Providing for consideration of the Senate amendment to the House amendment to the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 601) to enhance the transparency and accelerate the impact of assistance provided under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to promote quality basic education in developing countries, to better enable such countries to achieve universal access to quality basic education and improved learning outcomes, to eliminate duplication and waste, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the supplemental appropriations for disaster relief, and I

thank the appropriators and all of my colleagues. I reflect on the bipartisan meeting of our Texas delegation. We said we would not be divided and we would not be divided amongst our friends from Florida and those who may be in need with Hurricane Irma.

I do want to acknowledge that when we got up that Sunday morning and 12 inches had fallen at that time, part of the 50 inches of the most catastrophic storm on the Continental United States, Hurricane Harvey, we saw the lives of people disappear--some who died, some who were in shelters as these pictures depict. The road to recovery is going to be long.

I introduced a $174 billion hurricane appropriations bill to be able to address Hurricane Harvey. I am grateful for the $15.3 billion that gives us money for housing. That is the greatest need, along with the infrastructure, and if we can begin to expedite those dollars into our cities and counties, our mayors and county leaders will be grateful.

There are people who are homeless now, there are people whose homes are in despair, there are people who do not have insurance. The reason is because these individuals were flooded in a 500-year flood area and 1,000-year flood area. It is important to note at the same time, Mr. Speaker, that these individuals are elderly and disabled.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 601, which provides $15.3 billion in supplemental appropriations as the Congress's initial response to the massive damage inflicted on Southeast Texas and Louisiana by Hurricane Harvey and authorizes appropriations to continue funding for federal government operations through December 8, 2017.

The legislation also suspends the current $19.8 trillion limit on federal borrowing through December 8, 2017, which will enable the Treasury to continue to borrow money to pay bills, and set the new debt limit as the amount reflecting all outstanding U.S. debt as of December 9, 2017.

I also strongly support the legislation before us because it extends through December 8, 2017, FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which offers insurance policies to property owners in areas with significant flood risks.

The bill authorizes FEMA to borrow as much as $30.4 billion from the Treasury general fund if it does not collect sufficient revenue from premiums and surcharges to cover claims payments.

Without this extension, FEMA would not be able to issue new flood insurance policies after September 30, 2017, and its borrowing authority will be reduced to $1.5 billion.

That would be particularly devastating to many of the constituents I represent who have or will be seeking flood insurance policies under the FEMA Flood Insurance Program.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to commend the bipartisan leadership of both chambers for the speed with which the Hurricane Harvey relief package and the FY2018 Continuing Resolution was negotiated, drafted, and shepherded to the floor.

This bodes well for the major challenges that must be met and overcome if the victims of Hurricane Harvey are to recover from the storm's awful wrath and rebuild their decimated communities.

I thank Chairman Frelinghuysen and Ranking Member Lowey, and Speaker Ryan and Democratic Leader Pelosi, and their Senate counterparts because this initial Hurricane Harvey aid package sends a strong signal to the people of Texas and Louisiana that the American people stand in solidarity with them in their moment of heartbreak and anguish.

On Wednesday, September 6, 2017, the House approved $7.85 billion for relief efforts in Texas and Louisiana, consisting of $7.4 billion for the FEMA Disaster Recovery Fund (DRF) and $450 million for the SBA Disaster Loan program.

To this amount the Senate added $7.4 billion in funds to be distributed to states and communities through HUD's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.

These CDBG funds can be used for disaster relief, long-term recovery, infrastructure restoration, housing, and economic revitalization.

FEMA's DRF funding is mostly allocated for three programs:

1. Public Assistance Program, which helps communities cover the costs of repairing and replacing public buildings, infrastructure, and utilities, as well as emergency costs for debris removal and other needs;

2. Individual Assistance Program, which provides funding for temporary housing, property repairs, medical treatment, moving costs, and other needs; and

3. Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which offers funding to reduce damages from future disasters.

Typically, FEMA covers 75 percent of the costs for DRF-funded projects so I am very pleased that the President agreed that in the unprecedented circumstances of this case, a higher reimbursement level was warranted and acceded to my request that FEMA be authorized and directed to reimburse Harris County and other affected local governments 90% for debris removal, including direct Federal assistance; and 100% percent for emergency protective measures for 30 days from the start of the incident period and at 90% thereafter.

Mr. Speaker, it is not an exaggeration to regard as unprecedented the damage wrought on Southeast Texas by Hurricane Harvey beginning 14 days ago, on August 25, 2017, when it made landfall for the first time in the state of Texas, just north of the city of Corpus Christi.

Before it was finished, Hurricane Harvey dropped 21 trillion gallons of rainfall on Texas and Louisiana, most of it on the Houston Metroplex.

To put in perspective the devastation wrought by Hurricane Harvey, the volume of water that fell on Houston and other affected areas of Texas and Louisiana could fill more than 24,000 Astrodomes or supply the water for the raging Niagara Falls for 15 days.

Whole sections of Houston, Beaumont, Bayou City, Port Arthur, and other cities were underwater for days.

Hurricane Harvey was a 1,000 year storm that has to date claimed the lives of at least 30 persons, including a 34-year veteran of the Houston Police Department and a family of six who perished in Greens Bayou while trying to evacuate their flooded home and community.

It also claimed the life of a Dreamer, Alonso Guillen, a young Houstonian who came to Texas from Mexico as a teenager, and who died when his boat capsized while he was rescuing survivors of the flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey.

Neither Houston nor any city in the nation has ever experienced flooding of the magnitude caused by Hurricane Harvey.

The statistics are staggering.

21 trillion gallons of rainfall fell in Texas and Louisiana in the first five days of the storm.

The estimated maximum sustained winds exceeded 130 miles per hour as the hurricane made landfall near Rockport, Texas on August 25.

A record 4,323 days, which is nearly 12 years, elapsed since a major hurricane (Category 3 or above) made landfall in the United States prior to Hurricane Harvey; the last Category 3 hurricane to hit the United States was Hurricane Wilma in 2005, the same year Hurricane Katrina destroyed much of New Orleans.

The city of Cedar Bayou received 51.88 inches of rainfall, breaking the record for rainfall from a single storm in the continental United States; my city of Houston received more than 50 inches of rainfall.

More than 13,000 people have been rescued in the Houston area and more than 30,000 persons are expected to be forced out of their homes due to the storm.

More than 8,800 federal personnel were staff deployed to help respond to Hurricane Harvey, supplying approximately 2.9 million meals, 2.8 million liters of water, 37,000 tarps, and 130 generators.

In the first three days of the storm, more than 49,000 homes that had suffered flood damage and more than 1,000 homes were completely destroyed in the storm.

And today, two weeks later, thousands of Texans are still without permanent and stable housing situations.

That is why the additional $7.4 billion in CDBG funding provided in the legislation is desperately needed.

Mr. Speaker, valiant emergency responders in my state worked to exhaustion, with an invaluable assist from citizen volunteers, to rescue their neighbors and save lives.

That is who Texans are and this is what we do.

We do not yet know the full cost in human lives exacted by Hurricane Harvey.

But what we do know is that the costs of recovery and reconstruction will far exceed any natural disaster in memory; best estimates place the cost in the range of $150-$200 billion.

Mr. Speaker, there is much more work to be done in my city of Houston, and across the areas affected by the terrible, awesome storm that will be forever known simply as Hurricane Harvey.

That is why I strongly support the legislation pending before us appropriating $15.3 billion as the initial response of the Congress to the damage caused by an epic storm.

I must emphasize that what we are considering here is the initial response because much more funding will be needed for Houston--the nation's fourth largest city--and Southeast Texas to recover and rebuild.

And it is also why I have introduced, joined by more than 40 House colleagues, H.R. 3686, the Hurricane Sandy Supplemental Appropriations Act, which, when passed by Congress and signed into law, would provide $174 billion in aid to assist the areas affected by

Hurricane Harvey recover, rebuild, and restore their communities to their previous greatness.

I urge all Members to join me in support of H.R. 601 and to commit to providing our fellow Americans in Texas and Louisiana all of the help and support they need to restore their communities to their previous greatness.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 509 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this rule, and I believe the entire country understands why we have the underlying legislation that we have before us today.

The rule provides for consideration of the Senate amendment to the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 601, the Hurricane Supplemental, Debt Limit, Continuing Appropriations, and Flood Insurance Package.

Mr. Speaker, what this means is that the United States Congress, the House of Representatives, first acted in response to the hurricane that hit Texas and Louisiana and caused flooding across the United States. We then passed that directly to the United States Senate, in working with the President of the United States and the administration, and the Senate has provided back the necessary agreement that they passed. That is why we are here today.

We are here today because this great Nation is finding itself in a desperate plight of fighting with, for, and against Mother Nature, in an effort to provide the citizens of the United States of America with the assurances that, at a time when FEMA is engaged in over 30 different efforts across the country, the United States Congress is nimble enough and able enough to see the need of the people of the United States and to respond appropriately.

It is a private-public partnership that takes place not just with the Federal Government, but it is a government-to-government relationship that takes place also with the United States FEMA organization representing the administration and the American people of the States in which those people reside.

I must tell you that I have been impressed with not only the actions that the Federal Government has taken, but I am proud each morning that I stand up and see FEMA and its representatives discussing, preparing, and providing the American people with the necessary information, the cause and the backup to be prepared for what lies ahead.

This legislation directly addresses the critical responses that are needed by this Nation and meets the funding obligations of the Nation. My fellow Texans, several of whom will be speaking this morning on the rule, are men

who were directly in the face of the storm; and the people whom they represent and the people who have confidence in them are asking them for the necessary proper help that the United States Government would wish to give. These men and women of the Texas delegation have seen this problem together, and they are addressing it as a team.

We come together not just as Republican and Democrat, men and women, but we come together as a nation. And quite honestly, Mr. Speaker, Texans are overwhelmed with the response that we have seen not just from our colleagues, but the wishes, hopes, and prayers of this Nation, those who have come to Texas and are helping us out.

We now turn our thoughts and ideas and prayers to others who are in harm's way. We are well aware that it has come across our territories, it is entering the United States soon, perhaps as early as this morning, and we have done our work here today and will get that work done as we finalize the vote.

We appreciate and respect and thank the Nation for its support.

Please know that this legislation provides us, today, essential emergency disaster relief for those areas devastated by storms. A $15.25 billion emergency supplemental package is contained within this legislation. What we intend to do is to provide this and make it available to the States, where our elected officials will be administering the things that will make them available, along with FEMA, to the American people and to the people who were affected.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I received a call from a gentleman, George P. Bush, who is our land commissioner in Texas. Commissioner Bush asked me to not only thank the United States Congress, but also the American people. He asked me, along with Governor Greg Abbott from the State of Texas, to thank the American people for standing with us.

We may have been in harm's way, we may have seen over 50 inches of rain, we may have tens of thousands of people who are still in harm's way, but we are not too proud to say thank you, thank you to this great Nation for hearing our call, seeing our need, and, today, providing the necessary resources to help us rebuild our lives.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, over the next few speakers, you will have an opportunity to hear from members of the Texas delegation who were not only in harm's way, but who represent many brave people who have responded to the call of others.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Corpus Christi, Texas (Mr. Farenthold).

Mr. Speaker, this rule and the underlying legislation is specifically answering a question of national emergency, and that is as it relates to hurricane and hurricanes that are nearing the United States.

I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Weber), one of the Members of Congress who was in the direct bull's-eye of this, in the district and the people that he represents.

Yes, I appreciate the gentlewoman engaging me.

I had understood that I had several other speakers, so what I would say to the gentlewoman is, if she would like to move on, I have none that I see right now. As we know, our Conference is in a meeting, so I would allow the gentlewoman to move forward. I will do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I would like to publicly thank the Democratic members of the Rules Committee. The gentlewoman, Mrs. Slaughter, has recognized from the first moment when we came back the genuine desire and need for us to work together. Her entire team, including the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), and the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Polis) and their staff, has worked diligently to ensure that this piece of legislation would become ready for Members of Congress to vote on it.

I would like to thank my staff and also our members, our members of the Rules Committee who spent a great deal of time this week.

Mr. Speaker, we are public servants and we are expected to do what we are doing. But it should also be noted that my colleague went out of her way to ensure that the discussion, the debate, and the delivery of this package is done.

Mr. Speaker, last night I received information from Dr. Shelley Hall and Dr. Rick Snyder from Dallas, Texas, speaking most directly about the people who they have come in contact with as volunteers from the Dallas County Medical Society at the convention center in Dallas, Texas.

As people have filled our city from outside these storm areas, I hope that they have met also Texans who cared about them. We have a history of this because we had to do this 12 or 13 years ago with Katrina, as we took people, young babies, little babies, who were flown in to Dallas and other areas in Texas; Fort Worth, Texas, opening up its doors; Austin, Texas; San Antonio, Texas. This is an effort that is more than just a State's effort, however, today. This is the Nation.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Texas delegation, I want to thank Members of Congress, and, in particular, Ms. Slaughter and her team, for expeditiously providing this information of us working together.

Lastly, we will hand this to Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen, from the Appropriations Committee, and Nita Lowey, who is that ranking member. I have seen all four of us work together on an important effort.

Mr. Speaker, for that reason, I urge my colleagues to support this rule and the underlying measure to provide FEMA with this emergency downpayment, as the agency is running out of funds and bracing for Irma's impact, and perhaps two other storms that may be headed to the United States of America or our territories.

We are one Nation under God. I give thanks for that, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

The previous question was ordered.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, first, I want to acknowledge all the communities facing the impacts of Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma. There are also two other hurricanes, Jose and Katia, gaining strength right now in the Atlantic.

This is the first time since 2010 that there have been three active hurricanes at one time in the Atlantic basin. Our rising waters and warming seas are contributing to the historic storms we are seeing now.

We also can't forget the falling permafrost in Alaska. It was called permafrost, obviously, because it was going to be permanent. Scientists estimate this could drive up the Earth's temperature by as much as 1.7 degrees Fahrenheit. If this isn't enough to make clear the perils of climate change, I don't know what it will take.

Mr. Speaker, I am relieved that a bipartisan compromise has been reached on some of the most important and urgent matters that we face. The bill includes a short-term extension of the debt ceiling, a continuing resolution to fund the government, and provides the first installment of aid to those communities impacted by Hurricane Harvey.

I was glad to see this deal pass the Senate overwhelmingly on Thursday by a vote of 80-17. It is a testament to what we can do when we work together even during these especially partisan times.

The agreement may have been a surprise, but it was a welcome one. We can now step back from the cliff, get to work on the many other priorities we face this month, including passing the Dream Act and reauthorizing the FAA, which is critical; the Children's Health Insurance Program, also critical; and the Perkins Loan program. Many low-income students in college depend on Perkins to get a good education.

So this compromise will get us through to December 8, and that means we will find ourselves back here in the same situation a few months from now. I hope that once again we can put the country before ideology and prevent the self-inflicted wound that would come from playing chicken with our economy.

Today's bipartisan spirit is something our country can use a lot more of.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, if we defeat the previous question, I will offer an amendment to the rule to bring up H.R. 3440, the Dream Act. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation would help thousands of young people who are Americans in every way except on paper.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert the text of my amendment in the Record, along with extraneous material, immediately prior to the vote on the previous question.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Kihuen) to discuss our proposal.

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire of my colleague if he has further speakers.

Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close. I yield myself such time as I may consume.

First, I want to say that I appreciate the Members from Texas who have made it so clear what they are personally going through, and their constituents. Surely, every one of us in this room understands that we are called upon to do the greater good today, and we will certainly rise to that occasion.

Mr. Speaker, I am going to say something I wish I got the chance to say more often, and that is that I do support the underlying bill that we are considering today with all my heart. I know it has been a busy week, but our constituents and the people, our fellow Americans, are suffering and afraid.

One thing I noticed about the children in Texas in the boats going to the shelters and every place, their stoicism. I didn't see a single one of them shed a tear. In fact, I am a little worried about that. Little people whose lives were absolutely uprooted and who had to go to a strange place, leaving everything that they had behind--think about that.

We are obligated here, those of us who serve in this House, to meet the need that we know exists today and will for some time to come. So let's end with a strong, bipartisan vote on this bill.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I represent District 14, which, arguably, is ground zero for flooding. It is the first three coastal counties that start at Louisiana and come down the Texas coast: Jefferson County, Galveston County, and then the southern half of Brazoria County.

As I reflected, Mr. Speaker, about Harvey, I thought I would put some thoughts down on paper. It is staggering and incredible, when you think about it, and, unfortunately, our friends in Florida may be facing exactly the same thing. Of course, Hurricane Irma came up through the Caribbean wreaking havoc. Our prayers and thoughts go out to those families.

Over 60 deaths here alone.

FEMA applications, 650,000-plus already.

Shelters, there were 49,000 people staying in shelters in the three counties that I have just discussed. Secretary Price said in a briefing this morning they are down to around, I think it is, 13,000, 14,000, so that number has diminished.

Money spent by FEMA so far, last estimate, $200 million.

Untold thousands, hundreds of thousands of cases of water have been sent.

Hundreds of cities, communities, towns, neighborhoods affected.

Mr. Speaker, the annual average rainfall in that area on a yearly basis, of course, is 50 inches. Folks, we got 53 inches in 3 days.

Population on the southeast part of Texas, you could say, is about 6 to 7 million people that have been affected by this. In Louisiana, I am not sure: half a million people affected by the rain, over 100,000 houses flooded.

Fuel production down from the Gulf Coast energy capital of Texas is down by 20 percent.

Jobs that have gone on hold or either just gone.

Cars flooded, tens of thousands of cars flooded. People have no transportation.

Overall cost, you have seen the projections, over $150 billion--with a B, dollars.

Ports are shut down. The port of Houston was closed. Channels are sholed in. Sabine-Neches Waterway, Port of Freeport, all of them affected by this. I am told that when ports are shut down, economic trade stops--to the cost of over $1 billion a day.

HHS Secretary Dr. Tom Price said, on the Weather Channel, that four hospitals are closed; it had been 30. Thirteen dialysis centers closed, 26 nursing homes closed. He said that HHS had encountered some 5,000 patients during the storm, not all related to the storm.

I want to add that I watched some of our great doctors in Jefferson County--Dr. Garrett Peel, Dr. Ray Callas--go to work, Baptist Hospital, Christus Hospital, get in gear, and 500 tetanus vaccines were delivered because of the threat of disease.

Dr. Price went on to say that the CDC was making plans for mosquito control due to the Zika virus. They have extended pharmaceutical waivers for drug prescriptions to be allowed for longer than 30 days.

Dr. Price did note this morning that there were some 5,400 patients with electricity requirements for treatment alone, whether it is dialysis or some form, but that 20,000 patients were electrically dependent in some fashion, and HHS had provided that information to the various States.

Folks, the need is great. The need is great. To whom much is given, much is required. Never has there been a people in history given so much. This is one of those cases. This is one of those times where much is required.

Harvey brought on a downpour, but I will tell you that Texans and Americans and folks brought on an outpour, an outpouring like I had never seen. Our country has stepped up.

Our friends from Louisiana, the Cajun Navy, came over with over 100 boats and began to do things that amazed us. We called it ``Cajuneering.'' Unbelievable outpouring.

So, yes, I want to echo my colleague to the south, Blake Farenthold's plea: Please vote for this bill. It is time for us to step up. It is time for us to set politics aside. It is time for us to focus on the tragedy that is now called Harvey and may be soon to be called Irma.

So I urge my colleagues to vote for this rule.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, as I stand in support of this legislation, it is important to acknowledge that it not only addresses the needs of the residents who are cleaning up after Harvey, but it ensures that we will also avoid a first-ever default on the full faith and credit of the United States.

What is important about this moment is the following: We are adhering to what is known as the national principle, and the national principle means that, if there is an earthquake in California, we rise to the aid of the people of California. If there is a hurricane in Texas, we rise to the aid of the people in Texas. If there is a tornado in Springfield, Massachusetts, as there was a few years ago, we all come to the aid of the people of Springfield, Massachusetts. If there were horrific forest fires in the State of Alabama, as happened a few years ago, we all come to the aid of the people of Alabama.

Now, why is that important? Because we don't check gender, and we don't check race, and we don't say: Is it a blue State or a red State or what is the political affiliation of those who are affected?

Instead, we say: The national principle ensures that this is about the American family in moments of great challenge and great difficulty, and we don't use the opportunity to remind people of what the budget might look like at that moment. Instead, we come to their assistance and we figure out how to pay for it later on.

So on this occasion, there is a very important consideration that is married, and it includes the idea that, with the Trump administration and congressional Republicans and Democrats on this side, we are going to not only do what we are supposed to do in terms of raising the national debt, but we will come to the assistance of members of the American family, as I, a moment ago, described.

Now, let me point out something else as well. We need to stop playing games with the national debt limit. We had tax cuts here in 2001 and 2003 that cut Federal revenue to 15 percent of gross domestic product, despite the fact that the historic postwar norm average is closer to 17.5 percent. Actually, in some of those years before that, it rose to 18.5 cents on the dollar--a reasonable expenditure. But instead, as those numbers slipped to 15 percent, the argument became somehow that it was about future payments.

The argument over the debt limit is about expenses incurred, what we have obligated ourselves to with veterans benefits, a war in Afghanistan, a war in Iraq. And even though I voted against the war in Iraq, we need to come to the aid of those veterans and those veterans hospitals, and we need to come to the assistance of those 1 million new veterans who were created because of it. And again, not asking questions, is it a blue State expenditure? is it a red State expenditure? It is about the national principle.

The idea that we would cast doubt on the full faith and credit of the United States to earn a few political points and to try to convince people that this is about future spending, it is not about future spending. This is about the credit card having come due for, in most instances, reasonable expenditures, not the least of which includes the obligations we have to Social Security, Medicare, and our senior citizens.

So this agreement that we have rendered today is a reasonable and sensible bipartisan achievement, and we should use this as an example and as a template for what we might do going forward to address many of the challenges that are going to confront the American people.

And be assured of this: Whether it is in Florida or it is in Houston, the expenditure requirements here are going to bulge, and we should not be dismissive of that. So raise the debt limit and come to the aid of the American family today.