Kay Granger

Ms. GRANGER

Ms. GRANGER. Madam Speaker, I have no other speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Ms. GRANGER

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to attend votes due to circumstances beyond my control. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 179, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 180, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 181, and ``nay'' on rollcall No. 182.

Ms. GRANGER

Ms. GRANGER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the service of Ms. Dru Wyckoff, of the United States Army Budget Office, for her extraordinary dedication to duty and distinguished service to our nation. On 31 May 2020, Ms. Dru Wyckoff retired from the Department of the Army after nearly 40 years of government service. Throughout her distinguished career, Ms. Wyckoff served successfully in a variety of operational and leadership roles within the Financial Management career field. Her career culminated with her selection as a member of the Senior Executive Service when she served for 5 years as the Director of Management and Control for the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Budget. Ms. Wyckoff, the daughter of Don and Irene Coffelt, was raised in Ponca City, Oklahoma. She graduated from Northern Oklahoma College and Oklahoma State University. She began her government career as a Department of the Army Civilian in December 1980. She served in several positions as a Budget Analyst, Auditor, and Management Analyst, with the US Army in Berlin, Germany, until November 1986. Transferring to the National Capital Region in 1987, Ms. Wyckoff served as a Management Analyst, Program Analyst, and Supervisory Budget Analyst in the US Army Personnel Command, and later as a Budget Analyst for the Army Budget Office beginning in February 1998. In her role as the Army Budget Office's primary integrator and representative during the development of the Army Program Objective Memorandum and the Total Army Plan, Ms. Wyckoff supported the Army's annual budget submission while directing the fiscal management of funds over the three years of budget focus. She oversaw execution funds control and reprogramming actions of monies appropriated by Congress. Ms. Wyckoff expertly ensured compliance with fiscal limitations and instructions contained in Congressional acts and reports. With every assignment, Ms. Wyckoff brought unparalleled leadership and unquestioned commitment to the Army's Soldiers, family members, and civilians, and while she never sought recognition or acclaim, she quietly and diligently earned the trust, confidence, and respect of Army senior leaders, the Army Secretariat, and the entire Department of Defense financial management community. Madam Speaker, it is a pleasure to recognize Ms. Wyckoff's highly successful career and nearly 40 years of distinguished public service to the Army and the Nation. We are grateful for patriotic Americans of character and commitment like Ms. Wyckoff who faithfully and zealously subordinate self to improve the lives of others. Ms. Wyckoff has dedicated her life to selflessly promote and advance freedom and democracy, and I wish her and her family all the very best.

Ms. GRANGER

Ms. GRANGER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the East Parker County Chamber of Commerce on earning a 5-Star Accreditation from the United States Chamber of Commerce. The East Parker County Chamber of Commerce became the smallest ever chamber to be honored with 5-star accreditation from the United States Chamber of Commerce. They received the award for their sound policies, effective organizational procedures, and positive impact on the community. The organization, which serves part of Parker County, including Willow Park, Hudson Oaks and Aledo, is also one of just four such accredited chambers in Texas and one of only 128 across the United States. The East Parker County Chamber came from small and humble beginnings. In 1996, it held its first meeting at the function room of an RV park located near Aledo, Texas. The chamber had only 50 members at the time and held potluck lunch-time meetings. Because the meetings were informal, friendly, and comfortable, they attracted more business owners. From day one, the chamber grew at a steady pace. Now it is 520 plus members-strong, a dynamic force for promoting commerce in the eastern portion of Parker county. It enriches, promotes, and advocates for business growth that enhances its members and our community. As Parker county continues to grow, I know the chamber will remain true to its purpose and maintain the personal touch that it has had since the beginning. I am proud of the work the chamber does for my constituents in Parker County, and this accreditation validates all they do for our local economy and our community. On behalf of Texas' 12th Congressional District, I offer my congratulations to the East Parker County Chamber of Commerce on this tremendous achievement.

Ms. GRANGER

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, as the Republican leader of the Appropriations Committee, I oppose H.R. 7617, the second package of fiscal year 2021 appropriations bills to be considered by the House. My concerns today will sound very familiar. I had many of the same objections when I spoke on the House floor last week about the first package of appropriations bills. I regret that I again oppose a very important piece of legislation. This bill supports: The servicemembers who risk it all for our freedoms; The law enforcement officers that keep us safe; The small business owners who want to achieve the American dream; The researchers seeking groundbreaking cures for diseases; The ports and waterways that are so critical for commerce; and Our transit systems that millions of Americans rely on every day. Unfortunately, like the bill we considered last week, H.R. 7617 has some fatal flaws that make it unacceptable. First, many of the policy provisions are similar to the partisan legislation the majority has pushed through the house the last few months; and second, the spending levels exceed the amounts the Congress and the President agreed to just last year. Instead of policy and funding proposals being developed from the bottom up within the Appropriations Committee, many of these decisions appear to have been dictated from the top down. This is disappointing because the committee has held more than 100 hearings and briefings in the last six months--even in the middle of a global pandemic. For example, the bill jeopardizes our safety and security by: Repealing both the 2001 and 2002 authorizations for the use of military force, which would limit our ability to conduct counterterrorism operations worldwide; Allowing terrorists detained at Guantanamo Bay to be brought to U.S. soil; and Preventing the United States from exercising the right to defend ourselves and our allies, such as Israel. Our path toward renewed American prominence in space is undermined, giving China the opportunity to dominate the next frontier. The bill gives in to the voices calling for de-funding the police by failing to provide adequate funding for our federal law enforcement agencies. In addition, state and local law enforcement agencies are prohibited from receiving excess equipment from the Department of Defense. Officers should have what they need to protect and serve our communities. Provisions in this bill will halt critical funds used for training and equipment, including active shooter training, body cameras, and bullet-proof vests. The bill also: Blocks the administration's rule protecting health care providers from performing actions that violate their religious beliefs; Forces faith-based providers to discuss abortion, even if they have a personal objection; and Perhaps worst of all, makes changes to family planning grants which will require funds to go to Planned Parenthood clinics. I am also disappointed to see that several long-standing, bipartisan second amendment protections were eliminated. The bill also contains billions of dollars in emergency spending on top of the caps that were agreed to last year. $186 billion is included in this bill for infrastructure without any bipartisan discussions or agreement. Another $24 billion is included to address coronavirus, even though a three trillion-dollar bill passed the House in May and the Senate is moving quickly on its response. We must work together on appropriations bills that avoid controversial legislative language and meet agreed-upon spending levels. This is the only way to get bills through the House and the Senate and signed into law. For these reasons, I oppose this package.

Ms. GRANGER

Ms. GRANGER. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. GRANGER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in opposition to H.R. 7327. American parents want and need reliable and safe childcare options for their children while they are at work. Access to childcare is especially important for those on the front lines addressing the coronavirus. Providers face many new challenges during this pandemic as they seek to understand new regulations and provide a healthy environment for the children in their care. Unfortunately, instead of helping American families and childcare providers, this bill misses the mark. The bill includes an increase of more than $7 billion in childcare funds, even though we know the CARES Act funding still has not been made to some providers who need it. There are also no safeguards to accompany the changes that are made to the child and dependent care tax credit. We saw with the rollout of the Paycheck Protection Program just how important it is to ensure programs are targeted and tailored to help those who need it most. Finally, programs for children have had a long history of bipartisan support, so I am disappointed to see that end today. We need to take a step back and ensure that any bill we pass addresses the problem without creating more bureaucratic red tape for the childcare industry. We must support parents and childcare providers so that they can get our economy up and running again. Instead of passing partisan bills made behind closed doors, we should be working together with the administration on a proposal that can be signed into law. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Ms. GRANGER

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition of H.R. 7027. As the country navigates the ongoing reality of the coronavirus pandemic, childcare is one of the most important issues we have to resolve. Congress must put childcare solutions in place to help working families address their needs, but this bill before us is not the answer. This bill would appropriate $50 billion for the childcare industry-- more than its entire annual revenue. Overly burdensome and complicated application requirements would accompany those funds. This means providers would spend their time on applications and reporting requirements rather than caring for the children and keeping them safe. The bill creates unnecessary confusion by requiring providers to follow CDC guidance and that of their State and local governments even when those requirements may conflict. The Committee on Appropriations has had no hearings or markups to consider this bill. There has been no input from the minority, and there is no opportunity today for amendments. Unfortunately, the majority has yet again used this crisis as an opportunity to push through partisan policy proposals instead of working together to address the very real challenges we face. We can and we must do better than the bills we are considering today. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. General Leave

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

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

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

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

Ms. GRANGER

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I am in its current form.

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I offer this motion today to restore funding levels for a bipartisan priority to counter China. The amendment adds $102 million to restore funding for the Countering Chinese Influence Fund to the current fiscal year level of $300 million. We can all agree that the Chinese Communist Party is actively working against U.S. interests all over the globe--from space technology to deceptive trading practices, to their outsized influence in pharmaceuticals and medical equipment. The threat from China is real and immediate, and now is not the time to retreat in our efforts to stop their destructive actions. The Countering Chinese Influence Fund was established last year to address the growing reality that Beijing has a foothold in areas of critical importance, including in our own backyard. China is now the largest investor in Latin America, practicing the same type of corrupt and predatory financing it uses elsewhere around the world. The commander of the U.S. Southern Command testified this year that some of China's investments in the region could enable the Chinese military to threaten sea lanes vital to global commerce and the movement of U.S. Forces. He also expressed concern about Chinese telecommunications investments and how they could be detrimental to our security. We must directly address Chinese actions in order to protect our national security and maintain U.S. leadership throughout the world. This fund is one way to do that. I hope Members on both sides of the aisle will agree that it is more productive to fund programs with bipartisan support than to fund partisan efforts that have no chance of becoming law. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on this motion, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Ms. GRANGER

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

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

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), the dean of the House.

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bergman).

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Perry).

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Newhouse).

Ms. GRANGER. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. King).