Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 11 a.m. tomorrow; and further, when the House adjourns on that day, it adjourn to meet on Tuesday, May 15, 2018, when it shall convene at noon for morning-hour debate and 2 p.m. for legislative business.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Appropriations have until 6 p.m. on Friday, May 11, 2018, to file privileged reports to accompany measures making appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give notice of my intent to resign from the United States House of Representatives on May 12 and to share a few words with my fellow Members and the American people.

It has truly been an honor and privilege to serve the people of Pennsylvania's 15th District, and I am proud of my time in Congress. I believe that I have made a difference and improved the lives of the constituents whom I have served in Pennsylvania: from serving on the House Homeland Security Committee and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which is being very ably led by my good friend from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster)--and his term is also coming to its end. I want to commend him and congratulate him on his dedicated service all these years--and to my current role as a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, chairing the Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies; and as past chairman of the House Ethics Committee.

And I was delighted for my good friend Linda Sanchez, who just spoke a few moments ago, serving with her. She was a wonderful partner on that committee. So much of the staff, some of whom are here in the Chamber today, I was so thrilled to be able to have that opportunity to work with her and the staff, who are all so professional.

I also had the opportunity to serve as co-chair of the Tuesday Group Caucus. I was very pleased with what we were able to accomplish in that role. And as a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, I fought to fulfill the basic functions of government, like keeping the government funded and preventing default on our Nation's obligations. At times, that has not been easy.

I see my good friend Mr. Cole is here, too. He has been a great appropriator, a great leader, and a great mentor to me.

Unfortunately, due to disruptive political influences, increased polarization has led the Congress to becoming more paralyzed and unable to perform even our most basic and fundamental tasks. This phenomenon manifested itself most clearly during the 2013 Federal Government shutdown, but it continues today.

This political polarization has led to a disturbing trend where fringe elements of both the far right and far left are emboldened and empowered. And while the bases of both political parties are well represented in Congress, the governing center has been under increased pressure.

Too many Republicans expect unquestioning--blind, unquestioning-- loyalty and obedience to President Trump, no matter how absurd or disruptive the comment or behavior. Constitutional separation of powers is almost an alien concept, after relentlessly demanding Congress assert its Article I powers during the Obama years.

On the other side, far too many Democrats offer unflinching resistance and opposition to President Trump, even if they agree with him on a given policy or position.

Separation of political parties has replaced separation of powers as a guiding, governing philosophy. This dynamic is simply not sustainable, and it is already having troubling consequences.

We have already seen a rise in the three-headed monster of isolationism, protectionism, and nativism. These are not qualities of a great nation. In fact, they dishonor the sacrifices and service of the Greatest Generation, who delivered both victory during World War II

and the farsighted, outward-looking, post-war, rules-based order that has brought unprecedented freedom and prosperity to America and its friends, allies, and partners.

Furthermore, traditional democratic values--the rule of law, freedom of press, an independent judiciary--are under unprecedented attack throughout much of the world.

It is incumbent upon all of us to stand up and defend our way of life and our institutions. In Congress, we need to reestablish a strong, bipartisan governing center that will help restore order and stability to Washington and that will also help alleviate a lot of concerns throughout the country.

To be sure, there are a number of Members working towards that goal: the members of the Tuesday Group, Republican Main Street Partnership, the Blue Dogs, New Democrats, Problem Solvers Caucus, and there are others. Many of these Members understand that consensus and compromise are not capitulation or surrender but, instead, are essential to a functioning republic.

We need to pursue real fiscal reform, both on the mandatory side and the revenue side of the ledger. We need a Simpson-Bowles 2.0, with teeth; and reforms must be bipartisan to ensure they are both durable and sustainable, which we know won't happen on a partisan basis.

Additionally, we need to address other challenges, such as how to increase access to and affordability for our Nation's healthcare system, expanding educational opportunities for our children and our grandchildren, and making needed improvements to our infrastructure like so many around here are dedicated to, especially my friend Chairman Shuster.

The administration must realize that America has to honor its agreements if we ever hope to enter into new ones. We simply cannot walk away from American commitments, even ones we may have voted against or disagreed with, if we expect to continue to build new coalitions and enter into new agreements.

Instead, we should double down on the multilateral rules-based order, whatever the flaws, that America worked so hard to establish after World War II by defending the institutions, alliances, and partnerships we established or helped establish: NATO, European unity, and, yes, a global trade regime through which we have advanced America's economic, security, and strategic interests.

We should look at ways to open new markets and expand new opportunities that unleash the power and benefits of the American free enterprise system. All of us, Republicans and Democrats, need to work together to move America forward as friends and partners who share values, ideals, and common interests.

Whether confronting a revanchist, aggressive Russia; a terrorist, theocratic Iranian regime; or China's mercantilist policies, success can only be achieved by finding strength in unity.

And while I may be leaving the Halls of Congress, I am not retreating from the battlefield. Some of you may regret that. I intend to continue aggressively advocating for people and the policies of the sensible center. I hope to provide an even larger voice in favor of responsible governance and hope to foster a strong center-right movement that embraces traditional conservative virtues of order, discipline, stability, measured statements, and incremental change--not the incendiary rhetoric, chaos, and dysfunction that we have, unfortunately, grown accustomed to in recent years. Although my time in Congress is drawing to a close, I know that our Nation's future is bright.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thanks to all my friends and colleagues, again, some of whom are here today. I thank them all, my friends and colleagues not only here in the House, but also in the Senate, for their support, their guidance, their wisdom, and their friendship over the years. It is truly very meaningful to me, and I have been especially touched by some of the very nice things people have said and other tributes that have been paid to me.

My wife said, after she heard a few of them, she is kind of waiting to meet this guy that they are all talking about. But seriously, I can't thank you enough.

I also want to give a special thank-you to all my staff, both past and present, for everything that they have done dutifully to serve our constituents in Pennsylvania and to my legislative and policy priorities.

I should note, some of my staff are seated up in the gallery, past and present. I am not supposed to do that, but, hell, it is my last day, so I can do that.

I just want to again thank the staff for their dedication and work, both my Washington and my district staff, who do a lot of work not just for me, but all of our staffs. They do a lot, and sometimes they take a lot of grief, and we don't say thank you enough to them. But the bottom line is we could have never achieved as much as we did without their dedication and their commitment.

And above all, thank you to the people of Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District for the trust they have shown in me time and again. I have always said I don't know how many constituents would allow their Member the amount of latitude they have given me to be somewhat of an independent voice here and say what I felt needed to be said. I really appreciated my constituents allowing me to do that. I recognize in some districts that might not be case, so to them I say thank you again. After my family, representing them and carrying their voice to Washington has been the honor and joy of a lifetime.

Mr. Speaker, I say thank you, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the 70th Independence Day of the State of Israel. On May 14, 1948, the State of Israel declared its independence from Britain after the expiration of the British Mandate. This declaration created the state of Israel as we recognize it today.

The land of Israel has been home to the Jewish people throughout history. Jewish heritage in the area can be traced back to the Iron Age when the Kingdom of Israel occupied the region. It is in this territory between the Mediterranean and Dead Seas Judaism was founded. Jews ruled Israel during some historical periods and were conquered during others. After many years of uncertainty, the Jewish people were recognized as the rightful occupants of Israel in 1948.

Israel began to establish itself immediately during its early history as a country; it was admitted to the United Nations on May 11, 1949, a little under a year since its inception. Persecuted Jews from around the world, including Holocaust survivors, immigrated to Israel and adopted it as home. Such mass migration gave Israel a population of nearly two million by 1958. A highlight during Israel's early period was the prosecution of Nazi war criminals, mainly the trial of Adolf Eichmann in 1961. The capture of Eichmann from Argentina and his subsequent trial in Israel led to an increased public awareness of Holocaust atrocities.

In the 1970's, Israel was forced to fight off many military threats from neighboring nations. These attacks prompted support from Israel's European and Western allies, strengthening the young nation's global relationships. Israel has been able to partner with two of its former adversaries, Egypt and Jordan, after these threats subsided. While hostility towards Israel still exists, significant progress towards peaceful relationships has been made in recent years.

The economy in Israel has become very highly developed since the late 20th century. The nation enjoys the highest standard of living in the Middle East and the 35th best GDP per capita in the world. This is the result of a diverse and robust economy. Israel is a global innovator of technology and has recently drawn comparisons to Silicon Valley as a result of its success. Israel is also one of the top producers of cut diamonds throughout the world, which accounts for nearly 12 percent of global production.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the House to please join me in praising Israel's 70th anniversary as an independent nation. The United States and Israel have long maintained a friendly relationship based on shared values and mutual interests. May our bond continue to strengthen into the future, and may Israel continue to prosper in the Middle East for many years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 25th anniversary of racing legend Mario Andretti's final Indy car victory. He was victorious at the Phoenix International Raceway in April 1993, becoming the oldest driver ever to win an Indy-car race at the age of 53. This win was the last in a magnificent racing career that spanned across four decades.

Andretti, along with his twin brother Aldo, was born in the Kingdom of Italy in 1940. Andretti demonstrated an interest in racing from an early age and began to compete when he was thirteen years old. His family moved to Nazareth, Pennsylvania in 1955 where Andretti and his brother raced on dirt tracks. In 1964, Andretti became a naturalized United States citizen.

The professional racing debut for Andretti was in 1964 on the United States Automobile Club circuit. He finished eleventh in his first race at the New Jersey State fairgrounds. During the 1965 season, he won his first professional event at the Hoosier Grand Prix at Indianapolis Raceway Park. This win was the beginning of a championship season for Andretti, who at the age of 25 became the youngest IndyCar champion. He repeated as champion in 1966 and again in 1968. During the 1969 season, Andretti won his only Indianapolis 500.

Andretti began competing in Formula One, the highest form of international open wheel racing, on a part-time basis in 1968. He became a full-time participant on the circuit in 1975 and won the Formula One world championship in 1978. Starting in 1979, the next circuit Andretti competed on was the PPG Indy Car World Series. Andretti raced in these events for sixteen years, winning the championship in 1984. He finished in the top ten of the championship standings in twelve out of the sixteen years he participated, his best mark for any racing circuit. Following the 1994 season, Andretti retired from professional racing.

In addition to open wheel racing, Andretti raced in fourteen NASCAR events. Although his NASCAR career was limited, he won the 1967 Daytona 500 and finished in the top ten in three of his other starts.

Andretti had one of the most remarkable racing careers of all time, amassing one hundred and eleven total wins. Furthermore, he holds the distinction of being the only driver to ever win the Indianapolis 500, Daytona 500 and the Formula One World Championship. Andretti's accomplishments culminated in his election to the International Motorsports Hall of Fame and being named as ``Driver of the Century'' by the Associated Press.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the House to please join me in honoring the racing career of Mario Andretti, as well as the careers of his son Michael and grandson Marco, and their contributions to the sport of IndyCar. Mario Andretti's accomplishments served as inspiration for modern motorsport competitors and his legacy will forever be cemented in racing history, as well as in the Lehigh Valley.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased and, I must say, relieved to describe for my colleagues the good news in the Military Construction/ VA division in the omnibus.

At times, it seemed like we might not ever get here. I regret that our servicemembers and veterans have had to wait almost 6 months for us to complete our jobs, but I think our final bill is worth the wait.

I want to certainly congratulate our chairman, Mr. Frelinghuysen, for his incredible patience and deft negotiating skill to bring us to this point. I also want to thank Mrs. Lowey and my comrade-in-arms Ranking Member Debbie Wasserman Schultz for her rock-solid support and keen analytic eye during this process.

Thanks to the budget caps agreement, we are able to provide long overdue support to our military and their family members with a $2.4 billion, or 31 percent, increase, for a total of $10.1 billion for military construction. With that funding we are able to provide $708 million for 12 medical facilities, $249 million for DOD schools, and $8.2 billion for military construction projects in the United States.

Our Members will appreciate that we were able to provide $585 million in unfunded requirements requested by the services, as well as significant increases in planning and design for Active and Reserve construction and unspecified minor construction. The bill also includes $750 million in OCO funding, more than doubling the 2017 level.

Our bill fulfills Congress' commitment to our Nation's veterans, with total discretionary funding of $81.5 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs, a $7.1 billion, or 9.5 percent, increase over 2017. These funds provide important medical services to veterans as well as disability compensation, post-9/11 education benefits, and a host of insurance and lending programs.

Of note, we are able to provide $782 million for the new electronic health record contract, the same record as DOD's, which will allow the exchange of veterans' health records with DOD and community providers.

In addition and consistent with the budget caps agreement, our bill provides $2 billion in medical infrastructure assistance--nonrecurring maintenance, minor construction, and grants for State veterans retirement homes. The $2 billion gives us the rare opportunity to completely eliminate the backlog of approved State home applications.

I'm also pleased that we have the resources to make an important down payment on the Southern Expansion of Arlington National Cemetery, extending the Cemetery's capacity to 2050.

I urge an `aye' vote on the package. Help us do right by our servicemembers and veterans and their families who have given us so much.

Support the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Queen City Airport located in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Throughout its history, the airport has served the Lehigh Valley community in a variety of ways. From its beginnings as a military base during World War II to the small business transportation hub it is today, Queen City Airport has been vital to Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District.

Originally Convair Airfield, the 325-acre airport was built by Consolidated-Vultee Aircraft Incorporated in September 1943. The space functioned as the test site for the Navy's Seawolf torpedo bombers, which were built at the nearby Mack Trucks' plant. Eighty-six bombers were tested at the Convair facility, but the war concluded before any of the planes were commissioned for duty.

The City of Allentown purchased the government land on July 10, 1947, and in addition to the land, the government parted with Convair Airfield--valued at over $1 million--for $1 under the condition that Allentown maintained the land for aviation purposes.

After Allentown acquired Convair Airfield, the military called upon the airfield for training exercises during the Cold War. In 1948, the Pennsylvania National Guard leased the airport for Army reserve flight training. This prevented Lehigh Valley reservists from needing to travel long distances to receive critical training. The National Guard once again used Convair in 1949 for Operation Vultee One, which was a series of simulated bombing attacks.

The lease was transferred to Air Products & Chemicals, an industrial gas business with deep Lehigh Valley roots, in 1951. The company utilized Convair for mounting oxygen generating equipment on military trailers and producing valves and gauges. Air Products & Chemicals remained at Convair for 15 years before ending its lease with Allentown in 1966.

On May 15, 1961, Allentown took over the day-to-day operations of the airfield and officially renamed it Queen City Municipal Airport. This marked the beginning of private use of the land, starting with Spirax- Sarco, a maker of steam and heat transfer systems. The city sold the airport to the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority in 2000 after fifty years of ownership.

Today, Queen City Airport is home to 90 planes that are used by small business owners in the Lehigh Valley. The airport allows these business owners to avoid long waits behind commercial flights at Lehigh Valley International Airport (LVIA) and freely conduct their business travel. Additional hangars to accommodate more planes are in the airport authority's long-term plan since Queen City has experienced increased utilization in recent years.

Mr. Speaker, I would ask the House to join me in acknowledging Queen City Airport's history of serving our government as well as the 15th Congressional District of Pennsylvania. May it continue to prosper and refine its legacy in the Lehigh Valley.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and achievements of Allentown native Anna Mae Hays, the first woman in the history of the U.S. Armed Forces to be awarded the rank of a general. After a life spent serving in the army and contributing to the Allentown community, Anna passed away in Washington on January 6 at the age of 97.

Born in Buffalo, N.Y. in 1920, Brigadier General (BG) Hays moved to what is now

Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District in 1932. Ten years later, inspired by the tragic Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, she traveled some 60 miles by trolley car from Allentown to Philadelphia to join an Army reserve unit affiliated with the Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1943, she shipped out to Asia, where she served at the 20th Field Hospital, tending to wounded soldiers in India.

As an Army nurse, BG Hays' compassion for others was unparalleled Furthermore, she was resolute in her mission to provide the highest level of care to our nation's troops, even battling severe illnesses and hardships of her own to do so. Following WWII, she again served hundreds of wounded soldiers at the 4th Field Hospital in Inchon and the Tokyo Army Hospital during the Korean War.

After the wars, her compassion did not waver as she continued to serve in military hospitals. This included a stint at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where two of her patients included General George C. Marshall and President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

When war broke out in Vietnam, BG Hays again answered the call of duty. She worked in the Army Nurse Corps and rose to the rank of chief, visiting Vietnam on many occasions to inspect medical installations.

On June 11, 1970, BG Hays was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General after being nominated by President Nixon, becoming the first woman to ever receive this distinction. Additionally, she was also awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the highest noncombat award issued by the Pentagon.

Brigadier General Anna Mae Hays will always be remembered for her kindness and service towards others and her love of her childhood home in the Lehigh Valley. Even at 90 years old, Anna consistently drove back to Allentown to visit loved ones and donate historical items to local museums.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the House to please join me in recognizing the life of this remarkable woman and her monumental accomplishments. Her commitment to our armed service members and to our country will never be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to recognize the Baha'i community of Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district as they celebrate the 200th birthday anniversary of Baha'u'llah, founder of the Baha'i faith.

In 1817, Baha'u'llah was born to a Persian noble family. As a young man, he was known for his charity and service to others, earning him the nickname ``father of the poor.'' He founded the Baha'i Faith, a new and independent religion with its own scriptures, laws, teachings, and practices. The central tenet involves a message of justice, unity, and peace.

In response to his teachings, the Persian and Ottoman empires imprisoned and exiled Baha'u'llah for over 40 years. Despite the injustice and oppression he faced, Baha'u'llah continued to promote a message of the oneness of humanity. In every place to which he was banished, he touched the lives of all those around him, and his enemies became his friends and admirers.

Today, the Baha'i faith is a global religion with over five million followers around the world. And just over 120 years ago, it first arrived in the U.S. Wherever they live, Baha'is champion the principles that Baha'u'llah proclaimed and strive to build a better world by being good citizens, serving their communities, and working side by side with others to promote the common good.

Mr. Speaker, I, too, rise to join my colleagues in urging the House to pass the continuing resolution before us. This is not the course of action any of us would prefer, obviously, but the House passed all 12 appropriations bills, and it was on the path to complete action on appropriations before the start of fiscal year 2018, but our ambition was overtaken by events, whether you want to blame the ponderous pace of the Senate or time devoted to important issues like ObamaCare or tax reform.

In any event, we need to pass this short-term continuing resolution to prevent disruption of important governmental programs and create a window in which budget caps discussions can occur.

All of us stand ready to conference our appropriations bills once a debate on budget caps is resolved.

I want to emphasize how important it is for us to pass each of the 12 appropriations bills. It is important that each be enacted rather than cherry-picking a few that may have the broadest support. It is dangerous to allow any part of the government to run on CR autopilot for a full year, when we have worked hard to include oversight provisions and targeted funding reductions in our bills. All of these would be lost with a yearlong CR.

And speaking about the programs in the Military Construction-VA bill, which I chair, a full-year CR prevents DOD from starting 204 new projects. This is the core of our MILCON program. Each year we appropriate funding for hundreds of new projects. DOD can manage in a short-term CR, but a full-year CR would be devastating.

On the VA side of our bill, while some of the VA programs are advance-funded to prevent a government shutdown from cutting off services to veterans, there are important new VA activities that would be blocked by a full-year CR, like the new electronic health record VA is unveiling, or the Choice Program, or its successor for care outside the VA system.

Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to vote ``yes'' for this short-term measure to give us the time and tools we need to move forward on passage of all 12 appropriations bills, and also to avert a government shutdown. Again, I urge an affirmative vote on the CR.

Mr. Speaker, I consider it a great privilege to recognize St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church--located in Allentown, Pennsylvania--on the occasion of its 175th anniversary.

In 1842, St. Peter's Union Congregation organized and purchased a tract of land for a physical building and cemetery in what was formerly known as Rittersville. On November 5th, the Lutheran sect of the congregation began conducting services in the new building; however, both the Lutheran and Reformed congregations shared the meeting space, holding alternating services. The surrounding area was mostly comprised of German and Dutch immigrants, many of whom worked at nearby Bethlehem Steel Mill. The United States offered them a chance of a new life, and St. Peter's served as a focal point for a community of shared faith and family ethics.

Until 1897, the services were primarily conducted in German, but soon after, the Church purchased an English pulpit Bible. That same year, electric lights were installed, indicating an embrace of modernity as the Church entered the new century.

On June 29, 1913, St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church placed the cornerstone for the current church at 1933 Hanover Avenue in Allentown. The first service was held on November 2nd.

As St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church celebrates its 175th anniversary as a congregation and its 104th anniversary in its current building, the Church continues to serve the east side of Allentown and its ever changing neighborhood. May the next 175 years bring continued congregational growth, community impact, and diligent ministry.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to bring to the House's attention the 15th anniversary of FUSE, Pennsylvania Power and Light's employee business resource group for members of the LGBTQ community and their allies.

In 1920, eight Pennsylvania utilities came together to form the Pennsylvania Power and Light (PPL) Corporation. By 1928, the company-- headquartered in the iconic PPL building in Allentown, Pennsylvania-- would link with Philadelphia Electric Co. to form the world's first fully-integrated power pool.

For nearly a century, PPL has continued to grow and expand. Today, PPL services nearly 10 million customers in central and eastern Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and the United Kingdom. Furthermore, the company employs over 13,000 people.

PPL has demonstrated itself as an impressive business, based not only on its commitment to the greater Lehigh Valley and Pennsylvania's 15th District, but also on its commitment to its employees. The FUSE business resource group is a shining example of this commitment.

FUSE was founded 15 years ago to promote and provide an inclusive, considerate, and diverse work environment for PPL employees who identify as part of the LGBTQ community. The program allows LGBTQ employees and their allies to come together to tackle workplace projects and pursue meaningful professional development opportunities. Fifteen years removed from FUSE's founding, PPL's commitment to its LGBTQ employees was honored earlier this year when it was named a 2017 Best Place to Work for LGBT Equality by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.

PPL is a valued member of Pennsylvania's 15th District and a respected corporate citizen, powering our communities and providing good jobs and good wages to our citizens.

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to offer my congratulations to the men and women of Pennsylvania Power and Light, on the 15th anniversary of the FUSE program's founding. May they continue to be champions of diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Cedar Crest College on the occasion of its 150th anniversary. In 1867, Robert Emmett Wright--a distinguished lawyer and public servant in Lehigh County-- envisioned a school which his daughters could attend. On July 12, he joined members of the Reformed Church leadership at Allentown's Zion's Reformed Church in putting a proposal forward to purchase property for Lehigh Female Academy, which would later become Cedar Crest College.

Classes were first held in September, with only eight students in attendance; however, in a year's time, attendance grew, and the school relocated to Clover Nook, at Fourth and Turner Streets. Its name was once again changed to Allentown Female College. Additional classrooms, a library, gymnasium, and a fully equipped art room were added to accommodate the increasing educational interests of the college's growing student body. In 1913, the school moved to its modern day location, and it officially became Cedar Crest College.

Today, Cedar Crest College remains committed to its original goal of providing higher education for women and preparing leaders for the increasingly global community. With a graduate and undergraduate count of over 1,500 students, Cedar Crest College provides a personable and high quality approach to education for local women and those in the nearby states of New York and New Jersey.

It is my honor to recognize the students and faculty who comprise Cedar Crest College on this momentous occasion. Cedar Crest students are both bright and capable, but it is their approach to leadership as service to the community and the world around them that really makes them shine. May they experience continued growth and success over the next 150 years.

Mr. Chairman, the Appropriations Act before you today includes, in division C, appropriations for Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies for Fiscal Year 2018. Division C is exactly the same as the MILCON-VA bill reported favorably out of the full committee on June 15.

Thanks to the leadership of Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen from New Jersey, Ranking Member Nita Lowey from New York, and the partnership of Ranking Member Debbie Wasserman Schultz from Florida, this will provide necessary funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs and military construction projects. We were able to include the vast majority of the subcommittee's over 1,000 Member requests.

This division demonstrates our firm commitment to fully supporting our Nation's veterans and servicemembers. The total investment is $89 billion for Military Construction, VA, and Related Agencies, which is $6 billion above last year's level.

This division provides comprehensive support for servicemembers, military families, and veterans. We must make infrastructure investments if we value readiness. This bill increases military construction by 25 percent over last year's level, delivering on our promise to the troops in line with the President's focus on national defense.

It supports our troops with the facilities and services necessary to maintain readiness and morale at bases here in the States and overseas. It provides for Defense Department schools and health clinics that take care of our military families.

This division funds our veteran healthcare systems to ensure that our promise to care for those who have sacrificed in defense of this great Nation continues as those men and women return home. We owe this to our veterans, and we are committed to sustained oversight so that programs deliver what they promise and taxpayers are well-served by the investments we make.

The staff deserves credit for the sustained work and very long hours. I would like to recognize Sue Quantius, Sarah Young, Tracey Russell, Maureen Holohan, and Matt Washington on the committee staff, and Sean Snyder on my personal staff.

On the military construction piece, this division provides a total of $10.2 billion for military construction projects and family housing, including base and overseas contingency operations funding, an increase over last year's level and $197 million below the President's request.

This funding meets DOD's most critical needs, including priority projects for the combatant commanders and funding new mission requirements.

It provide $737 million for military medical facilities. It provides $249 million for Department of Defense education facilities for construction of renovation of four schools. It supports our Guard and Reserves through $575 million for facilities in 22 States.

It also funds military family housing at $1.4 billion. It provides $178 million for the NATO Security Investment Program, which is $24 million over the President's request, to deal with increasing threats and necessary investments overseas. Given all that is happening by Russia's very bad behavior in Eastern Europe and elsewhere, this investment is absolutely essential.

We were able to also include an additional $439 million in the services' unfunded priorities, which are priority projects that were not included in the budget request. It is very important to many Members of this body.

On Veterans Affairs, the legislation includes a total of $78.3 billion in discretionary funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs. That is a $3.9 billion increase, or 5 percent, above fiscal year 2017 level. It is the highest level of VA funding ever provided.

On VA medical care, the bill funds it at $69 billion, the full request, including an additional $2.6 billion beyond the advanced appropriations to cover unanticipated needs. Many Members expressed concerns about medical care issues, and were able to fully fund the budget request for mental health services at $8.4 billion; suicide prevention outreach at $186 million; homeless veterans treatment, services, housing, and job training at $7.3 billion; opioid abuse prevention at $50 million--we began that in the omnibus last year-- rural health initiatives at $250 million; and caregiver stipends at $604 million.

We repeat last year's bill language regarding improved standards for the suicide prevention hotline. For disability claims processing, again another issue very important to so many Members in this body, but particularly to our veterans who are seeking services from the VA, or benefits, we provide $2.9 billion, which is $50 million over the request. As the number of disability applications increases, we need to be vigilant to be sure that the claims backlog doesn't reappear.

Mr. Chair, this legislation also contains $65 million, as requested, as VA switches gears and moves from modernizing its own aging electronic health record to acquiring the record DOD is using. The bill continues to include language restricting most of the funding until the VA meets milestones and certifies interoperability to meet statutory requirements.

Our bill increases the request for VA research funding by $58 million, to a total of $698 million, recognizing strong congressional interest in the VA's research to combat devastating conditions like PTSD and traumatic brain injury.

In major construction, we continue oversight of those projects, holding back funding until it has contracted for outside management.

In closing, I ask Members to support this important piece of legislation. It is very important to our servicemembers, our veterans, and their families.

Mr. Chair, as the designee of the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Frelinghuysen), I move to strike the last word.

Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Pocan).

Mr. Chair, the gentleman from Wisconsin is correct. It is our intention to urge the VA to offer all of the approved methods of screening.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Amendments En Bloc No. 1 Offered by Mr. Dent of Pennsylvania

Mr. Chairman, pursuant to section 3 of House Resolution 473, as the designee of the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Frelinghuysen), I offer amendments en bloc.

Mr. Chair, these amendments have been made in order by the rule allowing consideration of H.R. 3219, and their inclusion in the en bloc has been agreed to by both sides.

I support the adoption of the en bloc package, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I have no further speakers on the amendments en bloc, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for his genuine concern and thoughtfulness with respect to veterans' homelessness. It is indeed a very severe problem. I do look forward to working with him on this issue, but I also want to mention that I think our bill does respond quite admirably in many ways to the homelessness challenge.

We support more than $7.3 billion in medical care, housing, social service, and job training assistance for homeless veterans, and that is about $197 million more this year than in fiscal year 2017 and almost $450 million more than 2 years ago. But Congressman Green is correct that we can always do more and that this challenge continues to plague us. We have made great progress in this country, but I pledge to work with Mr. Green on this issue.

Will the gentleman yield?

I just want to say for the Record that I appreciate the gentleman's concern for his district. I am not going to oppose the amendment, but I did want to say that, at some point, there will need to be a BRAC. There is a lot of excess capacity in the Army and the Air Force. But for fiscal year `18, I can accept this amendment, but down the road I see the need.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment, but I do not plan to oppose it.

Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), the ranking member.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reflect on the historical and cultural impact immigrants have had--and continue to have--on our great nation, as we recognize Immigrant Heritage Month this June.

Throughout its history, America has shone as a beacon of opportunity to millions of people seeking refuge from prejudice, political instability, or extreme hardship in their homeland. Our willingness to welcome those escaping persecution and seeking economic opportunity has only fortified our strength as a country, and it will continue to do so. The United States is ripe with opportunity for fiscal and personal prosperity, both of which have appealed to those who have arrived on our shores looking for a new life for themselves and their families. The resulting mixture of ethnicities and cultures has only served to embolden the unique American way of life and experience.

The foundation of our nation is built on immigrants, and as the descendant of German, English, and Irish immigrants, I am thankful for a chance to reflect on the importance of immigration to this country's historical narrative.