House FSGG Subcommittee Markup

House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government

Markup of Fiscal Year 2022 FSGG Subcommittee Appropriations Bill

Thursday, June 24, 2021

 

Opening Statements
Chairman Mike Quigley (D-Ill.)

In his opening statement, Quigley explained the importance of the Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) appropriations bill, which totals $29 billion. He highlighted and praised the bill’s inclusion of $13.6 billion for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which has seen significant funding cuts over almost a decade, $330 million for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI), $324 million for the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) entrepreneurial development programs, $300 million for the General Services Administration’s Electric Vehicle Fund, funding for the Office of National Drug Control Policy to combat opioids, $300 million for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program, funding for modernization of the National Archives building, $8.15 billion for the Judiciary, increased funding for consumer and retail investor protection agencies, funding for election security – including $500 million for payments for states to ensure the integrity of elections, $22.8 million for the Election Assistance Commission to ensure reliable, secure, and successful elections – $15 million for a new Office of the National Cyber Director in the Executive Office of the President, and the removal of harmful policy riders, including those that limit the District of Columbia’s autonomy.

 

Ranking Member Steve Womack (R-Ark.)

In his opening statement, Womack lamented that the last meeting of the Joint Select Committee on Budget and Appropriations Process Reform occurred in the fall of 2018 regarding a vote on a bill to implement changes that would have benefited America vastly but that the vote had fallen short. Womack also noted that in 100 days, a new fiscal year will be initiated but that the current hearing was the first subcommittee markup in the process, stating that this is inadequate. He recognized that bipartisan priorities include helping small business, combatting cybercrime, and supporting anti-drug programs such as the Drug Free Communities and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program. However, he stated that these bills’ uncontrolled baseline spending is not justified and ignores America’s unsustainable fiscal trajectory, noting how the bill proposes a 20% increase in discretionary spending over FY21 and provides double-digit percentage funding increases to numerous agencies. Womack stated that the current administration promotes excessive spending, which will hinder economic recovery and burden future generations in America.

Full Committee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.)

In her opening statement, DeLauro expressed her support for the bill’s $13.6 billion for the IRS to implement the expanded child tax credit and increased funding for the volunteer income tax assistance program. She expressed the need to ensure that big corporations and the wealthy pay their fair share in taxes and expressed support for the bill’s increase of $1.7 billion for the IRS to increase tax compliance and offer better customer service for families navigating the tax system. She also highlighted the bill’s investments in the judicial system’s infrastructure, the $111.9 million increase in funding for the Small Business Administration, the $60 million increase in CDFI funding, the $172 million for the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the $39 million increase for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the $500 million for Election Assistance Commission grants, the $300 million for the Electric Vehicle Fund, and support for addressing cyber security, drug free communities, and drug trafficking. DeLauro concluded by urging support for the bill.

 

Full Committee Ranking Member Kay Granger (R-Texas)

In her opening statement, Granger noted how disappointing it is that the bill includes several controversial items, referencing immigration policy, school choice, and the omission of long-standing pro-life provisions regarding the use of DC local funds and the federal employees’ health benefits program. Granger also stated that in addition to these policy concerns, the overall funding level of the bill is far too high, with many agencies receiving double-digit percentage increases. She argued that after a year of staggering levels of national spending, America should be looking at ways to address the growing national debt instead of increasing said debt’s size and reach in the federal government. She closed by stating how America strongly needs a bipartisan agreement that rejects controversial policy changes.

 

Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-Pa.)

Cartwright expressed appreciation for inclusion in the bill of project Elevate to promote business development in Wyoming Valley, PA to revitalize distressed areas in Cartwright’s district. He concluded by urging support for passage of the bill.

 

Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.)

Pocan highlighted the bill’s inclusion of funding for SBA’s Small Business Development Centers, particularly for the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which would go towards the Small Business Accounting and Projections Clinic to help start-up companies with financial management and business planning. He also referenced how the bill favorably includes a robust investment in the FTC and IRS for increased enforcement.

 

Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-Mich.)

Lawrence highlighted how the bill will help small, minority, and disadvantaged businesses recover from the pandemic and includes funding for small business initiatives in Michigan.

 

Rep. Norma Torres (D-Calif.)

Torres highlighted the bill’s inclusion of $1 million in funding to Cal Poly Pomona in her district to support entrepreneurs, start-ups, and small businesses. She also noted that for small businesses, the bill encourages the SBA to conduct outreach to owners whose businesses were forced to close due to COVID-19 to ensure that these owners are aware of the resources that can help them relaunch or start a new business. She stated that the bill responds to the issues of post offices in disrepair in the Inland Empire, requiring the U.S. Postal Service Inspector General to investigate the existence, repair, and maintenance of post offices in low-income communities. She noted that the bill directs OMB to reexamine and correct the classification of Public Safety telecommunicators as a protected service occupation. Torres stated that the bill increases accountability in the federal judiciary to help address the years-long pattern of sexual harassment and workplace misconduct by judges. She closed by recognizing how the bill supports an increased capacity in the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control to investigate and enforce sanctions against corrupt individuals from Central America.

 

The bill was reported favorably to the full House Committee on Appropriations.

 

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