By Congressman Tom Cole
In reflections on America’s development, Alexis de Tocqueville once mused that “it may be said that the township was organized before the county, the county before the state, the state before the union.” Our nation was forged by the people, and in a way that ensures power was not centralized to one authority. This principle of federalism, which divides authorities between state and federal governments, is the bedrock of our system. It is so important that our Constitution’s Tenth Amendment enshrines the fact that powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved to the states and the people.
The intent of the Founders was simple: a framework that recognizes checks and balances and the needs of its citizens. It also acknowledges an important truth – localized government is closest to the people and uniquely equipped to understand important issues. Yet, in a troubling trend, we have watched an increased centralization of power at the federal level that has ushered in a new era of bureaucratic overreach. Unelected Washington bureaucrats and their unchecked regulatory abuse are burdening Americans and usurping power from the people’s representatives. As Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, I feel strongly about stopping one-size-fits-all mandates from Washington and ensuring that policymaking is not left in the hands of unelected bureaucrats.
Each action that I take at the helm of the Appropriations Committee is to restore the balance outlined by the Founders in our Constitution and end the administrative state’s ability to wield decision-making on vital issues with no regard.
Our Fiscal Year 2025 funding policies reflect those very objectives. From rejecting attempts to block mineral leases to mandating transparency regarding the implementation of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS), we address progressive activism seeking to curtail state control. Further, we ensure investments are targeted at localities. This includes prioritizing education funds to state and local classrooms and removing burdensome regulations that unfairly target certain state enterprises over others.
The importance of driving funding at the local level is even more apparent within our law enforcement spending provisions. To end the Department of Justice’s activist oversteps, our FY25 efforts supported state and local law enforcement through the funding of numerous grant programs that ensured the officers patrolling our neighborhood and city streets are well prepared to protect our citizens.
Additionally, through the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development appropriations bill, Republicans have worked to ensure that transportation projects are not burdened by climate rules that simply delay implementation. For example, conservative lawmakers, along with the courts, helped defeat the Department of Transportation’s onerous highway greenhouse gas rule.
We also make certain the voices of people across the nation are heard through community funding initiatives. Elected by their constituents, Members are the subject matter experts in their districts, and community funding projects give representatives the opportunity to determine where some investment goes. Instead of ceding funding to the whims of a bureaucrat, these types of projects engage localities and deliver on specific needs to ensure constituencies are not overlooked.
Our FY25 efforts reflect an important step forward in accountability and bringing back policymaking authority from the entrenched administrative state. I will continue to champion these efforts, and I am encouraged to see the renewal of federalism from other branches.
For example, in one of the most prominent examples of the resurgence of the Tenth Amendment, in the ruling of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the Supreme Court ruled that states will once again have the ability to advance laws that protect the lives of unborn babies at their earliest stages. Policies will now be set by leaders—duly elected by the American people—instead of unelected judges.
In a similar vein, through Loper Bright v. Raimondo, SCOTUS overturned the 40-year-old Chevron Deference, which granted agencies tremendous discretion in deciding the scope of their authority. This doctrine allowed a massive expansion of the federal government and a reduction of the role of Congress in the policymaking process. In the wake of this verdict, it is more important than ever for Congress to write clear laws in order to protect our authority under Article I of the Constitution. As Chairman, I will require the Appropriations Committee to continue drafting clear legislative provisions that provide appropriate direction for federal agencies and will provide support for authorizing committees as needed to enhance their efforts.
Federalism serves as the cornerstone of our democracy, ensuring that power remains accountable to the people, not concentrated in the hands of unelected bureaucrats. By empowering states and local governments, we safeguard the voice of everyday Americans and prevent the unchecked growth of federal agencies. The appropriations process plays a critical role in this balance, acting as a constitutional check on executive overreach and ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent wisely. Upholding the principles of federalism is not just a constitutional duty—it’s a commitment to preserving the liberties and rights that define our nation.
