Kay Granger

Ms. GRANGER

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Fleischmann), and I ask unanimous consent that he control the remainder of the time.

Ms. GRANGER

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in reluctant opposition to H.R. 5305, a bill that contains many critical items, including a continuing resolution to fund the Federal Government until December 3. Over the last month, Republican Members of the House and Senate have voiced concerns about tying a vote to suspend the debt ceiling with a vote to keep the government funded. It is disappointing, but that is exactly what is happening here today. Even if this bill passes the House, we know it is going to face strong resistance in the Senate. With only a few days left in the fiscal year, this decision alone could force us into an unnecessary and costly government shutdown. I do want to thank our committee chair, Ms. DeLauro, for working to develop a bill that includes priorities of Members on both sides of the aisle. In addition to this bill allowing critical adjustments to be made in government programs over the next 2 months, we worked together on much needed supplemental funding to address hurricanes, wildfires, flooding, and other impacts of natural disasters. Unfortunately, the chair's good faith efforts have been undone by other political decisions. Not only does this bill include language to suspend the debt ceiling, the funding for Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system was removed from the bill after it was filed. I do not understand why this decision was made because it was only 4 short months ago that Israel faced rocket attacks on a scale that had never been seen before. Israeli civilians would have suffered terrible casualties had it not been for Iron Dome. Iron Dome rocket interceptors need to be restored, and that is why funding was included as part of the original package. We should not be turning our backs on our steadfast ally at a time when they continue to face dangerous threats from terrorists. The decision to pull funding will leave Israel more vulnerable. In addition to this funding being removed, there are some other items that deserve further review as we move forward with the fiscal year 2022 appropriations process. For example, we must give the Department of Homeland Security the resources it needs to address the historically high number of migrants flooding our borders. The situation on the border is the worst it has ever been, and we must get it under control. Putting these issues aside, we all know the reality is that we must pass a bill to keep the government open. There is no time for delay. We should not pretend that by considering this bill on the floor of the House today that we will be any closer to sending a bill to the President's desk to prevent a government shutdown. I urge my colleagues to vote against this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Meuser).

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, in closing, as I said before, we all know we must pass a CR to keep the government open. But this bill has too many fatal flaws, and passing it is simply a wasted opportunity. We are not any closer to sending a bill to the President's desk to prevent a government shutdown. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote against this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania.

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 reserve 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. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to include the text of the amendment in the Record immediately prior to the vote on the motion to recommit.

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, my amendment would provide $1 billion to replenish Israel's Iron Dome security system. Four months ago, Israel was under attack from terrorists. The rocket fire into Israel was on a scale that had never been seen before. Countless civilian lives were saved because of the Iron Dome system that the United States has supported year after year. Because of the attacks this spring, Iron Dome rocket interceptors need to be restored immediately. Members have expressed their support for this funding for months. So has the President of the United States, and so has the Secretary of Defense. Now is the time to ensure Israel has what it needs to defend itself in the face of real and growing threats. This is a commonsense motion that would fund the Iron Dome system and reassure our ally that America will never turn its back on the great State of Israel. Mr. Speaker, I urge support of the motion, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

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

Ms. GRANGER

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this bill to provide funding for the heroes in our National Guard and Capitol Police, as well as the brave people of Afghanistan who supported our troops overseas. While I am disappointed it has taken this long to reach an agreement, the bill before us today is a strong package that deserves our support. This bill reimburses the National Guard, the Capitol Police, and their law enforcement partners for the costs they incurred for their heroic efforts on January 6; and the bill addresses safety and security concerns by providing necessary improvements to the Capitol Complex. The bill also provides much-needed assistance to our partners who supported our military during the war in Afghanistan. Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill, I urge my colleagues to support it, 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 rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 4373, the fiscal year 2022 State-Foreign Operations appropriations bill. This bill has many fatal flaws, in spite of Republican efforts to improve it. The concerns raised during markup were not addressed, and many of the amendments we offered at the Rules Committee have not been made in order on the floor today. I will begin with our list of major complaints. To put it simply, the spending level is too high, and the policies are too controversial. This bill alone includes a 12 percent increase over current levels, with $3 billion directed into climate change programs like the Green Climate Fund. For the sake of generations to come, we can't afford to spend like this. In addition to these unrealistic spending levels, the majority has made policy decisions that will complicate any attempts to come to a bipartisan agreement. Most concerning, this bill includes alarming changes to longstanding language to protect the unborn. Language that prohibits foreign aid from being used to pay for abortions was dropped entirely. The bill also includes other controversial changes, such as a permanent repeal of the Mexico City policy, which prohibits organizations who receive foreign assistance from performing abortions. As the former chair of this subcommittee, I am very disappointed to see lifesaving global health activities put in jeopardy because of partisan politics. We must develop top-line spending levels that both sides can support, and we must agree to drop controversial policy provisions. If we want to avoid a long-term continuing resolution or, worse, a government shutdown, we must get serious and do the work our constituents sent us here to do. I urge my colleagues to vote against this bill.

Ms. GRANGER

Ms. GRANGER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 4346, the fiscal year 2022 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill. I wish I could support this important piece of legislation, but unfortunately, it has too many flaws, and it does not reflect the type of bipartisan agreement that we must have to complete the appropriations process this year. At a time of record-high deficits and debt, now is not the time to double down on increasing domestic spending. This bill alone includes a nearly 13 percent increase over current levels. The bill also includes riders that are more appropriately addressed by authorizing committees specifically related to immigration policy. In addition, the committee report is loaded with unnecessary partisan requirements for the Capitol Police that will make it more difficult for them to carry out their missions. The committee report also expands data collection efforts on individuals working in the Capitol and testifying before Congress, including sensitive payroll and financial information. That is not the way to do business if we want to enact full-year appropriations bills this year. We must develop top-line spending levels that both sides can support, and we also must agree to drop controversial policy provisions. If we want to avoid a long-term continuing resolution or worse, a government shutdown, we must get serious and do the work our constituents sent us here to do. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote against this bill.

Ms. GRANGER

Ms. GRANGER. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Womack), who is the ranking member of the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee.

Ms. GRANGER. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Carter), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies.

Ms. GRANGER. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Fortenberry), the ranking member of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Ms. GRANGER. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Joyce), the ranking member of the Interior and Environment Subcommittee.

Ms. GRANGER. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cline), who is a member of the Appropriations Committee.

Ms. GRANGER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume and rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 4502, a package of seven fiscal year 2022 appropriations bills that will be considered this week. I wish the circumstances were different and I could support this important piece of legislation that funds critical programs. Unfortunately, after months of committee hearings and markups, this year's bills have too many fatal flaws. First, there is no agreement between Republicans and Democrats on the top-line spending level for appropriations. Second, there is no bipartisan agreement on the funding level for each individual bill. To put it simply, nondefense spending is too high and defense spending is too low. Third, our colleagues on the other side of the aisle have included the most alarming policy changes I have ever seen. While acknowledging the hard work of Chair DeLauro and her subcommittee chairs, this package does not reflect the type of bipartisan agreement that we must have to complete the appropriations process this year. Instead of crafting legislation both sides of the aisle can support, the bills included in the package were written to address the most extreme views in the majority party. At a time of record-high deficits and debt, now is not the time to double down on increasing domestic spending. Here are just a few examples of the excess spending included in this package: a 36 percent increase for the Labor-HHS bill; a 39 percent increase for the White House; and a 22 percent increase for the Vice President's office. All of this comes at a time when we are seeing inflation rise at the fastest pace in 13 years. For the sake of generations to come, we can't afford to spend like this. In addition to these unrealistic spending levels, the majority has made questionable policy decisions that will complicate any attempts to come to a bipartisan agreement. For example, their funding priorities will reverse the gains in energy independence that we have made over the past decade and will actually increase our dependence on China for critical minerals. Another area that is particularly concerning is that this bill fails to include longstanding language prohibiting the transfer of detainees currently at Guantanamo Bay to the United States. These detainees are the worst of the worst, and we need assurance that they will not be moved to our soil. Finally, the most startling position taken in this bill is the deliberate removal of the Hyde amendment and other longstanding bipartisan provisions to protect life. The bill also provides funds for the largest Planned Parenthood affiliate in the country, which performs thousands of abortions each year. This is not the way to do business if we want to enact full-year appropriations bills this year. With the House only planning to be in session and voting for 12 more legislative days before the end of the fiscal year, we have a lot of work to do and little time to do it. We must develop top-line spending levels that both sides can support. We have countless policy differences that will take time to resolve, and protecting the lives of unborn children must be the first step. If we want to avoid a long-term continuing resolution--or worse, a government shutdown--we must get serious and do the work our constituents sent us here to do. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote against this package, and I reserve the balance of my time.