Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Mr. James Matthew Evans, the late Landscape Architect of the United States Capitol.

Matthew was an essential fixture in Washington on Capitol Hill during his prestigious tenure from 1995 to 2011 as Landscape Architect for the United States Capitol Building and Grounds. He was well regarded by his colleagues, friends and many Members of Congress, alike, for both his friendly disposition and admirable work ethic. Matthew was dedicated to ensuring that the Capitol was well maintained, and made countless contributions to the aesthetics and design of its gardens and grounds. Prior to his work for the United States Capitol, Matthew honed his skills by working as a landscape designer in the private sector.

While serving as Landscape Architect of the Capitol, Matthew worked to maintain hundreds of trees, shrubs, and millions of plants and annuals, and preserved perennial plantings around the 290 acre Capitol Complex, and oversaw the dedication of commemorative trees for many notable figures. In addition, Matthew was directly responsible for the design and upkeep of Bartholdi Park, located between the Rayburn House Office Building and United States Botanic Garden. Matthew was also the author of a book titled The Landscape Architecture of Washington D.C., a studied compilation of notable sites and places around the District of Columbia. He was a real student of history.

Matthew is remembered by his wife Ruth Ann, whom he was married to for over thirty four years, and by his two daughters Kathy and Heidi. All of us take this moment to recognize and appreciate those, like Matthew Evans, who worked behind the scenes to keep our nation's Capitol and grounds beautiful for decades.

Mr. Speaker, I now ask that you and our colleagues join me in honoring the life of James Matthew Evans, retired Landscape Architect of the Capitol.

Mr. Speaker, on the occasion of his retirement from Federal service we rise to thank Jay S. Miller for 28 years of outstanding dedicated service.

Most recently Mr. Miller served as the Chief Financial Officer for the United States Capitol Police (USCP). Mr. Miller joined the USCP in 2011 bringing with him extensive experience in tax reporting, financial statement preparation, strategic planning and internal controls which proved to be invaluable to the USCP. Mr. Miller's ability to motivate and lead those that worked around him, often times through an infectious sense of humor, was instrumental in creating positive change. This type of impactful leadership set a tone within the department that will be felt for many years. Mr. Miller provided outstanding assistance to the Committee on Appropriations and set a standard that will be hard to replicate.

Prior to joining the United States Capitol, Mr. Miller served in a variety of roles at the Library of Congress and the U.S. Agency for International Development. On behalf of the U.S. House of Representatives we congratulate Jay on a job well done and nothing but success and happiness in his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, today as I announce my retirement at the end of this session of Congress, I want to use the opportunity to strongly encourage the many young people I meet to consider public service. Public service is an incredible way to turn your convictions into something that serves the greater good and to do it alongside people

from every walk of life and background. That has certainly been my experience here in this House, and during my Army service in Vietnam. I thank my friends and colleagues with whom I have served. My years in public service have allowed me to represent my home county of Morris for over 40 years, and also Essex, Passaic, Sussex Counties, and earlier on, Somerset. That would not have been possible without the love and support of my wife, Virginia, our two girls and my late father and mentor, Peter. The unsung heroes of my time in Congress are my staff, both in Morristown and Washington, who tend every day to the needs of 730,000 constituents.

During my time serving here there have been times of great tragedy including the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and the ravages of Hurricane Sandy on my home state. In my role on the House Appropriations Committee, I made sure that New Jersey's needs were met in both the immediate aftermath as well as over time in the wake of these events. I have proudly been able to secure key federal investments for New Jersey to strengthen our economy, our institutions of higher education, our hospitals and public transportation systems, to preserve open space and protect the environment and to better serve our veterans and our fellow citizens with mental illness and disabilities.

As Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, this past year I have had a singular focus on ``getting our work done''. We completed 12 appropriations bills left over from 2017, we passed all 2018 bills in record time through regular order, and three Disaster Supplementals historic in scope and the expediency with which we acted to help our fellow citizens. In my remaining year as chairman, I am determined to finish the FY18 bills and pass our FY19 bills through regular order. Every member, Republican and Democrat, will continue to have ample opportunity to directly impact the Congressional power of the purse and decide the best and highest use of limited taxpayer money. This will require--and I will happily devote--all my energies to this task.

Throughout my service in this House, my deepest devotion has been to supporting our Armed Forces, all volunteers, and their families, here and abroad, and those warfighters who have returned home with injuries and who depend on a functioning veterans' health care system. To those of you I have met while you served us overseas and to those of you that I have sat by your bedside, I hope and trust I have served you well.

I have worked in a bipartisan manner, not just in times of crisis but always, because I believe it best serves my constituents, my state and our country. My father reminded me often that we are temporary stewards of the public trust. I have sincerely endeavored to earn that trust every day and I thank my constituents and my home state of New Jersey for the honor to serve and I will continue to do so to the best of my abilities through the end of my term.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairwoman from Texas for her time and for her leadership on national security and intelligence issues. Indeed, I would like to thank all members of the subcommittee-- Republican and Democrat--and the staff for their hard work to assure defense and intelligence funding and also for their work on a variety of continuing resolutions that relate to the same.

Mr. Speaker, I rise, once again, to support this Defense Appropriations bill just as I did in July and again in September.

I visited our troops in Iraq twice last year in addition to official trips to north Africa and Southeast Asia. My goal is always to assess U.S. posture in those regions militarily and diplomatically. I can tell you, from those experiences, our Nation's competitive military advantage is badly eroding, and our allies, partners, and adversaries know it.

So how have we responded? The reality is: not well enough. In fact, we have pushed our military towards its breaking point. Instead of upgrading our hardware, we have allowed our equipment to age. Instead of arming our troops for tomorrow's fight, we have let them become seriously under-equipped. Instead of rightsizing our Armed Forces, we have reduced their size.

Mr. Speaker, we ask a great deal of our men and women in uniform. We ask them to leave their families to complete difficult training. We ask them to move from duty station to duty station without complaint. We ask them to tolerate long deployments far from home. We ask them to carry out dangerous missions in dangerous corners of the world. We ask them to reenlist with their families to preserve the strength of our Armed Forces.

Every passing day of reduced military funding levels creates an ever- increasing risk for our men and women on the front lines. We should not ask them to continue to do more with less. This full-year Defense Appropriations bill needs to be enacted now, and may I say the other 11 appropriations bills as well.

Mr. Speaker, every year, more high school seniors from the 11th Congressional District trade in varsity jackets for Navy pea coats, Air Force flight suits, and Army brass buckles than most other districts in the country. In fact, this is nothing new--our area has repeatedly sent an above average portion of its sons and daughters to the nation's military academies for decades.

This fact should not come as a surprise. The educational excellence of area schools is well known and has long been a magnet for families looking for the best environment in which to raise their children. Our graduates are skilled not only in mathematics, science, and social studies, but also have solid backgrounds in sports, debate, and other extracurricular activities. This diverse upbringing makes military academy recruiters sit up and take note--indeed, many recruiters know our towns and schools by name.

Since the 1830s, Members of Congress have enjoyed meeting, talking with, and nominating superb young people to our military academies. But how did this process evolve? In 1843, when West Point was the sole academy, Congress ratified the nominating process and became directly involved in the composition of our military's leadership. This was not

an act of an imperial Congress bent on controlling every aspect of government. Rather, the procedure still used today was, and is, a further check and balance in our democracy. It was originally designed to weaken and divide political coloration in the officer corps, provide geographical balance to our armed services, and to make the officer corps more resilient to unfettered nepotism and handicapped European armies.

In 1854, Representative Gerritt Smith of New York added a new component to the academy nomination process, the academy review board. This was the first time a Member of Congress appointed prominent citizens from his district to screen applicants and assist with the serious duty of nominating candidates for academy admission. Today, I am honored to continue this wise tradition in my service to the 11th Congressional District.

My Academy Review Board is composed of local citizens who have shown exemplary service to New Jersey, to their communities, and to the continued excellence of education in our area; many are veterans. Although from diverse backgrounds and professions, they all share a common vision, that the best qualified and motivated graduates attend our academies. And, as true for most volunteer panels, their service goes largely unnoticed.

I would like to take a moment to recognize and thank them publicly for participating in this important panel. Being on the board requires hard work and an objective mind. Members have the responsibility of interviewing upwards of 50 outstanding young men and women every year in the academy review process.

The nomination process follows a general timetable. High school seniors mail personal information directly to the Military Academy, the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy, and the Merchant Marine Academy once they become interested in attending. Information includes academic achievement, college entry test scores, and other activities. At this time, they also inform my office of their desire to be nominated.

The academies then assess the applicants, rank them based on the data supplied, and return the files to my office with their notations. In late November, our Academy Review Board interviews all of the applicants over the course of two days. They assess a student's qualifications and analyze character, desire to serve, and other talents that may not appear on paper.

This year the board interviewed over 40 applicants. The Board's recommendations were then forwarded to the academies, where recruiters reviewed files and notified applicants and my office of their final decision on admission.

As these highly motivated and talented young men and women go through the academy nominating process, never let us forget the sacrifice they are preparing to make: to defend our country and protect our citizens. This holds especially true at a time when our nation is fighting the war against terrorism. Whether it is in the Middle East, Africa or other troubled spots around the world, we are constantly reminded that wars are fought by the young. And, while our military missions are both important and dangerous, it is reassuring to know that we continue to put America's best and brightest in command.

Academy Nominees for 2018, 11th Congressional District

Air Force Academy

Annie Guo, Livingston, Livingston High School; Hayley Zwickel, Pine Brook, Montville Township High School; Griffin Heyrich, Madison, Madison High School; Sarah Houser, Morristown, Morristown High School; Apurva Memani, Livingston, Pingry School; Rushi Desai, Parsippany, Morris Hills High School; Tyler Kim, Montville, Montville Township High School.

Merchant Marine Academy

Anthony Corso, Fairfield, Maritime College, State University of New York; Alexander Schlegel, Mendham, West Morris Mendham High School; Thomas Rodgers, Caldwell, James Caldwell High School.

Naval Academy

Juliana Valencia, Pompton Lakes, Pompton Lakes High School; Andre Papasavas, Woodland Park, Passaic Valley High School; Grace Perrotta, Bloomfield, Bloomfield High School; Peter Yamasaki, Pequannock, Trinity Christian School; Morgan La Sala, Wayne, Wayne Valley High School; Brendan Flood, Denville, Seton Hall Preparatory School; Calvin Poche, Morristown, Morristown-Beard School; Joseph Rosowicz, Chatham, Regis High School; Daniel DuBois, Wayne, Don Bosco Preparatory School; Andrew Lee, East Hanover, Oratory Preparatory.

Military Academy

Ajay Hariharan, Randolph, Randolph High School; Charles Marashlian, North Caldwell, Seton Hall Preparatory School; Timothy Cieslak, Wayne, Rensselaer PolyTechnic Institute; Alyssa Chellaraj, Morris Plains, Parsippany Christian School; Jeffrey Sun, Mendham, Morris Hills High School; Timothy Higgins, Morris Plains, Chatham High School; Spencer Cowen, North Caldwell, West Essex Regional High School; Patrick MacLean, Mendham, West Morris Mendham High School; Matthew Rothman, Pequannock, Pequannock High School; Aaron Tam, Pompton Lakes, Rutgers University.

Mr. 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 the further consideration of

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 696, I call up the bill (H.R. 195) to amend title 44, United States Code, to restrict the distribution of free printed copies of the Federal Register to Members of Congress and other officers and employees of the United States, 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 as much time as I may consume.

I rise this afternoon to present the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 195, the Extension of Continuing Appropriations Act of 2018. This critical legislation extends government funding through February 16. Our current funding expires tomorrow night, and if Congress does not pass this bill and the President does not sign it into law before then, the government will shut down.

It is our congressional duty to prevent that from happening and to ensure that the American people have access to government programs and services they depend on. The additional time, just under a month, will allow congressional leadership and the White House to come to a final budget agreement.

This legislation includes a very limited number of technical changes to ensure good governance. The bill also includes language to continue the Children's Health Insurance Program through fiscal year 2023 to help sick children from low-income families get better and to ensure they have healthy and happy futures. Additionally, this proposal extends several healthcare-related tax provisions.

Mr. Speaker, a continuing resolution is not the preferred way to conduct the Nation's fiscal business, but at this point it is absolutely necessary to avoid a costly, destabilizing government shutdown. It is my hope that this will be the last continuing resolution, that leadership of the House and Senate and the White House will quickly come to an agreement on top-line spending levels and that we can complete our appropriations work for fiscal year 2018 in short order.

It is critical that we enact all 12 full-year funding bills to ensure that our Armed Forces have the resources they need to accomplish their missions both at home and abroad and that our government supports and maintains programs that are important to the lives and livelihoods of all Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on this critical legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Diaz-Balart), the chairman of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee on Appropriations.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Brady), the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden), chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers), the chairman of the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton), the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Energy.

Mr. Speaker I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to my colleague from New Jersey (Mr. Lance).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Olson).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the

gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Flores).

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Brooks), chairwoman of the Ethics Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from North Dakota (Mr. Cramer).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Costello).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg).

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from the great State of Washington (Mrs. McMorris Rodgers), who is the chairwoman of the House Republican Conference.

Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden), the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

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

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

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

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 8 o'clock and 37 minutes p.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until tomorrow, Wednesday, January 17, 2018, at 10 a.m. for morning-hour debate.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 4667.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 670, I call up the bill (H.R. 4667) making further supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, for disaster assistance for Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, and calendar year 2017 wildfires, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present H.R. 4667, a bill making emergency appropriations for hurricane and wildfire recovery.

Parts of our Nation have been devastated by multiple back-to-back hurricanes and wildfires that have caused tremendous loss of life, livelihoods, and property.

Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria are three of the top five most expensive hurricanes in the last 25 years. Combined with the horrific wildfires that continue to rage in California, the toll that these disasters have taken is unprecedented.

We must stand by our fellow Americans to get them the help and resources they need to recover. To this end, this legislation provides a total of $81 billion for crucial Federal programs that support ongoing relief, recovery, and rebuilding.

This includes $27.5 billion for FEMA to provide relief and recovery assistance; $26.1 billion for Community Development Block Grants for shelter and housing and infrastructure improvements, and the means to help large and small businesses recover; and $12.1 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers to repair and rebuild infrastructure projects that help protect against future disasters, building in resiliency.

The bill also includes $3.8 billion for the Department of Agriculture, which will support critical agriculture disaster assistance for massive crop and livestock loss.

Funding is also included to repair Federal highways and local transit systems, to help children displaced by the storms of Puerto Rico get back to school, and for small business disaster loans, which will allow businesses to reopen their doors as quickly as possible.

Our Committee on Appropriations will continue to monitor these recovery efforts to ensure accountability, transparency, and that every dollar is spent wisely. From Florida and Texas, to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, to California, and all areas dealing with major disaster declarations, this Congress is committed to helping you.

Congress has already provided $51.75 billion in two separate supplemental bills for these ongoing efforts. With this third tranche of emergency funding, it will bring the total funding for fiscal year 2018 emergency response to $132 billion. This funding is desperately needed by thousands of American families, individuals, and communities to rebuild their homes and businesses, restore electric power and critical infrastructure, and to protect against further damage. It is the duty of Congress to provide this help to our fellow Americans in their times of need.

Mr. Speaker, before I close, I would like to thank everyone who came to leadership and to the Appropriations Committee to make sure that Congress is getting the assistance to those hurricane and wildfire victims that they urgently need.

I would also like to thank the clerks and professional staff and the chairs of the 12 Appropriations Subcommittees for their working tirelessly to bring this bill to the floor and, may I say, nearly 30 others this year.

It is time to get this emergency aid to those who need it. I urge my colleagues to support this bill and this legislation.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster), the chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Graves), the chairman of the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Barletta).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rodney Davis).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Mimi Walters).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Rutherford).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. McCarthy), the majority leader.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, this bill--put together after eight public hearings, input from all Governors, all Members of Congress, and all Delegates, especially those who represent Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and California--represents a fair and a compassionate treatment of all hurricane and fire victims.

Like the first two emergency supplementals put together by our leadership, our committee, and Congress, we acted within days to help. I ask that we do it again this afternoon without delay. Get this $81 billion disaster package into the hands of the States, the territories, and the communities that continue to suffer.

Let me associate myself with the remarks of our majority leader. Let's get the money into those communities that have been suffering. That money is going to the Virgin Islands, it is going to Puerto Rico, and it is going to Florida, Texas, and California. There has been no discrimination at all.

This bill has been put together with the cooperation of all the chairs and ranking members, and it deserves to be acted on promptly. People are suffering. Let's get the money out the door to help them as we have done in the past on the first two supplementals.

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

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 H.R. 1370.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 670, I call up the bill (H.R. 1370) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to issue Department of Homeland Security-wide guidance and develop training programs as part of the Department of Homeland Security Blue Campaign, 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.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 1370.

This legislation keeps the government fully open, funds important national security priorities, and temporarily extends critical government programs like the Children's Health Insurance Program, the National Flood Insurance Program, and section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

Our duty to the American people is to keep them secure and to ensure they have access to the government programs and services they depend on.

The House must pass this bill now, today.

Without acting on this bill, existing government funding will expire tomorrow, and the government will shut down. This legislation provides a simple, clean extension of current funding levels through January of 2018.

This additional time will allow House and Senate leadership to complete their negotiations on overall spending levels. Once that is determined, my committee will complete negotiations with the Senate on all 12 appropriations bills for the rest of fiscal year 2018.

In the meantime, it is essential that Congress maintain government programs and services--for our Nation's stability, the stability of our economy, and for the security and well-being of the American people.

This bill also supports national security by providing an additional $4.7 billion in emergency funding to bolster missile defense, to protect against growing threats, and to repair damaged Navy ships.

In addition, the bill also includes $2.1 billion in mandatory funding for the VA Choice Program. This funding will guarantee that our veterans continue to have access to the medical care they need and deserve.

Along with important funding for our Armed Forces and veterans, this bill contains temporary extensions of several critical programs that millions of Americans rely on. These include the Children's Health Insurance Program, the National Flood Insurance Program, and section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

Mr. Speaker, before I close, again, I would like to thank the 12 Appropriations chairs, our 12 clerks, and the very professional staff of the Appropriations Committee for working overtime to bring this bill and others before the House today.

We cannot delay on passing this critical legislation, funding the government, protecting our Nation, and extending essential programs that hardworking Americans rely on every day.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden), the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Roe), the chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee.

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

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' to keep the government open for business, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

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 in consideration of H.J. Res. 123.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 647, I call up the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 123) making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2018, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.

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

I rise today to present H.J. Res. 123, a continuing resolution that maintains funding for Federal Government operations and prevents a shutdown.

Current funding legislation expires tomorrow, Friday, December 8. Congress must act now to prevent a government shutdown and preserve vital Federal programs that Americans rely on. This action is critical to our Nation's stability, our national security, our economic health, and the well-being of the American people.

This simple, clean extension of funding provides fiscal year 2018 funding for government programs through December 22, an additional 2 weeks, and will allow time for leadership to reach a deal on overall topline spending levels for the 2018 fiscal year.

I would note that the executive branch supports adoption of this continuing resolution. Yesterday's Statement of Administration Policy says: ``This legislation funds the Federal Government at current spending levels without unnecessary extraneous provisions.''

It concludes that his advisers would recommend that the President sign the bill into law.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the December 6 Statement of Administration Policy regarding H.J. Res. 123.

Statement of Administration Policy

h.j. res. 123--further continuing appropriations act, 2018--rep.

frelinghuysen, r-nj

The Administration supports House passage of H.J. Res. 123,

the Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018.

This legislation funds the Federal Government at current

spending levels without unnecessary extraneous provisions

through December 22, 2017, while the Congress continues to

work on a longer-term funding agreement. The legislation also

includes language to ensure that States and Territories have

adequate funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program

(CHIP) through December.

The Administration believes that funding for national

security, including for our military, to secure the Southern

Border, and to enhance missile defense capabilities, must be

prioritized in a long-term funding agreement, and will

continue working with the Congress to achieve that goal.

If H.J. Res. 123 was presented to the President in its

current form, his advisors would recommend that he sign the

bill into law.

Mr. Speaker, the House has completed our appropriations work over 80 days ago, passing all 12 bills before the end of the last fiscal year for the first time in nearly a decade. This included critical, important funding for national defense and other important matters.

Unfortunately, the Appropriations Committee cannot proceed without an agreement with the Senate on overall funding levels. The reality is that we are running into a deadline this week, and this resolution is our best and only option at this time.

Once a broader budget agreement has been reached, which I hope will be soon, the committee will continue its work to complete final negotiations with the Senate on all 12 of the regular appropriations bills that will fully fund the Federal Government through September of next year.

Our committee is also moving quickly to act on a third emergency supplemental funding bill to help our communities across the Nation recover from recent major disasters.

In the meantime, Congress must do its job and pass the continuing resolution and then another one into the new year to keep the government open and ensure that all important Federal services are available to all Americans.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers), my colleague, and the distinguished chairman of the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee.

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 on Appropriations.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Granger), the chairwoman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.

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

Mr. Chairman, 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), the chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert), the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

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

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden), the distinguished chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess), chairman of the Health Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Emmer).

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I strongly urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this responsible, necessary legislation. Let's keep the Federal Government open for business to serve our constituents across the Nation.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mount Saint Dominic Academy of Caldwell, New Jersey on the occasion of its 125th Anniversary.

Mount Saint Dominic Academy serves the surrounding community as an all-girls Catholic College Preparatory School dedicated to the education of young women from a variety of ethnic, religious, and economic backgrounds. The institution's goal of inclusivity aims to both inspire and empower students to realize their unique gifts and talents in an academic atmosphere fostering excellence, respect, and diversity while at the same time reinforcing the Christian-centered value of moral integrity.

The history of Mount Saint Dominic Academy began in 1892 with the Academy's founding by the Sisters of Saint Dominic. Although the Caldwell Dominican congregation was initially based in Jersey City, New Jersey, the municipality was ravaged by tuberculosis throughout the 1880s. With the threat of contracting the disease an everyday concern, Mother Mary Catharine Muth sought out a location for her ill sisters to recover. This refuge was found twenty miles west of Jersey City in the Borough of Caldwell. It was here where Mother Catharine purchased the Harrison Estate on Roseland Avenue, a plot of land comprising of a small home and garden where Mother Catharine taught day students and boarders, all the while, looking after her ill Sisters.

Over the next decade as the student body increased, so did the necessity for larger quarters. In 1893, the cornerstone was laid for a new Motherhouse convent and school in Caldwell. In 1903, with the increased demand in time devoted toward the education of New Jersey's youth, the sisters decided to renounce their cloistered lifestyle and become Third Order Dominicans.

By the late 1920s history repeated itself as the school saw a greater influx of new students. This influx led to renewed efforts to expand. Under Mother Joseph Dunn, the institute constructed a larger dormitory that came to encompass both the school itself as well as the residences for those boarding. More improvements and renovations were made under Sister Germaine in the 1950s to add additional classrooms, offices, and a larger library.

Recently, the academy has continued to improve upon the renovations that took place during the twentieth century by continuing to add more physical alterations and expansions to the campus. Among these expansions has been the construction of a new 19,000 square foot athletic center to accommodate the growth in participation within women's athletics. Furthermore, under the guidance of Sister Francis Sullivan, the school transformed its former gymnasium into the Doris M. Byrne Performing Arts Center which offers Broadway quality experiences for both performers and patrons. These installments not only serve to improve the experiences of students attending the Academy, but are also available to benefit the greater West Essex community as well. Mount Saint Dominic Academy remains today one of New Jersey's foremost educational. institutions.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and our colleagues join me in congratulating Mount Saint Dominic Academy on its 125th Anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mayor James ``JIM'' Oscovitch from the Township of Byram, New Jersey.

Mayor James ``JIM'' Oscovitch has given over 20 years of service to the Township of Byram and its residents as an elected official, beginning his first term as a Council member in 1997 and then becoming Mayor in 2009. During that time, he served on its Planning Board and Recreation Committee. Jim has also served on the Board of Directors for the New Jersey Conference of Mayors, and as a member of Legislative Committee on Land Use for the New Jersey League of Municipalities.

Jim is also very active within the community. He was a founding Board member of the Friends of Waterloo Village; a past Co-Chairman of the Andover-Byram Chamber of Commerce; and a past Board of Governors member and Parliamentarian of the Cranberry Lake Community Club. He has also served as a coach in the Township's youth sports programs and Byram's Boy Scout Troop 276, along with his son Matthew. An outdoors enthusiast, Jim can regularly be seen hiking and biking local trails, or conducting spin classes at a local fitness center.

Jim has always been a very ``hands-on'' elected official, and in over eight years as Mayor, he has worked hard to establish a high level of professionalism within the township. Jim quickly earned a reputation for maintaining respect and decorum during public meetings. As ``the face of Byram Township,'' he has earned the respect of our neighboring municipalities and Sussex County, working closely with them to establish and maintain shared services programs.

Jim Oscovitch is ending his over two decades of service to Byram on December 31, 2017. As Byram's Mayor--and most importantly, as a friend to Byram residents--Jim motivates everyone he works with to do their best. I am proud to have someone of his caliber among my constituents.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and our colleagues join me in congratulating Mayor James ``Jim'' Oscovitch, on the occasion of his 20 years of extraordinary public service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Morristown & Morris Township Public Library's Willis Wing, located in Morristown, New Jersey on the occasion of its 100th Anniversary.

Library services have been available in Morristown since 1792. The first circulating library consisted of 97 members and 96 books. The Morristown Library Association was formed in 1812 and by the middle of the 19th century the library had grown to several thousand volumes. From 1875 to 1914 the Library was housed on South Street in the Morristown Library and Lyceum, an organization that officially incorporated in 1866. Its collection grew from 8,000 books to over 30,000 when the building, and almost everything in it, was destroyed by fire in 1914.

A temporary library was soon opened in the old YMCA building on South Street. With money from both insurance and the sale of the land on which the Library and Lyceum stood, the property at the corner of Miller Road and South Street was purchased with the intention of building a new library building. In 1916, Grinnell Willis, a retired textile merchant who lived in Morristown since 1889, approached the Library Trustees and offered to pay the entire cost of a new fireproof building.

The new Library would be built in ``grateful remembrance of the love and affection bestowed on his late wife by her friends and neighbors in Morristown.'' The day after Mr. Willis made his offer, an Act of Incorporation for the Morristown Library was filed. Its objective was ``to establish and maintain a free public library and reading rooms, to establish and maintain an art gallery and museum for the encouragement of arts and science, to establish and maintain a collection of books and documents of historic interest and to advance the literary and educational interests of the community.'' On December 13, 1917 the Library, with 8,000 volumes and a staff of four was opened to the public.

In 1929, with the collection now totaling 43,500 volumes, Mr. Willis funded the cost of an addition to the original 1917 building. This addition, which opened in 1930, contained the Children's Wing. Grinnell Willis died shortly after the new wing was completed. In his will he left the library an endowment of $200,000.

The Library continued to grow and serve its public as an association library until 1966 when the residents of Morristown and Morris Township united in the support, maintenance, and control of a joint free public library.

In 1987 the cornerstone was laid for an addition to the Library largely financed by Edythe and Dean Dowling, which became the Dowling Wing. In addition to the generosity of the Dowlings, many members of the community contributed to this addition which doubled the size of the Library. In 2006, the latest addition of the Library was completed.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and our colleagues join me in congratulating the Morristown & Morris Township Public Library's Willis Wing, on the occasion of its Centennial Anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 569) providing for the concurrence by the House in the Senate amendment to H.R. 2266, with an amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material in consideration of H. Res. 569.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present H. Res. 569, making additional supplemental appropriations for disaster relief requirements for the current fiscal year to help respond to recent devastating natural disasters.

Over the past 2 months, millions of Americans have had their lives forever altered by destructive hurricanes in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, and by raging and deadly wildfires in the West.

We all support those who are victimized, particularly those who lost their lives or lost loved ones, and we will continue to be with them every step of the way with the Federal support they need as they recover and rebuild.

Our thanks go to the first responders, volunteers, and States who saved countless lives, protected communities, and demonstrated the best of humanity; that includes FEMA, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Defense, the Coast Guard, and many other Federal agencies for getting the first installment of relief to those in need.

However, with such massive, unprecedented damage, more help is clearly needed to continue to respond to these recovery efforts, to rebuild communities with dollars, with resources, with manpower, and with our support.

This emergency funding legislation, the second installment, addresses urgent short-term immediate priorities: replenishing FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund, supporting ongoing Federal wildfire suppression efforts, providing debt relief for the Federal Flood Insurance Program, and other assistance that will help our fellow Americans in their time of greatest need.

To summarize the $36.5 billion in emergency funding provided in this bill, in total, $18.7 billion is provided for the Disaster Relief Fund. This includes $13.77 billion for the most immediate response needs: lifesaving missions, emergency protection, the repair and restoration of public infrastructure like communications, power, transportation, and, yes, shelter, and financial assistance to individuals and families affected as they rebuild their lives.

This package also includes $4.9 billion for community disaster loans, which will ensure local governments are able to provide basic municipal services such as police and fire protection and public education throughout this trying time.

In addition to the Disaster Relief Fund, this bill provides a one- time payment of $1.27 billion to allow Puerto Rico and our fellow citizens to receive the same access to emergency disaster and nutrition program benefits that other States receive.

The bill also ensures that the National Flood Insurance Program is able to meet its existing claim obligations as Americans cope with the tremendous flood damage to their homes and communities.

For wildlife suppression, the bill contains $576.5 million. As we have seen, the situation out West has grown even more desperate and deadly. We must ensure that those heroic firefighters can continue to save lives and protect property.

As we know, the needs of each disaster area are ever changing. Consequently, our Appropriations Committee and all of our Members continue to monitor the progress of recovery efforts as well as anticipate emerging needs.

This will be a long process, Mr. Speaker, and the second package or installment of the Federal support will certainly not be all that is needed over the long term.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this bill. It is important for the Nation, for the communities affected, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert), the chairman of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee on Appropriations.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 6 minutes to the gentlewoman from Puerto Rico (Miss Gonzalez-Colon), whose leadership in this time of crisis we all salute.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Diaz-Balart), chairman of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee on Appropriations.

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

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

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Smucker).

Mr. Speaker, I would like to associate my remarks with the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Smucker) as well as with my colleague from New York (Mrs. Lowey).

On our committee, we try to get the work of the Nation done, and at this point in history we have had some incredible tragedies and natural disasters. As a group, as this House, we must act quickly to ensure that the Federal Government fulfills its duty to millions of Americans in need. Whether they are from Texas or whether they are from Florida or whether they are from Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands, they are all citizens. Whether they are from the West, who have been fighting these deadly fires, they deserve our support.

This will be the second installment of emergency funding. There will be others. I know people are concerned that not every State's needs are met, but this is a good step in the right direction, and I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation so we can get this money out the door as quickly as possible.

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.