[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 113 (Friday, July 18, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1195]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          FINANCIAL SERVICES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIA-
                            TIONS ACT, 2015

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 16, 2014

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 5016) making 
     appropriations for financial services and general government 
     for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2015, and for other 
     purposes:

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Chair, while I appreciate the Appropriations 
Committee's efforts to return to regular order, the Administration has 
issued a veto threat for this bill--and it's not hard to understand 
why.
  While the bill does an adequate job funding the federal judiciary--as 
well as some important entrepreneurial initiatives at the Small 
Business Administration--virtually every other funding allocation and 
policy directive in this bill is either insufficient or misguided.
  The Internal Revenue Service is funded at below sequestration levels, 
which will unquestionably hinder taxpayer assistance and undermine 
efforts to close the tax gap. The Securities and Exchange Commission 
charged with protecting investors and policing our financial markets is 
funded at $300 million below the President's request. And the Election 
Assistance Commission tasked with ensuring the integrity of our 
elections is eliminated altogether.
  In addition to these funding decisions, H.R. 5016 contains policy 
riders hostile to the President's Climate Action Plan, the Affordable 
Care Act, women's reproductive health and standards governing the 
political activities of tax-exempt organizations. The independence of 
the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau would be terminated under this 
legislation.
  Mr. Chair, this bill is wrong on funding and wrong on policy. I urge 
a no vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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