Rosa DeLauro

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 829, I call up the bill (H.R. 6119) making further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, before I go any further, I would first like to take a moment to mourn the loss of Congresswoman Carrie Meek. She was an extraordinary force in the Congress and a pioneer who was never deterred by any challenge that came her way. I like to say that though she was unassuming and soft-spoken, she carried a big stick. That is evident in her enduring legacy today. I had the honor of serving together with Congresswoman Meek on the Appropriations Committee years ago, and I feel immensely privileged to have worked with her to help expand opportunity for all Americans. We all mourn her loss. Madam Speaker, I will be frank. Instead of being here today discussing another continuing resolution, I wish that we were here to present a bipartisan, bicameral appropriations agreement. Continuing resolutions are not the way to govern. They are a short-term patch that leaves the American people behind. But we are here today because my colleagues across the aisle have refused time and time again to begin negotiations or even offer a proposal of their own for government funding that delivers for the American people. House and Senate Democrats have put forward their proposals, but Republicans have not presented an offer of their own. There is not one piece of paper describing what Republicans want. It has been 30 days since I brought together a bipartisan, bicameral four-corners meeting on November 2, and to date we have not heard one word from them--not one word. But now my Republican counterparts want more time--something that they have had since we came to this floor to pass the last funding extension 62 days ago, which means we now have no choice but to pursue a short-term extension. Make no mistake, Madam Speaker, a vote against this continuing resolution is a vote to shut the government down. The legislation before us, the Further Extending Government Funding Act, continues government funding at current levels through February 18. It makes minimal changes to address the most urgent of needs during the period of the continuing resolution and provides $7 billion to continue supporting Afghanistan evacuees after the end of 20 years of war. While I wish the February 18 end date were earlier--and I pursued earlier dates--I believe this agreement allows the appropriations process to move forward toward a final funding agreement that addresses the needs of the American people. Let me be clear, working families, small businesses, veterans, and our military need the certainty that comes with passing omnibus funding legislation instead of short-term funding patches. Republicans must join us for bipartisan, bicameral negotiations to resolve our differences and keep government working for us all. For our communities, we need an omnibus to create and sustain good- paying jobs, support small businesses, prevent future pandemics, and advance lifesaving medical research. We need an omnibus to strengthen public schools, protect our air and water, combat the opioid epidemic, and support core services such as food safety and consumer product inspections. Without an omnibus, investments in all these areas will be denied. For our veterans, we need an omnibus to provide sufficient funding for veterans' benefits, reduce backlogs for veterans and their families, and meet the needs of the VA's healthcare system. Without an omnibus there will be a shortfall that will cause veterans not to receive their benefits in full. For our national security, we need an omnibus to support defense readiness and modernization, secure our cyber infrastructure, and strengthen American leadership abroad. Without an omnibus, a pay raise for troops will not be funded while funds will be misdirected to a war we are no longer fighting. As I said before, I wanted to be here today passing a bipartisan, bicameral appropriations agreement. Sadly, we are not. But as Republicans take the next 2\1/2\ months, Democrats remain ready, willing, and able to move this process forward. We are ready to go, but we need willing partners to put the American people first. With a new deadline of February 18, it is long past time for our Republican colleagues to offer constructive proposals to address the critical issues facing the country by funding the Federal Government's important work. As the American people put their faith and trust in us, they deserve no less. Madam Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur), who is the chairwoman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies.

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, once again, the Republicans refuse to come to the table to negotiate, thereby jeopardizing benefits for our veterans and our national security. We can move if they come to the table. I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price), the chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies.

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, antiscience fearmongering about vaccines is wrong. Fears about government requirements for vaccines are flat-out silly. And the Republicans are prepared to shut down the government based on this. Incredible. I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Roybal-Allard), the chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security.

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, once again, it has been the Republicans' refusal to come to the table to negotiate that has stopped the process and forced us to do a short-term stopgap measure. We shouldn't be doing it, but Republicans need to come to the table. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan), the chairman of the Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch.

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Bishop), the chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies.

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), the chairwoman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs.

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, if the Republicans wanted to do something about our defense and our security in the military, they would move to work with us to pass the defense appropriations bill and the omnibus. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), the chair of the Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans' Affairs.

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from California.

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum), the chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Ohio.

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Florida.

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I want to remind my colleague on the other side of the aisle that a continuing resolution is a cut to defense. If you come to the table, we will discuss it, then we can move forward on the defense of this Nation. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Maine (Ms. Pingree), the chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies.

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Cartwright), the chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies.

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

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

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline).

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Let me just say to you that we have heard from a number of advocacy groups urging the Congress to move on taking up a full-year omnibus. Let me just tell you the groups that have written to us. We are looking at the National Defense Industrial Association: On behalf of thousands of companies represented by the National Defense Industrial Association, we write to request the expedited completion of the defense appropriation bill. We talk about the Association of American Universities: Urge you to reach a bipartisan agreement to complete the FY22 appropriations process before the end of the year. The Aerospace Industries Association: Our essential partners are urging us to avoid a further CR beyond December 3, wanting us to come to the table in order to be able to have a full-year appropriations bill. The Coalition for Health Funding, the same message to all of us: Relying on continuing resolutions would be a grave, missed opportunity to improve the lives of all Americans. A full-year appropriations bill. The Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research telling us the very, very same thing: To maximize the potential of medical research, we need to move forward with a full-year bill. The veterans organizations saying the same thing: Do not shortchange veterans and their benefits by holding back on a full-year appropriations bill. Madam Speaker, I include in the Record statements in support of the bill from a broad coalition of groups urging negotiations now, as well as letters from veterans' organizations and America's leading research universities. Broad Coalition of Groups Urging Negotiations Now A broad coalition of groups have joined Chair DeLauro and Democratic Appropriators urging negotiations and agreement on fiscal year 2022 appropriations bills. These organizations include: Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research Our organizations strongly support an approach to the final FY 2022 spending package that avoids additional CRs past December. Aside from the budget implications, CRs create inefficiencies and add uncertainty to a system that is already under stress with the continued reverberations of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We strongly urge you to work swiftly in securing bipartisan, bicameral agreement on topline discretionary spending allocations and to ensure any final budget agreement reflects a strong commitment to the nation's health. Aerospace Industries Association The United States aerospace and defense industries are an essential partner with the federal government in an array of efforts vital to our economy and our national security. Each fall, that partnership is tested when those programs are slowed down or deferred by the use of multiple continuing resolutions (CR) to keep the government running . . . If Congress fails to once again enact full-year appropriations bills, or continues running the government into 2022 under continuing resolutions, it will send the wrong signal to the government's partners, like those in our industry. We count on stable, reliable and adequate funding to support the critical capabilities that we provide for all Americans. American Association for Cancer Research As the nation continues to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, cancer has not stopped, and remains the second leading cause of death in the United States. To better prevent, detect, and treat cancers, Congress must act swiftly to increase investments in cancer research and prevention. A full-year continuing resolution or funding lapse would threaten our nation's research enterprise and stall medical breakthroughs that could benefit the lives of millions of patients with cancer and survivors. The AACR urges congressional negotiators to come to the table and agree to Fiscal Year 2022 allocations that would support robust and sustained funding for cancer research and prevention. Association of American Universities Higher education, research, and innovation play integral roles in our nation's competitiveness, security, health, and ability to combat and overcome the pandemic. Our nation cannot afford continued inaction on FY22 appropriations. In the absence of final appropriations, federal agencies postpone research award decisions and prepare for potential lapses in funding. Continuing resolutions (CRs) slow the pace of scientific innovation and create funding uncertainty for researchers and students. It is vital that Congress complete appropriations this year and avoid serial stop-gap measures and a yearlong CR. Coalition on Human Needs The nation's recovery depends on strengthening a host of domestic programs that have been allowed to shrink for years, not just to get to where they had been before, but to respond to needs far greater because of the pandemic and its global economic dislocations. A long-term continuing resolution would be a severe failure to address these needs. We strongly urge you to enact omnibus appropriations legislation including all twelve bills as soon as possible. Joint Coalition of the Campaign to Invest in American's Workforce, the Coalition for Health Funding, the Coalition on Human Needs, and the Committee for Education Funding The bill passed by the House this summer and the bill proposed by the Senate Appropriations Committee this fall provide vital increased funding for the programs and services that have a profound impact on health and well-being, child development, educational and skills attainment, employment, and productivity. Failing to enact the FY 2022 bill and relying on continuing resolutions (CRs) would be a grave missed opportunity to improve the lives of all Americans. National Defense Industrial Association We cannot stress enough the importance of the defense appropriations bill to our national security and to a healthy defense industrial base. The limbo caused under CRs wastes precious time and money our nation cannot recover. Delayed new starts and initiatives place a strain on companies and their workforce, particularly as they recalibrate operations to a post-pandemic normal. Our nation's competitors face no similar challenges putting us at a competitive disadvantage, particularly with emerging technologies, and place our supply chains at increasing risk, something we cannot afford after the nearly two years of pandemic impacts. Veterans Service Organizations, including the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars A full-year continuing resolution could result in an estimated $7 billion shortfall in funding for mandatory compensation and pension benefits, in large part due to an increased number of benefit claims resulting from congressional approval of new diseases related to Agent Orange exposure for Vietnam veterans . . . we call on you to reject consideration of a full-year continuing resolution that would reduce veterans' funding below what has already been approved in an overwhelming bipartisan vote.

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

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the majority leader of the House of Representatives.

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).

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

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, the Build Back Better Act strengthens our economy and changes the lives of millions of Americans. It fights inflation because it is fully paid for by making big corporations and the wealthiest pay their fair share. No one making under $400,000 will pay a penny more in taxes. It expands and improves the child tax credit, the biggest tax cut for working families with children, a transformative policy that the chairman and I have been fighting for, for nearly 20 years. It is a lifeline for the middle class and lifts over 50 percent of children out of poverty. It guarantees that the cost of childcare will not exceed 7 percent of a family's income. It includes paid family and medical leave, which responds to the needs of all people so they can take time off to care for themselves or a loved one. It delivers a historic and once-in-a-generation investment in combating climate change that cannot wait. It lowers healthcare costs. It provides universal pre-K. I could go on and on. We have an opportunity to build the architecture for the future for working families. Working and middle-class families across this country are counting on us to build a better and stronger America.