Rosa DeLauro

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus).

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

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

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Chair, I think it is fair to say that many within this institution and also outside of the institution thought that we could not get an appropriations process in the U.S. Congress back on track, that we would be unable to pass appropriations bills, that we would face another potential government shutdown, and that we could not make the process work in the way that it has historically worked, which is Democrats and Republicans coming together to hammer out bills that meet the needs of the American people and do this every single year, which it has done historically. In a negotiation, no one gets everything that they want. You compromise for a greater good, and you need willing partners to participate in that effort. I believe that what we have done here is to show the naysayers that by entrusting appropriations bills to appropriators, we could get the job done. That is what we are doing with six bills already passed and signed and two bills that we will pass today. That is 8 of the 12 appropriations bills, and I believe we are on track to pass all 12 bills by January 30. Now, if we do not come to an agreement, there are two options. The first option is a continuing resolution, which we can all conclude is no way to run a government. Quite frankly, for me personally, I don't want to turn over the power of the Appropriations Committee to any executive, Democratic or Republican. I believe that the power of the purse resides within the Congress. The second option is a shutdown, which, as we know, is the worst of all possible outcomes. It hurts the American people, and it really shortchanges the American people. It puts them at risk. It may satisfy a need or an urge that someone here has, but it doesn't reflect well on what happens to the American people. I think we have shown the naysayers that it can be done. Mr. Chair, I will compliment the chair of the full committee for understanding the need to reassert the constitutional power of the purse entrusted to the Congress through the Appropriations Committee and that we do have to hammer out the bills in a civil way; not for the purposes of the process but for what the consequences are of these 12 bills and the services that they provide to the American people. Whether it is agriculture in rural America, whether it is education and the ability of children to be able to succeed, or whether it is healthcare or transportation, which, in this case, is our role in the world and how we preserve our national security, what we do with our financial circumstances, what we do with our community development of financial institutions to help local communities be able to thrive economically, that is what is within the bills. It is not just a process. It is the content of these efforts which make that difference and provide what government is here to do: opportunity for people to be able to succeed, to be able to thrive, and to be able to take care of themselves and their families. Mr. Chair, the strategy and the strength of the Appropriations Committee and its work on behalf of the American people are the heartbeat of the U.S. Government. I am proud to support the bipartisan, bicameral bill that we have fashioned and, again, give credit to both our Republican chairs and our Democratic ranking members for the great work and their negotiating skills to get it done, and to the staff, above all. I am sorry to other staffs, but the Appropriations staff is second to none. They keep our names on the door. They make it possible for these bills to pass. Mr. Chair, I will just say it is a good package. It reasserts Congress' power of the purse. It does rein in the administration, and it does, for me, protect key Democratic priorities. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support these bills today and to move forward as we continue to look at the next several bills that we have coming up so that we can, by January 30, pass all the appropriations bills and make a difference for the American people. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. DeLAURO. Chairman, I oppose this amendment. The National Endowment for Democracy supports initiatives for which many of my Republican colleagues proudly proclaimed their support. Advocates in Iran supported by NED have been instrumental in documenting the brutality of the Ayatollah's regime. Over the last several days, we have seen some of the most egregious acts of violent repression in decades as thousands of Iranian protestors take to the streets. The work of groups backed by the National Endowment for Democracy is more important now than ever. The only people who benefit when we pull back our support for democracy advocates around the world are the dictators and the despots who oppress them. Mr. Chair, I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to oppose this amendment and hold firm on the agreement that we negotiated.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is with the heaviest but most grateful of hearts that I rise today to pay tribute to the life and legacy of my dear friend, William Wolpert Harris. Bill was an extraordinary person who dedicated a lifetime to improving the quality of life of every child in every community. Today family, friends, and colleagues will gather to share stories and their memories of Bill, highlighting the incredible impact his good work had on countless lives. Bill graduated with a bachelor's degree in liberal arts from Wesleyan University in 1961 and later earned a Doctor of Philosophy from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He worked for several years in the private sector and served as a visiting lecturer and adjunct professor at several universities. However, it was in 1981 that Bill founded what would become his lifelong passion and ultimate legacy, KidsPac, a group that helped to focus legislators at every level of government on the importance of early childhood education. It was through these efforts that I was introduced to and got to know Bill. Together we worked to shape and, eventually, enact legislation that authorized and funded the United States Child Traumatic Stress Initiative. This initiative has resulted in the creation of a national network of thirty-eight centers focusing on child traumatic stress. Bill was also one of the staunchest supporters of the effort to expand the child tax credit. Over the years, his guidance and advocacy ensured that this policy remained at the forefront of discussion and debate. We were indeed kindred spirits and for more than two decades, under Bill's outstanding direction, KidsPac was a leader and respected voice in the advocacy for policies concerning childcare, prenatal health, and early education. For Bill, supporting children and enriching their early life experiences was not just a passion but a family occupation. Bill's father, Irving, founded the Erickson Institute as well as the Ounce of Prevention Fund, and was instrumental in the development of the Yale Child Study Center and Zero to Three. Bill's late wife, Robie, was a celebrated children's author, unapologetic defender of free speech, and remarkable advocate for children. Bill and Robie's activism was integrated into every facet of their lives so it is no surprise that both of their sons, David and Ben, both followed in their footsteps. David, taking a page from his Bill's work, has focused his professional life on research and advocacy for policies that address child poverty. Ben, whose interests more mirrored his mother's, is now Clinical Professor at the Psychological Center at The City College of New York (CCNY), which provides low-to-moderate-cost services to the CCNY and West Harlem communities. In this role, and throughout his career, he has worked with a socioeconomically and culturally diverse range of children and adolescents as well as adults. Bill's dedication to issues concerning children and their health and well-being extended far beyond KidsPac. In 1984 Bill founded the Children's Research and Education Institute and he served on the advisory board of the Child Development Community Policing Program in conjunction with the Yale Child Study Center. He also served on numerous not-for-profit boards and advisory committees, including the Urban League, Wesleyan University, the State Legislative Leaders Foundation's Children's Program Steering Committee and the National Science Foundation's Review Panel of the Public Understanding of Science Program. Over his lifetime he received a myriad of awards for his work on behalf of children, including the Advocacy Award, Division of Child, Youth and Family Services, from the American Psychological Association; the Dale Richmond Award from the American Academy of Pediatrics; the Leadership Award for Public Service from Zero to Three; and the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Wesleyan University. And just a few short years ago, Bill was honored alongside his son, David, by the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies with its inaugural Public Advocacy Award for outstanding and fundamental contributions to advancing social understanding of trauma. On a personal note, it has been an enormous privilege to work with three generations of the Harris family--first Irving, then Bill, and now David--to develop and advocate for policies and programs that give children and their families the foundational security they need to learn and thrive. Through their unique understanding that our young people represent the future and that we as a community and a Nation must give them the tools that they need in order to succeed. Bill Harris was a remarkable man who dedicated a lifetime to improving the lives of children. I am honored to rise and pay tribute to the indelible mark he has left. Today, I thank my dear friend, Bill, for the difference that he has made in this country, and the millions of lives that have been made better through his vision, his passion, and his kindhearted spirit. He has been an inspiration to all of us. I will forever be grateful for the friendship, humor, and generosity he bestowed upon me over the years. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his sons, David and Ben. The world is just a bit dimmer without his presence, and he will be deeply missed by all those who knew him.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 5 minutes. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this bill. It is the product of a genuine bipartisan compromise, something that was once common in this body but has since fallen out of fashion. I am eager to share all the great things that are in this bill, but before I do, I must take a moment to express my profound gratitude to the devoted public servants who worked tirelessly to make this happen. They are Ranking Members Grace Meng, Marcy Kaptur, and Chellie Pingree on the Appropriations Committee, who led these negotiations and secured crucial funding for key programs. Subcommittee staff, especially Bob Bonner, Rita Culp, Scott McKee, Adam Wilson, Nora Faye, Jamie Wise, Faye Cobb, Jocelyn Hunn, Michael Schmeltz, and Ippo Dellatolas worked through the holidays to craft this legislation. I send a shout-out to Chris Bigelow, the appropriations staff director. Of course, I thank our Republican counterparts on the committee under the leadership of my dear friend, Chairman Cole. When we began this process, we set out three goals: protect Democratic priorities, eliminate any poison pills, and reassert Congress' power of the purse. I am pleased to report that this package accomplishes all three. It protects funding for key Democratic priorities, and it rejects draconian cuts proposed by the Trump administration. It invests in programs at the Department of Energy that will bring down energy costs and utility bills, which are core drivers of the ongoing affordability crisis, programs that President Trump proposed to cut or eliminate, despite the cost-of-living crisis he has led us into. This package promotes community safety, increasing funding for Violence Against Women Act grants by $7 million, supporting victims of abuse who otherwise would have nowhere to turn. It rejects efforts by the Trump administration to eviscerate scientific research funding, providing $4.8 billion more for the National Science Foundation than the White House proposed. The agreement also rejects the Office of Management and Budget's illegal efforts to undermine America's dominance in scientific innovation across the entire government by protecting the indirect costs that research institutions depend on to do groundbreaking work with the Department of Energy, NASA, and the National Science Foundation. This is something Chairman Cole and I have worked on in the past with regard to the NIH, and it is critical for us to expand it to other agencies in this package. The bill provides funding to protect our national parks, natural resources, endangered species, and public lands, rejecting $9.5 billion in proposed cuts in the Interior bill. It protects our environment while restraining polluters, providing $8.8 billion in funding for the EPA, nearly double the budget proposed by the White House. Additionally, there is not a single poison pill policy rider in this bill. I know my friend, the chairman, and I may disagree on what constitutes a poison pill, but it is a testament to the good faith of these negotiations that both sides agreed to drop provisions the other found truly objectionable. I know some of my Democratic colleagues may be reticent to support a funding package for an administration that has been rife with abuse since the day they took office. I understand their concerns, and I share them. However, abandoning the appropriations process only empowers the President and the Office of Management and Budget to continue manipulating Federal spending as a partisan weapon. If we give up on appropriations, there are only two alternatives: a permanent shutdown or endless stopgaps with funding on autopilot. Neither is a viable option. Stopgap measures afford the administration broader discretion over the budget and cede our authority over Federal spending. The more ambiguity we afford them, the more they will exploit it. One of the best ways to rein in this reckless administration is by providing precise spending levels for specific projects that they are bound by law to carry out. That is exactly what this bill does. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur), the distinguished ranking member of the Energy and Water Development Subcommittee.

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Ohio.

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Maine (Ms. Pingree), the distinguished ranking member of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Meng), the distinguished ranking member of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum), the distinguished ranking member of the Defense Subcommittee.

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Dean), a member of the Appropriations Committee.

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman.

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Mrvan), a member of the Appropriations Committee.

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. Hernandez).

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I extend my thanks to Chairman Cole, an incredible partner in working on all 12 appropriations bills. The Appropriations Committee is the lifeblood of the government. It is a place where you can only achieve work on behalf of the American people through bipartisan, bicameral legislation. Without it, we know what happens: the catastrophe with the continuing resolutions that go on forever, or the government shuts down. That is not a path to success on behalf of the people of this country. Mr. Speaker, I continue to say that it is the lifeblood of our government. Those of us who serve on the Appropriations Committee know that. I will be bold in saying that, quite frankly, if they left these things to us, we would get them done. In this regard, we have. We are through six bills. We have six more to go. We are going to get this done, and we are going to meet the January 30 deadline. Mr. Speaker, I am proud of this bill. I am proud of the process that produced it. We have shown good faith, bipartisan negotiation is still possible in an era of increasing polarization, and the kind of constructive conversations that produced this package continue with regard to the remaining six funding bills. The negotiations are ongoing. We haven't stopped the conversations in order for us to meet that January 30 deadline, and I remain confident that we can meet the deadline and avoid another continuing resolution. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of one of our Nation's most effective and determined advocates for children and families: the singular Bill Harris, who dedicated his life to this cause. From founding KidsPac, a political action group dedicated to promoting public investments for children, to enacting the legislation that created The National Child Traumatic Stress Network in 2000, funded at $10 million that has now grown to being a nearly $100 million initiative, Bill was a passionate leader, a persuasive advocate, and he did not suffer fools. He was never satisfied with symbolic action or minor gestures. He pushed for systemic change and substantive legislation. Together, we were able to expand the child tax credit in 2003 to cover more low- income families. The Wall Street Journal called these families ``the lucky duckies,'' and in that spirit, Bill gifted me a set of rubber duckies that remain in my office today. Our proudest achievement--and I say ours because it was a team effort--was the expanded monthly child tax credit that was signed into law in 2021 as part of the American Rescue Plan. In 2021, child poverty was nearly cut in half, hunger by a quarter, and it provided economic security to middle-class and working families. While many may never have heard of Bill Harris, it was his tenacity and his doing, and we will secure its future in his name. We have much to do. We will do it with his spirit.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is with my deepest respect and sincere appreciation that I rise today to honor Gene L. Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United States and head of the Government Accountability Office, as he concludes a remarkable career of more than fifty years in public service and retires at the end of this year. Gene Dodaro became the eighth Comptroller General of the United States on December 22, 2010, following his confirmation by the United States Senate. He was nominated by President Barack Obama from a bipartisan, bicameral list of candidates, reflecting the broad trust and confidence he had earned across party lines and across institutions. Prior to his confirmation, Gene served with distinction as Acting Comptroller General beginning in March of 2008, leading the Government Accountability Office during a period of significant economic uncertainty and national challenge. Throughout his career at GAO, Gene Dodaro has been a steadfast partner to the Congress, and particularly to the Committee on Appropriations. His work has strengthened Congress's ability to exercise its most fundamental constitutional responsibility, the power of the purse. Time and again, GAO's independent, nonpartisan analysis under Gene's leadership has equipped appropriators with the facts needed to conduct meaningful oversight, hold executive agencies accountable, and ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent as Congress intends. Gene has testified before Congress dozens of times on issues of critical importance, including the federal government's long-term fiscal outlook, the Nation's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and persistent challenges stemming from waste, fraud, abuse, and duplication across federal programs. GAO's High-Risk List, developed and refined during his tenure, has become an indispensable tool for Congress, helping to focus attention on long-standing vulnerabilities, from improper payments in Medicare and Medicaid to chronic management weaknesses at the Department of Defense. As Comptroller General, Gene Dodaro oversaw the development and issuance of hundreds of GAO reports and testimonies each year at the request of congressional committees and individual Members. These products have informed hearings, guided appropriations and authorizing legislation, and led to billions of dollars in taxpayer savings, while improving the effectiveness and integrity of federal programs and services. For those of us responsible for making difficult funding decisions, the GAO's work has been essential, and Gene's leadership has ensured its continued excellence and credibility. Equally important, Gene Dodaro understood that GAO's effectiveness depends on the strength, expertise, and dedication of its workforce. Under his leadership, GAO has consistently been recognized as one of the very best places to work in the federal government. For the fifth consecutive year, GAO has ranked number one among mid-size federal agencies in the Partnership for Public Service's Best Places to Work in the Federal Government rankings. This extraordinary achievement reflects Gene's commitment to excellence, integrity, and respect for public servants. Gene also worked to ensure that GAO evolves alongside the needs of Congress. He expanded GAO's capacity in science, technology, cybersecurity, and emerging risks, recognizing that effective oversight requires forward-looking expertise and fiscal discipline. Throughout his tenure, he upheld GAO's core values of independence, professionalism, and nonpartisanship, earning the respect of Members on both sides of the aisle. Gene Dodaro's legacy is measured not only in reports issued or dollars saved, but in the enduring strength of an institution that plays a central role in preserving Congress's authority and protecting the public trust. His leadership has made Congress better informed, government more accountable, and taxpayer dollars better safeguarded. As Gene Dodaro marks his retirement, I extend my heartfelt congratulations and deepest thanks for his extraordinary service to our Nation. I wish him and his family many years of health, happiness, and fulfillment in this next chapter of life. The Congress and especially those of us on the Committee on Appropriations are profoundly grateful for his lasting contributions and his unwavering commitment to public service.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate something that began in the heart of my hometown, New Haven, Connecticut. A city known not only for its world-class pizza but for its big heart, its creativity, and the way our people lift one another up when times get tough. About a year ago, I stood here on this very floor and proclaimed New Haven the pizza capital of the United States. Since that declaration, something remarkable has happened not just to our pizza scene but to the spirit of Connecticut itself. We have witnessed an explosion of creativity led by local artist Michael Pollack, whose New Haven Pizza Club project turned our city's love of pizza into art and art into impact. At the same time, under the leadership of Connecticut's chief marketing officer Anthony Anthony, the State of Connecticut launched the Connecticut Pizza Trail, a campaign that captured imaginations nationwide. Those efforts drew over 15 billion media impressions and helped make New Haven one of the top 10 most searched destinations in the world, according to Skyscanner. In New Haven, pizza capital means more than great crust and perfect char. It means community. It means sharing warmth, care, and connection around the table. Out of that same spirit, the same sense of togetherness, came a remarkable idea: the Feeding Families Foundation. Founded by Jeff and Samantha Dorman after their daughter was diagnosed with leukemia at just 2 years old, this Connecticut nonprofit was born out of lived experience. During their long stays at Yale New Haven Children's Hospital, Jeff and Sam discovered something too many families learn the hard way: While hospitalized, children receive meals as part of their care. Their caregivers do not. The parents who never leave the bedside, who pour every ounce of strength into their child's recovery, are left to fend for themselves. They decided to change that. The idea was simple but profound: deliver free, nourishing meals directly to the hospital room so parents can stay where they belong by their child's side. They built partnerships, raised funds, and launched what became the Parent Plate Program at Yale New Haven Children's Hospital. Soon after, they met Michael Pollack, who turned his artistic energy toward this mission. Together, with a growing network of collaborators, they built bridges between hospitals and local restaurants, bringing comfort food from the community straight to the people who needed it the most, and wouldn't you know, it started with pizza. Pollack introduced the Dormans to Billy Pustari, owner of Modern Apizza, voted the number one pizzeria in Connecticut by the people. Every Friday, Billy and his team make boxes of hot pies for the pediatric cancer floor at Yale. Those pizzas, those humble slices, bring comfort, warmth, normalcy, and a taste of home into the hardest days a family can face. From there, other restaurants have joined in, lifting the mission even higher. Together, they have transformed our State's pizza pride into something much larger: a movement that feeds families when they need it the most. Through these efforts, the Feeding Families Foundation has delivered thousands of meals to parents at both children's hospitals in Connecticut, Yale New Haven Children's Hospital, and Connecticut Children's Hospital. That small idea born in New Haven has now spread across the country. Today, the foundation's programs are in six hospitals across five States providing tens of thousands of meals to parents and caregivers staying with their critically ill child in the hospital. They are just getting started as more and more children's hospitals across the country reach out to them. The Dormans know firsthand what these families endure: the fear, the waiting, the prayers whispered over hospital beds. They know that a warm meal, even something as simple as New Haven apizza, can make a parent feel seen, cared for, and just a little less alone. This is about more than pizza. It is about food insecurity in America, a problem that affects millions of families not just in hospitals but in every community of this Nation. When a parent sits beside their sick child, hungry and exhausted, wondering if they can afford their next meal, it is not just a personal hardship. It is a moral issue. The Feeding Families Foundation reminds us that food is love. It is dignity. It is what holds families together when everything else feels like it is falling apart, and this is what Connecticut does best. We lead with compassion. We turn local pride into national purpose. We show that even something as simple as a pizza can spark a movement, one that feeds bodies, lift spirits, and strengthens communities from coast to coast. Today, I invite my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to celebrate this homegrown idea and honor all those who have made the Feeding Families Foundation a symbol of what is best in America because what started in New Haven, Connecticut, is no longer just local. It is national. It is spreading one meal, one family, one hospital at a time. That is something worth believing in, something worth supporting, and something worth building upon together.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is with both joy and a heavy heart that I rise today to join the City of West Haven and the West Haven Italian Heritage Committee in paying tribute to the late, great Vinnie Carr as they honor him as this year's Italian American of the Year. This special award is bestowed annually on a West Haven resident or couple of Italian descent who personifies service in the community, celebrating the contributions of Italian Americans to the City and honoring the Italian immigrant experience. Vinnie Carr was indeed a reflection of the spirit in which this honor is bestowed. The grandson of immigrants from Naples, Vinnie embraced his Italian heritage with a unique zeal and love of family and community. Vinnie's career in music began at the age of five when he began playing the accordion at his parents' restaurant. He joined the United States Army after his graduation from Wilbur Cross High School and during his time in the service he formed a band and began playing the keyboard. Following his honorable discharge from military service, Vinnie enrolled in the Police Academy and served as an officer in the New Haven Police Department. However, his passion for music never waned and he soon began the Vinnie Carr Orchestra and later Vinnie Carr and the Party Band. Vinnie was best known as an entertainer--the ever-animated leader of Vinnie Carr and the Party Band as well as the Vinnie Carr Orchestra. Both musical groups were known for their renditions of beloved classical Italian standards as well as performing hits from the 40's 50's and 60's. If there was a community event, particularly an Italian heritage event or gathering, in the Greater New Haven area, you could guarantee that Vinnie Carr was providing the musical entertainment. He also served as the West Haven Senior Center's resident musician for more than forty years. For Vinnie, bringing the delight of his ancestral melodies to live audiences, whether a small group at the senior center or a sea of people on the town green, nourished his soul. We lost Vinnie just a few short weeks ago. His love of music and Italian heritage touched the lives of many and his one-of-a-kind talent that will be missed by many. His loss will be felt by many, but none more so than his beloved wife, Denise, and his two children, Vinnie, Jr. and Daniella. I join many in extending my heartfelt condolences to them as they receive today's honor in his name. Vinnie Carr was an institution, celebrating his Italian heritage through music and sharing his love for both with the community he called home. I cannot think of a more fitting accolade to recognize his dedication and commitment. I am honored to have called him my friend and proud to join the City of West Haven, the West Haven Italian American Heritage Committee, and the many family and friends gathered today in remembering and thanking Vinnie Carr for all that he gave to our community.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, in 1875, Samuel Johnson, a Yale University educated agricultural chemist, founded the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, the first of its kind in the United States. Agriculture has always been an important economic driver in Connecticut and Dr. Johson sought to create a space for the purpose of promoting agriculture by scientific investigation and experiments. The Ag Station, as we affectionately call it, began its work in the area of consumer protection with the analysis of agricultural feeds and fertilizers. Today, that work has expanded into a number of fields of study and industry. Perhaps I am a bit biased, as the Ag Station is a former neighbor of mine, but I have always been fascinated by both the unique architecture of its buildings as well as the research that is conducted throughout its historic halls. In fact, due to its preeminence as the first of its kind in the United States, the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1964. Should you have the chance to tour the Station, you will find lab facilities filled with all kinds of invasive species--insects like beetles, mosquitoes, and ticks as well as aquatic plants like hydrilla, water fern, and Carolina fanwort. And should you be in Connecticut during the first week of August, you can join the Ag Station's team for their Annual Plant Science Day at Lockwood Farm. It is a wonderful showcase of the staffs incredible work. The Ag Station has made tremendous contributions not only to agriculture but to the fields of health, forestry, and plant science as well. From researching methods to combat tick-borne illnesses like Lyme Disease and the West Nile Virus to identifying invasive plant, animal, and insect species like Hydrilla and the Emerald Ash Borer to providing analytical data in food safety and vector-borne illness, the critical work done at the Ag Experiment Station not only impacts our local communities, but those across the nation. The commitment, dedication, knowledge and expertise of its staff have made a real difference in the lives of millions. Today, as this unique and important agency marks its 150th Anniversary, I am honored to have this opportunity to extend my thanks and appreciation to the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station and its team of scientists and researchers for their extraordinary work. Over the course of its one-hundred-fifty-year history, it has changed and expanded its work, but, at its heart, the Ag Station continues its mission to promote agriculture. Over the course of my tenure in Congress, I have been so proud to work with them in leveraging federal resources to improve the quality of life for Americans throughout the country. My heartfelt congratulations to this extraordinary organization and, as we say in Italian, ``C'ent Anni!''

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise today to join family, friends, and the congregation members of Zion Baptist Church in Waterbury, Connecticut as they gather to celebrate the 86th birthday of Colonel Richard S. Franks. The third of six children and the eldest son, Colonel Franks was born and raised in Waterbury, Connecticut, spending his childhood in both the North End and the City's southern section of Town Plot. He attended Walsh Grade School and graduated from Leavenworth High School before pursuing his collegiate studies. Colonel Franks went on to earn his Bachelor's Degree from North Carolina Central University and then his Master's Degree from Howard University. His studies prepared him for a career in social work, where he specialized as a psychiatric social worker. As was the same for so many at the time, the Vietnam War played a defining role in Colonel Franks' life path. It was either get drafted and almost certainly be sent straight to the front lines or seek assistance in finding a way to use his professional skills to aid in the war effort. He sought the advice and guidance of then Congressman John Monagan. It was through these conversations and the efforts of Congressman Monagan that he joined the United States Army. Though his enlistment committed him to four years of service, it also allowed him to quickly earn the rank of 2nd Lieutenant enabling him to be assigned to a stateside military/veteran hospital where his professional background was put to good use working with injured and returning soldiers. He served four years active duty and then joined the Army Reserves where he continued to serve and earn the rank of full Colonel. After his honorable discharge and while serving as a reservist, Colonel Franks also worked for the Connecticut Veterans' Affair Department using his skills to help his fellow veterans. Today, he is without doubt the oldest Black retired Colonel in Connecticut and likely one of the nation's as well. In addition to his service to our nation and his fellow veterans, Colonel Franks has also been an active member of his community, particularly with the Zion Baptist Church, serving in a number of leadership roles including as a Trustee and Deacon. He and his wife, Dolores, have lived in the quaint community of Prospect, Connecticut for more than fifty years, raising two children and relishing the joys of being grandparents to three and great-grandparents to two. He continues to enjoy time with his five siblings as well--three sisters, Joan, Bonita, and Ruthie--as well as his two brothers, Marvin and former Connecticut Congressman Gary Franks. Today, as he marks his 86th birthday, he can reflect on a life well-lived and know that his many contributions have enriched countless lives and left an indelible mark on his community. I am honored to have this opportunity to rise today to wish Colonel Richard S. Franks a very happy birthday.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 7 minutes. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this bill that does nothing, not one thing to address the Republican healthcare crisis amid a cost-of- living crisis. More than 20 million Americans will have to pay double, even triple their monthly insurance premiums in just a matter of weeks, and this bill leaves families without even a glimmer of hope that their costs might go down. Energy prices are up. Grocery prices are up. Housing costs are up. When two-thirds of American workers are living paycheck to paycheck, you can understand why the most important issue on their mind is affordability. What does President Trump say? Affordability is a ``con job.'' How out of touch can he be? The President should start to listen to the American people, not his millionaire, billionaire friends. President Trump and my Republican colleagues refuse to address this issue. They continue to avoid it. They were so intent on avoiding it that they shut down the government instead of dealing with it. Speaker Johnson has indicated that he will not deal with it. He has shown no interest in holding a vote on extending the healthcare subsidies, which would prevent monthly costs from soaring. Republicans have tried to say they will deal with this problem their own way, but they have no plan. They are trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act, as they have been trying to do unsuccessfully for 15 years. However, they are poised to succeed, which is why it is so important for this continuing resolution to fail. President Trump and Republicans' plan is to drive up prices for everybody, compounding the cost-of-living crisis. More than 2 million Americans are expected to lose their health insurance next year because it has simply become too expensive. There are more than 50 pages of healthcare provisions in this bill. Not one of them stops costs from skyrocketing at the beginning of next year. Not one of them offers relief to American families being squeezed tighter and tighter by the Republican crisis. There is one group of people, however, who will receive some relief thanks to this bill: United States Senators who may have participated in an insurrection. Snuck into this bill at the eleventh hour by Senate Republicans is a provision to pay out at least a million dollars each to eight United States Senators implicated in the January 6 insurrection. Understand, this is a corrupt precedent. This is where Members can profit from their own votes. It is the fleecing of the American people, which they get and understand. At the same time, this bill excludes a provision that would order a plaque to be hung that honors the police officers who put their lives on the line to defend our democracy from that same insurrection. What a contrast. It is yet another instance of this administration's shameless corruption that is financially ruining American families. While there is $230 million for the President to pay himself from the Department of Justice, $8 million for some of his closest Senate allies, $200 million for a pair of private jets for the Department of Homeland Security Secretary, and $40 billion to Argentina, the American people are left with nothing but higher costs. This bill also fails to fully cover the Toxic Exposures Fund, which was created to support veterans exposed to burn pits and Agent Orange. We made a promise to stand by the men and women who served our country in uniform. This bill does not live up to that promise. Mr. Speaker, Republicans need to stop taking photographs with veterans and then vote against their healthcare. Those who lead in the appropriations process here believe in the constitutional power of the purse. Over the past month, President Trump has been firing Federal workers en masse. When his administration has failed there, they have made life so miserable for Federal workers that they had no choice but to leave. Federal workers should be ``traumatically affected.'' Those are the words of the Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought, an unelected bureaucratic. The Federal workforce has dwindled by 200,000 since January, jeopardizing the public services that so many people rely on. I say: Spare us your false concern. Mr. Speaker, since January, this administration has been stealing from our communities, withholding as much as $410 billion in funding approved by Democrats and Republicans--House and Senate--signed into law. They are illegally blocking authorized funds from being distributed. Even now, as we debate this bill, the Trump administration is arguing to the Supreme Court that they should be allowed to withhold food stamp funding that Congress lawfully approved. They were ordered by three separate courts to distribute food assistance and are still fighting to withhold it. It is not connected to opening this government. They have the money. They have it now for food stamps. They just refuse to use it. Imagine using food as a political weapon. It is unspeakable and immoral. It seems like their only plan is to strip children of food assistance, while kicking their parents off their health insurance. They have demonstrated that that is who they are. These are their true colors. We cannot expect Democrats to go along with any bipartisan funding deal if that agreement can be undone with a party line vote. Congress must assert its authority over the power of the purse. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to vote ``no,'' and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I remind the majority leader that for a 60- year-old couple earning $82,800 per year, their premiums will rise by over $17,000. This is a 255 percent increase. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Bishop), who is the distinguished ranking member of the Agriculture and Rural Development Subcommittee.