H.R. 8595 – National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027; H.R. 9022 – Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2027; H.R. 9237 – Take Care of America’s Veterans Act; H.R. 1181 – Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act
23 June 2026
Contents updated on 25 Jun 2026
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House Rules U.S. House of Representatives
Follow its sittings05:49 - 10:14
Speaker 1
Good afternoon. The committee will come to order. Without objection, the chair is authorized to declare recess at any time. Today the Rules Committee is convening to consider four measures: H.R. 9022, H.R. 8595, H.R. 1181, and H.R. 9237. H.R. 9022, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2027, provides 58.5 billion in funding for the agencies and programs that safeguard U.S. national security, unleash American energy dominance, and advance economic prosperity.
H.R. 8595, the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027, provides 27.32 billion in funding, 6% below the FY 26 enacted level. This legislation reflects priorities of the America First agenda and supports the President's vision to refocus and realign foreign policy to make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous while ensuring all funds are spent in a manner consistent with relevant executive orders.
Both bills at their very core embody the America First agenda. They also harbor the identical commitment to place the safety, security, and prosperity of the American people and the entire nation first. I'm quite certain our panel from the Appropriations Committee will give us a thorough and pointed run-through of these two bills, and I'm looking forward to the testimony that will be shared from our colleagues. H.R. 1181, the Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act, would prohibit payment card networks from using merchant codes that distinguish firearm retailers from general merchandise retailers or sporting goods retailers. Americans who exercise their constitutionally guaranteed right to keep and bear arms should never find themselves corralled under the microscope of the federal government.
But that's exactly what we saw under the Obama and Biden administrations when the private firearm and ammunition transactions of these citizens were monitored by the federal government under the guise of preventing mass shootings. The decision to do so was intrusive and entirely unacceptable. We can and should pass this legislation so that law-abiding Americans are not subject to scrutiny and surveillance of their financial privacy when exercising their constitutional rights. Finally, we turn to H.R. 9237, the Take Care of America's Veterans Act, that would improve the benefits and services provided to veterans and their families by amending existing laws and enhancing the efficiency of the VA. This legislation is a compilation of over 60 separate bills, the majority of which are overwhelmingly bipartisan to support America's veteran community and further enhance the healthcare and benefit services of the VA.
As Secretary Collins has stated on numerous occasions and has been reflected in his and the agency's actions, the veteran is once again the core of the VA's mission. This package reflects that commitment and those actions. Our panel from the Veterans' Affairs Committee, I'm sure, will articulate in depth how this package of bills will help cut through government bureaucracy and deliver the service and quality that our nation's veterans so deserve. With that, I now yield to the ranking member, Mr. McGovern, for any comments he wishes to make.
10:14 - 13:27
Speaker 6
Well, thank you, Madam Chair, and let me begin by being perfectly honest here. Every week, Republicans come here and pretend that they're doing serious work. In reality, they're bending over backwards for Donald Trump, for billionaires, big donors, and every awful priority under the sun, while regular people get ignored and squeezed by the high prices and inflation that Republicans are causing. Just look at this week's agenda. The State and Foreign Operations bill guts diplomacy, it guts development, and it guts humanitarian aid at the exact same time that this administration is hollowing out USAID and pushing out some of our country's very best experts.
We've already seen what that means in the real world. Food assistance, food assistance is getting disrupted. Life-saving health programs are being thrown into chaos. Vulnerable people are getting left behind, not because it makes us safer, but because this administration would rather score political points than save lives. I also take issue with how this administration continues to undermine global human rights, putting us on the side of human rights abusers.
That's why I've submitted an amendment to prohibit Trump from withdrawing from landmark international human rights treaties. I hope that my amendment will be made in order so that we can have a vote on it. Given the majority's track record of making amendments or not making amendments in order, I don't have much faith, but again, I'm asking for it to be made in order so that we can at least have a debate and a vote on whether or not this administration or this Congress should be withdrawing the United States from Senate-ratified treaties. The energy and water bill before us cuts clean energy, grid improvements, and energy research while families are crushed by electric bills and gas prices. Republicans will call it fiscal responsibility while families see even higher costs.
And the so-called Protecting Privacy in Purchase Act makes it harder to flag suspicious gun and ammunition purchases. I mean, gun violence is out of control and Republicans want to take tools away from law enforcement. And now Republicans are advancing a veterans package that gives support for one group of veterans paid for by slashing the benefits from another group of veterans. Instead of just doing the right thing and giving veterans the benefits that they've earned and deserve, Republicans insist on paying for it by cutting other veterans' benefits, specifically veterans with service-connected tinnitus, also known as ringing of the ears, and sleep apnea. You know, both of those things are the most common veterans' casework in my district.
These are real conditions that affect veterans' health, their work, their families, and their daily lives. And Republicans are choosing to screw them over. But that's the story of this Republican-controlled government. Their priorities are all screwed up. They want to help Trump and his friends, let him steal taxpayer money to build the ballroom and ruin the reflecting pool.