Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 2157.

Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Last year, we watched hurricanes pummel Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas; wildfires burn large swaths of the West; and typhoons strike territories in the Pacific.

In addition to the tragic loss of life, families lost everything, businesses were upended, and communities were ripped apart.

That is why, in January, the House passed an emergency disaster relief bill, H.R. 268, to help our fellow Americans recover and rebuild. Unfortunately, the bill languished for months

in the Senate over assistance for Puerto Rico. As it sat there, floods battered the Midwest and tornadoes swept the South, resulting in even more destruction. And it sat there in the Senate.

This legislation attempts to meet the needs of all of America's disaster-stricken communities, whether in Puerto Rico or the Midwest, California or the Carolinas, with $17.2 billion in emergency spending.

In addition to the funding provided in H.R. 268, the bill makes three critical additions.

It includes $1.5 billion for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for repairs to Corps projects damaged by flooding and natural disasters.

It provides $1 billion for Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery, with language ensuring it is spent quickly to help communities rebuild housing, businesses, and public infrastructure in the most impacted and distressed areas affected by major natural disasters.

And it includes $500 million for the Department of Agriculture's Emergency Conservation Program, providing emergency funding and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate farmland damaged by natural disasters.

That is an additional $3 billion to address the urgent needs following the Midwest floods and Southern tornadoes, and an additional $3 billion to rebuild damaged infrastructure, to help communities recover, and to bring local economies back to life.

American citizens are relying on our Federal Government to deliver a robust disaster relief package. They have waited long enough. Frankly, they can't afford to wait any longer.

Further delays will only leave communities more vulnerable and exposed to future natural disasters. With the Atlantic hurricane season beginning in just 4 weeks and looming summer heat increasing wildfire risk, we must act now.

Madam Chair, this legislation is a critical and long-overdue step to meeting our fellow citizens' urgent needs. I urge my colleagues to support it, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur) the chairwoman of the Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Madam Chair, I yield the gentlewoman from Ohio an additional 15 seconds.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 3\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price), the chairman of the Transportation Subcommittee.

Mr. Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum), the chair of the Interior Subcommittee.

Madam Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), the chairwoman of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez), the chairwoman of the Small Business Committee.

Madam Chair, I yield the gentlewoman from New York an additional 2 minutes.

Madam Chair, it is time to stop playing games and provide assistance to all Americans, no matter whether you lost your home to a wildfire in the West, farmland to flooding in the Midwest, or your entire community to a hurricane in Puerto Rico. Vote ``yes.''

Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the following Member be removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 1055: Mr. Glenn Thompson of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Speaker, as a staunch supporter of the U.S.-Israel relationship, I am disgusted by the Republicans' ongoing attempts to politicize serious issues related to anti-semitism and support for the U.S.-Israel partnership. The vast majority of members on both sides of the aisle in this chamber oppose BDS. But that's not what this vote today on the motion to recommit was really about.

What actually occurred here today was a political stunt to sink a bill addressing the world's worst humanitarian crisis, which is why I voted against the Motion to Recommit. Twenty four million--let me repeat: 24 million--desperate Yemenis are in need of humanitarian assistance.

Families are displaced. Children are starving. Lives are in imminent danger.

But instead of working with Democrats to stop U.S. support for the Saudi and Emirati coalition that is perpetuating this suffering, Republicans politicized the U.S.-Israel relationship in a vote intended to ensure this bill cannot pass in the Senate and reach the President's desk.

We know it would kill the bill, of course, because the Senate already rejected a similar measure attached to this bill the first time we considered it. That measure sought unsuccessfully to create political division among Democrats based on anti-semitism. It is particularly heinous to politicize hate given the rise in all forms of bias-based violence in recent years.

I have consistently worked to combat BDS and will partner with House leadership to ensure that real legislation opposing this divisive political movement is brought to the House floor. But I will not give legitimacy to these Republican attempts to threaten bipartisan support for the U.S.-Israel relationship and leave millions of men, women, and children in danger of starvation and death.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the joint resolution to terminate President Trump's phony declaration of an emergency at the southern border.

Unable to convince Congress to pay for his wasteful border wall, the president has decided to make an end run around the legislative branch, upending democratic norms and creating a dangerous precedent.

To pay for the wall, the Administration intends to rob money from critical military construction projects and from other parts of the Defense Department and the Treasury.

This would threaten national security, undermine the readiness of our military, and could disrupt critical infrastructure improvements that benefit service members and their families--all to prop up a political vanity project.

As a country, we should be focused on real law enforcement needs, not a border wall that will do virtually nothing to keep Americans safe.

Today's vote to block the president's emergency declaration is a critical first step, and I am proud to cosponsor this resolution.

I hope my Republican colleagues recognize that this isn't about politics--it's about defending our democratic institutions and the rule of law from presidential overreach.

It's about protecting our institution and our Constitution in the face of an unprecedented power grab from a president who rejects Congress' authority as a co-equal branch of government.

Mr. Speaker, the greatest power we have as members of Congress is the power of the purse. As we exercise that power, we should invest responsibly in priorities that strengthen and protect American families and communities.

We do not exist to rubber stamp the President. I urge my Republican colleagues to join us in defending our constitutional prerogatives and upholding the rule of law.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 131, I call up the conference report on the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 31) making further continuing appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for fiscal year 2019, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, the bill before us would prevent another government shutdown by completing the remaining appropriation bills for fiscal year 2019. It represents what is possible in a strong democratic process when we work hard to reach agreement that puts politics aside and puts the American people first.

This bipartisan compromise rejects the President's irresponsible budget cuts and, instead, invests in priorities that will strengthen our families, communities, and economy.

Additionally, it does not contain poison pill riders that threaten the environment, public health, and consumer protections in the House Republican versions of these bills.

Among the bill's vital increases are $80 million for State and local law enforcement to keep communities safe, $1 billion for the Census Bureau, $308 million for research and development at the National Science Foundation, $25 million for the Environmental Protection Agency, $293 million for port infrastructure, and $123 million for grants to combat homelessness.

Strong international affairs funding will help stabilize the world's economy, meet unprecedented humanitarian needs, and continue our fight against radical extremism and terrorism.

Federal workers will receive a 1.9 percent pay raise that the President attempted to deny hardworking families.

The Homeland Security division of this bill upholds Democratic values and funds smart and effective border security, including construction and screening technology at ports of entry, where most drugs illegally enter the country.

The $1.375 billion it provides for border barriers is 76 percent less than

what the President demanded for a concrete wall, and critical protections are put in place for environmentally sensitive areas.

Neither Democrats nor Republicans got everything they wanted.

Every Democrat and nearly every Republican who served on the conference committee to write this bill has signed it in support. I thank the conferees for their hard work and commitment to this process, which we couldn't have completed without our excellent, dedicated staff, both majority and minority.

My friends, I urge a ``yes'' vote.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Roybal-Allard), the hardworking chairwoman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Cuellar), a member of the Appropriations Committee and a distinguished conferee.

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price), the distinguished chairman of the Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), a senior member of the committee and a conferee who worked so hard to put this bill together.

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from California.

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 10 seconds to the gentlewoman from California.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Aguilar), a member of the Appropriations Committee and a very important conferee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from California.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Serrano), the chairman of the Commerce, Justice, Science Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Bishop), the distinguished chairman of the Agriculture Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Georgia.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum), the chairwoman of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), chairwoman of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on the conference report to accompany H.J. Res. 31.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the remainder of my time to close.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to once again thank my fellow conferees. In a divided government, none of us will get everything we want, but I am proud that 16 of us, all appropriators, could work through a series of difficult decisions and sign a bipartisan agreement.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my friends on both sides of the aisle to vote ``yes,'' and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 4) making consolidated appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 11 o'clock and 52 minutes p.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until tomorrow, Thursday, February 14, 2019, at 10 a.m. for morning-hour debate.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 28) making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2019, and for other purposes, with the Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 31) making further continuing appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for fiscal year 2019, and for other purposes, with a Senate amendment thereto, disagree to the Senate amendment, and agree to the conference asked by the Senate.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 7 p.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until Monday, January 28, 2019, at noon for morning-hour debate.

Mr. Speaker, the Trump shutdown is now in its 34th day.

Yesterday, the House passed six bills to reopen most of the government, and with this bill today, we can reopen the entire government while providing time to negotiate a full-year bill for the Department of Homeland Security.

This continuing resolution would ensure that the Department of Homeland Security is open, and its public servants, including Secret Service agents, Transportation Security officers, Border Patrol, Customs officers, and the brave men and women of the Coast Guard are paid for their work.

According to The New York Times, as many as 1 of every 10 Transportation Security officers are not coming to work. Frankly, they simply can't afford to. As a result, some of our busiest airports are deploying backup and reserve workers. Other airports have closed checkpoints and entire terminals. Notwithstanding the long lines for travelers, this reduction in staffing puts our Transportation Security workforce on the brink and could risk national security.

Additionally, 41,000--41,000--Active-Duty servicemembers and 2,100 civilians in the Coast Guard are working without pay.

No one should have to face the uncertainty of not knowing when they will get paid, especially the men and women of our Armed Forces.

Each week of the Trump shutdown costs the United States economy $1.2 billion. Instead of continuing down this wasteful road, I urge my friends on the other side of the aisle, reopen the government, pay our Federal workers, and then we can work together in a bipartisan way to determine the most effective border security. But we must open the government.

Make no mistake--I want to make it very clear--Democrats support smart investments in our homeland security, including increased infrastructure investments at our ports of entry, advanced technology to scan for contraband, new technology for detecting unauthorized crossings. We can work together to meet these needs--there is no question in my mind--because we have worked together in a bipartisan way for many years. If we sit down together, we can work out answers to these questions that could be supported by both sides of the aisle.

But, frankly, Mr. Speaker, until the government is open, the President's actions are hurting hardworking families and putting our security and economy at risk.

We are appropriators. We know how to work together in a bipartisan way. Frankly, it is not that difficult. The facts are there. We have all gotten many, many briefings on the best way to secure our borders.

And, by the way, drugs have been mentioned. The facts are that 90 percent of the drugs are coming through at the ports of entry.

We can work this out. But to keep the government closed and to see thousands of people suffering, not being able to support their families, is just unconscionable.

So let's open the government. Let's sit down. Let's get to work. Let's resolve this now.

Madam Speaker, Federal workers should not have to struggle to pay their bills just because my colleagues across the aisle and the President refuse to end the Trump shutdown. They should not be in a position of having to apply for unemployment while continuing to work without pay, which is exactly what one of my constituents from Westchester County, New York, has been forced to do.

Others in my district, nonprofit employees, working reduced hours because of the shutdown, have been forced to rely on food donations to feed their families.

It is inexcusable that Republicans have rejected 11 opportunities to end the Trump shutdown, pay workers, and reopen government. I urge them to come to their senses and reopen government without further delay.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 61, I call up the bill (H.R. 648) making appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H.R. 648, currently under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Trump shutdown, now in its 33rd day, must end. It must end without delay so the Federal Government can get back to fully working on behalf of the American people.

Just this morning, President Trump's chief economic adviser warned that the shutdown could lead to zero economic growth this quarter. Let me repeat: zero economic growth.

The solution is simple. Reopen the government, pay our Federal employees, and then negotiate border security and immigration policy proposals that can command bipartisan support.

It is simple. The bill before us is yet another step in that direction. Today, Democrats put forward six conference reports negotiated last December when Republicans controlled the House, the Senate, and the White House. In fact, Republicans have even urged us to bring them to the floor.

If Republicans are serious about governing with us for the betterment of all Americans, then they should vote for these six conference reports and reopen the agencies covered by those bills.

In addition, Chairwoman Roybal-Allard is bringing forward a continuing resolution for the Department of Homeland Security through February 28. This legislation will open the Department of Homeland Security and pay its employees while President Trump and Congress negotiate border and immigration policy beyond the $1.6 billion in border security-related measures in the bill we consider today.

This bill provides $563.4 million for immigration judges to reduce the backlog of immigration cases and $524.2 million for construction at ports of entry to facilitate lawful entries and trade.

There is $527 million to assist Central American countries as they work to improve security and economic stability in the State and Foreign Operations portion of the bill, which Ranking Member and former full committee Chairman Rogers negotiated with me and Senators Graham and Leahy.

The State and Foreign Operations division also no longer includes poison pills, such as the expansion of the global gag rule, which would have tied up $8.8 billion in funding for lifesaving nutrition programs and efforts to prevent malaria, TB, and HIV.

It no longer bans funding for the United Nations Population Fund, protecting maternal and child health and access to family planning services.

A strong international affairs budget of $54.2 billion will help stabilize the world's economy, meet unprecedented humanitarian needs, and continue our fight against radical extremism and terrorism.

These bills were written by the Republican-led House and Senate, together with Democrats. I will repeat that. These bills were written by the Republican-led House and Senate, together with Democrats. Neither Democrats nor Republicans got everything they wanted, but we compromised for the betterment of the United States.

These bills should be enacted to end the Trump shutdown for all Americans, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Before I yield to our next speaker, I just want to make our position very clear. The solution to the Trump shutdown is simple: Reopen the government; pay our Federal employees; and then we can negotiate, Democrats and Republicans. Our proposal will form the basis for these eventual negotiations. Let's open the government and then get to work.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Serrano), my good friend and the chair of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, before I introduce our next speaker, I want to thank the distinguished gentleman, Mr. Rogers, for alluding to the good bipartisan work we did, the $800 million for education and healthcare. It was a good bill. Frankly, that is why we need to pass these bills and, I agree with the gentleman, take the time to negotiate border security where there may be some differences. So let's open the government, pass those good bills that we worked on together, and then take some time to talk about border security.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price), who is the chair of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee and is my good friend.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Bishop), who is the chair of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum), my good friend, the chair of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois

(Mr. Quigley), my good friend and the chair of the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), my good friend and the majority leader.

Mr. Speaker, Democrats have been clear throughout the Trump shutdown. We support investing in strong, smart, and effective border security, and we are prepared to negotiate once the government is reopened.

The solution to the Trump shutdown is simple: Reopen the government; pay off Federal employees; then negotiate on border security. Our proposal will form the basis for these eventual negotiations.

It is time to end the Trump shutdown. Vote for this package of six bills that reflects conference agreements where we worked together from last year. Reopen most of the government. Let workers get paid. Vote ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I claim the time in opposition to the motion.

Mr. Speaker, I want to make it very clear to my colleagues: This motion to recommit will ensure the government remains closed. It will be irresponsible to adopt this motion.

This means all those people who are not getting paid will continue not to get a paycheck to support their families. They will not be able to go to the supermarket and act like normal families. This is totally irresponsible.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to strongly reject this motion, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 52, I call up the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 28) making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2019, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Today is the 27th day of the Trump shutdown, the longest government shutdown in American history.

Hardworking public servants are seeing their financial security jeopardized. Small businesses are being frozen out of critical contracting and loan programs. Businesses of all sizes are being hurt by delayed regulatory approvals and a lack of government data. Farmers are unable to access vital Federal services. Our national parks are being vandalized and filling up with garbage. Critical environmental inspections to protect families and communities have stopped. Lines at airports are swelling, as many TSA workers can't afford to work without pay.

Mr. Speaker, this is unacceptable. But, unfortunately, we heard yesterday in this very House that Republicans think reopening the government is a poison pill. Reopening the government is a poison pill? Frankly, that, my friends, is unbelievable.

We can and we must do better, which is why House Democrats are bringing up our ninth piece of legislation to reopen the government and end the Trump shutdown.

The continuing resolution would provide an additional option for President Trump and Senate Republicans to take ``yes'' for an answer and end the shutdown. It would reopen the government through February 28, providing time for Congress to come to a full-year agreement without further jeopardizing vital services or the pay of Federal employees.

The order of business, Mr. Speaker, should be simple: Reopen the government, pay Federal employees, and then negotiate on border security and immigration policy.

It is long past time for my colleagues across the aisle and across the Capitol to come to their senses and end this shutdown.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and reopen the government through February 28.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), an outstanding senior member of the Appropriations Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the distinguished majority leader.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Texas.

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

Mr. Speaker, my friends, end this Trump shutdown, vote ``yes,'' and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the motion to recommit.

Mr. Speaker, I must reiterate, today is the 27th day of the Trump shutdown, the longest government shutdown in American history. Therefore, I rise in opposition to the motion to recommit.

This continuing resolution would provide an additional option for President Trump and Senate Republicans to take yes for an answer and end the shutdown. This CR would pay employees; it would reopen government through February 28, providing time for Congress to come to a full-year agreement, without further jeopardizing vital services or the pay of Federal employees.

The order of business would be simple, my friends: reopen the government, pay Federal employees, and then let's have a serious negotiation on border security and immigration policy. Maybe I will repeat that again, because the order of business is very simple: reopen the government, pay Federal employees, and then negotiate on border security and immigration policy.

It is long past time for my colleagues across the aisle, and across the Capitol, to come to their senses and end this shutdown.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote against this motion to recommit and open the government today.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 268, currently under consideration.

Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Chair, while President Trump continues to keep our government shut down, House Democrats are committed to working for the American people. I am pleased to present legislation today that helps meet the urgent needs of our fellow Americans affected by recent national disasters.

Across the country, we have watched as hurricanes have pummeled Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas; wildfires have burned large swaths of the West; volcanoes have erupted in Hawaii; and typhoons have struck territories in the Pacific. In addition to the tragic loss of life, families have lost everything. Businesses have been upended. Communities have been ripped apart.

This legislation attempts to meet these needs with $12.14 billion in emergency spending. It includes $2.96 billion to rebuild damaged infrastructure to help communities rebuild and to bring local economies back to life.

The legislation embraces the unique needs of farmers and rural communities, providing $1.86 billion to help them recover.

It enhances our national security and cares for our veterans and their families by funding $1.46 billion for repairs and rebuilding of damaged Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs facilities.

The bill before us meets the complex needs of disaster victims, with $555 million for social services, mental healthcare, education, and activities that improve the prospects of dislocated workers.

Importantly, and unlike Republican legislation that was brought up in December, the bill meets the urgent healthcare and nutrition needs of Americans in the Northern Marianas, Guam, American Samoa, and, yes, Puerto Rico.

President Trump grossly mismanaged the response to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, and since then, he has added insult to injury by repeatedly trying to shortchange our fellow U.S. citizens in Puerto Rico. This bill rights that injustice.

Finally, this legislation recognizes scientific reality and the simple fact that climate change is increasing the number and severity of national disasters. It includes $2.54 billion in resiliency funding to mitigate damage from future disasters, preventing loss of life and damage to property.

We all want to ensure that American families and communities have the resources they need to recover from recent national disasters.

Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

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Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to my friend from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur), the chair designee for the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Madam Chair, I yield an additional 15 seconds to the gentlewoman from Ohio.

Madam Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price), who is the chair-designee of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Madam Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Bishop).

Madam Chair, I appreciate the gentleman from Florida's remarks, but I remind the gentleman that we can't deliver this essential disaster aid with the government closed. So I suggest the gentleman urge those who are keeping the government closed that we must deliver this aid, so open the government now, and we can have some adult conversation.

Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), who is a senior member of the Appropriations Committee.

Madam Chair, I yield the gentlewoman an additional 30 seconds.

Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum), the chair designate of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), the chair designate of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee of Appropriations.

Mr. Chairman, before I introduce our next, I would like to say to the distinguished gentleman from South Carolina: I agree with the distinguished gentleman from South Carolina. Let's stop this political game. Let's direct our remarks. Let's make clear that the President has the responsibility to open this government and to do it now.

Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Thompson).

Mr. Chairman, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California.

Mr. Chair, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from California.

Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Thompson), the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee.

Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from the U.S. Virgin Islands (Ms. Plaskett).

Mr. Chair, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, to allow Federal agencies to begin the vital work that we are funding in this bill, we must reopen the Federal Government.

I am pleased that the bill before us includes a continuing resolution to immediately reopen the Federal Government and pay Federal employees, who are going through such a difficult time taking care of their families, putting food on the table, just going through the normal, normal time that families have to endure when they don't have any money to spend. This would pay Federal employees through February 8.

This continuing resolution ensures the Federal Government is working for the American people, provides certainty for Federal employees, and gives President Trump and the Congress time to negotiate on border security and immigration policy.

Mr. Chairman, this legislation is a critical first step to meeting our fellow citizens' urgent needs as they recover from recent disasters, so I urge my colleagues: Join me in support of this bill.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the motion to recommit.

Madam Speaker, in fact, I am not even sure I heard correctly. Trump, the President, opposes the dollar amount in the bill because the only emergency is building the wall? Did I hear that correctly, my friends?

Madam Speaker, this shutdown, frankly, has gone on long enough. Perhaps, my good friends don't know the people who are suffering, who are living paycheck to paycheck and who have to worry about taking care of their kids. It is really puzzling to me that a statement like that is being made tonight.

My friends, this shutdown has gone on long enough. This motion to recommit would only further prolong the shutdown and the suffering and the people who are really victims of this action.

The bill we are voting on today is very similar to the same package that my Republican colleagues voted on back on December 21.

H.R. 268 provides disaster relief to those communities affected by hurricanes, wildfires, typhoons, other natural disasters, and it funds the entire government through February 8. In fact, this package provides even more relief to those disaster-affected communities following the adoption of the bipartisan and Republican amendments here today. The only component that is not in this package that my friends on the other side of the aisle voted for in December is the President's wall money.

So, to use this MTR to further delay the government, this doesn't make any sense to me at all, because this package being delayed is unconscionable. Madam Speaker, for these reasons, I urge my colleagues to oppose the motion to recommit, and I yield back the balance of my time.