What Tom Cole said, and what was done

“Mr. Chair, I thank my distinguished friend and vice chair of the full committee, Chairman Diaz-Balart, for yielding the time and for his work on this bill. The fiscal year 2027 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs bill makes a clear statement about American leadership: We will engage where it matters.”

“Mr. Chair, I thank my very good friend, Chairman Harris, for the time. Today's fiscal year 2027 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Act recognizes a simple truth: When American agriculture is strong, America is strong.”

“Mr. Chairman, I thank my good friend, Judge Carter, for yielding the time. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of our first fiscal year 2027 appropriations bill on the floor, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.”

“Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding additional time. At a time when Americans too often only hear about division and dysfunction, this strong and bipartisan proposal demonstrates that support for our veterans, troops, and military families can still unite this institution around a common purpose.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend from Oklahoma, my distinguished colleague and extraordinary leader in that moment, Mr. Lucas, for yielding. Like my friend, we don't need a lot of notes to talk about that day 31 years ago to the day yesterday.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and pay a special thank you to a truly exceptional American, and U.S. Army officer, Major Benjamin ``Ben'' Cohen. Major Cohen served with distinction as a Defense Fellow in my office from January 2023 to December 2023 in which his professionalism, expertise, candor, and team-centric attitude was paramount to my staff's success in the FY24 Appropriations Cycle.”

“I have put forward a proposal that I honestly believe is a reasonable middle ground between the two sides of this discussion. Democrats do not want to provide more funding for ICE or CBP without legally binding policy changes that protect our communities.”

“Madam Speaker, before I yield to my next Speaker, I want to associate myself with the remarks of my good friend, the ranking member, in terms of her retiring staff, Jocelyn Hunn.”

“Enforcement Training Centers, the Science and Technology Directorate, the Office of Inspector General, Federal Protective Services, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, while setting funding for ICE and Customs and Border Protection aside as negotiations on those issues continues.”

“We can debate about that ad infinitum, but I don't think we should be debating as to whether our Homeland Security apparatus should be up, paid, operational, vigilant, and alert.”

“Let us focus in on the Department of Homeland Security. Let the public understand the nature of the fight. Quite honestly, let my Republican colleagues at the administration defend the Department of Homeland Security and its lawlessness and recklessness when the majority of this country are seeing what they are doing.”

“We enhance resources to combat fentanyl and other deadly drugs, while safeguarding children through expanded investigation into human trafficking and forced labor. From our borders and ports to aviation and cyberspace, this legislation delivers the personnel, training, and technology needed to reinforce our defenses and confront those who wish us harm.”

“Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time. Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as I said in my opening, this is a bill that has gotten so much attention over the past few days, and I think that that is the reality of where we are.”

“Mr. Chair, I continue to reserve the balance of my time. Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I am prepared to close, and I yield myself the balance of my time.”

“Diaz-Balart. Their leadership and careful stewardship of this package ensured that the substance of the bill matched the responsibility of the task. I thank their accompanying ranking members, Representative Steny Hoyer and Lois Frankel, for their professionalism and engagement in the process.”

“Mr. Chair, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from New York. Mr. LaLOTA. Mr. Chairman, the FY26 FSGG bill reflects the values Americans sent us here to uphold.”

“Tribes from California calling me, saying that we have got this great guy running for the House of Representatives who we know from the State legislature in California.”

“Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman. Mr. SCOTT FRANKLIN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, this is a huge win for our national security and for all Americans, and I urge my colleagues to support it.”

“Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Michigan. Mrs. McCLAIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding additional time. Mr. Speaker, the American people will remember who held them hostage for petty political reasons and who fought to put America first.”

“Over $1 billion in nonprofit security grants and homeland security grants that keep our communities safe may disappear. Hundreds of millions of dollars in resources to help Americans deal with the increasing cost of housing will evaporate.”

“Mr. Speaker, I support this return to regular order in the appropriations process. I support the motion. I yield back the balance of my time, and move the previous question.”

“Mr. Chair, I thank my good friend, Judge Carter, for yielding me time. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of this important piece of legislation. Prioritizing veterans and troops says everything about our values, and that is exactly what this first fiscal year 2026 appropriations bill does.”

“Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time. Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone), who is the distinguished ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and commend my colleague and long-time friend, Congressman Ken Calvert, who is being honored by the Creative Defense Foundation with the Visionary Award for Leadership and Innovation in National Security.”