Responsible Government Of, By, and For the People
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"Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. There will [not be], unfortunately, the same unanimity that we had on the last bill. There is a huge constituency for the last bill. Democrats and Republicans both committed to supporting our veterans. This bill does not have the kind of constituency that I think would lead to a, frankly, more responsible bill. At its essence, this bill is a good government bill. It invests in our civic institutions, our fundamental obligations as a country, elections, taxes, a judicial system, consumer protection. I said in markup on the subcommittee, this is not a sexy bill. It doesn't excite people. Nobody goes out and says, ‘Guess what? I funded the IRS. Isn't that exciting?’ Does this bill sufficiently resource the agencies and the judiciary to do their jobs and do it well? In its current form, this FSGG bill falls far short.
"This process is not a good process. Our Chairman has essentially – our big Chairman – has, indicated that. We should have gotten the budget [in] a timely fashion. Most administrations do not give us a budget [in] a timely fashion. That's the bad news. The good news is, it really doesn't matter because we can proceed under the Budget Act on our own. Last year, we did not do that. We've waited far too long, and the end result was we haven't finished that process even today. I've already pointed out that the draconian cuts to the IRS with an 8.5% reduction overall and a 28% cut to enforcement. Now, ladies and gentlemen, I hope you would listen to this because it's critical to every one of the committees. The – Natasha Sarin, an advisor for tax policy in the last Administration, says this: ‘Over a decade, the size of the tax gap, the amount of taxes legally owed and not paid in a timely fashion over a decade approached nearly $7 trillion.’ Yet, we talk about an expenditure of $100, $1 million, $100 million, and we have taken a policy under this bill to again cut the IRS and cut the enforcement process in particular. It also undermines our election system, which is more critical this year than in others. The bill guts the Election Assistance Commission by a whopping 45%. We talk about fair elections; we talk about administering elections so that there is no fraud. 45% cut in the Election Commission, which includes a 6.2% reduction at the Federal Election Commission, the FEC, to make sure the financing of our elections is fair, open and transparent. It cuts the District of Columbia by 9.8%. This is our 250th birthday. Going to be a lot of people coming to our town, and we are reducing their budget to cope with that. Obviously, we made some federal expenditures, but the majority of the burden falls on the District of Columbia. I think that is an unfair and ill-advised reduction.
"As I said, the FSGG is the good government bill, and it oversees, frankly, some of the actions that have been taken which have caused the greatest chaos. I speak of DOGE – which is under our jurisdiction – the extraordinary OPM – which, agency after agency, has been decimated in terms of its ability to conduct its work. The bill is the vehicle for funding numerous consumer protection agencies to ensure American families and businesses can afford to make it in America. Yet, the cost of living in America is higher than ever, despite President Trump and the Republicans’ promises to lower prices. Because of the Administration's broken promises and misguided policies, tariffs are costing households an additional $2,500 per year. Gasoline costs an extra $740 per year, and as a result of tariffs, war, and chaos, the costs keep rising for groceries, utilities and everyday necessities. America and families are hurting. We can and must do better. The Small Business Administration – which provides for 36 million small businesses and their 62 million employees – faces a 23% cut – a 22.3% cut and its disaster loan program will see a 38% cut. Try explaining that to all those living in flood-prone regions, including in Western Maryland, where President Trump denied assistance for political reasons, as he articulated. Put another way, the bill tells the American people, ‘You're on Your Own.’ The Bureau of Fiscal Services, the Treasury, which ensures the timely payment of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid funds, would be cut by 9.2%. [The] Community Development Financial Institutions Fund – which supports economic growth in low income communities, it will see 14.6% of its budget going under this bill.
"It isn't just this bill that is flawed, though. It's been the process, secretive to the extent that we have only had one agency testify in front of our committee. The Secretary of Defense – excuse me, the Secretary of Treasury has not testified. The OMB Director has not testified. Numerous other agencies under our egis have not testified to it. So this bill comes without the informed judgment that witnesses provide. The President's budget came out less than three weeks ago. As the Chairman has indicated. We've had just two hearings with only one department, as I said, testifying about the ability of the government to deliver services with the resources requested. No hearing, as I said, with Secretary Bessent, no hearing from OMB Director Vought, no hearing with GSA, no hearing with the White House, no hearing with the IRS. Not a single regulatory commission under our egis has testified on their bills. So, ladies and gentlemen, on this committee, we're flying blind. And the fallback position has been to cut the ability of our agencies and committees and commissions to do their job to protect the American people and to serve the American people.
"And that is what is at stake, Mr. Chairman, whether or not the American government works [for] those it serves. Process, as you know, I think matters. Good process leads to good product. This is neither [a] good process nor [a] good product. We have a flawed process, and we get something that isn't up to the standards the American people expect of us, or that we ought to expect of ourselves. Perhaps that's because we all know that this bill is merely a pretense, a placeholder until the Senate acts and we face reality and responsibility. It sets up for disagreement with the Senate and yet another late in the year CR – or worse, another shutdown. This process becomes so broken that we no longer do the actual bipartisan work of appropriation in the spring. Rather, we have a small group of Members and staff do it, and significantly, after the start of the fiscal year. There was an era in the House when we tried to deliver bipartisan, on-time appropriations. I congratulate the big Chairman for trying to get back to that place, and I wish him great success. I'm sorry that I won't be here [for] a longer period of time to work with him to get that done. It is a reminder of what's possible if we really want this institution to work for the people. Cursory consideration, which is the best you can refer to what we've had. Cursory consideration is not sufficient if we really want good government, responsible government, government of, by and for the people. I thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I yield back."