Speaker Johnson Statement on Remaining Appropriations Bills

March 21, 2024

Contact: Athina Lawson

WASHINGTON — Speaker Johnson issued the following statement after the release of the remaining six appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2024:

“This FY24 appropriations legislation is a serious commitment to strengthening our national defense by moving the Pentagon toward a focus on its core mission while expanding support for our brave men and women who serve in uniform. Importantly, it halts funding for the United Nations agency which employed terrorists who participated in the October 7 attacks against Israel.

“In addition, the bipartisan agreement reached to fund the Department of Homeland Security moves the Department’s operations toward enforcing our border and immigration laws. It significantly cuts funding to NGOs that incentivize illegal immigration and increases detention capacity and the number of Border Patrol Agents to match levels in the House-passed appropriations bill and the Secure the Border Act (H.R. 2). While these changes are welcome, only a significant reversal in policy by the President to enforce the law can ultimately secure our border.

“The bill also includes the additional cuts secured in January’s topline agreement by rescinding $20.2 billion from President Biden’s IRS expansion and taking back another $6 billion in unused COVID-era slush funds. Overall, during the FY24 appropriations process, House Republicans have achieved significant conservative policy wins, rejected extreme Democrat proposals, and imposed substantial cuts to wasteful agencies and programs while strengthening border security and national defense.”

Highlights from FY24 Appropriations Legislation:

Increases funding to the Department of Homeland Security for border security and enforcement while rejecting a blank check for open borders:

• Increases ICE detention bed capacity to nearly 42,000, an increase from 34,000 in FY23.
• Funds 22,000 Border Patrol Agents — the highest level ever funded and same as authorized in H.R. 2.
• Cuts nearly 20% of NGO funding.

Increases funding to the Department of Defense to modernize our military, provides an overdue pay raise for our troops, and cuts wasteful partisan programs:

• Provides our servicemembers with a historic 5.2% pay raise — the largest in decades.
• Includes $1.2 billion to fight against the flow of illicit fentanyl and counternarcotics — $291 million above the President’s budget.
• Prohibits funding for the Wuhan Institute of Virology and EcoHealth Alliance in China.

Additional policy wins:

• Reaffirms our commitment to Israel by fully funding our annual security commitment of $3.3 billion.
• Prevents the Consumer Product Safety Commission from banning gas stoves.
• Only allows for the American flag and other official flags to fly over U.S. diplomatic facilities.
• Maintains the Hyde Amendment and other pro-life protections.

Significant cuts to spending:

• Cuts 6% of overall foreign aid funds, including enhanced and new conditions on assistance to organizations like the U.N.
• Eliminates funds to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and U.N. Commission of Inquiry against Israel.
• Rescinds $20.2 billion from President Biden’s IRS expansion.
• Takes back an additional $6 billion in unused COVID funds.

The bill text and explanatory statements released are FY24 funding measures for the Appropriations Subcommittees on Defense; Financial Services and General Government; Homeland Security; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies;Legislative Branch, and State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs.

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