Rosa DeLauro

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I thank Chairman Womack, Ranking Member Hoyer, and the subcommittee staff, especially Matt Smith and Philip Tizzani, for all the work they do. This Financial Services and General Government bill put forth by the majority is unacceptable. The Republicans propose cutting critical agencies the American people depend on for a stable, secure, safe, and fair economy by a staggering 58 percent. My colleagues across the aisle often claim to support things like law and order, economic competition, and protecting children. Yet, their actions demonstrated by this bill suggest otherwise. Cuts to the Small Business Administration would cut off assistance and resources that help small businesses start, grow, and compete. Cuts to the Securities and Exchange Commission would benefit market manipulators and inside traders over families saving for retirement. Cuts to the Federal Trade Commission would levy higher prices on Americans and make seniors more prone to be victimized by scammers. Cuts to the Consumer Product Safety Commission would enable dangerous products to hit store shelves and enter our homes, potentially harming our children. Finally, cuts to the Internal Revenue Service would protect cheats over honest, hardworking families. We know an underfunded, understaffed, and overwhelmed IRS means the wealthiest billionaires and corporations avoid paying taxes. According to Secretary Yellen, ``In 2019, the top 1 percent of Americans was estimated to owe over one- fifth of unpaid taxes, leaving ordinary Americans to shoulder the burden.'' Furthermore, in 2021, the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy found that at least 55 of the largest corporations in America--in a year they saw over $40 billion in pretax income--had paid no Federal corporate income taxes. Corporations like Nike, Hewlett-Packard, and Dish Network paid zero Federal income taxes. Treasury recently announced that thanks to the resources provided in the Inflation Reduction Act, the IRS is pursuing back taxes owed from about 1,600 taxpayers with incomes over $1 million. They have so far closed 100 of those cases, collecting $122 million since September. That is not a tax increase. That is collecting revenue legally owed. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle frame the debt as a problem of our investments in the American people. We have a revenue problem, and they refuse to let the IRS collect legally owed taxes from their billionaire and corporate friends to address this problem. We cannot stand for the disadvantaging of small businesses, making seniors susceptible to scammers, exposing children to dangerous products, and rigging the stock market for the well-connected and wealthiest. Earlier this year, I met with SBA Administrator Guzman. The Administration is extraordinarily concerned with how they would provide the resources America's entrepreneurs rely on to help start their businesses and grow if these cuts are enacted. Small businesses are an essential part of the American economy and really are the core to the financial security of our middle class. They define Main Street in neighborhoods across the country. This bill not only slashes funding for the IRS by $1.1 billion, but it takes back more than $10 billion in funding provided in the Inflation Reduction Act. This is on top of cuts to the IRS that the majority is pursuing as a condition for providing aid to Israel, and in addition to the $57 billion in cuts to the IRS' Inflation Reduction Act funding in the other 11 appropriations bills. These cuts would rob the Treasury of $130 billion and hand it directly to billionaires, the biggest corporations, fraudsters, and tax cheats. That is not according to me. That is according to the Congressional Budget Office. I have heard my colleagues on the other side of the aisle talk about wanting to be tough on China, and yet this bill includes no funding for the Administration's efforts to restrict outbound investment in countries like China that threaten our national security. The majority is giving a green light to the potential offshoring of critical United States' supply chains to foreign adversaries like China and Russia. Of course, the majority doesn't stop there. They have included dozens of problematic, pointless riders, including prohibitions on the SEC's climate disclosure rule, prohibitions on healthcare and abortion, micromanaging the District of Columbia's traffic laws at a level that is petty and deserves derision. The Financial Services and General Government bill is central to effectively running the Federal Government and providing services to the American people. The majority's bill instead focuses on protecting the tax dollars and priorities of billionaires and big corporations. For all these reasons, I cannot support this bill.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise today to extend my heartfelt congratulations to O&G Industries as they mark their centennial anniversary. For one hundred years, O&G has been a leader in Connecticut's construction industry, and today their expertise covers a wide range of projects from healthcare, where the site must be kept impeccably clean and quiet, to major highway interchanges, where commuter traffic presents a unique variable that must be constantly managed. Founded in 1923 by Andrew Oneglia and Flaviano Gervasini, O&G Industries is a fourth-generation family-owned company. Its founders set out to build a small business based on the principles of quality service and excellence in craftsmanship. Their company culture was deeply rooted in a dedication to family values--a commitment that still exists today. For nearly six decades, O&G has consistently ranked as one of the country's top 400 construction companies by Engineering News Record and is one of the Northeast's largest privately-owned construction companies. With a product portfolio that ranges from the distribution of aggregates, concrete, asphalt, and specialty products, O&G utilizes its network of six quarries, eight concrete plants, and nine asphalt plants as well as its comprehensive and well-maintained company-owned equipment inventories to meet the varying needs of its clients. From building and road construction services to mason products and construction materials, O&G is a recognized and respected industry leader. Yet, O&G's contributions extend far beyond their building and construction projects. From toy drives to supporting the American Cancer Society, their employees engaged in their local communities, contributing thousands of volunteer hours and support for nonprofit and civic organizations each year. Today, O&G Industries is led by Executive Vice Chairman, Raymond R. (Ray) Oneglia, who I am honored to call a friend. Ray has often hosted me at project sites, where I could see firsthand the impact of federal investments, particularly in transportation. Over the years, we have developed a friendship based on respect and a shared commitment to community. Ray is skillfully leading O&G Industries into a second century of success, and I am so pleased to have this opportunity to congratulate him and his team on this remarkable milestone. As we say in Italian--C'ent Anni.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to join the Connecticut Road Builders Association as they not only celebrate their 90th Annual Meeting but also pay tribute to their past president, and my dear friend, Gary Wall. With its membership including contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers, consulting engineers, and professional service providers operating in the heavy and highway construction industries, the Connecticut Road Builders Association represent hundreds of local businesses of all sizes. For the last nine decades, the CRBA has been a vocal advocate on policies and regulations at all levels of government as well as a critical voice in building strong relationships between its members and the labor unions they work with on projects across the state. As its past president, and president of one of its largest members, Gary Wall played an instrumental role in guiding the organization, advocating for its membership, and strengthening these partnerships. I have had the good fortune to know and work with Gary for many years. I am honored to call him my friend and am so grateful for the friendship and support he has shown me over the years. Having grown-up in North Branford, Connecticut, it may not be such a surprise when after his graduation from Quinnipiac University with a degree in Business Administration, Gary followed in the footsteps of three generations of his family, joining Tilcon Connecticut and taking a position working in maintenance at the North Branford Quarry. Since 1923, Tilcon Connecticut has been the primary supplier of asphalt, stone, ready-mix concrete, paving, and construction services throughout the region. Throughout his career, Gary worked in each line of the business--the shop, equipment, asphalt, and aggregates. His lifetime career with the company eventually led to his role as President, a position he held for nine years before his retirement earlier this year. Gary has long been known, not only at Tilcon but across the industry, as someone who cares deeply about the people he works with and is committed to ensuring that they have every opportunity to grow in the industry just as he did. He has demonstrated that same dedication to the communities he has called home over the years. From North Branford to Plainville, New Britain to Durham and Wallingford, and the community of Guilford that he calls home today, Gary has given back, supporting events, fairs and programs throughout them all. His time with Tilcon Connecticut has allowed him to be even more involved. Whether through a donation of money, material, or time, Gary has always ensured the Tilcon team is always there to help. Among his many accolades, Gary may be most proud to have been honored by his hometown with the North Branford Shining Star Award which he received in 2017 for his involvement and commitment to youth programs. Having retired earlier this year, Gary is enjoying time with his wife of 41 years, Colleen, as well as his four children and four grandchildren; traveling; tending to his garden and, of course, tinkering with his antique tractors. Tonight, as the Connecticut Road Builders Association recognizes him for his many years of service to the organization, I am honored to stand to extend my heartfelt congratulations and deepest thanks to Gary Wall for his good work and invaluable contributions--both to the industry to which he dedicated his professional life as well as the many communities he has helped to enrich.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to join the Jewish Historical Society of Greater New Haven in honoring Robyn Teplitzky, MSW for her invaluable contributions to our community. Robyn has dedicated a lifetime to serving the needs of others and in doing so has left an indelible mark on our community. Robyn has devoted countless hours to a multitude of Jewish organizations and service agencies. I, like so many who know her, have always found myself in awe of her energy, dedication and ability to devote so much of herself to the community. Robyn grew up in Hamden, Connecticut and even as a young adult exhibited a unique commitment to making a difference in the lives of others. She was an active member of Temple Beth Shalom, United Synagogue Youth, and the B'nai B'rith Youth Organization. It was through this lens that she developed strong leadership skills and found her passion for social work. She spent many hours on community service projects. One particularly impactful experience was providing volunteer assistance at the Jewish Home for the Aged as the organization navigated a work stoppage. She was part of a true community endeavor to support both the residents and staff. Robyn went on to attend the University of Miami Florida where she majored in social services and Jewish studies. After earning her bachelor's degree, she went on to secure her master's degree in social work at the Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University. Following the completion of her studies, she returned to New Haven to begin her career. Robyn's first job was with the Jewish Community Center and her career has seen her participate in every aspect of the Greater New Haven Jewish Federation, an organization which she continues to work closely with today as the Interim Director for Women's Philanthropy. For more than a decade she served as the Director of Annual Giving and as Diversity Coordinator at Hamden Hall Country Day School and later became the Senior Director of the Mandel Center for Leadership Excellence for the Jewish Federation of America. She is also the founder of RKT Consulting Group and works with nonprofit organizations as a consultant and executive coach. She is also currently serving as the Interim Development Director for inSIGHT Through Education, a Holocaust education program in South Florida. Robyn has a deep love for and connection to Israel and she has devoted many hours to coordinating trips to Israel on behalf of the Jewish Federation. This past spring, she was instrumental in coordinating a mission to Israel for a group of members from the New Haven and Hartford Jewish Federations. Looking back today, I am sure that those who joined the mission are grateful to have had such a meaningful experience. Robyn and the work she has undertaken throughout her life are a reflection of her Jewish faith. Service to the community, cultivating giving in others, preserving Jewish history, and expanding educational opportunities not only for Jewish students but for society as a whole. Her efforts and leadership have been recognized with a myriad of honors from organizations like the Anti-Defamation League, Congregation B'nai Jacob, Yale New Haven Children's Hospital, and the Community Foundation of Greater New Haven. I am honored to have this opportunity to rise today and extending my deepest thanks and heartfelt congratulations to Robyn Teplitzky as she is honored by the Jewish Historical Society of Greater New Haven. She is an extraordinary leader, and we are so fortunate for her continued good work at the Federation and across our community. I wish her and her husband, Jeffrey, all the best on this special occasion. Congratulations (Mazel Tov).

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, today, family, friends, and community leaders will gather to

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to join the congregation of the Beulah Heights First Pentecostal Church of New Haven, Connecticut in extending my heartfelt congratulations on the celebration of their 100th Anniversary. Throughout its history, the Church and its congregation have demonstrated a unique commitment to serve the community and ensure that the most vulnerable of our citizens could find comfort and resources in their time of need. Originally named Beulah Heights Mission, the ministry was founded in a converted storefront on Poplar Street in New Haven during the summer of 1923 under the leadership of the late Elder Walter and Rosa B. Andrews. While their initial membership was modest, just twelve, over the next several decades, under the leadership of Elder Andrews, Mother Andrews, and then Elder Lambert Tolbert, the ministry saw steady growth. In 1943, the Elder George H. Brooks succeeded Elder Tolbert and in 1950 was installed as Pastor of Beulah Heights Church. The installation of Pastor George Brooks at Beulah Heights Church also marked the beginning of what would be an expansion of the Church's work in the community and generational leadership at Beulah Heights. After serving as junior pastor under his father, Elder Theodore L. Brooks, Sr. was installed as the church's fifth pastor in 1988. It was the vision and leadership of Bishop Brooks that Beulah Heights became a pillar in the Greater New Haven community. The first outreach ministry under this new administration was the Beulah Land Development Corporation, launching what still today is an ongoing renaissance in New Haven's Dixwell community. The organization's mission focused on transforming severely blighted properties into safe, revitalized affordable homes for working families. Over the last four years, its Back to School Fair has served over 1,500 children and 3,000 families. Children from preschool through high school receiving backpacks filled with all the tools necessary to be prepared on the first day of school and adults and parents in attendance are connected with a network of health and human services resources from around the city. The Beulah Heights Social Integration Program provides outreach to individuals who have experienced substance abuse, dependence and incarceration-- equipping them with essential resources to help them obtain employment, housing, and mental health support. And the T.L. Brooks Ministries utilizes new technologies to make the preached word available for the masses on CD and DVD. Today, while Bishop Brooks remains an active participant in both the Church and its many ministries, his son, Elder Harold Brooks leads Beulah Heights First Pentecostal Church, while his other son, Darrell Brooks serves as the Chief Operating Officer for Beulah Land Development--representing a third generation of invaluable service to our community. The Beulah Heights First Pentecostal Church has not only been a center for religious worship, but a vehicle through which their members could give back to the community. For the last century, the Beulah Heights First Pentecostal Church has been a fixture in our community, their ministry and outreach efforts leaving an indelible mark on our community. The Beulah Heights First Pentecostal Church gives its members a place to find their spiritual center and to solidify and support their values--a beacon of light and hope for their members and the community. I am proud to stand today and extend my very best wishes to them as they mark this milestone in their history. Happy 100th Anniversary and as we say in Italian, C'ent Anni.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to join the New Haven community in mourning the loss of the Reverend Juan Martinez. At the age of 94, Reverend Martinez lived a full life, full of family, faith, and service to our community. His legacy of advocacy and religious leadership has left an indelible mark and will serve as an inspiration to many for generations to come. Born in Puerto Rico, Reverend Martinez came to New Haven more than six decades ago, eventually making a home in West Haven where he has lived for more than fifty years. He and his first wife, Persida, raised six children, all of whom have mirrored their father's commitment to community. His son, John, was a beloved State Representative for many years before his tragic passing in 2002; Joe a firefighter for the City of New Haven; and Ariel, followed his father in becoming a pastor himself. His daughter, Evelyn, volunteered her time as a supervisor and site coordinator for the Vita Tax Program. A Pentecostal Minister, Reverend Martinez founded the Door of Salvation Pentecostal Church of New Haven where he led the congregation for more than sixty years. As a spiritual guide, he nourished the souls of many--often providing much needed comfort during the hardest of personal trials. A leader in the Pentecostal ministry and understanding the growing need for Spanish language led houses of worship, Reverend Martinez was also responsible for the establishment of a multitude of Spanish speaking churches across the state. As a pastor, Reverend Martinez had a unique insight into the needs of his community. With many in his congregation struggling to find financial and economic security, he looked for ways he could make a difference in their lives. This led him to serve on several local service organization boards including the City of New Haven Crossroads Program, the Hill Health Center, and the Latino Youth Development Program. Always seeking to do more for his community, Reverend Martinez founded the New Life Corporation, an organization formed to aid communities and residents with financial and tax assistance; co-founded the Evangelical Spanish Association of New Haven, which assisted the inner city with low-income housing; and was instrumental in the development of Junta for Progressive Action, the oldest Latino, community-based nonprofit organization in New Haven which began as an advocacy hub to address the needs of Greater New Haven first generation of migrants and has grown to offer no-cost social services, legal services, immigration services, adult education, and youth programs to over 2,000 low-income individuals annually. As a respected leader in his community, local elected officials often sought his advice and counsel. When I first decided to run for Congress, Reverend Martinez was one of my earliest supporters. He introduced me not only to his congregation but also several others across the City. He and his family embraced me, and I have cherished the special friendship we have built over the years. I, like so many others, have and will continue to be inspired by Reverend Martinez--his compassion, advocacy, and commitment to bettering our community and improving the quality of life for all. Today we mourn the loss of a giant--a spiritual guide, a community leader, a friend, and mentor. Reverend Juan Martinez will be deeply missed by all of those fortunate enough to have known him. I extend my deepest sympathies to his wife and partner, Maria, as well as his children; Ariel, Joe, and Persida; and his four beloved grandchildren, Elias, Alexandra, Jonothan, and Priscilla. His legacy will live on through them and the countless lives he touched.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I thank Chairman Cole and Ranking Member Quigley for their work on this bill. I also thank the majority and minority staff, particularly Christina Monroe, Nora Faye, and Jackie Kilroy, for all of their hard work. Americans deserve the safest, most advanced systems in the world, across all forms of transportation. Yet, we have seen our transportation systems fail to meet the needs of the American people. Between air-traffic control interruptions, catastrophic train derailments, highways collapsing, and record pedestrian fatalities, we should be increasing investments to strengthen our transportation systems and to keep people safe, not retreating from our transportation future. Furthermore, every community is affected by the lack of affordable housing. There is a shortage of 7.3 million affordable homes nationwide. Yet, this bill fails to meet the housing needs of a growing and aging population. This bill will make everything from commuting to shipping goods slower, more difficult, and more expensive for Americans. This bill guts rail investments, including a 64 percent reduction for Amtrak, resulting in service eliminations, delays to station improvements, and furloughs to its workforce, which will impact 20 million riders. The brunt of this cut is borne by the Northeast Corridor--from $1.3 billion to $99 million, or a 92 percent cut. Northeast Corridor rail service is the lifeblood of the $5.8 trillion economic region that spans 12 States from Virginia to Maine. Business travelers and commuters, myself included, rely on this service to make our economy grow. Thousands across the region are employed directly or indirectly by rail service and the commerce that it drives. We are not just talking about how people get to and from New York City or how we get to Washington, D.C. There are 7 million jobs within a 5-mile radius of a Northeast Corridor station. Communities of every size line the route, from rural towns to suburbs to urban destinations, and those communities rely heavily on rail travel for connectivity and commerce. This includes communities like Aberdeen, Maryland, and Roanoke and Lynchburg, Virginia, that have stops on the Northeast Regional service. Communities like Connellsville and Greensburg, Pennsylvania, which are connected to the Northeast Corridor by intercity routes would also see drastic cuts. Even beyond the Northeast, at these proposed levels, Amtrak anticipates nearly all long-distance and State-supported services would be impacted on national network routes. Services would be at risk across the country: the Heartland Flyer in Oklahoma, the Silver Service to south Florida, the Texas Eagle from Chicago to Arkansas and Texas, and the Empire Builder from Chicago to Montana to the Pacific Northwest. Thirteen of our colleagues in the majority supported the bipartisan infrastructure law, and even if they did not, they have not missed the ribbon cuttings. Yet, that law was never intended to replace annual appropriations. We cannot make that law's historic investments while gutting the annual appropriations that close the funding gap on complex and costly projects. In parallel, we are setting our transportation infrastructure back decades. The majority sets investments in housing back, as well. This bill fails to protect housing for seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and working families, and it fails to improve the safety of those in low-income housing. Gutting the HOME program, the sole Federal program dedicated to affordable housing construction, by 67 percent will further squeeze the housing supply. This would result in nearly 17,000 fewer affordable homes built or rehabilitated this year and rental assistance for 5,000 fewer people. The bill puts children and families at risk by cutting $564 million for health hazard remediations in low-income housing, including lead- based paint hazards, jeopardizing the safety of our most vulnerable populations. In Flint, Michigan, thousands of children were exposed to lead- poisoned water for more than a year as a direct result of chronic underfunding of the EPA and overreliance on State management of Federal environmental law. We cannot repeat these costly mistakes. To be clear, there is no amount of safe lead exposure. In children exposed to lead, you can expect to see delayed or stunted growth, learning difficulties, behavioral problems, and hearing and speech deficiencies. Failing to adequately address this issue will have dire long-term effects on our children's health and our Nation's future. Our children deserve better. We must be honest about why we have a Fair Housing Act to begin with. The U.S. Government was an active participant in creating the racial segregation we still see today. Black majority neighborhoods were bulldozed to create urban freeways. Racial covenants, redlining, and restrictive zoning were not just the norm; they were frequently required by Federal housing programs. It took the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., and President Lyndon B. Johnson's urging to push this body to pass the Civil Rights Act of which the Fair Housing Act was included as title VIII. Mr. Chair, 161 Republicans and 166 Democrats voted for this landmark legislation because members of both parties understood the deep-rooted problems in this country and decided to meet that challenge. I worry that we no longer have two parties that are willing to meet today's challenges. This bill would cripple our economy and eliminate thousands of jobs, and I must underscore that this is no messaging bill. I am taking Republicans at their word, as should all the American people. This is where they plan to take this country. I must address the unforgivable manner in which community project funds were handled in the markup of this bill. Out of thousands of projects that adhered to published criteria, the majority cut funding for three solely because of their association with LGBTQ+ causes. This is truly despicable, and it sends the message that some of the American people are not worthy of humanity or dignity because of who they love. With unthinkable cuts to transportation and housing and indefensible riders, I must vote against this bill, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. It will take bipartisan, bicameral support to get the 2024 Transportation-Housing bill signed into law. Mr. Chair, I implore my colleagues on the other side of the aisle: End this partisan charade and join Democrats at the negotiating table.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I thank Chairman Simpson and Ranking Member Pingree for their work on this legislation. I would also say thank you to the majority and the minority staff, particularly Rita Culp, Jocelyn Hunn, and Farouk Ophaso. When it comes to caring for the environment--ensuring our air is safe to breathe, our water is safe to drink, and we are resilient in a changing climate--this bill takes the side of the most egregious polluters and climate deniers. This legislation stakes an aggressive anti-environment stance with a crippling 39 percent cut to the Environmental Protection Agency. The ensuing collapse of our means of protecting the environment and public health would mean more asthma cases, more cancer diagnoses, and more unmitigated natural disasters afflicting American families. Let me share a portion of a letter sent to Members of this body from the League of Conservation Voters and cosigned by 61 environmental organizations, including the Trust for Public Land and the National Parks Conservation Association. They said of this bill: Following `` . . . a summer full of record heat waves, horrific flooding, and wildfire smoke blanketing much of the Nation, this bill would gut the agencies charged with protecting our environment and our health and would massively undermine last year's historic climate legislation, the Inflation Reduction Act. It would also introduce an onslaught of extreme anti-environmental policy mandates that have no place in the appropriations process. This attack on our health, lands, wildlife, biodiversity, air, water, oceans, and communities is unacceptable and must be rejected.'' The bill cuts the EPA's clean air program by at least $200 million and eliminates funds for environmental justice. It cuts the EPA's infrastructure grant programs by a staggering $1.8 billion. These are not numbers on a page. We are talking about the air in our skies and in our lungs. This is the water we drink, bathe in, and cook with. These are basic life necessities that we have a simple obligation to protect for the American people. In addition to endangering the global climate and public health, this bill slashes funding for the arts, including the National Endowment for the Arts' flagship Grants for Arts Projects program which benefits individual and community well-being and supports the economy in all of our 435 congressional districts. This bill will prohibit the Smithsonian from highlighting the contributions of Latinos in U.S. history and culture by not making it possible to move forward with the national museum of the American Latino making Hispanics invisible. This is shameful, and it does not represent America's values. The ramifications of cuts in this bill would reach every corner of the Interior Department. It damages our public lands, promotes dirty energy, jeopardizes biodiversity, and disarms America in the face of the climate crisis. Sharp cuts to the National Park Service means fewer seasonal employees and furloughing existing permanent park employees. The funding loss translates to dozens of employees who are trying to do their job every single day at Yellowstone National Park, Glacier National Park, Sequoia National Park, and Zion National Park, and many more of our Nation's prized national parks being furloughed. These are beloved public lands, and these cuts will mean longer wait times and fewer services available when our constituents and visitors from around the globe travel to experience these jewels of our Nation's geographic diversity. The majority is also opening our public lands--the property of the American people--for oil, gas, and mineral leasing, in some cases going as far as blocking judicial review of these transactions. The majority is hindering clean energy projects while promoting fossil fuels lease sales, and the majority is accelerating ecosystem decline by abandoning protections for our most vulnerable apex predators like the gray wolf and grizzly bear. I have proudly worked across the aisle to protect our environment for Americans past, present, and future, and I am immensely disappointed to see the majority abandon their commitment to conserving America's fragile lands and natural resources. I would not think Republicans need reminding of their own party's history, but this bill is a notable reversal from the proud and bold conservation efforts of the Republicans I have worked with in decades past. I need not remind my colleagues which President created the EPA: Richard M. Nixon. Finally, as we continue to see in each of these partisan bills, this legislation includes riders that prohibit funding diversity, equity and inclusion, and accessibility in the Federal workforce, none of which belong in any bill, but especially appropriations. With its dangerous and costly cuts and indefensible riders, I must vote against this bill, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. It will take bipartisan support to get the 2024 Interior bill signed into law, and this bill does not achieve that. I appeal to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to end this partisan charade and join with Democrats at the negotiating table.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, to remind my dear friend from Arkansas that this bill, for the first time, would condition aid to Israel, which is something we have never done before. Thank you Ranking Member DeLauro. Mr. Speaker, the United States faces two immense national security crises at one time. Russia's illegal and unjust invasion of Ukraine, and Israel's military response to the barbaric Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7th. I commend President Biden for swiftly sending a comprehensive emergency appropriations request that addresses attacks on both democracies and addresses the crisis in Israel and Gaza. I fully believe Israel deserves support for its security after children and families were hunted down and attacked in their own homes by Hamas terrorists. At the same time our country cannot ignore the suffering of children and their families in Gaza who are in immediate danger and desperately need humanitarian assistance and a safe place to be. That is why it is so disappointing that a fringe, extreme minority in the Republican Majority has insisted on bringing this bill to the floor. On numerous votes, more than 300 House members on both sides of the aisle are on record supporting Ukraine's fight for freedom, along with the Senate and the President. The Republican bill ignores the urgent need to sustain support for our NATO allies and Ukraine, effectively abandoning their democracy and their ability to protect their people against Russian aggression. Putin himself claims ``if the aid stops tomorrow. [Ukraine] will live for only a week [until] they run out of ammo.'' This bill fails to include urgently needed humanitarian assistance for Palestinian civilians in Gaza who are in immediate harm's way. The situation there currently for families and children is rapidly deteriorating because countless Palestinians lack access to food, safe shelter, medical supplies, and even potable water. Humanitarian assistance must flow faster. All hostages must be released. And we must work with the United Nations and regional partners on a ceasefire that every involved party is held to. We must work together to bring the conflict to an end before it escalates further. Until then, declared safe areas must be truly safe for innocent civilians in Gaza fleeing violence. For the security of both Israeli and Palestinian families--the violence must stop. Finally, this bill ignores the longstanding bipartisan precedent of providing emergency appropriations without an offset. This so-called pay-for cuts funds from IRS tax enforcement that will only enable more tax evasion by rich tax cheats costing taxpayers money. President Biden has alread said he will veto this ill-conceived bill. We are wasting precious time on a bill that's dead on arrival. Therefore, I stand in strong opposition and urge my colleagues to oppose this bill that fails to meet the moment. We cannot let a handful of extremist MAGA Republicans dictate our foreign policy. I yield back. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Defense.

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, we live with deepening crises around the world, and America's leadership is being challenged like at no other juncture in our history. You can be sure Putin is watching. Ayatollah Khamenei is watching. Are they going to see a united and strong America that shows why we are admired and why we are exceptional? This Congress is called to respond to the crises in Ukraine, Israel, the Indo-Pacific, and here at home on our border, and I hoped we would be debating a bill that rose to the seriousness of these crises without delay. However, this bill fails Israel, and this bill fails the 1,400 Israelis and 36 Americans who were slaughtered in their homes and on the streets in cold blood. Those brutal massacres recalled the Holocaust. This is a holocaust, a different kind of massacre, that demanded that Israel act against Hamas with the support of the United States. What the House Republicans have done is unprecedented and will mean any aid to Israel will be delayed. First, it puts a poison partisan bill that removes funding to ensure the richest Americans and corporations pay taxes. It is supposedly paid for with cuts to the IRS of $14.3 billion, which the CBO says will nearly double the cost of this bill and add $12 billion to the deficit. It furthers the Republican goal of keeping billionaires and the big corporations from paying taxes. Second, it is conditioning an emergency appropriation. We do not condition emergency appropriations. Understand, this is the first time we have conditioned aid to Israel. Is Israel less important than other national emergencies? Is Israel just a budget line? Is it just more fodder for the partisan wars that polarize America? It is outrageous that a major emergency funding bill in response to the worst attack on Jewish people since the Holocaust is tied to offsets. Israel, our closest ally in the Middle East, is reeling from a terrorist attack and urgently needs our support. This bill tells our allies that should they find themselves in an existential war for their democracy and their freedom, we will not put aside our partisan wars. This bill abandons Ukraine. We will not abandon Israel, and we will not abandon Ukraine, but their fortunes are linked. Ukraine's fight for democracy and sovereignty requires decisive action and absolute support from the free world. We must act like the leaders of the free world. This bill tells America's border communities that they cannot count on us for security or support. Let me go to another critical part of this bill. It provides only military aid. It provides no humanitarian aid for the innocent civilians caught in the middle of this war. Are you watching the unfolding of this war and have no humanity? Let me remind the Speaker of his colleague's nominating speech. Congresswoman Stefanik recalled ``In God We Trust'' emblazoned over the Speaker's chair. The Speaker reiterated ``In God We Trust.'' The Speaker said to look to the Bible to know his thinking, and I, too, look at my Catholic faith. In this critical bill, we remove all help for the civilians being killed in this war. Hamas is responsible for spreading a humanitarian crisis as it builds its armaments deep inside civilian centers, but the bombing of the Jabalia refugee camp created unacceptable civilian losses. We need a humanitarian pause, and that is why we need a serious bill that addresses all the national security crises facing our country and that reaches for support in both parties. House Democrats are ready to work with House Republicans on legislation that supports our allies abroad, including Israel and Ukraine; protects our national security; provides humanitarian assistance; secures our border; and makes much-needed domestic investments. House Republicans so far refuse to join us at the negotiating table. We need to prove, as we did in the years after World War II and throughout the Cold War, that we can protect, defend, and nurture global democracy as the preeminent form of governance at the same time we serve the American people. Our allies and the American people have no more time to wait. We must now act to defend our allies, protect civilians, and serve the American people's urgent needs. This bill does none of the above, so I urge my colleagues to withhold their support. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development.

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government.

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), the ranking member of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs Subcommittee.

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Quigley), the ranking member of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee.

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Lois Frankel), a member of the Appropriations Committee.

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman cared about what is happening to women, children, and babies, there would be humanitarian assistance in this package. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler), the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee.

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman).

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, on September 29, the gentleman who just spoke voted for a billion-dollar cut to Israel. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks), the ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from New Jersey, on September 29, voted for a billion-dollar cut in aid to Israel. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett).

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

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Schneider).

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, may I ask how much time is remaining.

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Goldman).

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the House Republican 2024 Legislative Branch funding bill. This bill falls short of ensuring we can continue to grow a strong and well-functioning legislative branch that is essential to our democracy. As an institution, we should be increasing our ability to serve our constituents and recruit and retain talented staff and United States Capitol Police officers. We should not merely be treading water. This bill eliminates the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and does nothing to facilitate the use of funds for collective bargaining rights for congressional staffers. This bill also does not allow legislative branch agencies to employ individuals who are authorized for employment under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Act, DACA. We made progress in the last Congress, but this bill will take us backwards. Ranking Member Espaillat said during the markup of this bill, but I believe it is a point that we should emphasize again today: We all have an obligation to make sure that our staff, whether they serve here in Washington, D.C., or if they serve in our home districts, are safe. I support my colleague's efforts to increase funding to bolster that safety. This bill is not an appropriate venue for divisive and partisan language, especially the extreme and offensive culture wars riders that House Republicans have placed in each one of the appropriations bills that we have considered. We should be working together to ensure that the Congress is able to serve the American people, complete the people's business safely, securely, and efficiently, our political differences notwithstanding. Bipartisan, bicameral legislation is required to keep the government open. Otherwise, the President will not sign a bill. Bipartisan, bicameral legislation is required to fully fund the legislative branch. It is time for House Republicans to abandon a partisan path to nowhere and to join House Democrats at the negotiation table. We have wasted enough time. Let us move forward. We are here. We are ready to get to work for the American people. For all of these reasons, I cannot support this bill, and I ask others not to support it.