[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 56 (Friday, April 15, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E744]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND FULL-YEAR CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2011

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                               speech of

                            HON. KAY GRANGER

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 14, 2011

  Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this Continuing 
Resolution. We must pass this bill today to begin to get this Nation on 
a path of fiscal stability. I want to make a few brief remarks about 
the State-Foreign Operations title of the bill. State-Foreign 
Operations is reduced by 8.4 billion dollars from the fiscal year 2011 
request. While some of my colleagues might say these funding levels 
mean that diplomacy and development take a large reduction, we need to 
keep in mind that the State-Foreign Operations bill grew by more than 
33% from FY08 to FY10. We simply cannot allow these programs to 
continue to grow at this rate. The reductions taken in this bill are 
targeted, so that we can remain focused on our highest national 
security priorities. The bill provides critical funds for the frontline 
States of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. It supports security 
assistance to some of our strongest allies--like Israel, Jordan, 
Mexico, and Colombia. It also addresses unexpected humanitarian crises 
around the world. I want to thank my colleague, Ranking Member Lowey, 
for working with me to address these high priority needs. I know we 
will continue to work together to address problems of bipartisan 
concern.

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