Rosa DeLauro

Ms. DeLAURO

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

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, before I conclude, I thank and congratulate Chairman Leahy and Vice Chairman Shelby for their partnership over the past 2 years. I wish them all the best in their retirement. For the House, I extend my sincerest appreciation to the subcommittee chairs of the Appropriations Committee: Marcy Kaptur, David Price, Lucille Roybal-Allard, Sanford Bishop, Barbara Lee, Betty McCollum, Tim Ryan, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Chellie Pingree, Mike Quigley, and Matt Cartwright. I especially acknowledge for their outstanding careers: David, Lucille, and Tim, who will not be here with us next Congress. Mr. Speaker, I thank all of the subcommittee ranking members for your partnership and collaboration on these bills. A special thank you to all of our staff, including Staff Director and Clerk Robin Juliano and Deputy Staff Director Matt Washington, who we will miss dearly upon his departure early next year. I am grateful for the staff of all the subcommittees who are with us here on the floor today who have sacrificed sleep and time away from their families to help us complete the appropriations process, including our subcommittee clerks: Martha Foley, Bob Bonner, Chris Bigelow, Scott McKee, Matt Smith, Darek Newby--who we recognize and thank upon his upcoming retirement--Rita Culp, Faye Cobb, Stephen Steigleder, Nicole Cohen, Erin Kolodjeski, Jenny Neuscheler, and Christina Monroe. Front office staff: Katelynn Thorpe, Danu Rojzman, Jason Gray, Adam Wilson, Raquel Spencer, Alex Swann, Tom Tucker, Ryann Kinney, Sebastian Franco, Celine Wolff, and Robert Baransaka. My personal office staff: Becky Salay, Jack Rayburn, Caitlin Peruccio, King Green, Harper White, Marie Gualtieri, John Neureuther, Jami LaRue, Daniel Robillard, Molly Opinsky, and Merone Kahassai. I would just say: You are the best and the brightest. I thank the minority staff: Anne Marie Chotvacs, Johnnie Kaberle, Alec Davis, Sara Peters, and the rest of the minority clerks and staff. I look forward to working with the incoming chair, Congresswoman Granger, as we move into the 118th Congress, and I thank her for her cooperation. Next year, we will be the first ever committee of the House of Representatives or the United States Senate--and it is not just the Appropriations Committee, any committee--will be led in all four corners by women. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the fiscal year 2023 government funding legislation before us, a package of 12 appropriations bills that makes critical investments to help our communities. The bill also includes legislation to continue the fight against Russian aggression and to help parts of our Nation devastated by natural disasters. For far too long, our economy has been working for billionaires and big corporations that use their power to shape this budget. But over the past two years, we have worked to reverse this trend and reinvest in the programs that hardworking people, small businesses, and communities in need rely on. And they are finally paying taxes. I came to Washington to do that, inspired by the work of leaders, who in times of despair, brokered life-changing victories whose impact we feel to this day. These are leaders like Hubert Humphrey, who served in these halls, and who held that the ``moral test of government'' is how we treat those ``in the dawn of life, the twilight of life, and the shadows of life.'' And I have always held that as a guiding principle. These bills before us pass this moral test of government--they touch every corner of our Nation and impact people at every stage of their lives. With $1.7 trillion in discretionary resources, we are investing the highest level of funding ever in non-defense government programs while keeping our communities and our Nation safe. This funding helps us tackle the biggest issues facing American families, including inflation and rising costs. We lower the cost of living for hardworking people and the middle class by investing in child care, early learning programs, high poverty schools and students with disabilities, by expanding access to higher education and increasing the maximum Pell Grant award by $500, by strengthening high- quality job training and apprenticeship programs, and by making the dream of owning a home a more realistic one for many families. We strengthen our economy by creating better-paying jobs, putting people to work rebuilding our infrastructure, keeping our Nation competitive, strengthening our supply chain, helping small businesses access the capital they need, investing in the economic development of distressed communities, and preserving our advanced manufacturing base. In addition, for the first time since 2010, we included an increase in funding for the National Labor Relations Board to $299 million, a $25 million increase, to protect workers' rights to collective bargaining. People haven't seen a pay raise in decades, and this change makes that more likely. This package also provides a necessary lifeline to families and communities struggling to make ends meet by meeting their basic needs. We are strengthening nutrition assistance, increasing access to affordable housing by creating over 21,500 affordable housing units and expanding housing options for people experiencing homelessness, fighting health disparities and health crises, prioritizing the health of our veterans with a record $118.7 billion for VA medical care, providing $800 million, a huge increase of $650 million, for the migrant Shelter and Services Program, formerly the Emergency Food and Shelter Humanitarian Program, increasing funding by $125 million for Violence Against Women Act prevention and prosecution programs, and investing in rural broadband. These investments are strengthened with a recommitment to the funding we need to keep our Nation and our communities safe. With strong increases for the Department of Defense, we protect our national security and strengthen our ability to counter China and other near- peer adversaries. We defend global democracy from threats from Russia and China. We enhance our maritime, border, and cyber security, protect our military personnel and installations and prioritize a combination of defense, diplomacy, and global development efforts. We support our police and state and local law enforcement at all levels with $4.4 billion in grants, fight the gun violence epidemic on several fronts, and bolster our public health infrastructure and our biomedical research, including with $47.5 billion for the National Institutes of Health. We make investments to battle climate change with environmental enforcement and environmental justice efforts, launching a renewed focus on land and water conservation, and investing in clean energy and climate science. Simultaneously, for the second year in a row after a decade without this funding, this bill includes community projects to meet the needs of districts all over the Nation. This package includes over 7,200 projects totaling over $15 billion and requested by 407 Members and Senators--including 223 Democrats and 120 Republicans in the House. These projects respond directly to pressing needs locally by supporting underserved areas and making all our communities healthier, safer, and stronger. And as communities rebuild from recent natural disasters and extreme weather events, this bill provides $27 billion in urgently needed support to help families, small businesses, and entire towns and cities recover, repair damaged infrastructure, and prepare for future disasters, including $1 billion for the electric grid in Puerto Rico. Finally, as Ukraine continues to defend itself against Putin's ruthless attack, this bill provides $45 billion in emergency funding to support the Ukrainian people and defend global democracy--investments that save lives, make our world safer, and help defend against Putin's continued war crimes. Congress heard from President Zelenskyy. His plea to us was clear--they desperately need our continued support. In his words, ``This struggle will define what world our children and grandchildren will live in.'' Ukraine's struggle is democracy's struggle-it is a struggle for freedom and independence. We stood and we clapped when he told us last night that our ``money is not charity. It's an investment in the global security and democracy that we handle in the most responsible way.'' Because it is. This funding will save lives and protect democracy. We have no other choice. It has been an honor to serve as Chair of the Appropriations Committee for the past two years and to bring to the Floor yet another strong bill. This package makes critical, bipartisan investments that lower the cost of living for hardworking families, create better-paying jobs, and help communities in need. I wish more of our priorities had been included--including increased funding for Title X and other family planning programs in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Women are and will continue to suffer until we do more to help them access essential health care services, and I am deeply disappointed we were not able to increase this funding. I will continue to wage the battle for increased resources for women's health. I want to make it very clear to everyone here and to all our constituents at home that I will never stop fighting for the programs that make the biggest impact as we look to continue passing the moral test of government. Before I conclude, I would like to thank and congratulate Chairman Leahy and Vice Chairman Shelby for their partnership over the past two years. I wish them all the best in their retirements. For the House, I extend my sincerest appreciation to the subcommittee Chairs of the Appropriations Committee: Marcy Kaptur, David Price, Lucille Roybal-Allard, Sanford Bishop, Barbara Lee, Betty McCollum, Tim Ryan, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Chellie Pingree, Mike Quigley, and Matt Cartwright. I want to especially acknowledge David, Lucille, and Tim who will not be here with us next Congress and acknowledge them for their outstanding careers. I also thank all of the subcommittee Ranking Members for your partnership and collaboration on these bills. A special thank you to all of our staff, including Staff Director and Clerk, Robin Juliano, and Deputy Staff Director, Matt Washington--who we will miss dearly upon his departure early next year. I am grateful for the staff of all the subcommittees--who are up in the gallery with us!--who have sacrificed sleep and time away from their families to help us complete the appropriations process, including our subcommittee Clerks Martha Foley, Bob Bonner, Chris Bigelow, Scott McKee, Matt Smith, Darek Newby--who we recognize and thank upon his upcoming retirement--Rita Culp, Faye Cobb, Stephen Steigleder, Nicole Cohen, Erin Kolodjeski, Jenny Neuscheler, and Christina Monroe. And the front office staff--Katelynn Thorpe, Danu Rojzman, Jason Gray, Adam Wilson, Raquel Spencer, Alex Swann, Tom Tucker, Ryann Kinney, Sebastian Franco, Celine Wolff, and Robert Baransaka. And from my personal office--Becky Salay, Jack Rayburn, King Green, Caitlin Peruccio, Marie Gualtieri, Harper White, Molly Opinsky, Jami LaRue, John Neureuther, Merone Kahassai, and Daniel Robillard. From the minority staff, thank you to Anne Marie Chotvacs, Johnnie Kaberle, Alec Davis, Sara Peters, and the rest of the minority clerks and staff. I look forward to working with the incoming Chair of the Appropriations Committee Kay Granger in the 118th Congress. With Senators Patty Murray and Susan Collins leading the Senate Appropriations Committee, next year will be the first year that the Appropriations Committee will be led on all four corners by women. In fact, this is the first time ever, that any Congressional committee, will have all four comers led entirely by women. I look forward to serving with this historic, highly skilled group of lawmakers.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I rise as Chair of the Appropriations Committee, and on behalf of the Members of the Committee, and its staff, to pay tribute to Jeffrey ``Jeff'' Ashford as he retires following nearly 4 decades of government service, including over 25 years with the House Appropriations Committee. Jeff began his career in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and later joined the International Security Affairs Branch of the International Affairs Division within the Office of Management and Budget (0MB), where he developed and oversaw security assistance and arms control budgets and programs. Later, after serving the HM Treasury in London for 2 years, Jeff returned to 0MB, this time within the State-USIA Branch where he developed and oversaw the budget for several State Department programs. Jeff came home to the House Appropriations Committee in 1997, first serving on the Treasury, Postal Service, and General Government Subcommittee. He led the Committee's work on Treasury's law enforcement efforts, drug programs, and personnel agencies. In 2003, Jeff took on the difficult task of working for the newly established Subcommittee on Homeland Security. Jeff's work was particularly important in ensuring that the new programs, tasked with protecting the American people, were properly funded and that the Committee's priorities were considered. He also helped ensure that the Committee exercised strong and responsible oversight over the Department of Homeland Security, especially during a complicated period of transition. Since 2013, Jeff has served on the staff of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies subcommittee. Jeff has helped the Committee and its Members effectively navigate, negotiate, and resolve politically-sensitive issues. His profound technical knowledge of the Justice Department, including its law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and prisons and the Civil Rights and National Security divisions, has benefited the Committee greatly and ensured the Department works most effectively for the American people. Jeff's tenacious work ethic and his expert knowledge of the issues under our Committee's jurisdiction have made him an unparalleled asset to the committee. Even during trying circumstances, Jeff always brings with him unfailing good humor and even keel. His hard work has made our government work better and our Congress and this Committee stronger. His dedication to this body and to the American people have made him a truly unique and irreplaceable asset. I speak for myself and all Members of the Committee in saying we will miss Jeff's incredible understanding of the federal budget and his hard work and dedication greatly. I am excited for what the future holds for Jeff and wish him, his wife Lori, and his children Chloe and Sylvia the very best. Congratulations on a wonderful career. Our Nation and this body will miss Jeff and are deeply thankful to him for his leadership.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I rise as Chair of the Appropriations Committee, and on behalf of the Members of the Committee, and its staff, to pay tribute to Matthew Earl Washington as he departs federal service after a lengthy career in the House of Representatives. Originally from North Carolina, Matt's distinguished career in the House began in the office of the late civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis of Georgia as a Legislative Assistant. He later served as Senior Policy Advisor to Congressman John Olver of Massachusetts when the congressman served on the Appropriations Committee. His extensive knowledge of America's security, transportation, and infrastructure earned him the position of Staff Director of the Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee of the House Committee on Homeland Security where he adeptly served as the lead staffer on all Subcommittee matters for Chairwoman Sheila Jackson-Lee. Since then, for the past nearly 15 years, Matt has served the Appropriations Committee with great diligence. The Committee's longest serving African American staffer on the Democratic side, he began his impressive tenure as a Professional Staff Member on the Defense Subcommittee where he oversaw the programs and funding that support active duty and reserve personnel. He later served as a Professional Staff Member for the full committee, ensuring smooth legislative and procedural processes for the Committee and Member offices. Following these roles, equipped with unparalleled knowledge of the Committee, Matt took on the role of Clerk for the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee in 2011 becoming the first African American staffer to hold the position. He skillfully managed and negotiated all aspects of the Subcommittee's jurisdiction, and his leadership has helped protect our national security, uphold our commitment to servicemembers, veterans, and their families, and rebuild critical military infrastructure. In 2019, Matt began serving as Clerk of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee, expertly leading the Subcommittee to enormous legislative triumphs in an attempt at making Congress work better for the American people. His years of experience and expert knowledge of the Appropriations Committee made him an excellent addition to my Front Office staff when I became Chair of the full committee, where he has since served as Deputy Staff Director for the past two years. He has been at the helm of the investments we have made to help working families and vulnerable people all over our nation. In his unique role, he has been instrumental in the implementation of Community Project Funding, coordinating spending between all 12 subcommittees, and representing the Committee in front of critical partners during negotiations. And personally, he has been a trusted advisor throughout my first term leading this Committee. While we will miss Matt greatly, we are excited for what the future holds for him. I wish Matt, his wife Chandini, and their children Yara and Zayn all the best, and extend my gratitude to his family for sharing him with us for so many years. Our Nation is safer and this body is stronger because of Matt's tireless work. I join all Members of the Appropriations Committee who he has worked with in saying we will miss his expertise greatly. The Appropriations Committee is a family--one made up pf all the staff and Members who serve and have served this great institution. We are all so lucky that he will forever be part of this distinguished group. Congratulations on a remarkable federal career. His country is endlessly grateful for his leadership, service, and dedication.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 123), providing for a correction in the enrollment of H.R. 1437, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1518, I call up the bill (H.R. 1437) to amend the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 to direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to provide comprehensive and regularly updated Federal precipitation information, and for other purposes, with the Senate amendment thereto, and ask for its immediate consideration.

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

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the Senate amendment to H.R. 1437.

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Further Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, which extends funding for critical Federal programs and services through December 23. While I would have preferred to come before the House today to pass a final 2023 government funding package, I am encouraged that we have come to an agreement on a framework that provides a path forward to enact an omnibus next week. The legislation before us today is a simple date change that keeps the government up and running as we negotiate the details of final spending bills and complete the work of funding the government programs that meet the needs of hardworking Americans. All of us in this room know well that final funding bills are the best way to guarantee the necessary resources for the government programs and policies that make the biggest impact on our constituents. We will soon bring to the floor an omnibus that continues to make important investments, because we know the impact of a government that looks out for the middle class, working families, and for small businesses. The final funding bills we will bring to a vote will include investments that will help hardworking Americans, rebuild our infrastructure, keep our Nation competitive, strengthen our supply chain, and help small businesses access the capital they need, the keys to our economic future. The final omnibus agreement will help keep our Nation and our communities safe with the certainty that we all deserve. I can say with certainty this package will include community project funding that responds directly to some of the most pressing needs in communities all over America and that so many of my colleagues have worked tirelessly to deliver to their constituents. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for closing. Mr. Speaker, I would like for just a moment to set the record straight. There was an offer made to my Republican colleagues on where we should go with an omnibus in June; another was in October. We were told at the time that they couldn't move to do anything until after the elections. We were then told that they had to then wait for their leadership elections to occur before they could actually engage. Then we were told we had to wait until after a Georgia election in order to engage. Speaking of enough is enough. I would also just say they were invited to the table many, many times to join the negotiations; they decided not to do that. So we find ourselves here today when we have to meet the deadline in order to keep the government open. What we do need, Mr. Speaker, is this bill to continue negotiating final 2023 funding bills. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I rise as Chair of the Appropriations Committee, and on behalf of the Members of the Committee, and its staff, to pay tribute to Kristi ''Kris'' Mallard as she retires following 24 years of government service, including over two decades within the House of Representatives. Kris began her career in the Office of Congressman Sonny Montgomery from her home-state of Mississippi. After serving at the Pentagon, including during the terrorist attacks of 9/11, Kris came to Congress as a Navy detailee in 2002 with a unique perspective. Following these challenging years, Kris left the Department of the Navy to join the House Appropriations Committee as professional staff where she has served diligently and assiduously--first on the Defense Subcommittee and later the Homeland Security Subcommittee--since 2003. With exceptional understanding of both the Defense and Homeland Security Appropriations bills, Kris has worked on a wide range of issues that have made our nation stronger and the world safer. Her expertise has made her a strong negotiator of some of the toughest policy areas under our Committee's jurisdiction, leading to responsible investments that have strengthened our national and domestic security. Her hard work and oversight efforts have helped our government work better for the American people, and her kindness and dedication to mentoring other staffers has made our Committee and our Congress stronger. I believe I speak for myself and all Members of the Committee in saying we will miss Kris's valuable insight and her hard work greatly, Her dedication to the Appropriations Committee and to advancing reforms to make government work better have made her an unparalleled asset. I congratulate Kris on a wonderful career. The Nation and this body are deeply thankful to her for her leadership, service, and dedication.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I rise as Chair of the Appropriations Committee, and on behalf of the Members of the Committee, and its staff, to pay tribute to Darek Lane Newby as he retires following 25 years of service to the House of Representatives. Hailing from North Carolina, Darek began his career with Congressman David Price as a Legislative Assistant before serving as the Congressman's Appropriations and Budget Committee associate staffer, Legislative Director, and Acting and Deputy Chief of Staff. In these roles, he advised the Congressman on issues and legislation related to the federal budget, homeland security, health care, and the environment. In 2009, Darek came home to the Appropriations Committee, initially joining the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, of which he took over as Clerk in 2011. Since 2013, he has been serving as the Homeland Security Subcommittee Clerk. He provides other Members and me with vital counsel and expertly leads staff in developing the Subcommittee's bill. During his time with the Appropriations Committee, Darek has proven time and time again to be a fair negotiator whose superb leadership and compassion have made our nation and the world safer and more humane. His career was never shy of managing crises, but he led with dedication and poise through any conflict that came his way. Darek's profound technical knowledge, coupled with his diligence and poise, has been critical in reducing refugee and asylum application backlogs, bolstering maritime security, strengthening our cyber infrastructure, respecting the dignity of immigrants, and supporting disaster relief. I am excited for what the future holds for Darek and wish him, his wife Patty, and their children Ben and Sam all the best. As Darek stalls a new beginning, the Appropriations Committee and our Nation will miss him, are indebted to his service, and are forever grateful for his hard work. Congratulations on a remarkable career.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this bipartisan resolution. It expresses the commitment of this Chamber to build on the 20 years of success of the George McGovern-Robert Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program. Its mission is simple: Reduce hunger and improve literacy and poverty. By providing countless school meals, the program helps improve child nutrition, maternal health, and access to quality education, particularly for girls. I was proud that the Appropriations Committee was able to include $265 million for this critical program this summer, the most in the program's history. During its 20-year history, it has made a positive difference in the lives of more than 31 million children and families in 48 countries around the world. During the pandemic, when school closures were commonplace, the McGovern-Dole Program quickly shifted from providing meals in schools to providing take-home options that distributed about 23,000 metric tons of commodities donated by the United States and 550 metric tons of locally procured commodities to more than 1.7 million children and families across 26 projects. These efforts ensured that children would continue receiving daily meals and, at its crux, they would not go hungry while they were learning at home. Let us remain committed to not only carrying on the legacy of these giants--Ambassador McGovern and Senator Dole--but continue to follow the example that they set, working to tackle hunger and poverty around the world. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to join Congregation Or Shalom, located in Orange, Connecticut in paying tribute to their outstanding leader, Rabbi Alvin Wainhaus as he marks his 40th Anniversary with the synagogue. Indeed, he has been the Temple's only rabbi since it opened its doors in 1981. The son of Holocaust survivors, Rabbi Wainhaus was raised in Boro Park, Brooklyn and attended Brooklyn College, where he received a degree in philosophy, as well as New York University, where he earned a master's degree in education, before he was ordained at Yeshiva Beth Meir in Tel Aviv, Israel some five decades ago. He served several synagogues before coming to Congregation Or Shalom where he has led the conservative synagogue with integrity, wisdom, and compassion for the last forty years. In that time, Rabbi Wainhaus has officiated two hundred weddings, named as many babies, and presided over more than five hundred Bar and Bat Mitzvahs. Through his dedicated leadership, both within the synagogue and the community at large, he has touched the lives of many. Rabbi Wainhaus is also known as a professional musician, having performed and made numerous recordings with the late Hebrew folk singer Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach as well as most recently recording a disc to accompany a text of Biblical Hebrew, published by Yale University Press. Rabbi Wainhaus frequently incorporates his inspirational and traditional music into his sermons and services. He is also fluent in Yiddish and is a noted lecturer on Yiddish humor. With his own background in education, Rabbi Wainhaus has focused much of his energy on the teaching of Jewish tradition and faith, particularly with children. He guides the synagogue's educational program for all ages. His door is always open to those of the Jewish faith and to the entire community--to those who wish to learn. For the past sixteen years he led the Kristallnacht Program which is open community-wide and recognizes unsung heroes of the Holocaust. Through his spiritual leadership, as well as his love for music and teaching, Rabbi Alvin Wainhaus has left an indelible mark on our community. His infinite compassion and commitment to service inspires others to make a difference--a gift that has and continues to make the Greater New Haven community a better place to live, learn, and grow. I am so pleased to have the opportunity to extend my deepest thanks to him for all of his good work and to join Congregation Or Shalom in congratulating him on his 40th Anniversary. Rabbi--Todah Rabah and Mazel Tov.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from New York.

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1404, I call up the bill (H.R. 6833) to amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to establish requirements with respect to cost- sharing for certain insulin products, and for other purposes, with the Senate amendment thereto, and ask for its immediate consideration.

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

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the Senate amendment to H.R. 6833.

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, which extends funding for Federal programs and services through December 16. With a 72-25 vote, the United States Senate approved this legislation with the support of all Democrats and 22 Republicans, including Senators Shelby and McConnell. Before I begin, I want to acknowledge the millions of people in Florida, Puerto Rico, Alaska, and elsewhere reeling from recent disasters, stranded without power and other necessary resources, and mourning the loss of loved ones. This institution will stand with communities across America as they rebuild and recover. With the many challenges facing our Nation and the world, including devastating natural disasters and the high cost of living, we cannot wait any longer to pass this bill. This bill guarantees that we have the means to continue the important work we are doing to help middle class and working families with the cost of living, support vulnerable Americans by keeping roofs over the heads of millions of families and food on their tables, uphold our commitment to our veterans, and strengthen our national security. But this is not enough, and this solution is only a short-term one. The Appropriations Committee and House Democrats worked to clear all 12 government funding bills out of committee and pass six on the floor of the House this summer. These are transformational bills needed to meet the moment and tackle our Nation's biggest challenges. The legislation before us allows additional time for bipartisan, bicameral negotiations to enact final 2023 funding bills. The bill also includes $12.35 billion in necessary emergency funding to support the Ukrainian people and global democracy in the face of Russia's grievous invasion of Ukraine. This body came together twice earlier this year to deliver on our commitment to the courageous people of Ukraine, but most of those resources have already been disbursed or committed. For that reason, this bill includes necessary security assistance for Ukraine, including $3 billion for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative to keep weapons and ammunition flowing without interruption, and $1.5 billion to replenish U.S. stocks of equipment sent through drawdown authority. We also help Ukraine protect its democracy by supporting the continuity of its democratic government and delivery of citizen services with $4.5 billion. This contribution ensures we continue upholding our moral responsibility to support the people of Ukraine in the face of a vicious invasion that continues to demand decisive action from us. The bill also includes safeguards over these funds, such as a requirement of third-party monitoring and a certification by the Secretary of State that protects against corruption. With $2 million for the DOD Inspector General to monitor funds and provide Congress with a report inventorying security assistance, we ensure weapons are used for their intended purpose by their intended recipients. At the same time, this bill responds to the devastation that recent natural disasters and extreme weather events have left behind. As the climate crisis wreaks havoc on communities all over our Nation, this legislation provides significant support for disaster response and recovery efforts. Included in this is a critical $20 million in funding to complete previously authorized Army Corps of Engineers projects that will help address the water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi, and upgrade its water and wastewater infrastructure. In the wealthiest Nation in the world, the bare minimum every person deserves is drinking water that is clean and safe, and this bill gets us one step closer to that minimum. By fully funding the Disaster Relief Fund, this bill responds to Hurricane Ian in Florida; to the crisis left behind in Puerto Rico after the devastating Hurricane Fiona; and to the severe storm, flooding, and landslides in Alaska, helping with recovery and disaster relief efforts. We also provide $1 billion in funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program to help lower-income families cover the rising energy costs of home heating and cooling; including $2.5 billion to address the largest wildfire in New Mexico, in their history, that started from prescribed burns on Federal land; and support these and other communities all over the Nation, including Kentucky, California, Louisiana, and Texas, by providing $2 billion to help address unmet housing, infrastructure, and economic recovery needs in communities recovering from recent wildfires, major storms, droughts, floods, and extreme heat. While this legislation provides a bridge to an omnibus, it is not perfect. I am saddened that the continuing resolution does not fully meet some of our country's most urgent needs, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and monkey pox outbreak. I will continue working to provide the resources to combat these public health crises and support the areas in need of additional resources to recover from natural disasters. Despite these shortcomings, the investments included in this bill are urgent and necessary to avoid disruptions to vital Federal agencies, to help communities get back on their feet, and to ensure we have the time needed to negotiate a final funding agreement that meets the needs of hardworking people. I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone), the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline).

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