H.R. 6500, H.R. 6504, H.R. 4930, H.R. 227, H.R. 2716, H.R. 4993, H.R. 6506, H.R. 6495, and H.R. 4242
2025-12-10
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Source: Congress.gov
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Transcript
The committee will come to order. Before we get started, I wanted to acknowledge that since the full committee last met, there have been several announcements that will mean our dais will look a little bit different than the next Congress. Chairman Arrington, who is not in here right now, He can look at the tape, I guess. But he's, as I would say, he's hanging up his cowboy hat here in Congress. And as budget committee chairman, few have been stronger champions of fiscal discipline and sounding the alarm about our national debt than Mr. Arrington.
To his credit, his ability to to unlock unlock the required votes in the Budget Committee to pass pass a budget this year resulted in the single largest reduction in mandatory spending ever enacted in U.S. history. No one I know has as much enthusiasm as our oversight subcommittee chairman, Mr. Schweickart, who's also not here. But when it comes to digging in into the data, whatever the topic is Um, figure out what that number to figure out what that number tells us. Um, that was Mr. That's Mr. Schweikert. Um, he was a gracious host for this committee out in Arizona last year, and I think a must hold the all time record without a doubt for, uh, special orders on the house floor. Um, this committee will miss his, his fervor to always lead with the facts, regardless of what the political moment says. And when Congressman Feenstra also joined this committee, we knew we had a colleague with a deep understanding and appreciation of tax policy, given that he chaired the committee at the state level in Iowa. And that has been proven true in the work that we've done. He has been a constant voice for the ag community across the country, and I know will continue to do so. Lastly, it's tough to imagine this dais without Congressman Doggett. given his many years of public service and more importantly, his passionate and vocal defense of his beliefs on behalf of those he represents. What America doesn't get to see is the copious notes and preparation that Lloyd puts into every hearing and markup this committee undertakes. I know I look over at those notes and I get a little worried sometimes what's in those notes, but
It's something that it shows his hard work. This institution is better served because of the dedication and commitment of people like Lloyd Doggett. We will miss all of you and wish you well in your next chapter. And I would now like to yield to the ranking member for any comments he may have. Thanks, Mr. Chairman.
And I, along with you, I want to recognize those who have subscribed at the moment to retirement from Congress and certainly in We're missing a vigorous voice on this committee in Lloyd Doggett, our leader on the Health Subcommittee. For more than 40 years, 30 in Congress, he has championed the people of Texas and been a bulldog in our fight for the little guy and working families. Whether the Affordable Care Act, a fairer tax code, or advancing human rights, he's been a critical and essential player. He received an unfair shake, I believe, from a Republican legislature, the governor of Texas, and the Supreme Court. who seemed to be proven only in interesting moments for advocating for the president's positions rather than for congressional prerogative. I hope that he won't end this fight in Congress as he proceeds to retiring from Congress. Dave Schweiker, again, very congenial. He brought considerable fervor. He likes numbers. I assume that they will have to build an additional room at the Library of Congress to host his posters. alone. As much as we will miss his verbal insights, it's unanimous on our side we will not miss the posters. We've been lucky to have had him as a friend. And let me say something else in private. He is a really nice guy, very pleasant personality. Jody Errington, again, I thought an individual who was pretty easy for us to deal with in private, very pleasant, always understood the ramifications of policies that he embraced. And at the same time, he also always worked behind the scenes to lower the temperature in trying to strike the right tone for our politics. I will miss him as a friend as well. I want to thank Randy Feenstra, a really nice guy. One of the nice things about Randy is that we spend a lot of time late in the afternoon in the gym together, and we frequently agree on the people that we dislike.
He has been a good gym buddy. He's also going to be sorely missed because I think, again, as we age through this process, temperament is everything.
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