H.R. 7006 – Financial Services and General Government and National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2026
2026-01-13
Loading video...
Source: Congress.gov
Summary
No summary available.
Participants
Transcript
Good afternoon. The committee will come to order. Without objection, the chair is authorized to declare recess at any time. Today, the Rules Committee is convening to consider a single measure, HR 7006, the Financial Services and General Government and National Security Department of State and Related Programs Appropriations Act 2026. Last week, the House advanced three critical FY26 funding measures across the finish line on a bipartisan basis. We're back to build upon that progress here this week and continue our work in delivering all 12 FY26 appropriations bills. There's much more to be done and all of us are looking forward to completing this important work. The package before us today carries the exact same bipartisan bicameral collaboration and to address the pressing issues that face our nation. From safeguarding our nation's financial system to supporting our nation's entrepreneurs and small businesses, bolstering American security to maintaining a strong posture of freedom domestically and abroad, these dual pieces of legislation meet the mark and then some. These are all priorities of the President's America First agenda. They're all interwoven into the mandate issued to us by the American people. It's important to note that this package is part of an agreement that keeps total FY26 spending below the level projected under the current continuing resolution. Doing so delivers real tangible savings for American taxpayers across the nation. It's truly a win-win. What's more, as is evidenced by the progress that we've achieved thus far, these appropriations bills are moving through a process that is member driven and deliberate. This brings about accountability, transparency and a positive forward thinking posture.
Gone are the days of the inflated omnibuses that have bogged down and constrained this legislative body. We're moving in a better direction. We're doing the right things for the right reasons, and the results speak for themselves. I look forward to the discussions here today and to moving these bills to the floor for full consideration. With that, I now yield to the ranking member, Mr. McGovern, for any comments he wishes to make.
I mean, two more spending bills before us that were supposed to be finished last year. I guess Republicans want to pat on the back for finishing up work that could have been done last year. And I get it that some years it's hard to make the deadline. But in this case, you could have used the months the Speaker shut down the House at the end of the year to get this done. Poor time availability was not an excuse last year. But before us today are the Financial Services and General Government Bill and the National Security State Department and related programs bill for fiscal year 2026 combined into a two bill mini bus. So let's start with the good. There are some good things in this mini bus. $30 million more for election security grants, 5.5 billion for international humanitarian assistance, In fact, this package largely rejects President Trump's proposed $163 billion in cuts to domestic programs. And Democratic negotiators successfully blocked more than 80 new extreme MAGA riders that tried to inject culture war garbage into the appropriations process. There were poison pills that would have attacked reproductive care, undermined clean energy, restricted humanitarian aid, interfered with DC local government, and more. Those riders are not in the bill, and that did not happen by accident, and that's a good thing. And compared to the status quo, this package constrains the administration's ability to float the law when it comes to spending money the way Congress intended. Trump and the White House continue to ignore Congress, and I would think it shouldn't be controversial that Congress ought to continue to strongly assert our Article I power of the purse. So is this package perfect? No, no appropriations bill ever is, but it does avoid another lapse in funding and it rejects some very bad ideas. And I want to thank our appropriators for being here today to answer questions and for their work to put this mini bus together. But Madam Chair, I also want to take this opportunity to talk about something that happened over the weekend. On Sunday, we learned that the President of the United States is dramatically expanding his weaponization of the Department of Justice.
This time by opening an unprecedented investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Someone the president has been bullying, berating, and trying to undermine for months. This is about revenge.
Sign up for free to see the full transcript
Accounts help us prevent bots from abusing our site. Accounts are free and will allow you to access the full transcript.