Tom Cole
Representative for Oklahoma · Republican · United States
“(a) No appropriation or funds made available or authority granted pursuant to section 101 for the Department of Defense shall be used for: (1) the new production of items not funded for production in fiscal year 2026 or prior years; (2) the increase in production rates above those sustained with fiscal year 2026 funds; or (3) the initiati…”
“(a) No appropriation or funds made available or authority granted pursuant to section 101 for the Department of Defense shall be used for: (1) the new production of items not funded for production in fiscal year 2026 or prior years; (2) the increase in production rates above those sustained with fiscal year 2026 funds; or (3) the initiati…”
“Amounts made available by section 101 for ``Department of the Interior--Department-Wide Programs-- Wildland Fire Management'' and ``Department of Agriculture-- Forest Service--Wildland Fire Management'' may be apportioned up to the rate for operations necessary for wildfire suppression activities. Sec. 126.”
“Amounts made available by section 101 for ``Department of the Interior--Department-Wide Programs-- Wildland Fire Management'' and ``Department of Agriculture-- Forest Service--Wildland Fire Management'' may be apportioned up to the rate for operations necessary for wildfire suppression activities. Sec. 126.”
“Some people might think that, you know, again, we run the risk of our borders. We had to resort to extraordinary measures to continue to fund the Border Patrol. Why anybody is mad at the Border Patrol, I will never know. All they have done is their job. We have had no known illegal entries in the United States in over a year.”
“Speaker, that my colleagues support this bill, that we make sure there is no government shutdown come the end of the fiscal year, and that we make sure we can conduct our elections in November without the threat of a shutdown leading into those elections.”
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“(b) No appropriation or funds made available or authority granted pursuant to section 101 for the Department of Defense shall be used to initiate multi-year procurements utilizing advance procurement funding for economic order quantity procurement unless specifically appropriated later. Sec. 103. Appropriations made by section 101 shall be available to the extent and in the [[Page H4732]] manner that would be provided by the pertinent appropriations Act. Sec. 104. Except as otherwise provided in section 102, no appropriation or funds made available or authority granted pursuant to section 101 shall be used to initiate or resume any project or activity for which appropriations, funds, or other authority were not available during fiscal year 2026. Sec. 105.”
“(a) No appropriation or funds made available or authority granted pursuant to section 101 for the Department of Defense shall be used for: (1) the new production of items not funded for production in fiscal year 2026 or prior years; (2) the increase in production rates above those sustained with fiscal year 2026 funds; or (3) the initiation, resumption, or continuation of any project, activity, operation, or organization (defined as any project, subproject, activity, budget activity, program element, and subprogram within a program element, and for any investment items defined as a P-1 line item in a budget activity within an appropriation account and an R-1 line item that includes a program element and subprogram element within an appropriation account) for which appropriations, funds, or other authority were not available during fiscal year 2026.”
“(10) The Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 (division D of Public Law 119-37). (11) The National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2026 (division F of Public Law 119-75). (12) The Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 (division D of Public Law 119-75). Sec. 102.”
“(3) The Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2026 (division A of Public Law 119-75). (4) The Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 (division B of Public Law 119-74). (5) The Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2026 (division E of Public Law 119-75). (6) The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026 (division A of Public Law 119-86). (7) The Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 (division C of Public Law 119-74). (8) The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 (division B of Public Law 119-75). (9) The Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2026 (division C of Public Law 119-37).”
“Such amounts as may be necessary, at a rate for operations as provided in the applicable appropriations Acts for fiscal year 2026 and under the authority and conditions provided in such Acts, for continuing projects or activities (including the costs of direct loans and loan guarantees) that are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Act, that were conducted in fiscal year 2026, and for which appropriations, funds, or other authority were made available in the following appropriations Acts: (1) The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 (division B of Public Law 119-37). (2) The Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 (division A of Public Law 119-74).”
“9770 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the following sums are hereby appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, and out of applicable corporate or other revenues, receipts, and funds, for the several departments, agencies, corporations, and other organizational units of Government for fiscal year 2027, and for other purposes, namely: Sec. 101.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 119 (Tuesday, July 21, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 119 (Tuesday, July 21, 2026)] [House] [Pages H4731-H4736] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2027 Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1438, I call up the bill (H.R. 9770) making continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2027, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 1438, the bill is considered read. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R.”
“Chair, I thank my friend from Florida and Ranking Member Frankel for their leadership, and I thank the staff on both sides of the aisle for their hard work. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. {time} 1230”
“It also demands greater accountability and raises expectations for our partners, recognizing that enduring alliances are strongest when responsibilities are shared. Further, it implements strategic investments that enhance U.S. leverage abroad and combat fentanyl trafficking and criminal organizations. It refocuses our diplomacy on core missions like embassy security, passport services, and promoting American businesses overseas. The bottom line is simple: This legislation recognizes that freedom and democracy are not mere ideals. They are principles that we will actively champion and advance. Chairman Diaz-Balart's bill directs resources to the highest impact priorities that strengthen America's position while cutting billions in unnecessary spending. This bill delivers security, strategic focus, and results. Mr.”
“We are putting our values into action by upholding freedom, promoting economic opportunity, supporting religious liberty, and safeguarding protections that uphold life. This approach marks a necessary course correction. Unlike previous administrations that prioritized symbolism over outcomes, President Trump and Chairman Diaz-Balart have returned U.S. engagement to a foundation of strength, accountability, and strategic purpose. On every level, this bill reiterates that it won't be optics but real results that drive our work. The measure stands firmly with our friends while drawing a clear line against our adversaries. It reinforces [[Page H4482]] support for key allies, like Israel and Taiwan, and directly counters threats from Communist China and other regimes that challenge our interests and principles.”
“Mr. Chair, I thank my distinguished friend and vice chair of the full committee, Chairman Diaz-Balart, for yielding the time and for his work on this bill. The fiscal year 2027 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs bill makes a clear statement about American leadership: We will engage where it matters. We will invest where it counts. We will demand accountability for every dollar spent. The legislation before us today, Mr. Chairman, implements a clear- eyed and unapologetic approach to our security and democracy efforts. It leaves no doubt about our Nation's posture. America will not be passive or simply write blank checks. Every investment we make must advance U.S. interests, strengthen our strategic position, and deliver measurable results for the American people.”
“I remember Wes Watkins with a great deal of fondness. In the course of his life, there were three things he loved the most. First was his family. When you think of his family, you always think of his wife, Lou. They were inseparable. Then, he loved the State of Oklahoma, and he served it proudly, as well. Finally, and I say this as an OU alumnus and a fierce Sooner, he was the proudest, most ferocious Oklahoma State graduate I ever met. He absolutely revered that institution and spent a lifetime working for it. I know the people of Oklahoma will miss Wes Watkins. He was, in many ways, a favorite son of the State. He certainly distinguished himself in public service and in his devotion to the interests of the State. I am going to miss Wes even more than that. I will miss him as a friend. I will miss him as a mentor.”
“As a matter of fact, on one occasion, I remember getting a call at 5:30 in the morning--actually, on more than one occasion. I would also get calls late at night. I called his beloved wife, Lou, once and said: Lou, I am getting calls at 5:30 in the morning and 10 at night. She said: Tom, he keeps a list of people he can call before 8 in the morning and after 8 at night, and somehow you have gotten yourself on both those lists. That is how hard he worked. That is how relentless he was. While he changed political parties over the course of his lifetime, I can tell you he never changed his political principles. Quite frankly, he symbolized and propelled the transformation of Oklahoma from a Democratic State to a Republican State. I never met Democrats who didn't like him or Republicans who didn't like him. He was simply a revered individual.”
“Wes was the only person ever turned down who had been a State senator for a cabinet spot because Democrats were so mad at him at the time. Frankly, he got the last laugh because, the very next year, he ran for his old congressional seat and won. Republicans thought so much of him. I remember calling Newt Gingrich, who was the Speaker of this institution at the time. I was Wes' campaign consultant and a good friend of Speaker Gingrich. I said: He really wants to go on the Ways and Means Committee. Speaker Gingrich said: If he runs, he has got it. I will absolutely put him there. Wes was one of the best Members of Congress. He was a pretty extraordinary guy. I will tell you, of all the different candidates I have worked with and for over the years, nobody ever worked harder and longer.”
“He is the only person I know of in Oklahoma history, maybe in American history, that ever carried his congressional district first as a Democrat, then as a Democrat running for Governor, and then as an independent seeking the governorship, and, finally, later as a Republican. He was so impressive on the campaign trail in his second term that the person who won the election, former Governor Frank Keating of Oklahoma--who was actually my friend, my mentor, and my client at the time--was so impressed that he would come back from the campaign trail and say: I love Wes Watkins. He is for everything I am for. He is such a great guy. As soon as Frank became Governor Keating, he offered Wes Watkins a cabinet position in his own administration.”
“Lucas said, in very humble circumstances, yet he succeeded in every single thing he did over the course of his lifetime. He succeeded in college. He succeeded as a businessman. He was a family man, and he was extraordinarily successful at that. He was in the National Guard. Finally, he began a political career, first in the State senate and then in the Halls of this distinguished institution. Wes Watkins served two different stints in Congress, but what my friend Mr. Lucas didn't say was that he served the first seven terms as a Democrat. Then he went home to run for Governor.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 62 (Monday, April 7, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 62 (Monday, April 7, 2025)] [House] [Page H1425] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE HONORABLE WES WATKINS (Mr. Cole of Oklahoma was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, this is a little bit unusual. I have comments on my friend Wes Watkins, as well. I want to talk a little bit off the cuff about the man that my good friend and colleague Frank Lucas was talking about a few minutes ago. Wes Watkins liked to think of himself as an ordinary man and a typical Oklahoman. I can assure everybody here he was neither ordinary nor typical. He was extraordinary. Wes Watkins was born, as my friend Mr.”