Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Veterans Act of 2017

Floor Speech

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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight some of the important provisions in this bipartisan omnibus legislation.
I want to specifically touch on the needed investments in medical research, education, and for our soldiers. It matches last year's $2 billion increase in research funding at the National Institutes of Health, the largest increase since 2003, renewing our commitment to science with a 13 percent increase in research funding over these last 2 years.

It improves access to education by increasing funding for Head Start programs and restores year-round Pell grants.

It invests $25 billion to rebuild our military for the 21st century and gives our troops the largest paying raise in 6 years.

Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee, I am proud that our bill continues 13 percent reductions in spending on Congress since Republicans took control of the House of Representatives in 2011 and denies a pay increase for Members of Congress, showing the American people we are leading by example when it comes to fiscal responsibility.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

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