Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, once again, I come to the floor to recognize the great success of strong local schools working with dedicated parents and teachers. I rise today to congratulate and honor a number of outstanding high school artists from the 11th Congressional District of New Jersey. Each of these talented young men and women participated in the 2018 Congressional Art Competition, ``An Artistic Discovery.'' Their works of art are exceptional.

Sixty-three students from twenty-three high schools in Morris, Essex, Sussex and Passaic counties participated.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the winners of our art competition. First place was awarded to Alyssa Talon from Pope John XXIII Regional High School for her oil painting entitled, ``Girl on the Bus.'' Second place was awarded to Ava Economou from Wayne Valley High School for her conte pencil work entitled, ``Reflections of Past.'' Third place was awarded to Rachel Cenicola from Madison High School for her photograph entitled, ``The Stories We Wear.''

Honorable Mentions were awarded to: Tafari Dempster from Whippany Park High School for his colored pencil work entitled, ``Bioluminescence,'' Caitlin Gethins from Whippany Park High School for her photograph entitled, ``From Heaven Above,'' Morgan Hoover from Wayne Valley High School for her gel pen work entitled, ``Mel,'' and Katherine Hu from the Morris County School of Technology for her acrylic painting entitled, ``Perspicacious.''

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize each artist for their participation by including in the Record their high school, their name and the title of their contest entries:

Boonton High School: Ifrah Bajwa, ``Time Lapse''; Jaylene

Combs, ``Self-Portrait''; Catharine Owens, ``Nick''; Zeeshan

Qureshi, ``Kobi''.

Delbarton School: Lucas C. Acocella, ``Unexpected Beauty'';

Sean Taylor, ``A Cut Above the Rest''.

Eastern Christian High School: Steve Blanco, ``What I Saw

in the Water''; Angela Han, ``The Friend''.

Hanover Park High School: Jenna Glinko, ``Freedom Tower'';

Ronald Petriella, ``Flashback''; Delaney Trignano,

``Utensils''.

Jefferson Township High School: Kaitlyn Hollar, ``Shapes of

the Rainbow''; Katrina Jenisch, ``Child's Play''; Rachel

Warncke, ``Oliver''.

Livingston High School: Tiffany Acosta, ``Four Eyes''; Bari

Greenwald, ``Chivalrie Romance at the Abbey''; Rachel Leibel,

``Jurassic Art''; Breena Rettig, ``Fading''.

Madison High School: Loryn Camp, ``Acceptance''; Rachael

Cenicola, ``The Stories We Wear''; Julia Ferranti,

``Distorted''; Kierran Matos ``Don't Go''.

Montclair High School: Tien Servidio, ``The Angriest

Bois''.

Montville Township High School: Nicholas Corradino,

``Golden Tiers''; Alexandra DeLuise, ``Tessellate''; Cindy

Xie, ``Splendor''.

Morris Catholic High School: Tess Clemente, ``Sad

Goodbye''; Yifan ``Coco'' Peng, ``Potter Peng''; Deok Hyeon

``David'' Yu, ``Bob Dylan''; Kelsey Zapana, ``Tess''.

Morris County School of Technology: Katherine Hu,

``Perspicacious''.

Nutley High School: Zawar Ahmed, ``Fair and Lovely'';

Barbara Benda, ``Detached''; Paul Ibrahim, ``Entropy'';

Sabrina Kuo, ``Individuality''.

Parsippany Hills High School: Emma Mykowski, ``Connection

to the Past''.

Passaic County Technical Institute: Christopher Cortez,

``Narcissus''; Emmalie Foti, ``Space Mammals''; Ava Liguori,

``Colors''.

Passaic Valley High School: Jonathan Alarcon, ``Earth's

Sanctuary''; Danielle Burden, ``Oasis''; Matthew Nelson,

``1:05''.

Pope John XXIII Regional High School: Margaret Butler,

``Teeth''; Anne Ilardi, ``Do You Want to Build a Snowman?'';

Alyssa Talon, ``Girl on the Bus''; Jessica Whittam, ``Taz''.

Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School: Maya Homa, ``American

Beauty Rose''; Noa Mobilia, ``Lone Bonsai''.

Sparta High School: Sydney Van Brunt, ``Country Girl'';

Sarah Wille, ``Freedom of Speech''; Ande Wittenmeier,

``Veteran''.

Trinity Christian School: Ben Genberg, ``Mesa Verde''.

Villa Walsh Academy: Lucy Anderson, ``Midnight in the

Garden''; Maureen Walsh, ``Coming of Age''.

Wayne Valley High School: Ava Economou, ``Reflections of

the Past''; Morgan Hoover, ``Mel''; Kaitlyn Lauckner,

``Proud''; Amanda Piszczatoski, ``Looking Forward, Looking

Back''.

West Orange High School: David Fernandez, ``Dream

Deferred''.

Whippany Park High School: Tafari Dempster,

``Bioluminescence''; Emily Garcia, ``Lantern Study''; Caitlin

Gethins, ``From Heaven Above''; Sara Kahn, ``Playful

Elephants''.

Each year the winner of the competition has their art work displayed with other winners from across the country in a special corridor here at the U.S. Capitol. Thousands of our fellow Americans walk through the exhibition and are reminded of the vast talents of our young men and women. Indeed, all of these young artists are winners, and we should be proud of their achievements so early in life.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating these talented young people from New Jersey's 11th Congressional District.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 153, on passage of H.R. 3144, I am not recorded. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Montclair Public Library, located in the Township of Montclair, New Jersey, on the occasion of its 125th Anniversary.

In 1869, Israel Crane and his wife invited friends and neighbors to organize a subscription library collection of about one hundred books. There were 30 participating families. The collection was housed under the counter at Betzler's Drug Store on Bloomfield Avenue (then called Main), near the Presbyterian Church (now the site of the Hinck Building). The books were moved to the Pillsbury Building, also located on Bloomfield Avenue, and the library obtained a charter as the Montclair Library Association.

The Montclair Library Association built a wood framed building on the east side of South Fullerton Avenue near Bloomfield Avenue, for $1,700 in 1871. The Montclair Library Association was incorporated. The Association's building burned down during a raging blizzard on February 28, 1880. Amazingly, most of the 2,192 books were saved, moved, and issued from Central School at Church Street and Valley Road for several years.

Following New Jersey State legislation in 1890 authorizing the establishment of free public libraries, Montclair citizens voted on April 11, 1893 to establish a public, tax supported library. Funds and books from the Montclair Library Association were turned over to the newly established Montclair Free Public Library, which served all of Montclair's 8,656 residents. Its first quarters were on the second floor of Dr. John J.H. Love's office at 16 Church Street. Mary F. Weeks served as the first Library Director from 1893 to 1897. Coincidentally, Dr. Love's home was located at 50 South Fullerton Avenue, the current site of the Main Library.

The library was moved to an abandoned inn called the Munn Tavern, bought for about $5,000 and renovated for an additional $1,000 in 1898. The Munn Tavern, which still stands today, was later moved back from the road and is now part of the Evangelical Covenant Church at 17 Valley Road.

The first Branch Library was a rented room in the real estate office of John Mancini on Bellevue Avenue, near the train station, in 1899. Three hundred and fifty books from the Main Library formed the basis of this collection.

In 1902, the Carnegie Corporation gave $40,000 to Montclair to fund the construction of a library. After 35 years and six different locations, Montclair Public Library had its first purpose-built library building on the former site of the Munn Tavern, which was built in 1904. The library at 73 Church Street served as the Main Library for 50 years. This building is now

part of the Unitarian Church, located at the intersection of Valley Road and Church Street.

The Carnegie Corporation gave Montclair a second sum of $40,000 for the construction of the Bellevue Avenue Branch. The Bellevue Avenue Branch Library opened on December 26, 1914. The original design of the building remains intact today.

In February 1942, Montclair Public Library became the first public library in the United States to have a computerized circulation system. The International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) designed the Library's first ever punch card data processing system and equipment to record the loan and return of books. Librarians from all over the world visited Montclair to witness this pioneering venture.

Having outgrown the library building on Church Street, its home for 50 years, a new Main Library was built in 1955. The Davella Mills Foundation donated the former site of Dr. Love's home at 50 South Fullerton Avenue as the site for the new library building. They also contributed $250,000 toward the $800,000 construction cost.

The Montclair Public Library began community outreach in 1969 with bookmobiles in parks, playgrounds and on neighborhood street corners. Library use jumped 40 percent in two years as a result.

Neighborhood Information Center Helps Everyone (NICHE) was initiated as a federally funded community information and referral service in 1974. The goal of NICHE was to provide information as a catalyst for social change. It existed in a storefront at 375 Bloomfield Avenue from 1974 to 1977 and was fully incorporated into Montclair Public Library in 1979.

The Montclair Public Library was named one of the top five libraries in the nation by Library Journal in 2002. The Library also received the Bessie Bohme Moore Award for services to seniors in that year. Simultaneously, the Montclair Public Library Foundation was established to develop new financial resources exclusively for Montclair Public Library.

In 2004, the Montclair Public Library celebrated the Centennial anniversary of its first purpose built public library building on Church Street, the Library's home for 50 years until a new building was erected on its current site at 50 South Fullerton Avenue in 1954. The Centennial was an opportunity to renew community appreciation for Montclair Public Library's rich history and revitalize interest in Library assets.

The library has been in integral part of the greater Montclair community and has exceeded its mission to change lives every day through words, ideas and community connections.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and our colleagues join me in congratulating the Montclair Public Library on the occasion of its 125th Anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 796, I call up the bill (H.R. 1625) to amend the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to include severe forms of trafficking in persons within the definition of transnational organized crime for purposes of the rewards program of the Department of State, and for other purposes, with the Senate amendment thereto, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I have a motion at the desk.

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

I rise today to present House amendment to Senate amendment to H.R. 1625, the final appropriations package for fiscal year 2018. This legislation contains full funding for all the 12 annual appropriations bills. It represents thousands of hours of work and input by Members of Congress and our great staff.

Starting 1 year ago with 12 appropriations bills moving through the committee process last spring, these bills were then considered and passed on the House floor under a transparent and inclusive process. This represents the first time the House has passed all 12 bills before the end of the fiscal year since 2010.

After the bipartisan budget deal was enacted last month, appropriations committee leadership, House and Senate leadership on both sides of the aisle, and the White House quickly went to work, negotiating in good faith and in the best interest of the American people.

The bill we are considering today is a product of that hard-fought agreement. In total, the legislation provides $1.3 trillion in discretionary funding for the Federal Government, including $78.1 billion for the global war on terror and overseas contingency operations. This meets the caps provided in the recent budget agreement. Most importantly, Mr. Speaker, it includes historic investments in our Armed Forces, including the largest year-to-year increase in

funding for the Department of Defense since the beginning of the war on terror.

It fully funds the 2.4 pay increase for our servicemen and -women, the largest in 8 years, and provides the largest dollar total ever for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

In addition to strengthening our national defense, this legislation boosts security here at home: stronger border infrastructure, additional boots on the ground, and better technology and equipment that will close the gaps at our borders. Specifically, this includes more than $1.5 billion for physical barriers and associated technology along the southwest border.

Overall, funding for border security and law enforcement is increased by over 30 percent above last year. Funding is also focused on critical domestic priorities, addressing urgent needs that will improve the quality of life for all Americans and support economic growth and job creation, especially infrastructure, providing more than $21.2 billion in new funding for transportation infrastructure, as well as energy and water infrastructure, and technology like broadband and cybersecurity.

This passage also targets approximately $84 billion to fight the opioid epidemic that is devastating families across the country--the largest investment in addressing this public health issue and emergency to date. Funding is also directed towards school safety, providing the training and mental health services and grants to communities that will help prevent the kind of tragedy and heartbreak that occurred recently in Florida, and it provides robust funding for wildlife firefighting prevention programs, and includes long-sought forest management and fire budgeting reforms that will provide for budget security certainty and improve the health of our forests.

All these investments are made responsibly, implementing strong oversight at every level of government to ensure we get the most out of every dollar. Consequently, Mr. Speaker, I hope that every Member supports this package.

Mr. Speaker, before I close, I would like to acknowledge the many people who helped bring this bill to the floor: to Mrs. Lowey, my counterpart, the ranking member, thank you for your support and friendship; the 12 committee chairs and their ranking members for the hard work that they did over the last 12 months; the Appropriations Committee staff, all true professionals, some behind me, some across the floor, some in the galleries, for putting in countless hours and sleepless nights to help us bring this bill to the floor within a few weeks of the cap deal.

In particular, Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize our staff team led by our very able staff director, Nancy Fox; assisting her, Maureen Holohan, Stephen Sepp, Shannon O'Keefe, Jennifer Hing, Jason Gray, Marta Hernandez, Tammy Hughes, Rachel Kahler, Parker VanDeWater, and Tom Doelp.

On the minority side, Shalanda Young and Chris Bigelow.

Special thanks to our remarkable and amazing clerks, Tom O'Brien, John Martens, Jennifer Miller, Angie Giancarlo, Dena Baron, Donna Shahbaz, Dave LesStrang, Susan Ross, Jenny Panone, Sue Quantius, Craig Higgins, and Doug Disrud.

I would also like to recognize the work of Kevin Linskey, Surveys and Investigations, Jim Cahill, and Cathy Little.

I would also like to recognize those on our staff who are moving or retiring: Matt Dennis, Chris Romig, and Carol Murphy.

And thank you to my own personal staff back in the Rayburn building, ably led by Kate Hazlett.

Mr. Speaker, it is time that we fully fund the Federal Government for fiscal year 2018. Our current continuing resolution expires tomorrow. It is in the best interests of the American people that we get this work done this morning.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers), chairman of the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 15 seconds to the gentleman from Kentucky.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 1625, and that I may include tabular material on the same.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Aderholt), the chairman of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Granger), who is the chairman of the Defense Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Simpson), who is the chairman of the Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman from Idaho an additional 15 seconds.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Culberson), the chairman of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Carter), chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert), the chairman of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole), chairman of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Diaz-Balart), chairman of the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Dent), chairman of the Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Yoder), the chairman of the Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch.

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Ryan), the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

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

Let me share my appreciation for my working relationship with Mrs. Lowey. I thank, again, our very professional staff that is in the room here for all their hard work.

I urge a ``yes'' vote on this bill, which supports our Armed Forces and members of their family.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I send to the desk a concurrent resolution providing for a correction in the enrollment of H.R. 1625, and I ask unanimous consent for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 10 a.m. tomorrow.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the further discussion of H.R. 1892.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 734, I call up the bill (H.R. 1892) to amend title 4, United States Code, to provide for the flying of the flag at half-staff in the event of the death of a first responder in the line of duty, with the Senate amendment to the House amendment to the Senate amendment thereto, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I have a motion at the desk.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to present the Senate amendment to the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 1892, a bipartisan, bicameral bill outlining the funding for the next 2 fiscal years and funding for the government through March 23, providing much needed emergency supplemental funding for disaster recovery, and raising the Nation's debt ceiling.

This legislation will help our Nation move forward without the threat of a shutdown or default and with greater budget scrutiny. This bill will also allow us to move past the destructive cycle of continuing resolutions, which undermine the appropriations process and promotes only more uncertainty and doubt about our government's and this Congress' ability to function and to meet the needs of those we represent.

I am pleased that this legislation includes an agreement reached on a bipartisan basis by House and Senate leaders on spending caps for both fiscal year 2018 and fiscal year 2019.

Especially important is a substantial increase in funds for national defense. Our Nation faces multiple security challenges and increasingly aggressive, not to mention well equipped, adversaries. We must be prepared to meet these challenges, and we must take care of our men and women in uniform who truly do the work of freedom.

After years of reduction in military funding and months of uncertainty caused by continuing resolutions, it is time we provide our Armed Forces with what they need to rebuild and keep our Nation safe.

The agreement also outlines investments in important bipartisan domestic priorities such as fighting the opioid abuse epidemic, supporting veterans, and rebuilding and renewing our infrastructure around the Nation.

These top line spending levels will enable us to get to work immediately on our 12 appropriations bills to wrap up the fiscal year 2018 and quickly turn our attention to fiscal year 2019.

This legislation also includes a short term continuing resolution, our last for this year, which will fund the Federal Government through March 23. This will maintain programs and services that all Americans depend on until all of the annual appropriations bills can be enacted. I look forward to working with our Senate counterparts to negotiate and complete all of these bills ahead of that deadline.

In addition to these critical pieces of government funding, this legislation also provides $89.3 billion in emergency disaster funding, funding that has been urgently needed since this House passed its version in December. This funding will provide the residents of Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Western States with the resources to rebuild their lives after last year's historic and devastating natural disasters.

Lastly, this bill increases the debt limit through March 1, 2019, so we can pay our bills and avoid the economic damage of a default.

Mr. Speaker, the Senate has just passed this bill, and now it is up to this House to do the same and to send this legislation to the President for his signature.

I urge a ``yes'' vote on the bill and reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Jenkins), a member of our Appropriations Committee.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have the right to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Ryan), the Speaker of the House.

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

Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet on Tuesday, February 13, 2018, when it shall convene at noon for morning-hour debate and 2 p.m. for legislative business.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 1301) making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2017, 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 concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 104) providing for a correction in the enrollment of H.R. 1892, with the Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment.

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

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 5 o'clock and 36 minutes a.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until Tuesday, February 13, 2018, at noon for morning-hour debate.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following Proclamation:

Whereas, Sri Lanka is a free, independent, and sovereign nation--a unique country with a rich history, dating back to its flourishing civilization of the 2nd Century B.C.;

Whereas, Sri Lanka is celebrating the 70th Anniversary of its independence;

Whereas, Sri Lanka has developed its economy based on its agriculture, cultivation of semi-precious stones, and manufacturing industries. And although Sri Lanka experienced invasions and rule by the Portuguese, Dutch, and British, Sri Lanka regained independence through a peaceful and constitutional process in 1948;

Whereas, after 70 years of independence, Sri Lanka has emerged as a key South Asian country committed to democracy, free market economics, and sound development policy;

Whereas, this year also marks the 70th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between free Sri Lanka and the United States of America and bi-lateral relations between the U.S. and Sri Lanka have always been strong;

Whereas, trade and investment between the U.S. and Sri Lanka continue to grow. Recent U.S. goods exports were $372 million. U.S. exports consisted primarily of industrial machinery, medical instruments, aircraft parts, lentils, paper, specialized fabrics and textiles for use in the garment industry, fruits, and pharmaceuticals. Sri Lanka is currently the

115th largest export market for U.S. goods. Corresponding U.S. imports from Sri Lanka were $2.88 billion;

Whereas, as Sri Lanka celebrates seven decades of freedom, this is a wonderful opportunity for us to pay tribute to all of her national heroes and freedom fighters who fought for independence and extend congratulations to the approximately 100,000 Sri Lankans in the U.S., whose communities have made economic and social impacts throughout various communities across America;

Whereas, Sri Lanka's rich history of over 2,500 years, and its tremendous progress as a nation in 70 years alone, proves Sri Lanka's tremendous potential for the rest of the 21st Century and the future beyond; now be it Resolved, That in commemoration of Sri Lanka's 70th year of independence, members of the United States House of Representatives congratulate the government of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and look forward to working with the government of Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan Americans, and the Sri Lankan community in the United States for years to come.

Mr. 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 the further consideration of the Senate amendment to H.R. 1892.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 727, I call up the bill (H.R. 1892) to amend title 4, United States Code, to provide for the flying of the flag at half-staff in the event of the death of a first responder in the line of duty, with the Senate amendment thereto, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I have a motion at the desk.

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

Mr. Speaker, for the fifth time since last fall, I rise today to present another continuing resolution, the House amendment to Senate amendment to H.R. 1892, to fund the operations of the Federal Government through March 23, fund the Department of Defense for the rest of fiscal year 2018, and extend critical healthcare programs, including funding for community health centers.

Our current continuing resolution expires on Thursday, and without this legislation, large segments of the Federal Government will shut down again. Of course, all of us are keenly aware that more time is needed for our leaders in the House, the Senate, and the White House to negotiate overall funding levels for the 2018 fiscal year. This bill should allow that to happen.

Mr. Speaker, this continuing resolution also makes a very limited number of technical changes in funding levels for only the most essential needs, including:

To prevent delays in preparation for the 2020 Census;

To ensure that the judicial branch is able to pay jurors;

To provide $225 million in emergency funding for the Small Business Administration to provide emergency loans to those whose lives and livelihoods were destroyed by last year's historic natural disasters.

This legislation also includes the full fiscal year 2018 Department of Defense Appropriations bill, totaling $659 billion for our Armed Forces.

And I don't have to remind my colleagues that this bill has already passed this House three times on a bipartisan basis--most recently, last week.

Mr. Speaker, we ask a great deal of our men and women in uniform, and we have an obligation to provide them and their families the resources they need to be safe, to complete their missions successfully at home and abroad. Governing from CR to CR just creates more unpredictability, more instability, and has real-life consequences for both our troops and civilians who support them.

Mr. Speaker, the challenges we face around the world cannot be met under this Federal CR stop-and-go process. While we delay doing the Nation's business, our military and economic competitors are consolidating their gains.

Finally, I would add, this legislation includes necessary funding extensions for bipartisan health priorities like community health centers and other public health programs. It also funds important Medicare extenders and includes commonsense reforms and improvements in the program.

But let no one doubt our position on continuing resolutions. They are bad fiscal policy. They do not allow programs to grow, to be reduced or eliminated, if that is needed. They maintain outdated policies and stop new, critically important programs from ever starting, including programs that enhance national security and protect our Armed Forces from our enemies.

Continuing resolutions are fiscally wasteful and prevent the executive branch and Congress from planning and preparing, and this is true for the private sector as well.

Most importantly, they undermine congressional oversight that is constitutionally mandated for our appropriations.

While I am pleased that we are here to include the Defense Appropriations

bill in this continuing resolution, we must still pass all 12 appropriations bills for the 2018 fiscal year, as well as our third emergency disaster supplemental.

As soon as congressional and White House leaders reach a bipartisan agreement, which could and should happen at any moment, our committee will get to work immediately to finish negotiations on all 12 year-long funding bills.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Aderholt), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Carter), the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations' Subcommittee on Homeland Security.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Brady), the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Smith), chairman of the Subcommittee on Human Resources of the House Ways and Means Committee.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Barton), who is the vice chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), who is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter), who is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Dunn).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn).

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden), the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am in receipt of the Statement of Administration Policy, which indicates that the administration supports this continuing resolution and that the President's advisers would recommend his signature on the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the Statement of Administration Policy dated February 6, 2018.

Statement of Administration Policy

House Amendment to H.R. 1892--Further Extension of Continuing

Appropriations Act, 2018--Rep. Frelinghuysen, R-NJ

The Administration supports the House Amendment to the

Senate Amendment to H.R. 1892, the Further Extension of

Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018. This bill funds most

Government programs at current levels through March 23, 2018,

while incorporating the text of the House-passed fiscal year

(FY) 2018 Department of Defense Appropriations Act, which

provides the resources the military needs to keep the Nation

safe. As the Administration has noted previously, the House-

passed Department of DefenseAppropriations Act is consistent

with the President's pledge to undo the looming defense

spending reductions that are harmful to America's national

security and military readiness.

The House-passed Department of Defense Appropriations Act

incorporated in the bill includes a total of $659 billion for

the Department of Defense (DOD), including $584 billion in

base spending and $75 billion for Overseas Contingency

Operations. These amounts are consistent with a total funding

level for DOD similar to that authorized by the National

Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018, which was

signed into law by the President. It includes $1.2 billion

requested by the Administration to support increased troop

levels in Afghanistan, special operations forces

capabilities, and other urgent needs.

The United States military's greatest asset is the men and

women who volunteer to serve. This bill keeps faith with

service members by providing a 2.4 percent military pay

raise. It increases end strength across the military services

for active duty, reserve, and National Guard personnel, and

includes funding for training and maintenance to ensure that

United States troops are properly equipped and ready to

fight.

In addition to supporting the defense bill, the

Administration supports language in the House Amendment to

H.R. 1892 that provides for an extension of a variety of

healthcare provisions, including Community Health Centers.

The Administration is also appreciative that the bill

includes language requested by the Administration to ensure

continuity of operations for the 2020 Decennial Census

Program and the Small Business Administration's Disaster

Loans Program.

The Administration supports continuing discussions over a

two-year budget agreement that ensures funding for national

defense and other priorities. As those discussions continue,

however, it is dangerous to

hold defense funding for the current fiscal year hostage to

arbitrary demands for lower-priority domestic programs.

If the Further Extension of Continuing Appropriations Act,

2018, were presented to the President in its current form,

his advisors would recommend that he sign the bill into law.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues in the House to support this continuing resolution to keep the government open for business until March 23 and to support our men and women in the armed services who do the work of freedom each and every day.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I send to the desk a concurrent resolution and ask unanimous consent for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow.