Rutherford issues statement on Appropriations Act passage

On Wednesday, Jan. 14, U.S. Rep. John H. Rutherford (FL-05), member of the House Appropriations Committee, released a statement on the House passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 Financial Services and General Government and National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act.

“We must protect the American taxpayer, advance government efficiency, strengthen national security and promote America First priorities,” said Rutherford. “That’s why I was proud to vote yes on this bill to deliver strength abroad, security at home, a smarter government and stronger financial security for the American people.

“This bill cuts billions in spending, delivering real wins and savings for Americans. It also brings a lot of great wins for Northeast Florida, including funding for the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) fund to support entrepreneurship and small businesses in our area and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program to stop the flow of dangerous illegal drugs into our communities. As an honorary Rotarian, I am proud this bill maintains funding to fight for global eradication of polio and against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria worldwide."

Included in this legislation are Rutherford’s priorities to:

• Realign funding to national security priorities while eliminating $9.3 billion in wasteful spending, restoring fiscal discipline and accountability

• Implement President Trump’s priorities, including his “Make America Safe Again” agenda

• Fortify safeguards and bolster cybersecurity to stop terrorists, criminals and hostile actors from exploiting the U.S. financial system

• Protect Americans from deadly drugs like fentanyl and combat human trafficking in Latin American by investing in the International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement

• Protect American innovation and scrutinize foreign investments through the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS)

• Force accountability at the United Nations

• Eliminate DEI, woke programming, Green New Deal mandates and divisive gender ideology provisions that undermine core agency missions

• Stand by our allies, including Israel, Jordan, Egypt and Taiwan

• Protect Christian communities from religious persecution by restricting funding to Nigeria

• Uphold American values, protect free speech, and preserve longstanding pro-life protections