Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the 192nd anniversary of Greek independence. I am proud to join the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues in saluting the Greek people for their valiant struggle in winning independence for their nation 192 years ago and in re-affirming the bonds between our two great nations and people.

On March 25, we mark the anniversary of the revolution that liberated Greece from the Ottoman Empire. As we do so, we honor the struggle and perseverance of those Greeks who believed in their right to govern themselves and willingly laid their lives on the line as they fought for democracy. The proud democratic traditions and philosophies of Ancient Greek civilization have served as a light of inspiration to many people and nations throughout history, including our own nation's founders.

For centuries, America and Greece have built an enduring partnership based on shared values. The countless contributions of the Greek people, both to their own country and as immigrants to the United States, and in my home state of New York, continue to leave an indelible mark on our two nations.

As with our own Independence Day, this anniversary of the birth of modern Greece reminds us of the sacrifices made by those who risk--and sometimes lose--everything in pursuit of the ideals and ways of life they hold most dear.

Today, in solidarity with Greece, we reaffirm those values and ideals and honor our freedom, democracy, and friendship with the Greek people.

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

Mr. Speaker, I came to Congress 25 years ago and joined the Appropriations Committee a few years later. With a strong sense of responsibility and optimism, with hard work and bipartisanship, this committee has the power to transform lives;

To ensure that whether you are from the poorest block of urban America or a penthouse in Manhattan, with hard work, you can achieve the American Dream;

To research treatments and medicines so that we can cure the most tragic illnesses like cancer and HIV/AIDS and childhood disorders like autism;

To give every youngster the opportunities my grandchildren have, not let hardworking parents struggle to find child care or afford pre-K, or think about how they're ever going to pay for a college education;

To invest in the initiatives that have made this Nation great, bolstering our economy, giving Americans jobs, building our infrastructure, teaching our children, and protecting our communities.

While the bill we consider today represents a great deal of compromise, it fails these tests; but with the current continuing resolution expiring in just 6 days, we have run out of options, my friends, to avoid a government shutdown.

When the House first considered this package, I voted against it, in part, because it included just two bills--Defense and Military Construction--leaving every other government agency to live under a continuing resolution from fiscal year 2012. The Senate, wisely, added three additional full-year spending bills to the measure we consider today--Agriculture; Commerce, Justice, and Science; and Homeland Security--and amended the bill to help other agencies adapt to current needs. Senate Appropriations Chairwoman Mikulski and I were in constant contact throughout the negotiations. I'm satisfied she got the best deal she could at this time.

Yet I remain deeply dissatisfied that sequestration is not addressed and will slash the very priorities I believe all of us came here to fulfill. This $68 billion in detrimental cuts will diminish services Americans depend on, job growth, and our overall economy. According to CBO, 750,000 jobs--more than a third of the jobs we created last year-- will be wiped out by sequestration. This package lacks vital assistance to fully operate and promote Federal health insurance exchanges needed to give millions of uninsured Americans health care. It also provides inadequate funds to enforce financial reforms to protect consumers.

The majority sets a dangerous precedent by refusing to fund the implementation of laws they simply don't like but cannot overturn. Health and financial reform are the laws of the land, and the health care law has even been affirmed by the United States Supreme Court.

The American people face serious challenges--children who will lose Head Start, diseases for which we will decrease research, unsafe roads and bridges, and a food supply that could be less safe. We cannot relitigate partisan battles. We should instead forge ahead toward compromise and practical solutions.

In that spirit, I'm pleased the bill includes the administration's full request for embassy security to protect Americans working abroad. In addition, it fully funds our commitments to Israel, our only and vital ally in the Middle East.

H.R. 933 will support 20,757 claims processors to help address the shameful Veterans Administration claims backlog, which delays care to our Nation's veterans. The bill also directs the VA to report to Congress on progress to reduce the backlog, which I intend to follow closely. Transportation funding is also increased to meet the levels authorized under the MAP-21 plan, and critical highway and motor carrier safety programs are included.

Mr. Speaker, despite its imperfections, I will support this bill to avert a government shutdown, which would be disastrous for our economy. As we finally put fiscal year 2013 behind us and move on to 2014, it is my sincere hope that we can work together to stop sequestration's mindless cuts before American jobs and livelihoods are lost.

Once this bill is passed and we have avoided a government shutdown, we must ask ourselves, Why are we here? We're here to ensure every family has access to high-quality health care and every child has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive. We're here to protect the safety and economic security of Americans and to leave our world and our country better than we inherited it for our children and grandchildren.

We are failing, and we must do better. Let's restore the sense of responsibility to improve the lives of our constituents and the prosperity of this great Nation.

I want to close by thanking Chairman Rogers and the wonderful staff on both sides of the aisle. We've all tried to work across the aisle. I hope we can do so as future bills are discussed and as we face a new challenge.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Perlmutter).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 5 minutes to the ranking member and the distinguished leader of the committee that funds health, education, and labor, the Congresswoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro).

Mr. Speaker, as we conclude our discussion, I just want to make it clear that I look forward to continuing to work with my friend, Chairman Rogers, and hopefully we can consider each bill as we address the needs of fiscal year 2014.

I agree with my dear friend, Congresswoman DeLauro, on the problems with this bill and the accounts that we have not funded adequately. I do hope as we move forward we can work in a bipartisan way to, yes, continue to root out waste, fraud, and abuse, but also address the many needs of our constituents, all the people of the United States of America, and people around the world who look to the United States as a beacon of hope and opportunity.

So I again feel that I will support this bill because we cannot allow the government to shut down in 6 days, but I look forward, with optimism, that we can work together to address the many needs that we have not considered appropriately in this bill.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Andrew A. Athens for his lifetime of philanthropic service, most notably to the Greek Community and Orthodox Church.

Known as the leader of millions of Greeks living outside of Greece, Mr. Athens served as the President of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad, SAE, since its founding in 1995. In 2006, Mr. Athens was named President Emeritus by the Sixth World Assembly of SAE.

Since its founding, SAE has worked to promote Hellinism, support the efforts of the Greeks worldwide, and strengthen ties between Greece and the countries of residence of Greek expatriates.

During his tenure with SAE, Mr. Athens has travelled to every continent to further SAE's mission. He also worked closely with other notable Hellenes in the Coordinated Effort of Hellenes. He has met with nearly every U.S. President and leader in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives on Hellenic and Orthodox issues. It is with Mr. Athens' care and dedication that SAE has thrived.

Mr. Athens was also a proud founder of Hellenicare, a Primary Health Care Initiative and humanitarian effort. Under his direction, a total of seven medical care centers were opened in Hellenic areas of the Republic of Albania, Armenia, Georgia, and Ukraine. These centers provide free medical services for those who would otherwise have no access to high quality medical treatment.

A decorated U.S. Army Captain, Mr. Athens was honored with the Bronze Star and the U.S. Army Commendation Medal for his service in World War II. He has also led a successful career in business, founding the Metron Steel Corporation, which continues to be one of the largest steelworks in the country.

Mr. Athens has been honored with more than 42 awards, medals and distinctions for his service to the community.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize my friend Andrew A. Athens for his remarkable service and his lifelong commitment to enriching the lives of others. I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring his tremendous accomplishments.

Mr. Speaker, by re-affirming this year's across-the-board cuts and slashing even more deeply into critical priorities like schools, roads and bridges, and medical research, the House budget resolution is a blueprint for stalled growth, joblessness, and abandonment of American families.

Since 2010, Congress has cut discretionary spending by $1.5 trillion over ten years. The Fiscal Year 2011 Appropriations bills lowered Congressional Budget Office (CBO)-projected spending by $550 billion over 10 years, and the Budget Control Act (BCA) of 2011 lowered future spending by an additional $900 billion over 10 years.

Congress' failure to replace this year's across-the-board budget cuts mandated through sequestration with a balanced alternative slashed an additional $68 billion in discretionary services and investments in Fiscal Year 2013. The nonpartisan, independent Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reported this will result in 750,000 fewer American jobs this year alone.

The Republican budget resolution would further exacerbate these dangerous cuts. Under the caps already in place, spending on non- defense discretionary services and investments, relative to the size of the economy, will fall to the lowest level on record--and records go back to 1962. Nevertheless, the Ryan budget would cut an additional $1 trillion over 10 years from funding levels agreed to by Democrats and Republicans through the Budget Control Act.

With proposed funding levels this irresponsible and dangerous, it is not surprising that Republicans failed to identify the services they would cut. This budget presents a false choice between services and assistance that Americans rely on, like veterans' benefits, homeland security, schools, medical research, law enforcement, and Pell Grants.

Despite unprecedented discretionary spending cuts since 2010, the Republican budget proposal would continue to inflict wounds on our economy by deepening cuts to initiatives that support job growth and help middle class families.

The House Republican budget resolution is a blueprint for stalled growth, joblessness, and abandonment of American families.

Since 2010, Congress has cut services and investments critical to American families by $1.5 trillion. Sequestration slashed an additional $68 billion, which will cost 750,000 jobs this year alone.

This budget resolution will exacerbate this damage by cutting an additional $1 trillion over 10 years from funding levels agreed to in the Budget Control Act. It would have a severe impact on critical services and investments like veterans' benefits, homeland security, schools, medical research, law enforcement, and Pell Grants.

It is time to stop the mindless cuts to critical services and investments and support job growth and middle class families.

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

Before us is a defense bill and a Military Construction-Veterans Affairs bill adjusting the FY 2012 funding levels to meet FY 2013 needs.

It is unacceptable that Federal agencies and departments covered by the 10 remaining bills would be forced to operate under full-year continuing resolutions based on planned spending levels enacted 15 to 18 months ago. Congress' failure to do our jobs and pass responsible annual spending bills limits our ability to respond to changing circumstances, implement other laws enacted by Congress, and eliminate funding that is no longer necessary.

Specifically, this bill will delay implementation of the Affordable Care Act scheduled to begin enrolling participants in October. Without IT infrastructure to process enrollments and payments, verify eligibility, and establish call centers, health insurance for millions of Americans would be further delayed. Last year's levels will hamper enforcement of Dodd-Frank protections against improper practices in the financial sector.

The bill underfunds Head Start, child care, essential for many working parents who would otherwise have to quit their jobs.

The bill fails to strike outdated language allowing HUD to use public housing agency reserves to fund operations or provide a requested increase to make up for the shortfall resulting in the lowest per-unit operating subsidy since 2007, despite rising housing costs.

The bill we consider today even denies increases for health care fraud and abuse control and Social Security disability reviews and SSI eligibility determinations, both of which return more money to the Treasury than they cost.

And the continuing resolution excludes loan guarantees for Jordan, necessary to help an important ally stabilize its economy.

The effects, my colleagues, of these outdated plans and spending levels in the continuing resolution are compounded by Congress' failure to replace sequestration with a balanced, responsible, long-term debt reduction plan. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that sequestration would cut economic growth in 2013 by a third. That's jobs. That's people's lives.

Last year, our fragile economy struggled to create a total of 2.2 million jobs. CBO says sequestration will wipe out, get rid of, 750,000 jobs, more than a third of all the jobs created last year.

Now, I want to make it very clear, my colleagues, this bill reaffirms sequestration. The terrible impact of those indiscriminate cuts will begin to take effect. This summer, we can expect significant flight delays and long lines at airports due to furloughs of air traffic controllers and a hiring freeze and reduced hours for transportation security officers.

Yesterday, the Labor-HHS Subcommittee, heard testimony from the directors of the National Institutes of Health and CDC on the detrimental effects these irresponsible cuts will have, including declining medical research, fewer child vaccinations, and reduced protections against epidemics. Just try and explain that to dear friends and neighbors who have children with autism, seniors who are dealing with Alzheimer's, friends who have heart cardiology issues. Just try and explain what the National Institute cuts in research will do. In addition to the impact in the research on these illnesses, these are real people who are going to be laid off and impede our future research.

All Americans rely on timely and accurate weather warnings and forecasts from the National Weather Service. Reduced resources will compromise critical satellites, radar, computer analysis, and modeling.

Now, I am pleased that two bills, the defense bill and the Military Construction-Veterans Affairs bill, are the FY 2013 bills that were agreed on by the House and the Senate. But, my colleagues, let's not forget that sequestration will still strike our national defense.

Even if this bill is enacted, another $46 billion will be subtracted from defense spending. Most of the civilian workforce will face significant furloughs, readiness will still face cuts, and defense health care will need to make some very tough choices with scarce resources.

Mr. Speaker, I cannot support this bill because it fails to take responsible steps to support the middle class in really tough economic times or responsibly address the long-term fiscal health of our Nation.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McKeon, I just want to emphasize again that General Odierno in the recent appropriations hearing on the Defense bill testified that sequester would be a disaster for the military. And it's unfortunate that we are not ridding ourselves of the prospect of the disaster that the sequester bill will result in.

Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

At this time, I'm delighted to yield 2 minutes to my distinguished leader from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).

(Mr. HOYER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman.

I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman.

I would just like to quickly remind my colleagues on both sides of the aisle that the Defense bill will be subject to the $46 billion as a result of sequestration, which General Odierno said will hollow out the force.

Mr. Speaker, I am very honored to yield 2 minutes to my colleague, the

gentleman from North Carolina, Mr. David Price, a distinguished ranking member of the Appropriations Committee.

Mr. Speaker, may I ask how much time remains.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished ranking member, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Serrano).

Mr. Speaker, I'm very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur), the distinguished ranking member of the Energy and Water Subcommittee.

I yield an additional 15 seconds to the gentlewoman.

Mr. Speaker, I'm delighted to yield 2 minutes to my friend, the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), the distinguished ranking member of the Labor, Health, Human Services, Education Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Farr), the distinguished ranking member of the Agriculture Subcommittee of Appropriations.

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Bishop), the distinguished ranking member of the MILCON Subcommittee of Appropriations.

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

Before I yield to my next speaker, I would like to thank Mr. Frelinghuysen for addressing sequestration and the devastating testimony of all those representing our distinguished Armed Forces. But I would also like to clarify again that this continuing resolution reaffirms sequestration. It does nothing in language or deed to make any efforts to cancel sequestration. We on this side of the aisle would be very pleased to continue to work with you in regular order to go through every bill, casting away waste, fraud and abuse, but to do away with sequestration. And I know my distinguished chair and I could work it out so that we could not have sequestration.

This bill, section 3002, reaffirms sequestration.

I yield to the gentleman from Kentucky.

Mr. Chairman, I would be delighted to work with you, but I have read this continuing resolution very carefully and section 3002 reaffirms sequestration. Let's work together. We can be the leaders. Let's send over a bill that does away with sequestration, which my good friend, Mr. Frelinghuysen, says--and I was at that defense hearing, too--would hollow out our forces. Let's do that. Let's do that today. Why don't you submit an amendment? Let's get rid of sequestration.

I would be delighted, Mr. Speaker, to yield 1 minute to our distinguished leader, who has provided important leadership on the issue of cutting out waste, fraud, and abuse in our budget, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi).

Mr. Speaker, we have three remaining speakers.

Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), the distinguished ranking member of the Leg Branch Subcommittee of Appropriations.

Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished ranking member of the Defense Appropriations Committee, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Visclosky).

I am delighted to yield the balance of my time to a distinguished Member of the Appropriations Committee, the gentlewoman from California, Ms. Barbara Lee.

Madam Chair, I rise in strong support of this bill, and I want to thank Chairman Rogers and Chairman Frelinghuysen for taking the lead on this very important legislation.

I rise in strong support of the underlying bill, with the addition of the Frelinghuysen amendment, which will help families, businesses, and communities affected by Sandy recover and rebuild.

In the 79 days that have passed since Superstorm Sandy caused such destruction, I have worked with colleagues on both sides of the aisle, with Governors Cuomo and Christie, Chairman Rogers, Mr. King of New York, Mr. Frelinghuysen, and all of our colleagues from affected States to provide long overdue assistance to our region.

Sandy devastated much of the Northeast and is one of the costliest natural disasters in our Nation's history. One hundred ten Americans lost their lives, 8.1 million homes were without power, beaches across New York and New Jersey were destroyed, and more than 650,000 homes were damaged beyond repair.

Sandy ground regional commerce to a halt by making tunnels and other transportation networks impassable. Two hundred sixty-five thousand businesses in New York alone were severely affected by Sandy, costing jobs, paychecks, and billions lost in economic output.

There is no excuse for the House not passing the Senate bill last Congress, but I am very pleased that the first order of business in the 113th Congress may be passing this emergency disaster relief package.

Along with the $9.7 billion flood insurance bill the House passed 2 weeks ago, the Rogers and Frelinghuysen amendments would provide $60 billion of the $80 billion in needs identified by our Governors. There are a number of provisions I would like to highlight: $16 billion for community development block grants to help communities and businesses rebuild; $13 billion to repair and harden transportation infrastructure; $5.35 billion to repair damages and bolster Army Corps projects to protect against costly future disasters; $11.5 billion for the FEMA disaster relief fund, which not only helps provide public assistance in the Northeast but also allows FEMA to continue helping victims of other disasters; $780 million to help businesses open their doors through SBA loans; and $800 million for Health and Human Services initiatives, including repairing Head Start centers and biomedical research facilities.

While I strongly support it, the package is still not perfect. It does not fully fund the administration's request for community development block grants, does not include superior Senate language on the flexibility and cost share of Army Corps projects, and limits funding for health facilities that lost tens of millions of dollars due to the storm.

Finally, opponents of the legislation who claim that the bill is riddled with so-called ``pork'' and unnecessary provisions are just plain wrong. Frankly, anyone who has really read the bill knows there are no earmarks, and those who have toured the damage know that aid is desperately needed.

My colleagues, there were 146 major disaster declarations in the last 2 years. There isn't a region of the country immune to catastrophe. This package was written with the core belief that when one region suffers destruction by a natural disaster, Americans are proud to help their fellow citizens recover and rebuild. It is imperative that we support this package today and reject amendments that weaken the bill and prevent the region from recovering as quickly as possible.

Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished minority whip, Mr. Hoyer, who was extremely helpful to all of us on both sides of the aisle in bringing the bill to the floor today.

I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished ranking member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price).

I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

Well, first of all, I want to thank the chairman, Mr. Rogers, who's been a good friend for so many years. I look forward to working together in a bipartisan way so we can work everything out before and serve the American people. And I thank you for your kind words.

I rise to engage the gentleman from Kentucky, the chairman of the Appropriations Committee, in a colloquy.

Some questions have been raised about the interpretation of language in both of the Rogers substitute and the Frelinghuysen amendment under the Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund. The language prohibits use of amounts in that appropriation for costs that are reimbursed by self-insurance. I would like to engage Chairman Rogers in a discussion to help clarify the meaning of that provision.

Am I correct in understanding that the term ``self-insurance'' is intended to refer to a formal plan, pursuant to law or regulation, in which amounts are set aside in a fund to cover losses of specified types and amounts? Am I also correct that without such a formal, funded arrangement, a government or organization would not be considered to be self-insured for purposes of this language simply because they do not have any commercial insurance coverage for the loss in question?

I thank the gentleman. I would also like to confirm my understanding that this language would only preclude use of appropriated funds if the expenses in question were actually reimbursed by the formal self-insurance plan. In other words, merely having a self-insurance plan would not bar use of this appropriation for things that the plan did not cover or pay for. I ask the gentleman, is my understanding correct?

It is a pleasure for me to yield 2 minutes to Ranking Member Visclosky of the Defense Appropriations Committee.

Madam Chair, I'm pleased to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished ranking member of the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee, Mr. Serrano.

Madam Chair, I'm pleased to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller).

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

Madam Chair, I am delighted to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished dean of the New York delegation, Mr. Rangel.

Madam Chair, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran).

I yield the gentleman an additional minute.

Madam Chair, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from New Jersey, who has been extraordinarily helpful in trying to sort out the challenges in this bill, Mr. Andrews.

(Mr. ANDREWS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.

Madam Chair, I am delighted to yield 1 minute to our distinguished leader, who has been such an advocate for the assistance to New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania, who understands that every part of the country has catastrophes and that we as Americans have a responsibility. I thank her for her leadership, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi).

I am very pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley) whose district has really seen incredible damage. He understands the impact of Hurricane Sandy on the people and community and the businesses.

Madam Chair, I'm very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from a neighboring district in New York (Mr. Engel), who suffered a great deal. He saw the pain and the loss of property and homes all throughout the region.

Mr. Chairman, I'll respond in 30 seconds, and then I'd be delighted if you closed.

Mr. Chairman, I'd like to again thank you and Chairman Frelinghuysen for your hard work on this bill.

I would like to address all those who are not sure about how they're going to vote on this bill, and I would like to clarify the way this appropriation works.

When you have huge disasters, transit systems, tunnels, thousands of homes that have to be repaired, you need that money committed before you can engage any contractor, any builder in a contract.

Now, as you and I know, Mr. Chairman, we've worked a long time on that committee, and before a dollar goes out, the person has to be responsible for every dollar that is committed that they've spent and that they're going to spend. So we're not just writing an open check. We're just not opening our checkbook. We're responding to these tremendous needs, and I do hope we can get a bipartisan vote for this effort.

I yield back the balance of my time.

I rise in strong opposition to the Mulvaney amendment. It would make indiscriminate across-the-board cuts, it would create a $2.1 billion shortfall in military pay, take $529 million from military health care and $1.4 billion support for our troops in Afghanistan. Even before the Mulvaney amendment, the Joint Chiefs of Staff say we are on the brink of creating a hollow force.

It would also cut care for wounded warriors after they come home, reducing veterans' medical services by more than $800 million. And here at home the amendment would eliminate $650 million in funds to repair, rebuild, and expand highways and bridges. It would cut more than 139,000 low-income pregnant women, infants and young children from the WIC program.

It would take $500 million from the National Institutes of Health for research and cures for diseases like cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer's.

On many occasions, Democrats and Republicans came together to meet these urgent needs caused by major disasters in all parts of the Nation. We didn't say we must first cut support for armed forces and veterans and reduce investments in research. Let's not do that now.

Madam Chair, I rise in strong support of the amendment offered by my friend Mr. Frelinghuysen, which would bring the funding total of this package to the amount requested by the President.

I cannot emphasize enough how critical the additional $33.4 billion provided in this amendment is to our region. I know there are many different viewpoints in this House and many different positions on issues we consider here, but Madam Chairwoman, I think we can all agree that the Federal Government has a fundamental and critical role when disasters of this magnitude strike. No State can do it alone. A Federal response is essential.

My colleagues, I commend Mr. Frelinghuysen on his amendment today, and I strongly urge its swift passage.

Madam Chair, I rise to claim the time in opposition to this amendment.

Legal aid offices in Sandy-affected areas are experiencing a huge increase in requests for civil legal assistance that is directly related to the storm and its aftermath. The Legal Services Corporation exists precisely to help meet the civil legal needs of low-income Americans, and the Legal Services Corporation assistance is never more important than following a major disaster.

Since Sandy hit, legal aid programs in New York and New Jersey have set up recovery hotlines, staffed FEMA disaster recovery centers, partnered with other State and local organizations to conduct disaster assistance training, and participated in clinics to provide legal counseling to affected communities. Local legal service programs are helping families obtain emergency food stamps, disaster-related unemployment insurance benefits and FEMA benefits to pay for rent and other expenses.

The funding this amendment proposes to eliminate would enable local organizations to purchase the needed mobile resources and equipment and to hire the coordinators they need to manage volunteers.

The $1 million this amendment would strike is a small amount relative to all of the other disaster relief efforts in the bill, but it will have a disproportionately large impact on the lives of low-income Americans it will help. I urge my colleagues to reject the amendment.

I yield 1 minute to the distinguished chairman, Mr. Frelinghuysen.

Madam Chair, I yield the balance of my time to Mr. Jose Serrano of New York.

Will the gentlewoman yield?

This amendment increases funding for the National Cemetery Association account by $1 million, offset by reductions in the SBA Disaster Loan Program.

As I understand it, the gentlewoman has heard from her constituents that these additional funds are needed to address extensive tree damage at New York and New Jersey national cemeteries.

VA cemeteries are national shrines and a lasting tribute that commemorate veterans' service and sacrifice to our great Nation. The amendment will ensure that the VA cemeteries affected by Hurricane Sandy will be repaired in a quick and efficient manner, and I urge all Members to support this amendment.

I thank the distinguished, distinguished ranking member, Mr. Meeks, for your eloquence, as always.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation, and I would like to thank Chairman Garrett for introducing this legislation and for his efforts to bring it to the floor with bipartisan support.

The National Flood Insurance Program has hit its limit. Without an increase in borrowing authority, it will be unable to pay for claims as early as next week. And that means that 120,000 flood insurance claims payments will be delayed, nearly all of which are due to Hurricane Sandy.

However, this bill is just not enough. It's not adequate. In December, the Senate passed an emergency assistance package to aid in the Sandy recovery, which included this legislation. Earlier this week, I expected, as did my colleagues, that the House would vote on a complete emergency assistance package to aid those in Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York who have lost homes, businesses, and their livelihoods. Sadly, the 112th Congress ended without action, and now we are starting over on important legislation which is absolutely critical to help storm-affected areas that should have and could have been signed. We know that there's no reason it wasn't signed in 2012.

However, we have now been promised a vote on the Sandy emergency assistance package by January 15, and families in my district and throughout the region are looking to Congress and asking, ``Why are you making it so difficult for us to rebuild? Why are you making us wait to rebuild?''

Today's legislation is a start, but only a first step, toward providing relief for those who suffered as a result of Hurricane Sandy. We don't need a piecemeal approach. That is not the way that Congress acts. We need a comprehensive Sandy recovery bill passed today.

We hold you to your commitment of January 15 and not a day later. We need this complete bill.

Mr. Speaker, the Republican do-nothing leadership has an opportunity to do something--something very important--today to help the more than 17 million Americans who were devastated by Hurricane Sandy, one of the worst storms in U.S. history, more than 9 weeks ago. The Senate has sent us a good bill. We are ready to act. We have the bipartisan votes to pass it. And yet the House Republican leadership has said there will be no votes today, the last day to pass this legislation without delay before we have to start all over again in the new session of Congress tomorrow.

Let me be very clear. Republican leadership has turned their backs on New Yorkers. They have turned their backs on those suffering without homes and businesses struggling just to get by. They have no valid reason for this delay--only the dysfunction with which they lead this body.

This record storm resulted in the deaths of over 100 Americans. The coasts of New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut have been devastated. Other surrounding States have sustained significant damage. In 2005, this body came together and passed a Federal disaster assistance bill to help the gulf recover from Hurricane Katrina 2 weeks after the storm. Congress acted to assist those who suffered damage in Hurricane Gustav and Ike within 1 month.

The Governors of our States, Democrat and Republican, have assessed over $82 billion in damages. The Senate bill would have provided $60.4 billion--not everything that was requested, but a detailed, thoughtful disaster assistance plan to help these communities rebuild. More than 9 weeks since the storm hit, House Republican leadership is doing nothing, after giving us nearly virtual assurance just yesterday that we would consider this assistance bill today.

When a disaster hits on American soil, we as a Congress have the responsibility and tradition of working together, Democrat and Republican, to help communities rebuild. Our citizens are counting on us to help them recover from the storm and mitigate future disasters. I respectfully urge House leadership to reconsider their decision. Support the victims of Hurricane Sandy. Put politics aside. Do the right thing. People are waiting. People need this assistance. Let's bring the bill to a vote today.

Mr. Speaker, I truly feel betrayed this evening. I left this floor with an understanding that this bill was going to be brought to the floor.

One of Congress' most basic responsibilities is to help families, communities, and businesses recover. Yet Republicans refuse to act to help the victims of Sandy as expeditiously as we know we can.

We can pass this bill tomorrow with bipartisan support. Yet the Republicans will adjourn this session, allow this bill to be buried, and make sure that the people of our communities do not get the help that they need.

Disaster knows no boundaries. This body has acted with speed and compassion to help Americans throughout the country in disaster after disaster. Dysfunction, Mr. Speaker, in this Congress, shouldn't result in punishing victims of Sandy in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.

This is a sad day. I urge the majority to reconsider the decision to not put the supplemental on the floor, and I want to thank our leader, Mr. Hoyer; our leader, Madam Pelosi; and all those who have been advocating for Sandy. We need to do this, and we need to do it before we adjourn.

And I congratulate you on the wisdom which you generously share with all of us.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the bill.

Instead of putting forth a serious, comprehensive, and balanced deficit reduction plan, the Republicans are taking a timeout so the House can embark on yet another futile effort to pass portions of the Ryan budget--the same Ryan budget that would end Medicare as we know it, walk away from the caps on discretionary spending agreed to in the Budget Control Act, and has no chance of being signed into law.

Our constituents want us to negotiate and agree to a solution to avoid economic catastrophe. I have concerns with some of the proposals the President has made in his negotiations with the Speaker, but at least the President was seeking a workable compromise.

Instead, the majority walked away from the negotiating table and away from a $2.4 trillion deficit reduction package. Given everything our country has been through in the last 2 months, from Superstorm Sandy to the tragedy in Newtown, the last thing Americans need is for politicians to refuse to compromise while risking market collapse, credit downgrade, and putting the brakes on economic growth and job creation.

I urge my colleagues to end the political charade. Let's get back to the serious task of negotiating a balanced deficit reduction plan. Let's do it now, today. We can do it.

Mr. Speaker, December 1, World AIDS Day, is an opportunity for people in the United States and around the world to unite in the fight against HIV and AIDS, to show their support for those living with the virus, and to commemorate the many who have died from this terrible disease.

The first World AIDS Day was held in 1988, just weeks after my first election to Congress. I am proud of the work the Congress has done since that time to combat the scourge of HIV and AIDS throughout the world. Through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the work of the U.S. Agency for International Development, and our support to multilateral organizations, such as UNAIDS and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the United States has led the way in modernizing the global response to HIV and AIDS. Our efforts not only save lives, but also promote economic growth and increased stability throughout the world. Recognizing that we cannot beat this epidemic with treatment alone, I am pleased that recent global efforts are increasingly focused on prevention as well as sustainability, efficiency, and program effectiveness.

Today, there is more hope than ever that we can achieve an AIDS-free generation. A new UNAIDS report demonstrates the clear progress we have made in our fight. Access to antiretroviral therapy has increased by an incredible 63 percent in the last 24 months alone, and AIDS-related deaths fell by more than 25 percent globally between 2005 and 2011. The rate of new HIV infections has been reduced by more than 50 percent in the last decade across 25 low- and middle-income countries--more than half of which are in Africa. This could not have happened without U.S. leadership. PEPFAR has directly supported HIV testing and counseling for more than 49 million people in fiscal year 2012, providing a critical entry point to prevention, treatment, and care.

However, despite the encouraging progress, estimates are that 6.8 million infected people still need access to treatment, and the total number of new HIV infections remains high, at 2.5 million persons worldwide in 2011. This is simply unacceptable. So while our efforts are impressive, they are clearly not enough. The spread of HIV and AIDS continues to disproportionately affect many of the most vulnerable populations, especially women and girls, and I will not rest until we bring an end to AIDS here at home and around the world. Our commitment to ending this pandemic must be smart, strategic, and unwavering. AIDS knows no boundaries, and neither must our generosity and determination to overcome it. And so, on this 25th World AIDS Day, I urge my colleagues to continue our commitment to fighting this disease.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the continuing resolution. Two of Congress' primary responsibilities are setting Federal spending levels and being a good steward of taxpayer dollars. We should all agree that is best accomplished when we comb through the budget, line by line, to enact responsible spending bills.

That became impossible when the majority walked away from the agreement in last year's Budget Control Act. As a result, the House engaged in a futile attempt to adopt bills that simply don't add up to the spending levels already agreed upon.

A temporary blanket extension of funding doesn't allow us to prioritize increased investments in STEM education, biomedical research, clean energy, infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and job training initiatives that will grow our economy and create jobs. And a CR also inhibits our efforts to root out wasteful spending.

I will support this bill. We must keep the government operating. However, next year, we must work across the aisle to ensure adequate investments in activities that will facilitate economic growth and best serve our national interest.

I would also like to take a moment to thank my good friend, Norm Dicks. It has been a privilege to serve on the committee with you, and your expertise, steady hand, and leadership will be greatly missed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the March of Dimes Commemorative Coin Act.

I am proud to be an original cosponsor and to work with my colleague from Illinois, Mr. Dold, to issue a commemorative coin honoring the 75th anniversary of the March of Dimes, based in my district in White Plains. Funds from the sale of the coins would be used to support the March of Dimes' vital work to ensure healthy pregnancies.

The March of Dimes has a long and proud history. President Franklin Roosevelt took the four billion dimes sent to him by Americans in the Great Depression and created the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis. Later renamed the March of Dimes, the foundation was dedicated to supporting the care of thousands of Americans with polio, as well as supporting research into the prevention and treatment of the crippling disease.

The March of Dimes fulfilled President Roosevelt's dream of a polio- free nation by funding the development of polio vaccines, which led to its eradication in the United States and much of the world.

In the decades that followed, the organization helped stamp out rubella, pushed for Neonatal Intensive Care Units, promoted folic acid to prevent neural tube defects, and brought newborn screening to every American baby.

Today, the March of Dimes focuses on reducing prematurity. Every year, nearly half a million babies in the U.S. are born premature, the leading cause of newborn death. In my home state of New York, almost 600 infants are born preterm every week--representing 12.2% of all live births in the state.

The March of Dimes New York State Chapter has one goal--to help babies start life in the healthiest way possible by helping moms-to-be learn to care for themselves before, during and after their pregnancy. The New York Chapter also partners with local medical groups and organizations to establish guidelines for how to care for pregnant women and premature infants.

Over four million babies will be born across the United States this year, and each and every one will benefit from the March of Dimes historic legacy of scientific breakthroughs--from the polio vaccine to newborn screening. The March of Dimes Commemorative Coin will help us reach the day when we celebrate a new scientific breakthrough: preventing premature birth.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to thank the gentleman from Illinois, and I urge your support.

Mr. Speaker, I will use my time to observe a minute of silence for the Munich 11 who lost their lives at the 1972 Olympic Games.

Thank you.