Kay Granger

Ms. GRANGER

Ms. GRANGER. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Collins).

Ms. GRANGER. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Georgia.

Ms. GRANGER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. We must reject this bill today and develop a bipartisan solution to address the crisis at our border. Workers, and children, and caretakers, and Border Patrol have been waiting almost 2 months for the resources they need to do their jobs and receive our care. This bill turns our backs on these people and ties the President's hands. I implore Members to stop this and vote ``no'' on this measure. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. GRANGER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Almost 2 months ago, the administration sounded the alarm about the crisis at our southwest border and told the Congress additional funds were badly needed. Now, 2 months later, we are here. We have this border supplemental appropriations bill, H.R. 3401, that falls terribly short and will only further delay addressing the problem. I oppose this bill in its current form. Hundreds of thousands of people have arrived at the border this year. Some are coming through points of entry, and many are crossing through the desert or the Rio Grande. Men and women across agencies and departments have been working together to try to respond to the overwhelming surge of people coming to the border illegally for the past 3 months, totaling over 100,000 people per month. Last month topped that: 144,000 men, women, and children from 51 countries. Our agents and officers, our volunteers, our nongovernmental organizations are dealing with nearly 20,000 people in a space designed for a fraction of that. They are dealing with the increasing summer heat, and they are dealing with migrants with grave medical conditions. This is a real crisis, and we need a bill that provides for all the agencies that are involved in responding. It is long overdue. The bill before us does not provide Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Department of Defense, or the immigration courts with the funds they need. In addition, the bill includes provisions tying the administration's hands, including restrictions on foreign aid to Central American countries and stopping HHS from changing policies that could protect unaccompanied children. We are out of time. Some of our agencies are spending money they don't have because they have must-pay bills for contracts for food and shelter and transportation and medical care. I want everyone to be very aware of what they are dealing with: People are waiting in terrible conditions in the desert, and summer is here; children are sleeping on the ground and need to be moved to shelters or homes. We need doctors and pediatricians. We need caregivers. We need immigration courts to rule in a timely manner. We should not force those who have submitted claims for asylum and other forms of release to wait any longer. The more time we spend on partisan measures, the longer it will be before help arrives to those who desperately need it. We need to act now on a bipartisan solution, and I urge my colleagues to reject this bill. It is partisan and dangerous. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Ms. GRANGER. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Rutherford).

Ms. GRANGER. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Florida.

Ms. GRANGER

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Chair, I thank Mr. Graves for yielding. I appreciate the work that he and Chairman Quigley have done to craft a Financial Services and General Government bill for fiscal year 2020. The bill includes many priorities of Members on both sides of the aisle, such as support for small businesses, drug control programs, and the Treasury Department's counterterrorism and financial intelligence efforts. However, I am concerned that there are several controversial items in the bill regarding immigration policy, the border wall, collective bargaining, and many other provisions that will tie this administration's hands. Regarding the District of Columbia, this bill fails to provide appropriate oversight. It is disappointing that the bill does not include a longstanding pro-life provision regarding the use of D.C. local funds. I am also troubled that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle rejected an amendment offered in committee by Dr. Harris that would prevent the District of Columbia from legalizing solicitation of prostitution or profiting from the sex work of others. The possibility of the bill pending before the D.C. Council becoming law is appalling, and Congress must make it clear that this is unacceptable. Congress should not allow prostitution to be legalized in our Nation's capital. Additionally, the bill includes an 8 percent increase in spending above the current year. This level of spending is excessive, and as I have said before, this bill is written using an unrealistic top line funding level. In order for our work to be meaningful and produce bills that can be signed into law, leaders from both parties and the administration must come together and develop a mutually agreeable funding framework. Then we can turn to drafting appropriations bills with bipartisan support that can be signed into law. In closing, I would like to thank Chairwoman Lowey, Chairman Quigley, Mr. Graves, as well as all of the subcommittee members and the staff for their hard work on this bill.

Ms. GRANGER

Ms. GRANGER. Madam Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hudson).

Ms. GRANGER. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. As I said before, these bills were written to an unrealistic top-line funding number. We still do not have consensus on a budget agreement. Moving this second appropriations package today as-is is another wasted opportunity. The package irresponsibly increases spending, jeopardizes our Nation's security, and burdens industry with more regulations. Madam Chair, I strongly urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this package. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Diaz-Balart).

Ms. GRANGER. Madam Chair, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Fortenberry).

Ms. GRANGER. Madam Chair, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Joyce).

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise today in opposition to H.R. 3055. Unfortunately, this appropriations bill and the bill that just passed the House are written to an unrealistic top-line funding number, $176 billion above the current budget caps. We still do not have a consensus on a budget agreement for fiscal year 2020, which could lead to sequestration, resulting in devastating cuts to our military. Moving this second appropriations package today as is is another wasted opportunity. The funding levels are far from what the President has requested and will support. Total discretionary funding in this bill is nearly 10 percent above the fiscal year 2019. In addition, this package contains poison pill provisions that will likely lead to a veto and another government shutdown. The package jeopardizes our Nation's security. Some of the most troubling provisions include: preventing funds from being used for the border wall or barriers; limiting the President's ability to respond to a national emergency; and allowing Guantanamo Bay detainees to be transferred to the United States. The bill allows taxpayer dollars to be used to provide lawyers for migrants crossing the southern border and prohibits a question on citizenship to be added to the 2020 Census. If this bill is enacted, industry would be burdened by more regulation. The bill allows the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions from livestock, as outlined in the Green New Deal; it supports the listing of sage-grouse under the Endangered Species Act, which would impact energy and mineral development in 11 Western States; and it includes three new regulations that would unfairly burden the trucking industry. The bill also prohibits the administration from setting reasonable fuel efficiency standards, and the legislation attacks our Second Amendment rights by removing the longstanding firearms-related protections. The bill also includes new language that was not voted on in committee, which would provide backpay to certain Federal contractors who were affected by the government shutdown. This comes with a high price tag. CBO says it would cost $1 billion to implement this provision. It is disappointing that this language is being slipped into this package. Perhaps, even more concerning is that we are considering this bill before we address the crisis at the border. This situation is getting worse by the day, and we must take action now. I am encouraged to hear the Senate marked up a bipartisan bill in committee this morning, and I hope we can move legislation through both Chambers and get it signed by the President very soon. The bottom line is the priorities reflected in this bill are misguided. The bill spends too much money, and it contains partisan policy issues that will not make it into law. This package falls short of what our constituents and the American people expect and deserve. I know that my colleague and friend, Chairwoman Lowey, has worked very hard to get us to this point today and that she and her subcommittee chairs included many priorities of both Members on both sides of the aisle. Unfortunately, on balance, these bills are partisan measures, and I cannot support them in their current form. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass a commonsense border security supplemental bill and a bipartisan budget agreement. Then we can turn to the work we have to do to complete the fiscal year 2020 bills. We must give the President bills he will sign into law that are at more reasonable funding levels and without controversial riders. Mr. Chair, I strongly urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this package, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Chair, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Aderholt).

Ms. GRANGER. Madam Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Carter).

Ms. GRANGER. Madam Chair, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Alabama (Mrs. Roby).

Ms. GRANGER

Ms. GRANGER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Margo Dean and the Ballet Concerto on 50 years of bringing dance and inspiration to the Fort Worth Community. Ballet Concerto was founded in 1969 by Artistic Director, Margo Dean, who has served in that role since its inception. The progrm has brought the art of ballet and other forms of dance to people of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds in Fort Worth. Ballet Concerto was the first ballet program in the State of Texas to go into public schools, and was the first arts program of any kind, to be approved by the Fort Worth Independent School District, to present educational lecture demonstrations to its students. Margo Dean and the Ballet Concerto annually presents the Summer Dance Concert, a free, professional, outdoor performance to the Fort Worth Community that creates an outlet for talented young dancers, employment for local professionals, and opportunities for emerging local choreographers, and nationally and internationally renowned choreographers to premiere original, ground-breaking works. I offer my thanks and congratulations to Margo Dean and the Ballet Concerto for enlightening and enriching the lives of the citizens of Fort Worth for the past 50 years.

Ms. GRANGER

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Chair, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert).

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chair, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 2740. The Appropriations Committee has held more than 120 hearings this year on topics ranging from our Nation's defense priorities to the crisis of unaccompanied children coming to our southern border. We have now marked up all 12 bills in subcommittee and full committee. Unfortunately, each bill brought before the committee was written to an unrealistic top-line funding number--$176 billion above current budget caps. We still do not have consensus on a budget agreement for fiscal year 2020, which could lead to sequestration, resulting in devastating cuts to our military. Moving these bills as-is is a wasted opportunity because the bills are far from what the President has requested and will support. Defense spending does not meet the request, while nondefense spending greatly exceeds the request and current levels. This could lead to a veto and another government shutdown, something both agreed would be devastating. In addition to these funding concerns, these bills have, unfortunately, become partisan vehicles, reversing pro-life policies and risking the safety and security of the American people. Many provisions in this bill also force a return to policies of the previous administration and place unnecessary restrictions on Federal agencies. For example, the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education division of this five-bill package includes $100 million to help people sign up for ObamaCare, forces the administration to send grants to Planned Parenthood clinics, and blocks pro-life rules from going into effect. Similarly, the State and Foreign Operations division prevents implementation of the President's expanded Mexico City policy. It provides $479 million to repay United Nations peacekeeping costs, even though the United Nations has not made the required reforms, and prohibits funds to withdraw from the Paris climate accord. For defense, there is no funding for any type of barrier or fence along the southern border, something badly needed and obvious if you visit that place. There are also other harmful reductions. Procurement is $4.8 billion below the FY 2019 level, and research and development is $2.2 billion below the request. These cuts are very concerning and put us in a serious problem when relating to China and Russia. The bill also repeals the Authorization for Use of Military Force, which could jeopardize the Defense Department's ability to conduct military operations worldwide. It is a bad policy and will force the DOD to unwind counterterrorism operations overseas if the Congress and the President cannot agree on a new authorization. The Energy and Water division only includes half of the requested funding for our nuclear weapons stockpile. There is also no funding for a permanent site for nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain. I would hope that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle would make in order an amendment to address immediate needs on our southwest border. The ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee, Mr. Rogers, and I submitted an amendment to the Rules Committee that, unfortunately, will not be debated today. This is yet another missed opportunity to address the humanitarian and security crisis. There were over 140,000 apprehensions of migrants at the border just last month, making apprehensions this year alone equivalent to the population of Atlanta, Georgia. By the end of the fiscal year, apprehensions could reach 1 million people. The most troubling statistics are on the number of unaccompanied children coming to the border. Last week, approximately 2,500 children and teenagers were sleeping on the ground waiting to be referred to the Department of Health and Human Services to be connected with family members and sponsors. HHS expects 100,000 children and teens to be referred for placement this fiscal year. Unfortunately, our agencies do not have the resources needed to care for these children, and, in fact, HHS could run out of money by the end of this month--run out of money by the end of this month. If we are not going to address this problem in this bill, we need to come together and pass a stand-alone bill to meet these needs. We were all elected to responsibly represent the best interests of our constituents, and this package falls short. We can't afford to overfund nondefense programs, underfund defense initiatives, load these bills with controversial poison pill riders, and ignore the situation at our southern border. This package does just this, risking both our economic and our national security. I know that my colleague and friend, Chairwoman Lowey, has worked tirelessly to get us to this point today, and she and her subcommittee chairs included many bipartisan priorities. Unfortunately, on balance, these bills are partisan measures, and I can't support them in their current form. I look forward to working with my colleagues to develop a bipartisan budget agreement and to remove controversial language and funding in a final appropriations package. I strongly urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this package today, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole).

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Chairman, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Simpson).

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Chair, I yield 6 minutes to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers).

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Chairman, I yield back 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 ``yea'' on rollcall No. 249 and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 250.