On the latest “From Combat to Congress,” I delivered an update on House Appropriations markups and highlighted our additional work on the floor — including articles of impeachment against President Biden.

Click the video below for the full Washington update.

Rep. Clyde Reviews Materials During Appropriations Markup

Last week, the House Appropriations Committee considered four more spending bills for Fiscal Year 2024. Here are a few highlights from each bill: 

Homeland Security 

• Provides $2.104 billion for the construction of President Trump’s wall along the southern border
• Includes $496 million for 22,000 Border Patrol Agents — the highest level ever funded
• Supplies $3.55 billion for custody operations, which is more than ever previously appropriated, to fund an average daily ICE detainee population of 41,500 illegal aliens

Legislative Branch

• Includes my commonsense amendment to limit an unjustified increase to the Architect of the Capitol’s inauguration budget, saving taxpayers $11 million
• Increases funding for recruiting, training, and retaining sworn Capitol Police officers to ensure Congress remains open and safe for the American people
• Excludes funding for the unnecessary Office of Diversity and Inclusion, saving millions of taxpayer dollars 

Defense

• Funds a 5.2% pay raise for our heroic servicemembers
• Invests in next-generation fighter aircraft, helicopters, tactical combat vehicles, and submarines
• Increases funding for the Inspector General to establish a Special Inspector General for Ukraine, providing much-needed oversight into Ukraine aid
• Prohibits funding for wokeness in the military, including the implementation of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and eliminates the Pentagon’s DEI Office 

Energy & Water Development and Related Agencies 

• Includes my critical amendment to prohibit any funds from being used for the renaming of Army Corps civil works projects, including Georgia’s Lake Lanier and Buford Dam
• Rescinds $5.58 billion from Democrats’ wasteful and radical Inflation Reduction Act 
• Provides $19.114 billion for the continued modernization of the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile and infrastructure, bolstering our national security 

Rep. Clyde Delivers Remarks During Appropriations Markup

With six bills remaining, the Committee will resume its work on advancing each of the twelve spending bills for FY24 in the coming weeks. I look forward to updating you on this process as it moves forward, and I will continue keeping your input and fiscal responsibility in mind as we work toward bringing these smaller spending bills to the House floor.

As you may know, the Senate recently voted on my resolution, H.J.Res. 44, to strike down the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) unconstitutional pistol brace rule. While many hoped moderate Senate Democrats such as Joe Manchin and Jon Tester would stand up for Americans' Second Amendment rights, these Senators ultimately sided with their liberal colleagues in abandoning their oath to support and defend the U.S. Constitution.

I’m severely disappointed that the Senate failed to pass my resolution to overturn the ATF’s unconstitutional pistol brace rule. Every Senator that voted against H.J.Res. 44 turned a blind eye to the Biden Administration’s dangerous overreach, disregarded our Constitution, and ultimately failed their gun-owning constituents — especially service-disabled veterans and Americans with disabilities. While Senate Democrats’ shameful betrayal is frustrating, I remain confident that the House sent a strong message to the judicial system two weeks ago by passing my critical legislation with bipartisan support, and I look forward to Second Amendment defenders continuing to fight the ATF’s tyrannical rule in the courts.

Rep. Clyde Welcomes 2023 Congressional Art Competition Winner to Washington

Rep. Clyde Congratulates Grace Lee on Becoming the Ninth’s 2023 Congressional Art Competition Winner

Please join me in congratulating Grace Lee, a sophomore at Seckinger High School in Buford, on winning this year’s Congressional Art Competition! Her pencil submission, “Unmerited Love,” portrays a beautiful image of a mother and daughter’s embrace, representing the unconditional love that a mother has for her children. Impressively, Grace worked on her drawing for over four months, start to finish.

"Unmerited Love" Hangs in the U.S. Capitol

Rep. Clyde, Assistant Cubmaster Jeremy Andrews, Cubmaster Kris Mayes, and Members of Cub Scout Pack 68

Over the weekend, I attended the Toccoa Symphony Independence Day celebration, which featured patriotic music and fireworks over Lake Toccoa. At the event, I noticed a group of Cub Scouts picking up trash around the waterfront. Turns out, this kind and helpful deed is part of their community service lesson. I enjoyed visiting with this impressive young group, and I’m always proud to see our local community taking care of our beautiful District. Well done, Cub Scout Pack 68!

After seven straight weeks in Washington, I’m excited to return to Georgia’s beautiful Ninth District! I look forward to traveling across the Ninth to visit with local leaders, businesses, and organizations to discuss how I can best assist them through my work in Congress.

For regular updates on the week ahead, please follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Gettr, and Twitter. Have a blessed week!