Chair lowey i will say good morning again. I call this meeting of the committee on appropriations to order. Before we begin, house rules require me to remind you that we have set up an email address to which members could send anything they wish to submit in writing. That email address has been provided to your staff. Our first order of Business Today is consideration of the department of defense appropriations bill for fiscal year 2021. I will not recognize to present the bill. Thank you, madam chairwoman. Before i begin my remarks, i reluctantly have to acknowledge this will be my final Opening Statement before the House Appropriations committee. I have no new revelations to make but for those of you who will remain on this committee, there are a few things i would like to say. Him saying them as someone who is so compulsive, he saved the congressional record on the day he was appointed to this committee after years of efforts, which makes mr. Rogers, my good friend, the only person in this room who has served longer either as an associate staff or member. I want to make the observation that i am an appropriater to my core. When people ask my father who lived to be 101, he said i played politics. If somebody asked me that i will say im an appropriater. I started as associated staff in january of 1977. I would point out that we are a unique committee. If the work of this committee is not completed, there is no government of the United States of america. We are the ones who are charged with funding the oversight of the entire government so it is effective and efficient as possible. In some ways the committee has the ability to achieve bipartisan solutions. In part this is due to the budget control act of 2011. If we only cut discretionary spending, we could balance the budget. Mandatory spending comes up to 70 of the money each year of the federal government. As mr. Womack and others have pointed out in other markups, we must deal with mandatory spending. For future generations, budget integrity, most important, there will be no money left to appropriate if we dont deal with this issue and every appropriation dollar is an investment in this country. We need to invest in help, education, infrastructure, jobs. We also need to deal with revenue. In the year 2000, the last year the federal government had the surplus, revenue as a gdp was 20 . In fiscal year 2019 revenues were 16. 3 . We need a certain amount of revenue to invest in this good and great country. Finally, here is a couple of notes. Never Say Something is above my pay grade. Every time that has been said in this committee, i cringe because we are appropriators. No one is above your pay grade. We may need other people to get something done. Others have stood up and said we cannot authorize this committee. Why did you want to get on this committee . When appropriate in conjunction with the authorizers, we have been asked by authorizers to authorize. Finally, there are great bills to come down the road. It could be the greatest environmental policy in the world. To be the best deal in the world. There is this tiny bit of new mandatory spending which the chairwoman has repeatedly talked about and tried to target. It is just a little bit of mandatory spending. That is how we have gotten to 70 of control. The next time we have vote in this congress or future congresses, think it through. I do thank you both for that indulgence. Moving on to the bill, i need to thank my Ranking Member. His continued commitment to being collegial, transparent, and bipartisan. I cannot overrate the value of his friendship and the partnership that we have. I also want to express my gratitude to the chairwoman and Ranking Member, we would not be here without their leadership and help. Miss granger chaired the subcommittee in the last congress. This will be anitas last, i cannot thank you enough for a dedicated life of service, leaving this world a little better. I really respect you. I also want to thank every member of our subcommittee. It is a joy to work with you regardless of where you sit in that room. I want to thank the subCommittee Staff, particularly our clerks as well as the associate staff for their hard work. I also want to recognize the 2020 military fellows for their contributions. Having to assemble the bulk of the bill, it increase the degree of difficulty substantially as it has for all of the subcommittees. I commend them for their professionalism and acumen. Legislation recognizes the complex challenges the members of our armed forces and Intelligence Community face every day throughout the world. To ensure they are able to continue to meet these challenges and complete missions to the best of their ability. It is important to highlight several investments. One is 758 million in procurement for covid recovery. That is for the second, third, and fourth tier suppliers. This has been of particular interest to mr. Calvert. I would ask any member that has constituents or companies in their district that meet that classification and somehow that relief is not made it to them, you have got to let us know. Im not necessarily worried about people at the top. Im worried about the lower tier suppliers and employees. If there is a problem in your district, we do want to know. The legislation faces several reporting requirements specific to covid19. The budgetary impact on the department are still largely undetermined. Some programs will cost more. There will be savings obtained through delayed or canceled events or activities. It is imperative that the committee and congress have as much detail as possible to conduct oversight. The bill continues to focus on the wellbeing and morale of those in uniform and dod, civilians and their communities. Built by an additional 116 Million Dollars for upgrades to childcare facilities in the report contains language to prevent innovative ideas to address this serious backlog for childcare. It provides 1. 49 billion for Environmental Restoration. 415 million above the request. The report take steps to stop the department from closing military Treatment Facilities and producing military health care. These plans were justified to the Committee Prior to the pandemic and even hired to defend harder to defend. 327 million to address the ongoing epidemic of Sexual Assault in the military and at the service academies. That is 49 million more than requested. I must express my personal upset over this issue. A recent report has found Sexual Assault rate for women has jumped 50 from 2016 to 2018. The budget remains stagnant. I would say it is not just a question of money. Year after year we have testimony from officials who contend that they are really committed to solving this problem. We are going backwards. The department has to do a better job. It contains several provisions to reign in the habitual redirection of funding of congressional intent. I do want to express my upset with how these actions have irreparably damaged the departments credibility. One official rightfully referred to these transfers as anomalies. These are just anomalies. I refer to them as habitual abuses by the department. In recent years the Department Leadership has not missed an opportunity to claim that a 3 5 annual growth in the budget is necessary to support the National Defense strategy. The same leaders facilitated the transfer of nearly 10 billion to nondefense activities not enumerated in their own and National Defense strategy. While this was happening they repeatedly request more flexibility from congress for executing the budget and reprogramming authorities. The sense of entitlement is galling and i hope at some point the department will have the leadership in place who recognizes the constitutional prerogative and restores trust to the process. I would like to reiterate what the profound what a profound privilege it has been to serve on this committee. I want to thank my chair Ranking Member and all the members who have logged so many hard hours in making this possible. I would ask for your support and i get back my time. I would like to recognize the subcommittee Ranking Member, mr. Calvert. Thank you. Before i begin my statement i would like to thank the chairwoman for her many years of dedicated service. When you have let this committee is an example to all of us in our country and your district. We are a better place because of your service. I wish you all your happiness in your retirement. I would like to thank our full Committee Ranking made for the work on this bill. I very much appreciated her insight and input. It is hard to believe that is your last full committee. It has been an honor to work with you in what is a True Partnership dedicated to ensuring our National Security. A touching and eloquent tribute to the chairman during our subcommittee markup. That is classified so i cannot repeat it here. I know how uncomfortable pete is for having a spot on him. He does not seek credit or attention for the work he does for servicemembers or families. He doesnt because it is the right thing to do. The chairman has done more to advance these issues than almost anyone. His legacy will be felt for generations. We have a tradition in our committee which is extremely nonpartisan. It is our duty to provide the best quality of life for men and women who serve in the United States military and provide the best equipment and materials that they have to make sure that if we ever get in a fight, it is not a fair fight. That is something that should not be controversial nor partisan. I will miss your friendship and i know you will be one zoom call away. It is important to recognize the chairmans deputy of staff, joe has been an essential part of this defense team for many years. Joe does not like the spotlight on him but it is appropriate to recognize all of the hard work to help our Service Members and families. We provide funding for many key programs that are essential to our security, consistent with the National Defense strategy and focus on the Great Power Competition with china and russia. Bill will enhance our National Security capabilities by furthering additional fifthgeneration combat aircraft, additional submarines, while providing the resources they have requested including the critical isr capability. There will be new technologies essential to maintaining u. S. Military superiority. It is important for everyone on this committee to recognize that because our investment, they started investing in research for pandemic prevention back in 2002. A lot of the progress that has been made was because of their hard work and also what we are doing to begin testing. Covid has many impacts throughout the department of defense. I want to thank the chairman for mitigating damage through suppliers. Their work is vital and we must do everything to protect those jobs. I provide the health and welfare to reflect longstanding concerns of so many of our members, health programs, Sexual Assault prevention, we included the strong oversight for Electronic Health records along with all the rest of us. That is why it is so unfortunate for the broad support overshadowed by political issues. The importance of getting this bill done on time cannot be overstated. A continued resolution wastes roughly 1. 7 billion a month through the inability to sign contracts, delays and productions, other drawdown. This year it would halt many modernization priorities that are vital to maintaining military superiority over threats such as china and russia. This is no way to run the most sophisticated professional fighting force in the world. There are currently over 200,000 u. S. Service members deployed around the world ensuring threats never meet our shores. They do their job every day. There is no alarms for pause or break. They do what we ask. It is Time Congress does what is necessary and what is required in the u. S. Constitution and provide for the common defense of our nation in a timely and consistent manner. While this is a very strong bill, there are numerous provisions like the southwest border wall. It will drive veto threat from the administration. It is important this bill becomes law as soon as possible or i cannot support it in its current form. We will have a bill that could be signed when it gets to the president s desk. There are a lot of things that will happen between now and then. I learned i want to thank my staff from the majority and minority for their hard work and i look forward to getting this bill done. I yield back. I would like to recognize myself for opening remarks. I would like to take a moment to recognize my friend and collegue. Sadly this is his last defense markup. He grew up in a household in gary focused on public service. From his time as a staffer to being elected in 1984, no one has fought harder for the people of indiana and the need to domestically manufacture product. Our country is stronger as a result of his advocacy for steelworkers. As a model of dedication, integrity, intelligence, and honor. As i mentioned in my subcommittee remarks, the lives of our Service Members are better because of your leadership. I especially thank you for your partnership during my time as Ranking Member and chairwoman of the committee. We will miss you. We wish you the very best. I wish you lots of happiness. I wish you the next chapter i wish you the best in your next chapter of life. Would like to thank the rest of the subCommittee Staff for the long hours and dedication. Psychological and Economic Impact of this pandemic, we are reminded that safety and security are fragile. We know that we live in a dangerous world. We also recognize the choices we make to stay safe need to be reasonable and responsible. This bill provides the Defense Department with the appropriate level of resources to address and evolving threat landscape. We will ensure the security of our nation and our allies. Our Service Members are well trained and equipped and they are prepared for future military needs. We have the most capable and advanced military in the world. This bill honors the admission by adequately funding programs for servicemembers and their families. Including provisions to end the Trump Administration defense funds to pay for a wasteful border wall. Specifically, this bill strengthens National Security with robust funding to support Ongoing Operations and maintenance of existing access. It recurs the latest military systems while investing in research. Especially the growing needs of cyberspace. It provides cyber support for our allies and defense partners. I applaud the subcommittee for including provisions that prohibit explosives, Nuclear Weapons testing. These investments bring safety to our nation and our forces. The bill also includes a Higher Quality of life for our Service Members and families including access to medical care and an increase in importance for Health Initiatives and research. It supports the critical need for childcare and Excellent Schools for our military families. It also provides critical funding to address Sexual Assault. Our National Security and finding reasonable Common Ground is a bipartisan issue. I hope we will enact a final bill that reflects that tradition. I congratulate the chairman on an excellent bill and urge support. I would like to recognize Ranking Member granger for her opening remarks. Before i begin my remarks about the defense bill, i, like the others would like to take a moment to recognize the chairman of the subcommittee. I had the honor of working closely with the subcommittee. The chairman is oneofakind. His passion and commitment to their families is absolute. He served with dignity, modesty, determination. He is also a joy to work with. He leaves behind an extraordinary legacy and he will be greatly missed. I also want to thank my friend ken calvert for the outstanding job he is doing leading this subcommittee. Cannot find anybody more committed to our National Security. Providing funding is one of the most Important Roles the founders gave to congress. Turning to the bill before us, i am very pleased to see the chairman is focused on important procurement money that is so essential for our security. They will also Prioritize Health care and qualityoflife issues, which has Significant Impact on readiness. We must make sure the d. O. B. End Services Stay focused on these issues. He also brought up the Sexual Assault, we will continue to do even more of that. I appreciate the chairman, im thankful for his efforts and those of the committee. I have concerns with several policy that will prevent me from supporting it this time. This bill must become law and im concerned that many of the posi