Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 27) making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2019, and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.J. Res. 27, currently under consideration.

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

Madam Speaker, we are now in the 25th day of the Trump shutdown, the longest Federal Government shutdown in United States history.

This past Friday, hundreds of thousands of dedicated Federal employees went without a paycheck. It is shameful that the stubborn whims of this President have harmed the security of America's public servants. That includes Federal law enforcement officials at the FBI, the very Secret Service agents who protect the President, and those who work tirelessly to protect our air travel, our national parks, our environment, and public health.

The bill before us is the seventh--let me repeat, the seventh--piece of legislation Democrats have put on the House floor to end the Trump shutdown and get the government back to work for the American people. It will reopen government through February 1, providing time for Congress to come to a full-year agreement without further jeopardizing vital services or the pay of Federal workers.

It is long past time that Senate Republicans join us to reopen the government, pay our Federal employees, and then negotiate on border security and immigration policy. Madam Speaker, I hope that my colleagues across the Capitol come to their senses and end this shutdown.

I urge support for this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur), my good friend, an outstanding legislator, who is the chair-designate of the Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Ohio.

Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), my good friend, who is the chair-designate of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Madam Speaker, I am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, it is time to end the Trump shutdown. Let's vote ``yes.''

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

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

Madam Speaker, the Trump shutdown is now in its 21st day. It is outrageous that more than 800,000 Federal employees are going without pay, many of them while they are still working, and the American people are being denied vital services, all because of President Trump's demands for a wasteful border wall.

The bill before us today would reopen the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of the Interior, and other critical agencies, such as the Indian Health Service and the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board.

The Trump shutdown has suspended cleanups of hazardous materials and delayed lifesaving rulemaking to keep toxic chemicals like methylene chloride out of American homes.

The Trump shutdown threatens the enduring natural beauty and conservation efforts of our national parks as trash piles up and the safety of visitors is in question.

Public health and safety should not be political bargaining chips.

House Democrats have passed bills to open the government, but the President and the Senate Republicans continue to obstruct and delay instead of working with us to get the people's business done.

The solution to this crisis is simple: pass the bills where we can agree and extend funding for Homeland Security for a month to allow time for negotiation on border security and immigration policy.

Madam Speaker, I hope that my colleagues across the Capitol come to their senses and stop this ridiculous Trump shutdown.

Madam Speaker, the Trump shutdown is now in its 20th day. More than 800,000 Federal employees are going without pay, many while they are still working and the American people are being denied vital services.

Due to President Trump's shutdown over his demands for a wasteful border wall, the Food and Drug Administration cannot conduct routine inspections for food safety and has slowed evaluation of new drugs and medical products.

USDA is no longer able to provide farmers and rural communities with loans and grants to assist housing, utilities, or economic development. And approximately 40 million Americans who depend on SNAP for food assistance, including more than 3 million New Yorkers, have faced unnecessary fear and uncertainty about whether they are weeks away from going hungry.

House Democrats have passed bills to open the government, but the President and Senate Republicans continue to obstruct instead of working with us to get the people's business done.

In my judgment, the solution to this crisis is simple: Let's pass the bills where we can agree, where there is bipartisan support, and let's extend funding for Homeland Security for 30 days--1 month--to allow time for negotiation on border security and immigration policy. This seems to me, in my judgment, to be fair, to be thoughtful, and to be the way for us to get together and open this government. I do hope that my colleagues across the Capitol come to their senses and stop this ridiculous Trump shutdown.

We can begin this bipartisan path by passing the bill before us. This bill passed the Senate in September with a vote of 92-6. This bill would open the Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration and adequately fund these services through the end of the fiscal year.

Sadly, to date, my Republican colleagues have followed the President's blind lead all while jeopardizing these vital services upon which American families and businesses rely.

Let's pass the bill today and put USDA and FDA back to work for the American people.

Mr. Speaker, the Trump shutdown is now in its 20th day. More than 800,000 Federal employees are going without pay, many while they are still working, and the American people are being denied vital services all because of President Trump's demands for a wasteful border wall.

The bill before us today would reopen the Department of Transportation, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and other critical agencies like the National Transportation Safety Board and U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness.

Frankly, it is outrageous that safety-critical personnel who are ensuring our trains operate and air traffic runs smoothly cannot count on a paycheck. They and the thousands of furloughed Federal employees cannot afford this kind of financial uncertainty and missed paychecks.

The Trump shutdown has also had dangerous housing implications for many hardworking families. For example, HUD's project-based Section 8 housing assistance program, which covers tens of thousands of low- income renters, is in trouble. Payments have been made for tenants this month, but due to staff furloughs, HUD contracts with landlords that expired since the shutdown began have not been renewed. This could lead to evictions of senior citizens and the disabled, displacing the most vulnerable among us.

House Democrats want to open the government, but the President and the Senate Republicans continue to obstruct instead of working with us to get the people's work done.

The solution to this crisis is simple: Pass the bills where we can agree, and extend funding for Homeland Security for a month to allow time for negotiation on border security and immigration policy.

I do hope that my colleagues across the Capitol come to their senses and stop this ridiculous Trump shutdown.

Mr. Speaker, I am so pleased to thank Chairman Engel for initiating and working so hard on this absolutely essential issue.

It is really shocking to me, with anti-Semitism spreading throughout Europe and other places in the world, that we don't have a Special Envoy. I have brought this to the attention of the former Secretary of State. The urgency of this issue demands a person who is focused, with a staff, and working with Members of Congress who share their passion. We need this Special Envoy now.

Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with what we call our cardinal, the chair of this distinguished Subcommittee of Appropriations, and I thank him for yielding me some time.

Mr. Speaker, the Trump shutdown is now in its 19th day. It is simply outrageous that more than 800,000 Federal employees are going without pay and that the American people are being denied vital services, all because of President Trump's demands for a wasteful border wall.

House Democrats want to open the government, but the President and the Senate Republicans continue to obstruct and delay instead of working with us to get the people's business done.

The solution to this crisis is simple: Pass the bills where we can agree, and extend funding for Homeland Security for a month, 30 days, to allow time for negotiation on border security and immigration policy.

I hope that my colleagues across the Capitol come to their senses and stop this ridiculous, dangerous Trump shutdown. Unless Congress acts, the American people will continue to experience serious impacts from the shutdown.

Taxpayers rely on the IRS to assist them in making big choices for their financial planning. That advice helps families make important decisions, like whether to put money into their savings or buy that new appliance to replace a broken one. With taxpayer assistance, phone lines, and centers closed for business, our constituents don't have anyone they can turn to.

Outside of the IRS, small businesses, which make up the backbone of our economy, also take a hit. With no access to Small Business Administration loans during the shutdown, those businesses will remain unable to make capital improvements, and entrepreneurs can't even attend workshops with the SBA to seek advice.

We can reopen both the IRS and the SBA today, along with other vital agencies like the FCC, the SEC, and the Federal judiciary. Democrats are again ready to act. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, last night, the Senate unanimously passed legislation that would fund our government through February 8. Democrats are disappointed that Congress would kick the can down the road once again; yet, we remain willing to pass that bill to keep the government open.

Unfortunately, even that simple, stopgap measure is apparently unacceptable to a President hell-bent on shutting down the government over his wasteful wall. And instead of showing leadership and moving forward with the Senate legislation, despite the President's tweets, House Republicans have caved once again to Trump's political whims.

They now have put up this grab bag of legislation that wastes taxpayer dollars, fails to meet the urgent needs of disaster victims, and, frankly, is dead on arrival in the Senate.

With all the challenges facing our country, from soaring healthcare costs to crumbling infrastructure, it is inconceivable that Republicans want to spend $5.7 billion on an unnecessary wall that President Trump himself promised Mexico would pay for.

Moreover, the disaster supplemental attached to this bill shortchanges nutrition needs in Puerto Rico, needs that were apparent 16 months ago. Republicans have continued their pattern of denying science by grossly underfunding mitigation and resilience against future disasters caused by climate change.

Mr. Speaker, this bill is nothing but another attempt by lameduck Republicans to appease President Trump. It is a fitting final act for the most chaotic and dysfunctional Congress in modern history.

Mr. Speaker, I oppose this reckless and irresponsible bill. I urge my colleagues to reject this legislation, and, instead, pass the Senate's clean CR. Keep our government open, and prevent a Trump shutdown. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur), the ranking member of the Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

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

the ranking member of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price), the ranking member of the Transportation, House and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Roybal-Allard), who is the ranking member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), who is the Democratic whip.

Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman from Maryland an additional 1 minute.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), the ranking member of the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I want to make it clear that most of the opioids,

the drugs, are coming through the ports of entry.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Bishop), the ranking member of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Legislative Branch.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Quigley), the ranking member of the Financial Services Subcommittee.

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

Mr. Speaker, Democrats support strong, smart border security, but we will not allow Republicans to fleece American taxpayers by making them pay $5.7 billion for Trump's ineffective wall. I remind my friends that 88 percent of opioids seized come through the port of entry. Let's get the facts on the table.

I will say my other comment includes praising Chairman Frelinghuysen for his distinguished career in public service, for the debates on a bill that has an actual chance at becoming law.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Jane Brown M.Ed., Executive Director of Child Care Resources of Rockland (CCRR), as she celebrates her retirement at A Benefit for the Child Care Tuition Scholarship Program on Wednesday, October 3, 2018.

Mrs. Brown has long been an educator, having taught a variety of age ranges, including school-aged, preschool, toddlers, and even infants, for more than 40 years. She has served as Executive Director since 2004 and in various other positions at CCRR for 13 years prior. Mrs. Brown also serves on several boards and advisory committees. She formerly served as the Co-President of the New York State Association for the Education of Young Children and President of the New York State Early Care and Learning Council. Mrs. Brown was recognized as a 2012 Woman of Distinction, Honoring Women in New York.

In addition to working hands-on with the children, Mrs. Brown has led professional development for numerous home-based staff and early childhood development centers. She worked with staff on developing stronger curriculums, interacting with children and families, enhancing the learning environment and helping teachers deal with the stress commonly experienced in the early childhood industry. Mrs. Brown has also taught courses at the B.A. and M.A. level and given local, state- wide, and national presentations on early childhood education.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my fellow Members of Congress to join me in expressing thanks to Mrs. Brown for her 27 years of outstanding service, dedication, and passion to Child Care Services of Rockland and to the children and families of Rockland County and beyond.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor White Plains Hospital as it hosts its 125th Anniversary Gala on Saturday, September 29, 2018.

White Plains Hospital is a not-for-profit health care organization aimed at providing quality and affordable health care to Westchester County and the surrounding areas. In the year following its founding in 1893 by 22 women and three men, the hospital treated 31 patients. Today, it has a staff of 1,100 and treats more than 200,000 patients a year. White Plains Hospital has truly become a cornerstone of our community.

White Plains Hospital not only provides both inpatient and outpatient services, but also aims to improve the health care of the local and professional communities and the business sector. It greatly expanded access to care by opening locations across Westchester County with excellent physicians in, but not limited to, primary care, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, oncology, dermatology, geriatrics, cardiology, medical & surgical specialties, and urgent care.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have worked alongside White Plains Hospital to support quality health care for area residents. I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing this organization and applauding its 125 years of service to our community as it celebrates this quasquicentennial anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Child Care Council of Westchester as it hosts its 50th Anniversary Celebration on October 18, 2018.

The Child Care Council of Westchester promotes quality child care and education to support the healthy development of children and families. For children, the Council is a safe space to learn and grow. For parents, the Council eases the financial burden of child care by providing high quality, affordable child care for working families. For child care professionals, the Council acts as an information hub on running a business, providing quality care, and meeting legal obligations. Finally, for Westchester employers, the Council provides parents with resources and referrals to have successful employment and careers.

The Child Care Council's continued success in Westchester can be largely attributed to its Executive Director Kathy Halas. Since 2003, Ms. Halas has led the Council as it advocates for the importance of healthy childhood development and quality child care. Ms. Halas' unwavering activism is an inspiration to us all and can be credited with the care of countless children throughout Westchester County and beyond.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have worked alongside Kathy Halas and the Child Care Services of Westchester to support quality early care and education for all children. I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing this incredible organization and applauding its 50 years of service to Westchester County as it celebrates this golden anniversary.

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

Mr. Speaker, I join Chairman Frelinghuysen in strong support of this bipartisan legislation. The Defense and Labor-HHS-Education bills carry out some of Congress' most important constitutional responsibilities. We should all be pleased that we have completed our work on these bills on time.

This conference report provides ample resources for our armed services and strengthens military readiness. It also upholds our commitments to our servicemembers and their families, more funding to repair Department of Defense schools, additional resources to assist victims of military sexual assault, and more support for military medical research.

Turning to the Labor-HHS-Education division, I am pleased that Congress has resoundingly rejected President Trump's budget and restored $10 billion in proposed cuts that would have hurt working families. Instead, we have won increased funding for a number of important priorities.

This bill boosts biomedical research at the National Institutes of Health, expands opioid abuse treatment and prevention programs, and launches new initiatives for maternal and child health.

The bill increases funding for Head Start, childcare, and after school programs on which working families rely. It lifts the maximum Pell grant to help more students access postsecondary education, and it invests in the 21st century workforce with more support for registered apprenticeships and career and technical education.

Finally, this bill stands up to President Trump's cruel family separation policy, with more transparency and oversight of child and family detention.

Just as important is what this bill does not include: the unnecessary partisan riders that caused House Democrats to oppose the Labor-HHS- Education bill in the Appropriations Committee. And while it is unfortunate that we have no choice but to include a continuing resolution for many important Federal programs, I look forward to completing our remaining appropriation bills when Congress returns in November.

I appreciate the hard work of Chairman Frelinghuysen, Chairwoman Granger, Chairman Cole, Ranking Member Visclosky, Ranking Member DeLauro, and our Senate counterparts to get us to this point.

Of course, we appreciate our hardworking staff. We couldn't get to this point without them.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill and sending it to the President for him to sign.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Visclosky), the ranking member of the Defense Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), the distinguished ranking member of the Labor-HHS Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum), the ranking member of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), the ranking member of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Cuellar), a member of the Appropriations Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Texas.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), a senior member of the Appropriations Committee.

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

Mr. Speaker, should the President sign this package into law, three- quarters of all base discretionary spending will be enacted prior to the start of the fiscal year. While Chairman Frelinghuysen and I would have preferred to finish everything, we should be proud of the work that we have done--all the members of the committees working together-- and it is a testament to the chairman's leadership.

For me, it has really been an honor and a privilege to work with him. I know we have a little more work to do. But I thank him again for his hard work and commitment to doing the right thing in serving the American people.

I also thank the staff for their work, including Rebecca Leggieri, Jennifer Chartrand, Stephen Steigleder, and Robin Juliano of the minority staff, along with clerks Jennifer Miller, Susan Ross, and the rest of the majority staff.

Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill, I urge support, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Michael A. Baston on his inauguration as Seventh President of Rockland Community College (RCC) in Suffern, N.Y. on September 13, 2018.

Dr. Baston began his career as a public interest lawyer, representing educational and social justice organizations and this work led him to pursue a career in academia. He joined RCC from LaGuardia Community College in Queens, part of the City University of New York, where he held several key leadership positions, including Vice President for Student Affairs and Associate Provost. Known for his work in integrating student success initiatives to advance college completion through guided pathways, Dr. Baston also helped grow LaGuardia's grant funding with a special focus on diverse and underserved student populations.

During his distinguished career, Dr. Baston's work has been featured in the Chronicle of Higher Education, Atlantic, Diverse Education, Community College Times, Education Advisory Board, MSNBC, and Handbook for Student Affairs in Community Colleges. Dr. Baston was selected as a member of the inaugural class of Aspen Institute Presidential Fellows for Community College Excellence where he explored systemic issues impacting the educational access pipeline and student success.

He holds a BA from Iona College, a JD from Brooklyn Law School, and an EdD from St. John Fisher College. Named by Diverse Issues in Higher Education magazine among the most Notable Education Leaders of 2017, Dr. Baston is an extraordinary man whose dedication and determination have inspired all who know him.

Mr. Speaker, Dr. Baston's numerous accomplishments have left a lasting impact on the communities he has served and he has pledged to broaden the scope, reach and influence of RCC in the years ahead. I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the extraordinary leadership and vision of Dr. Michael Baston and to welcome him to Rockland Community College.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this three-bill minibus, which delivers important victories for the American people.

The fiscal year 2019 Energy and Water Development, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Legislative Branch bill is a bipartisan rejection of President Trump's extreme budget cuts. It restores $8.1 billion in funding for programs that create jobs and strengthen our economy.

Instead of cutting energy efficiency and renewable energy programs within the Department of Energy, as House Republicans proposed, we have increased its funding. That means more resources to develop clean energy technology and accelerate job creation in this growing sector of the economy.

And this bill gives an emphatic thumbs-down to President Trump's proposed elimination of the highly successful ARPA-E program, which promotes and funds research and development of advanced energy technology.

Turning to the Military Construction-Veterans Affairs division, I am pleased that the bill provides a second installment of $2 billion for VA infrastructure improvements. And, as more veterans suffer from our country's devastating opioid epidemic, we are doing right by our veterans by providing $400 million for opioid treatment, prevention, and safety initiatives.

We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to those who have sacrificed for us in our Armed Forces, and we must ensure they receive the benefits and assistance they deserve. Unfortunately, when it comes to the VA MISSION Act, the White House and House Republicans refuse to live up to that sacred trust.

Despite the inclusion of nonbinding report language, the legislation before us utterly fails to address the transition of the VA Choice program from mandatory to discretionary spending.

It is deeply disappointing that we have been unable to address this issue with a bipartisan, bicameral compromise. Instead, Congress has left behind a shortfall that will lead to cuts to vital domestic programs, including for our veterans.

It is now imperative for next year that we find a responsible, long- term solution to protect domestic priorities and veterans' healthcare.

Finally, I would be remiss if I did not celebrate one of the successes in this bill that is closer to home. I am delighted that we have secured $8.8 million in the new dedicated funding stream for Members' offices to pay interns.

Congressional interns should be reflective of the country we serve. This new funding will help a more diverse range of young people follow their dreams and begin a career in public service.

I appreciate the hard work of my friend, Chairman Frelinghuysen, and the subcommittee Chairmen Simpson, Carter, and Fortenberry, as well as our Senate counterparts in crafting this compromise. I am grateful for the leadership of Ranking Members Marcy Kaptur, Tim Ryan, and Debbie Wasserman Schultz fighting on behalf of our priorities for the American people. Of course, I thank the staff on both sides of the aisle who work so very hard night and day to help us deliver this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this minibus, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur), who is the ranking member of the Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan), who is the ranking member of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Murphy).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gene Green).

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

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to thank my friend, Chairman Frelinghuysen.

It has been far too long since multiple spending bills were enacted prior to the start of the fiscal year. It is a testament to the chairman's leadership that we are set to clear three today, and I hope we send at least one more package to the President before the end of the month.

Additionally, I would like to thank the staff for their tireless efforts, particularly Adam Berg, Jaime Shimek, Matt Washington, and the majority staff, including clerks Jenny Panone, Sue Quantius, and Angie Giancarlo-Clark.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the motion to instruct conferees to reject the right-wing House Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill and, instead, support the Senate's bipartisan compromise.

The Labor-HHS-Education bill funds some of the most important priorities for our country. It helps meet the needs of Americans at every stage of their lives. With this legislation, Congress funds childcare programs, Head Start, Pell Grants, job training, community health centers, NIH research, Social Security, Meals on Wheels. Yet, instead of robustly supporting these priorities, House Republicans have shortchanged all of these critical endeavors.

Despite an $18 billion overall increase in the budget cap for nondefense discretionary spending, the House's fiscal year 2019 Labor- HHS-Education appropriations bill does not include a single dime of additional funding.

House Republicans have found $5 billion to pay for President Trump's wasteful border wall, yet they apparently cannot allocate anything to strengthen America's schools; help families afford college; ensure workplace safety; or expand quality, affordable healthcare.

In fact, the policy provisions in the bill directly attack many of these priorities. Their riders sabotage the Affordable Care Act, threatening the health of tens of millions of Americans with preexisting conditions, and increasing costs for American families.

This Republican bill undermines women's healthcare by eliminating Title X family planning, prohibits millions of women from choosing Planned Parenthood as their preferred healthcare provider, and attacks the dignity of LGBT families.

The American people, my friends, deserve better than this partisan bill. The Senate has done good work, bipartisan work, to provide additional resources for the Labor-HHS-Education bill, while avoiding the kinds of right-wing riders that make the House bill completely unacceptable.

I urge my colleagues to vote for this motion. Reject House Republicans' misplaced priorities and extreme attacks on American families.

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

I rise in strong opposition to the Interior, Environment, and Financial Services, and General Government minibus, that fails the American people by slashing environmental protection, rolling back consumer protections, and even cutting basic election security funding.

With bills this bad, it is no wonder Republicans have abandoned all pretense of regular order, grouped two unrelated appropriations bills together, and blocked numerous Democratic amendments.

These bills are the product of Republicans' misguided priorities. Instead of using the $18 billion increase in nondefense discretionary spending to create jobs and grow our economy, Republicans have chosen to waste those resources on an unnecessary border wall and cruel attacks on immigrant families.

We must do better. As much as it pains me to say, we should be following the Senate and producing bipartisan bills instead of wasting time on playing political games and taking show votes to appease the right wing of the Republican Conference.

Turning to the substance of the bills before us, it is absolutely outrageous that they would: Cut the Environmental Protection Agency by $100 million; slash clean water infrastructure grants by $300 million; sink $585 million into a black hole that is dressed up with a fancy name, the Fund for America's Kids and Grandkids, which is a ploy to not spend the entire financial services allocation; reduce investments in underserved communities through the Community Development Financial Institutions program by $34 million; and provide inadequate funding for small business loan programs and for investments that curb the opioid crisis.

However, the bill's worst cut is the zeroing out of election security grants.

On Friday, Special Counsel Robert Mueller indicted 12 Russian intelligence officers for their interference in the 2016 presidential election. The indictment describes, in great detail, the efforts Russia took to break into State election databases.

We have all heard the public warnings of our intelligence community that Russia will attempt to attack our democracy again. Yet, instead of helping States protect and fortify their election infrastructure from cyber hacking, this bill would eliminate election security grants entirely.

Additionally, numerous harmful policy riders strike at the heart of laws and rules that protect the air we breathe and the water we drink, threaten the survival of endangered species, attack a woman's right to choose, undermine democracy in the District of Columbia, and repeal important Dodd-Frank consumer protections.

These bills represent a divisive, partisan approach that threatens to leave American communities more polluted and American families more vulnerable to financial predators. We must do better.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``no,'' and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum), the ranking member of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

(Ms. McCOLLUM asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

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

Madam Chair, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Quigley), the ranking member of the Financial Services Subcommittee.

Madam Chair, I yield an additional 15 seconds to the gentleman from Illinois.

Madam Chair, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur), the distinguished ranking member of the Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

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

Madam Chairwoman, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Maine (Ms. Pingree), a member of the Appropriations Committee.

Madam Chair, I reserve balance of my time.

Madam Chair, we should be making investments that protect our communities and make it easier for working families to get ahead. This bill falls far short of those goals. It shows the majority is not serious about enacting spending bills on time and is rife with deficiencies from a tax on the environment and consumers to wasting hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars, and it fails to stand up to Russian aggression and protect our elections. Vote ``no.''

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