Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

Shakespeare wrote: All the world is a stage. And all the men and women, merely players. Each has his entrance and his exit. One man in his time may play many parts.

So it was with our beloved Alcee Hastings. He was a son, father, grandfather, husband, civil rights activist, attorney, judge, Member of Congress, international parliamentarian, colleague, my brother in Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, a faithful friend, and a fearless foe.

His performance in each of these roles was always par excellence. His was a life well-lived. He was authentic, brutally frank, but always a powerful advocate for marginalized humanity. He did so much for so many for so long. We will miss him, but the world is a better place because of the life of Alcee Lamar Hastings.

My wife, Vivian, and I send our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Patricia, his other family, his staff, and all who mourn his loss.

Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and solemn remembrance that I rise today to pay homage to an outstanding man of God, dedicated public servant, courageous soldier, and friend of longstanding, Reverend Bryant Wardell Raines. Reverend Raines transitioned from labor to reward on Wednesday, February 24, 2021. His homegoing service was held on Saturday, March 6, 2021, at 11 a.m. at the Macon City Auditorium in Macon, Georgia. He leaves behind a loving family, his dedicated church congregation at the New Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church (NPMBC), and an appreciative community for his extraordinary life of service to God and humankind.

A native son of Macon, Reverend Bryant Wardell Raines was born on February 3, 1977, to the union of Mrs. Barbara Tharpe Raines and the late Reverend Curtis Raines, Sr. He thirsted for knowledge and self- improvement. He was a 1995 graduate of Central High School and a 1999 graduate of Clark Atlanta University, where he received B.A. Degrees in English, Philosophy, and Religion. In addition to attending Georgia Southern University (in pursuit of an M.A. Degree in Public Administration) and The Morehouse School of Religion at the Interdenominational Theological Center, he was also a 2001 graduate of the United States Army Chaplain Center and School. He was pursuing an M.A. Degree in Evangelism and Church Planting at Liberty University when the Lord called him home.

Reverend Raines served his country honorably in the United States Army as the Chaplain Assistant for the Installation Garrison Command, 3rd Infantry Division and the 4th Battalion 64th Armor Regiment of Fort Stewart, Georgia. He received awards for his valiant service including Army Service Ribbon (2001); Army Commendation Medal (2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004); National Defense Service Ribbon (2001); Primary Leadership Development Ribbon (2003); Presidential Unit Citation (2003); and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (2003).

Reverend Raines was a man of God, truly devoted to his calling--a calling from God, passed to him through his father, Reverend Curtis Raines, Sr., who was his predecessor at NPMBC and the past president of the General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia. As the beloved Pastors of NPMBC, they utilized their roles as spiritual leaders to fully engage with their community by creating numerous outreach programs and opportunities to enrich the lives of those around them. Before his transition, Reverend Bryant Raines worked tirelessly with The Curtis Raines, Sr. Foundation on the development of The Curtis Raines, Sr. Health and Wellness Facility. This holistic community center seeks to minister to the total person by providing programs and resources to promote both physical and spiritual wellness.

Reverend Raines believed strongly that involvement in his local and state-level sacerdotal communities was an integral part of his calling as a Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Accordingly, he served in numerous roles that had as their purpose the uplift of humankind. In addition to being the beloved Pastor of NPMBC, he served the Deacon, the Audio and Video, and the Evangelism Ministries at NPMBC; President of the Sixth District of the General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia, Inc.; Vice President of the Sixth District of the General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia, Inc.; Member of the Board of Trustees at Wesley Glen Ministries; Member of the Rotary Club of Macon, Georgia; Member of the Baptist Minister's Union of Macon and Vicinity; and as Founder of the Heal the Hood Initiative, a community initiative to combat violence and address the needs of the total community.

Mother Teresa once said that ``At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done. We will be judged by ``I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless, and you took me in.'' Reverend Bryant Wardell Raines, in his life, did just that, and the world is better because he passed this way. On a personal note, the advice, counsel, friendship, and support that I have received from Reverend Raines as Congressman for the Second Congressional District has been immeasurable. He never told me what I wanted to hear, but he always told me what he felt I needed to hear. And, for that, I will be forever grateful.

Reverend Raines accomplished much in his life, but none of it would have been possible without the Grace of God and the love and support of his family including his wife, Mrs. Ilashia Brezial Raines; and his siblings, Shun, Curtis, Jr., and Varina. He loved his family. His family loved him back. And they will miss him along with all of us whose lives he touched.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with countless others throughout Georgia and the nation in saluting Reverend Bryant Wardell Raines for his service in the ministry, to his country, and to humankind; and in extending our deepest condolences to Reverend Raines' family, friends, loved ones, and all those who mourn his loss. We pray that they will be consoled and comforted by an abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and solemn remembrance that I rise today, to pay tribute to a man of God, respected public servant, and entrepreneur, Mr. Henry Lee Jackson, Sr. Sadly, Mr. Jackson transitioned from labor to reward on Sunday, January 31, 2021 at the age of 91. His funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 6, 2021 at Floral Memorial Gardens in Albany, Georgia.

A native son of Albany, Georgia, Henry Jackson, Sr. answered the call to serve his nation at the age of 17, when he joined the United States Marine Corps. He served our nation honorably among the ranks of the first black Marines, known as the Montford Point Marines because they received basic training at the segregated Montford Point Base adjacent to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. This historic troop went on to fight in the gruesome Battle of Peleliu in Japan during World War II. More than 50 years later, he and all of the Montford Point Marines, the first African-Americans allowed to serve in the Marine Corps, were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by President Barack Obama recognizing their personal sacrifice and service to their country during World War II.

Yet, Madam Speaker, Mr. Jackson's profound service did not stop there. He went on to fight in the Korean war, and upon returning home and finishing his education, he enlisted in the United States Air Force (USAF), where he served for 24 years before retiring as a Master Sergeant. After his retirement from USAF, Mr. Jackson served as the Chief of Airport Security at the Southwest Georgia Regional Airport for several years before retiring and dedicating his time to his businesses. He was the owner of Jackson Income Tax Service and a lawn service.

Maya Angelou once said, ``A great soul serves everyone all the time. A great soul never dies.'' Henry Lee Jackson, Sr. is one such great soul, who served humanity in a special way. He devoted decades of service to fighting for the freedoms of others. He was an honorable human being who loved deeply and, in return, was deeply loved. His impression on this earth extends beyond himself to the very wellbeing of his beloved city, state, and nation, and for it, he will be remembered for time to come.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the more than 730,000 people of Georgia's Second Congressional District, in honoring the life and legacy of Mr. Henry Lee Jackson, Sr. for his remarkable service to humankind. Moreover, we extend our deepest sympathies to Mr. Jackson's family, friends, loved ones, and all who grieve during this difficult time of bereavement. We pray that they will be consoled and comforted by an abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in the weeks, months, and years ahead.

Madam Speaker, it is my honor and privilege to extend my heartfelt thanks to the members of the Georgia National Guard who were deployed to the District of Columbia and the National Capitol Region for the inauguration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr. as the 46th President of the United States and Kamala D. Harris as the 49th Vice President of the United States.

Since 1636, the National Guard has consistently served the American people in much-needed roles that range from homeland defense, overseas combat, humanitarian aid, and defense support for civil authorities.

As all of us are aware, sustained military operations worldwide, coupled with declining numbers of active-duty personnel, have required the Department of Defense to rely more and more on the use of the Georgia National Guard. Following the violent and deadly attempted coup at the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, 2,284 members from the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 121st Infantry Regiment, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Georgia National Guard, and the 116th and 165th Security Forces Squadrons of the Georgia Air National Guard selflessly arrived in Washington, D.C. in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic--risking their health and safety in multiple ways to do their duty. Their mission was to aid and support the United States Capitol Police, the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia, the United States Secret Service, the United States Park Police, and other Federal law enforcement agencies as they worked to keep our nation's capital secure after its occupation by domestic terrorists.

In keeping with the National Guard's motto of ``Always Ready, Always There,'' these citizen-soldiers from Georgia were committed and ready on a moment's (short) notice to protect the U.S Capitol and ensure that there was a peaceful transfer of power on January 20 in response to their deployment orders. Thanks to these brave men and women from Georgia, there were no incidents of violence that threatened the inaugural ceremonies. There is no doubt in my mind that their service prevented further loss of life and threats against our democracy. At one of our darkest times, the Georgia National Guard was there to protect America--from all enemies foreign or domestic.

Madam Speaker, I am very proud of the Georgia National Guard. Because of their service, the will of the People was honored, and the institutions of our government remain intact. I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me and the people of Georgia, in extending our sincerest appreciation, pride, and utmost gratitude to the Georgia National Guard, the Adjutant General of Georgia Thomas Carden, and his staff, for their outstanding work, morale, and dedication to duty during the inauguration.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to extend my sincerest congratulations and Happy Birthday wishes to an inspirational leader and true man of God, Pastor Sidney R. Crawford, who celebrated his 101st birthday on Wednesday, June 6, 2019, with his family and friends.

Sidney Richard Crawford was born on June 6, 1918, in Bonneau, South Carolina to the union of the late Mr. William Henry and Mrs. Mary Elizabeth ``Lizzie'' Hodge Crawford. He graduated from Berkeley County High School in 1937 and went on to attend college in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

In 1941, he married the love of his life, Ms. Iva Elizabeth ``Betty'' Harper, in Heath Springs, South Carolina. That same year, he responded to God's call to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, by becoming an ordained Baptist Minister at Emanuel Baptist Church in Summerville, South Carolina. He pastored several churches in the Charleston and Summerville areas until 1947, when he decided that he wanted to serve not only his community, but his country. That year, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and honorably served his country for seven years. In 1954, he was called back into the ministry to preach in Adamsville, Alabama. Over the years, Pastor Crawford successfully balanced the role of Pastor at several churches in Alabama and Georgia until 1970, when he decided to return to college to enhance his studies. His hard work and dedication paid off in 1972, when he graduated with a degree from Charleston Southern University. But even with his newfound wealth of knowledge, he continued pastoring in churches and teaching at schools in South Carolina.

George Washington Carver once said, ``How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and strong because someday in your life you will have been all of these.'' Pastor Crawford has advanced far in life because he never forgot these lessons and always kept God first.

The race of life isn't given to the swift or to the strong, but to those who endure until the end. Pastor Crawford has continued to run the race of life with zeal and dignity and God has blessed him over his lifetime.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the almost 730,000 people of Georgia's Second Congressional District, in honoring an outstanding citizen and man of God, Pastor Sidney R. Crawford, for a lifetime of selfless service to God, the church, and to humankind. We extend our best wishes to him on the occasion of his 101st birthday and without reservation exclaim: To God be the Glory.

Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and solemn remembrance that I rise today to pay tribute to a dedicated leader and true champion for the law enforcement community, Mr. James A. ``Bud'' Cody, Sr. Sadly, Bud passed away on Thursday, June 13, 2019. A public memorial celebrating his life and legacy will be held on Saturday, July 13, 2019, at 2 p.m. at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth, Georgia.

James A. ``Bud'' Cody, Sr. was born on November 27, 1938, in Willacoochee, Georgia to the union of the late Homer and Mellie Cody. At a young age, he was destined to be a part of something greater than himself. While attending Valdosta High School, he was a member of the school's famed football program and state winning 4x4 track relay team. At the age of 18, he began working full-time at the Boys Club in Valdosta, and it was then that Bud realized his passion for helping underprivileged youth reach their full potential. As a full-time father and husband, Bud attended night classes at Valdosta State College and in 1961, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology and Social Work. Upon his graduation, the Boys Club relocated him to Texas where he was instrumental in the establishment of several Boys Club facilities across Louisiana, Texas, and New Mexico.

Bud discovered his second passion for serving the Office of Sheriff through improving law enforcement and training in 1966 when the Georgia Sheriffs' Association {GSA) hired him to serve as their first Executive Director. That same year, he began his tenure as the Director of the Georgia Sheriffs' Youth Homes' Boys Ranch in Hahira, Georgia and as the Treasurer for the Sheriffs' Retirement Fund of Georgia {SRFG). He actively served in all three roles until his retirement in September of 2012. During his 46-year tenure as the Executive Director of the Georgia Sheriffs' Association, he was sought after by several Georgia governors {ranging from Governor Sanders to Governor Perdue) for his advice and counsel on matters relating to improving law enforcement throughout the state.

Bud's impact on the law enforcement community expanded in 1978, when he joined his friend and business partner, Claude Grizzard, to form the company, Computer Fund Raising {CFR), which provided financial assistance to millions of officers and youth in over 30 states. In 1980, in an effort to nationally protect and preserve the Office of Sheriff, Bud worked with Bobby Timmons of the Alabama Sheriffs' Association to form the National Sheriff's Association Committee of Presidents and Executive Directors. In 1982, Bud used his position as Treasurer of the SRFG to assume control of the Fund's $9 million in assets and helped increase it to its current total of $97 million, to ensure that those who gave their lives to protect and serve receive retirement funds. Bud took his passion one step further in 1990 when he worked with state leaders, criminal justice practitioners, and Sheriffs to establish the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth, Georgia, a world-class public safety training facility that trains more than 2,000 students daily. He also helped create safe havens and educational opportunities for thousands of Georgia's youth by overseeing the development of youth homes in Cherokee Estate, Pineland, Herrington, Homestead, and Mountain View, Georgia. Additionally, in 1995, he and the GSA created the Georgia Sheriffs' Youth Homes Foundation, which currently holds $15 million in assets for their on- going youth homes.

Bud accomplished much in his life; but, none of it would have been possible without the Grace of God and the love and support of his family--including his children, James, Jr., Derek, Camille, Amy, and Celena {deceased); his twelve grandchildren; and his four great- grandchildren. Maya Angelou once said, ``A great soul serves everyone all the time. A great soul never dies.'' Bud is undoubtedly great because of his selfless service, devotion to his work, and the compassion he showed for his friends and loved ones. Bud's impression on this earth extends beyond himself to the very well-being of the communities in which he lived and served.

Madam Speaker, my wife, Vivian, and I, along with the almost 730,000 people in Georgia's Second Congressional District, salute Mr. James A. ``Bud'' Cody, Sr. for an outstanding career within law enforcement and his lifelong dedication to serving his community. I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join us in extending our deepest sympathies to Bud's family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time. We pray that they will be consoled and comforted by an abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a dedicated public servant and dear friend of longstanding, Mr. Hilton R. Segler. Sadly, Hilton passed away on July 4, 2019, at the age of 82. His passing marks the close of a long and prolific life, and his departure leaves a void in the hearts of many Georgians. He leaves behind an impeccable legacy of service that will never be forgotten. A funeral service was held on Saturday, July 6, 2019, at 11 a.m. at Kimbrell-Stern Funeral Directors in Albany, Georgia.

Mr. Hilton Ray Segler was born in Ozark, Alabama, on April 26, 1937, to the union of the late Mr. William Foy and Mrs. Willie Clyde (Dunn) Segler. In 1948, his family moved to Albany, Georgia, where he went on to graduate from Albany High School and pursue several correspondence degrees in Law and Business.

In 1957, Hilton started working for Southeastern Liquid Fertilizer in Albany, Georgia, before serving as the Assistant to the President of Planters Chemical Company in Virginia. He then moved back to Albany in 1964 to work for the Thompson/Hayward Chemical Company and was appointed Regional Manager for the company in 1981. Hilton also has served as a salesman for the TIDA Farm Service Center where his sales exceeded $1.5 million in his first year and $3 million in his second year, thus proving his acuity as a salesman. In the early 1990s, he purchased a pecan farm and farmed over 1,900 acres of pecan trees for almost six years. He later started a nickel nutrient supplement company, Nipan, LLC, in 2003. Products from his company have gained tremendous popularity in the last few years and are shipped all over the United States.

In 2002, Hilton, along with Bucky Geer and James Lee Adams, testified before the Risk Management Agency on behalf of pecan growers. His undying efforts helped pecan growers across the United States attain crop insurance. Hilton also testified before the House and Senate Committees on Agriculture in an effort to obtain larger provisions for the pecan industry in the 2008 Farm bill. Consequently, pecans were included in the Country of Origin labeling requirements and also in the crop insurance program.

Hilton continued to work on expanding pecan exports to China and other agricultural economies, by partnering with the United States Department of Agriculture and Georgia Department of Agriculture, and pushing for pecan farmers' participation in the Market Access program, a program that helps finance promotional activities for U.S. agricultural products.

In 2004, Hilton championed efforts to obtain ``clean up'' assistance for pecan farmers who were hurt by hurricanes that devastated parts of Georgia and Alabama. In 2010, he testified before the House Agriculture Committee on the future of the pecan industry and the importance of nutrition and trade to this industry, for the 2010 Farm bill.

Hilton accomplished much throughout his life, but none of this would have been possible without his enduring faith in God and the love and support of his wife, Faye; his children, Rhonda, Scott, and Jamie; and a host of family and friends who will miss him deeply.

On a personal note, Hilton was my friend. I will miss his sage advice and wise counsel. He never told me what I wanted to hear; he always told me what I needed to hear. The state of Georgia and our Nation have been truly blessed to benefit from Hilton's leadership and advocacy.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the almost 730,000 people in Georgia's Second Congressional District and countless others across America in paying tribute to Mr. Hilton R. Segler for a life well lived and in extending our deepest sympathies to his family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time of bereavement. Moreover, we pray that they will be consoled and comforted by an abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

Mr. Chair, I can tell my colleagues with great confidence that USDA's proposal to move the Economic Research Service (ERS) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) outside the National Capital Region is a bad idea.

We held a hearing on the issue last March, at which four former senior USDA officials with 70 years of combined experience at the two agencies, from both parties, expressed their deep opposition to this proposal.

Numerous stakeholders have expressed strong opposition, including the National Farmers Union, the Association of American Veterinary Colleges and nearly 1700 other organizations, university officials, and individuals from 47 states.

We have not received a single letter in support of this proposal.

USDA violated the Appropriations Committee's statutorily required 30- day waiting period for such proposals when it took action to implement the proposal six days after notifying the Committee.

It failed utterly to comply with the requirements of the conferees in the 2019 omnibus appropriations report to submit all cost benefits for the move and a detailed analysis of any research benefits of a relocation when it submitted the 2020 budget.

USDA has also refused numerous requests from Members of the House and Senate that it provide the original cost-benefit analysis developed before the proposal was announced.

It finally gave us a so-called ``cost-benefit analysis'' after the final site was selected.

But an independent analysis of this supposed analysis found that ``USDA leadership failed to follow federal guidelines for the benefit cost analysis'' and that ``the move to Kansas City will cost taxpayers between $83 and $182 million dollars, rather than saving them $300 million dollars.''

Large numbers of ERS and NIFA employees have left as a result of this proposal.

I fear that ultimately, these agencies will become mere shadows of their former selves, with the loss of hundreds of years of expertise.

These agencies' mission is to achieve the best science through research that advances U.S. agriculture and our understanding of the agricultural economy.

I believe that the Department's proposal puts that mission at great risk.

I urge a yes vote on the Norton amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the fiscal year 2020 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act.

The legislation before the House today is vitally important to ensuring the Federal Government and the U.S. economy can work for the American people. This bill safeguards our financial system and provides a fair playing field for our taxpayers. It funds those agencies that cultivate a vibrant and competitive telecommunications system that support new businesses and that make sure our consumers are safe from dangerous and defective products.

Perhaps more importantly, this bill helps protect the integrity of our elections. As has been illustrated over the last few years, it is imperative that we provide the States with the resources to ensure the sanctity of our democratic institution. This bill includes $600 million in grant funding for election security grants and, additionally, $16.2 million is included for the Election Assistance Commission operating expenses, an increase of $7 million above the 2019 enacted level.

I am also pleased that this legislation includes a total of $2.6 billion for Taxpayer Services, which provides assistance to the elderly and low-income taxpayers to help navigate our complex Tax Code, as well as increases in funding to address the growing tax gap.

Further, the legislation rejects the administration's elimination of the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, a successful program that leverages public-private investment to revitalize and provide jobs to distressed rural and urban communities.

This bill also further embodies our democratic mode of government by supporting home rule for the District of Columbia.

Finally, I thank Chairman Quigley for rejecting the administration's misguided plan to merge the GSA and OPM. The GSA manages our Federal properties, while OPM acts as the chief human resources agency for our Federal workforce.

The administration's unilateral proposal to merge these two agencies without any analysis of cost, rationale, or risk would disrupt both agencies without contributing to their mission. It would potentially politicize our Federal career employees and create confusion and bureaucracy for no discernable reason.

To close, I would like to thank full Committee Chairwoman Lowey, Ranking Member Granger, Subcommittee Chairman Quigley, and Ranking Member Graves for their work on this bill.

As a member of the House Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this legislation.

Mr. Chair, I can tell my colleagues with great confidence that USDA's proposal to move the Economic Research Service (ERS) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) outside the National Capital Region is a bad idea.

We held a hearing on the issue last March, at which four former senior USDA officials with 70 years of combined experience at the two agencies, from both parties, expressed their deep opposition to this proposal.

Numerous stakeholders have expressed strong opposition, including the National Farmers Union, the Association of American Veterinary Colleges and nearly 1700 other organizations, university officials, and individuals from 47 states.

We have not received a single letter in support of this proposal.

USDA violated the Appropriations Committee's statutorily-required 30- day waiting period for such proposals when it took action to implement the proposal six days after notifying the Committee.

It failed utterly to comply with the requirements of the conferees in the 2019 omnibus appropriations report to submit all cost benefits for the move and a detailed analysis of any research benefits of a relocation when it submitted the 2020 budget.

USDA has also refused numerous requests from members of the House and Senate that it provide the original cost-benefit analysis developed before the proposal was announced.

It finally gave us a so-called ``cost-benefit analysis'' after the final site was selected.

But an independent analysis of this supposed analysis found that ``USDA leadership failed to follow federal guidelines for the benefit cost analysis'' and that ``the move to Kansas City will cost taxpayers between $83 and $182 million dollars, rather than saving them $300 million dollars.''

Large numbers of ERS and NIFA employees have left as a result of this proposal.

I fear that ultimately, these agencies will become mere shadows of their former selves, with the loss of hundreds of years of expertise.

These agencies' mission is to achieve the best science through research that advances U.S. agriculture and our understanding of the agricultural economy.

I believe that the Department's proposal puts that mission at great risk.

I urge a yes vote on the Norton amendment.

Madam Chair, pursuant to House Resolution 445, I offer amendments en bloc.

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

The amendments included in the en bloc were made in order by the rule, and they have been agreed to by both sides. They improve the bill. I support the amendment, and I urge its adoption.

Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Alabama (Ms. Sewell).

Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Trone).

Madam Chair, at this time, I ask my colleagues to join me in support of this amendment.

Madam Chair, we have no more speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I rise in strong opposition to the amendment.

Madam Chair, I understand the gentleman's intention, but I could not disagree more.

The agriculture bill funds a variety of national priorities from food safety, to agriculture research, to drug approval, to rural development, to nutrition programs for our children.

Reducing spending by 14 percent would hurt our farmers, who are already suffering terribly from retaliatory tariffs, and it would hurt small communities who are still in need of adequate broadband. It would hurt those who are waiting for cures to rare cancers. It would jeopardize America's status as a leader of global agricultural science. It would slow our response to foodborne illness outbreaks. It would harm children and families who rely on these programs to put food on their tables.

The bill already rejected the administration's draconian cuts to programs that assist our rural communities and vulnerable populations.

Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I urge that this amendment be rejected.

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

Madam Chair, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition, although I do not oppose the amendment.

Madam Chair, I rise in support of this amendment.

The Distance Learning and Telemedicine program offers grants to rural areas to provide access to education, to training, and to healthcare. These resources are critical in providing funding to acquire audio, video, and other advanced technology equipment to extend educational and medical services, including those seeking opioid treatment.

I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Madam Chair, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Fortenberry).

Madam Chair, the amendment would bring the total funding for the program to $75 million in our bill. This program provides grants to encourage and improve telemedicine and distance learning services in rural areas through telecommunications and other technologies, and I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. I thank the gentleman for offering it. It enhances the bill.

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

Madam Chair, I rise in strong support of this amendment.

There is wide support and recognition as to the need for investing in broadband infrastructure. As a necessity for modern life, we must continue our efforts to bridge the broadband divide to ensure that as many rural Americans as possible receive fast and reliable broadband service and the multitude of benefits that are associated with it.

Madam Chair, the gentlewoman's amendment, if adopted, would bring broadband funding to the highest level since 2009, with the Recovery Act. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. It will certainly enhance this bill.

Madam Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

Madam Chair, I rise in support of this amendment. As I have said before, Congress' oversight role is one of the most important functions. That function extends to preserving the integrity of science.

The academics, economists, and researchers at USDA produce top-notch scientific reports characterizing the state of the farm economy, the agricultural industry at large, and analyzing future impacts. It is clear that one of the most important stressors on agriculture today and in the coming years will be the effects of climate change.

We cannot prevent the effects of climate change by simply removing any reference to it in the Department's scientific publications. We must allow the science community to do its work, free from political influence.

Madam Chair, I have no objection to the proposed amendment, and I urge its adoption.

Madam Chair, I rise as the designee of Chairwoman Lowey, and I move to strike the last word.

Madam Chair, I yield to my colleague from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur).

Madam Chair, I appreciate my colleague's longtime support for fair trade practices for our livestock and for our poultry farmers.

I have worked on this issue over the years with the gentlewoman, and I, too, share her concerns regarding the GIPSA rules and the administration's past history in such rulemakings.

I look forward to working with my colleague from Ohio as the administration takes steps toward complying with the farm bill requirements from 2008.

Madam Chair, as the designee of Chair Lowey, I move to strike the last word.

Madam Chair, I yield to the gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Moore).

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman from New York, our appropriations chairman, for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 3055. As the chairman of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, I am pleased to highlight the national priorities that are funded in this bill.

First, I would like to thank our ranking member, Mr. Fortenberry. He shares a deep passion for rural and farm communities that he so eloquently communicates often through stories of his childhood and his family. It has been a true pleasure to get to know Mr. Fortenberry better during this process. We have had many frank discussions about the priorities in our bill, and he has made it very easy to continue the bipartisan spirit of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

I also want to thank the members of the subcommittee, both majority and minority, for a thoughtful and collaborative effort. None of this, of course, would be possible without the outstanding work of the subcommittee and full committee staffs, and our personal staffs, so I give accolades to all of them.

Few people may recognize the far-reaching jurisdiction of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, from food safety and agriculture research to rural development and nutrition assistance. The programs in this division touch the lives of every citizen on a daily basis.

We rejected the administration's draconian cuts to programs that assist our rural communities and our vulnerable populations. The FY 2020 allocation for the agriculture bill is 4 percent above the FY 2019 enacted level and more than $5.1 billion above the budget request, totaling $24.3 billion.

There is over $38 billion in loans and grants for rural housing, community facilities, and water and wastewater infrastructure, including $680 million for broadband programs to continue bridging the digital divide between urban and rural America.

Additionally, during a time of great uncertainty due to tariffs, low commodity prices, and natural disasters, this bill provides $1.8 billion for farm programs, including $30 million to assist the implementation of the 2018 farm bill. It also prohibits the closure of county-level Farm Service Agency offices to ensure that our farmers, ranchers, and producers receive high quality customer service.

The bill includes $829 million for the Natural Resources Conservation Service to maintain its core conservation mission. There is almost $167 million for infrastructure, for watershed and flood prevention, and watershed rehabilitation projects.

The bill provides $3.3 billion for agriculture research to ensure America retains its role as the leader of global agriculture science.

In addition, to protect the integrity of two of USDA's premier research agencies, the bill prohibits the use of funds for any relocation costs associated with USDA's proposal to move the Economic Research Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture outside of the national capital region.

We held a hearing at which four former senior officials from both parties with 70 years of combined experience at the two agencies expressed their deep opposition to this proposal. Countless other stakeholders wrote, called, and emailed their opposition, including the National Farmers Union, the Association of American Veterinary Colleges, the American Statistical Association, the National Coalition for Food and Agriculture Research, 104 agriculture science and food- related organizations, 24 university departments of agriculture and/or economics, 37 deans and provosts of university ag departments, and more than 1,500 individual scientists from 47 States.

The bill also rejects the proposed elimination of the Food for Peace and McGovern-Dole programs, and it provides increases for both of these programs. These programs send American commodities all over the world to address global hunger and are an essential tool for diplomacy.

The bill fully funds the SNAP and the WIC programs to meet expected participation in FY 2020. The bill provides $10 million for school breakfast expansion grants--the first time this program has been funded since 2012--and it funds the Summer EBT program at $50 million--a $22 million increase.

For the Food and Drug Administration, the bill provides $3.26 billion in discretionary funding, which is $185 million above FY 19. Increased funding is dedicated to fighting rare cancers, laying the foundation for more efficient generic drug reviews, improving our response to foodborne illness outbreaks, and the continued implementation of the Food Safety and Modernization Act.

The bill funds the Commodity Futures Trading Commission at $315 million, a historic, necessary, and long overdue increase.

I am pleased that this bill provides funding for several new programs that were authorized in the 2018 farm bill, such as the 1890s scholarship program, the Local Agriculture Market Program, and the Farming Opportunities Training and Outreach Program, to name a few.

I am pleased to say the bill makes significant investments in both Tribal communities and the U.S. territories.

In developing the bill, we tried to be responsive to as many Member requests as possible, and I am proud of the bipartisan bill we have produced.

Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues in this House to support it. It is a good bill.

Mr. Chair, I rise as a cosponsor of this amendment, which would prohibit closure of the U.S. Forest Service Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers.

Closing the Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers makes absolutely no sense. These 25 centers are among the highest-performing centers in the country. Despite claims to the contrary, they contribute directly to the missions of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Forest Service by training thousands of students each year in conservation work and firefighting.

At a time when the Forest Service has been struggling to hire dispatchers and firefighters to prepare for the upcoming fire season, it is irresponsible, to say the least, to close these centers and lay off 1,100 Job Corps employees.

Mr. Chair, as the co-chair of the bipartisan Job Corps Congressional Caucus with Congressman Phil Roe, I applaud Representatives DeFazio and Newhouse for their outstanding efforts to stop the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Agriculture from going forward with this reckless and ill-advised decision.

Mr. Chair, I urge support for this amendment.

Mr. Speaker, once again, I rise to support this bill.

On October 10, 2018, my district took a direct hit from Hurricane Michael, one of the most powerful storms to make landfall in U.S. history. It slammed into the Florida Panhandle, drove through much of the Southeast leaving

a path of destruction all the way up to Virginia. In Georgia, many producers suffered nearly 100 percent crop losses. Hurricane Michael killed more than 2 million chickens and devastated the Georgia cotton crop, which was nearing peak harvest, and was on track to be the best crop in years. This was the third straight year hurricane damage has caused significant losses to the pecan, peanut, cotton, vegetable, landscaping, and agritourism industries.

The Carolinas also suffered billions in damages a month earlier, from Hurricane Florence. Californians had another devastating fire season, including both the largest and deadliest fires on record. In Hawaii, volcanic activity caused pineapple farmers nearly $30M in damages. Americans in the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa were also hit by violent cyclones.

To meet these needs, this House passed and sent to the Senate an emergency supplemental appropriations bill on January 16, 2019 that allocated $14.17 billion in emergency spending to help families and communities recover from these hurricanes, wildfires, and other natural disasters. For agriculture, it provided $3 billion for crop losses, $150 million for the Rural Community Facilities Program; $480 million for the Emergency Forest Restoration Program; $125 million for the Emergency Watershed Program. It provided $600 million in desperately needed funds to help with Puerto Rico's continued recovery from Hurricane Maria in 2017. Thanks to my fellow Georgian, Austin Scott, and the House leadership on a bi-partisan basis for quickly getting this bill passed.

But as we passed it, the Trump Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a Statement of Administration Policy, saying ``The FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund (DRF)--a significant mechanism through which the Federal Government conducts response efforts for major disasters and emergencies--has sufficient balances to address all immediate threats to life and property resulting from these recent disasters.''

Meaning: no additional funds were required for disasters.

I strongly disagree, farmers and communities in all the impacted States and territories disagree, and even the USDA disagrees.

The emergency supplemental appropriations bill was stalled in the Senate for 4 long months with no action and no relief for Americans who are suffering. When it finally passed in the Senate on May 23, 2019, I returned to Washington during recess to ask for unanimous consent for the House to pass the updated disaster bill. Unfortunately, it was blocked.

I cannot understand why anyone would play politics when communities coast to coast and the territories remain in catastrophic hard times. America's farmers are living through the worst economic crisis in almost 30 years, driven by low commodity prices, trade war pressures, and natural disasters. Those impacted have had their patience stretched thin, and cannot wait any longer for the disaster assistance they were promised. Right now due to disaster losses, they cannot pay federal operational loans from last year; nor can they get new loans to plant and operate this year.

Planting season is now. We are already in the growing season, when conditions permit normal plant growth. If we miss this window, it will have long lasting effects on agricultural production including food, fiber, building materials, and fuel that will increase costs for American consumers all over this country.

We have entered the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season, which officially began on June 1, 2019.

Today I am once again supporting an emergency supplemental bill as more disasters have hit since the last bill passed, the latest being the terrible floods in the Midwest and the tornadoes that ripped through Georgia and Alabama. This expanded supplemental bill will provide for the needs of those who suffered in those disasters.

I will add an additional $5 billion and brings the appropriations total to $19.1 billion, which would cover all disasters, and get the much needed funds to those who were so severely devastated by Hurricane Michael. It will help communities rebuild, assist farmers and rural communities, provide critical health care, nutritional assistance, and social services for disaster victims, and repair damaged federal facilities.

I urge my House and Senate colleagues to support this bill to finally bring relief to our long-suffering communities.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 2157) making supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and for other purposes, with the Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment.