Hoyer: These Cuts Undermine America's Competitiveness and America's Future

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) delivered opening remarks at the House Appropriations Full Committee Markup of the Commerce, Justice, and Science FY 2027 bill. Below are a video and transcript of his remarks:

Click here to watch a video of his remarks.

"Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. First, let me say the Chairman says regularly, and correctly, that this is the first step. That's the good news. The good news is it's not the last step, and the good news is this bill will change very substantially before it is sent to the President if in fact, it is. And I want to thank the Ranking Member of our subcommittee, Ms. Meng, for her outstanding work. I want to thank Mr. Rogers for his leadership in so many critical areas, particularly dealing with drug abuse in our country that cost the lives of so many. Like most of the appropriations bills before this committee, this one shortchanges, though, critical national priorities, limiting the positive impact the federal government can have and should have on improving the lives of Americans. We'll hear a lot today about the effects of President Trump's illegal tariffs on our working families, and how this bill makes dangerous cuts to the agencies that could help alleviate their pain.

"But I want to take a few moments first and make sure the committee fully understands the impact of cuts to science research at NASA in this bill. Very frankly, the extraordinary progress that we have made in the space program has led to extraordinary innovation and inventions and better technical abilities for not only America, but for the entire world. The crew that took Artemis around the moon inspired us just as the 'first step for mankind' did when we first landed on the moon. These people inspired the people of this nation and billions around the world who look each night at the moon and dream of where humanity might go over generations to come. As their capsule slipped behind the waning moon beyond the reach of Earth's communications, its four occupants were hard at work. They spent their time on the far side of the moon, observing landscapes never before seen by human eyes, capturing more than 12,000 photographs and high-definition videos and transmitting more than 480GB of lunar data back to the Earth. Before they even splashed down in the Pacific, NASA scientists - including many at Goddard Space Flight Center in the district of Mr. Ivey - were already sifting through this data and using it to develop a better understanding of the moon.

"Mr. Chairman, it was the scientists at NASA Goddard who developed the communication system used on the Artemis Orion spacecraft and the data transfer system that sent its findings back to Earth. Now, that was for that mission. But the ramifications of the research and what we learned are for the entire world and for creating jobs here in America. Goddard also produced the James Webb Telescope, which is sending us back jaw dropping images of the universe back to the very - almost beginning of time. This is part of America's unique contribution to advancing human knowledge and exploration. The cost of cutting this funding will be far greater than $1.3 billion. It will come with costs to what our nation represents and to what we as human beings, the latest in a chain of explorers over the generations, are trying to achieve during this time on Earth.

"Just as I hope, we will reconsider the dangerous cuts this bill makes to other science and research agencies like NOAA, NIST, and the National Science Foundation, and the number of programs that every Member of this committee that has spoken in reference [to] that help Americans at a time of tough economic stress for them. Our science programs do not only send humans to the moon, but they make a difference for our economy here on Earth. They mean the world to millions in our country who use scientific discoveries and research every day, even without knowing it. For NOAA in particular, whose National Center for Weather and Climate Prediction predicts the funding - excuse me, predicts dangerous storms [and] other catastrophes that we are subject to by natural disasters. At the same time, this bill also removes critical tools for law enforcement. It's so interesting that we are cutting crime fighting, we're [going] after tax evaders, and we are cutting other regulatory agencies at a time when we talk about making sure people follow the rules. People follow the rules because the referee is on the field. You take the referee off the field, not so much. This bill slashes economic development assistance, particularly for rural communities, which is sorely needed to make the painful impacts of the Trump tariffs and rising gas prices from the President's war of choice, referred to by the gentlelady from New Jersey.

"So, Mr. Chairman, I believe that we must do better in this bill. The good news, ladies and gentlemen, I want to congratulate Chairman Rogers. As he did last year, essentially, he and the committee rejected the draconian cuts proposed by the Administration. And while this bill is not as good as I would like it, it is better than [what] the Administration proposed by far. And I have great confidence that Mr. Rogers, the Chairman of this committee, and the Ranking Member, Ms. Meng, will reach, as the gentleman from Texas said, a bill that can and hopefully will receive bipartisan support. But at this point in time, Mr. Chairman, I'm going to oppose this bill because I think the cuts in it undermine America's competitiveness and undermine America's future. I yield back."