Nita Lowey

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur), the distinguished chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Ohio.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone), the chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), the distinguished chairwoman of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Cuellar), an outstanding member of the Appropriations Committee.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Ms. Plaskett).

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Without action, the government will shut down in the next 2 weeks, causing undue harm for our economy and hardworking families. This is unacceptable. Our continuing resolution will provide budget certainty for families, businesses, and communities while we negotiate long-term funding for our priorities and fight to give every person a better chance at a better life. I urge support, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my good friend and New Yorker, my colleague, Carolyn Maloney, for organizing this evening so that we can all remember. Eighteen years have passed since the September 11 terrorist attacks, but the memory of this unimaginable tragedy, unspeakable terror, and profound grief remains. When tragedy struck, men and women streamed from the Twin Towers and the Pentagon as first responders ran in and risked their lives. Volunteers sifted through debris for days and weeks, hoping for miracles. Between those horrific attacks and the crash of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, we lost nearly 3,000 family members, friends, and neighbors. We promised to never forget those whose lives were cut short. The pain that we all feel from the loss of our relatives, friends, and neighbors will never heal, but every day we must channel that pain into remembrance and service. By participating in this day of service, we help build a stronger, more unified community to honor the victims' memories. We are also called to care for those who remain with us but suffer as a result of their bravery that day. In July, the Senate followed the House's lead and passed the permanent renewal of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, which was enacted on July 29, 2019. The long- overdue action provides financial security and care for first responders and survivors who are ill from exposure to a mix of burning chemicals and debris. On this and every anniversary of the September 11 attacks, we are reminded of our common purpose and solemn responsibilities: to care for the survivors and first responders, to give our law enforcement the resources to prevent and respond to attacks, and, last but not least, to hold the victims and heroes of September 11 and their families forever in our hearts.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3877. For months, House Democrats have insisted on raising unworkable budget caps so Congress can responsibly fund our government and uphold our commitments to American families. Unless Congress and the President act, the United States will face $125 billion in devastating cuts that will hurt American families and weaken our national security. That is why this bipartisan legislation to avoid this fiscal cliff is so critical. It thoroughly rejects the President's slash-and-burn budget proposal, which would have pulled the rug out from under families and communities by decimating initiatives and services that make a real difference in people's lives. Instead of reckless cuts, Democrats were successful in securing the largest-ever increase in base funding above sequestration levels. With these more reasonable budget caps, we can undertake an orderly appropriations process to invest in critical domestic priorities for the people. While this bipartisan deal represents a compromise, I am proud that it ends the senseless austerity of the Budget Control Act once and for all. I urge support for this legislation, so that we can help give every American a better chance at a better life.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 466, I call up the bill (H.R. 3401) making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and for other purposes, with the Senate amendment thereto, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion at the desk.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on the motion currently under consideration.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), the Speaker of the House.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, the humanitarian situation at our southern border is disgraceful. The Trump administration has exacerbated a crisis that has led to intolerable conditions for children and families in the government's care. We have been advised that agencies that provide critical services for children, including the Office of Refugee Resettlement and Customs and Border Protection, will imminently run out of funds. Earlier this week, the House passed a comprehensive bill to fund these agencies and provide important reforms to ensure that children in our government's care are safe, healthy, and comfortable. Sadly, the White House, which has done so much to create this crisis, refused to work with us to protect the children; and the Senate majority leader, who I am told is selling T-shirts that describe him as the Grim Reaper, refuses to respect the House as a coequal body of Congress and negotiate the differences in our legislation. Left in the lurch by this cruelty and callousness are the babies and children in government care. The House refuses to be a party to this cruelty. That is why we are reluctantly bringing the Senate legislation to the floor today. We could have done better for our children and our families, but, unfortunately, the White House and the Senate would not allow that. So we will fight another day, and we will never stop fighting to protect the children who are our future. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, I thank Chairman Quigley for yielding, and I would like to congratulate Chairman Quigley, Ranking Member Graves, and the outstanding staff for the bill before us. House Democrats are fighting to ensure that America is safe, strong, and moving forward. The investments in this bill to fund financial regulators and small businesses improve the financial security of every American. With the inclusion of funding for election security, we can safeguard our democracy. This bill would provide $12 billion for the IRS, including $2.56 billion for taxpayer services, and $290 million for business systems modernization. These increases are particularly important to secure sensitive data housed at the IRS. Small businesses are the foundation of our economy, and this bill gives them and their employees a better shot at success. A nearly 40 percent increase to the Small Business Administration includes a 14 percent increase for entrepreneurial development programs like Women's Business Centers. To combat the attacks on our democracy by foreign powers, the bill would provide $16.2 million for Election Assistance Commission operating expenses, a 76 percent increase, and $600 million for election security grants. Other important issues would make DACA recipients eligible for Federal employment and prohibit the use of funds from the Treasury Forfeiture Fund to construct the President's ill-conceived border wall. What is not in this bill is also noteworthy, starting with objectionable riders from previous years that threatened Home Rule for D.C., such as the ban on D.C. using its own local funds to support abortion services, needle exchanges, and the legalization of marijuana. The bill would also eliminate three riders related to the SEC and FEC aimed at thwarting transparency and disclosures of political contributions. This bill would invest in a future that supports the security of our data and our elections, while setting up our communities, making sure that our communities succeed. Mr. Chair, I urge support for the bill.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 462, I call up the bill (H.R. 3401) making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3401.

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), the Speaker of the House.

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of House Democrats' humanitarian supplemental to care for the increased number of migrants crossing the southern border. In a matter of days, the Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Homeland Security will run out of money to care for children and families at the border who are already held in deplorable, chaotic conditions, often without needed medical care or even soap and toothbrushes. Children go without showers or clean clothes for weeks, and 7- and 8- year-olds care for infants they don't know, while toddlers go without diapers. This is heartbreaking and, in the richest country on Earth, unacceptable. This bill totals $4.5 billion for basic human needs and better care. It includes $200 million for an integrated, multiagency processing center pilot program with nonprofits, as well as $60 million to assist local entities and non profits serving the influx of migrants. The President's cruel immigration policies that tear apart families and terrorize communities demand the stringent safeguards in this bill to ensure these funds are used for humanitarian needs only--not for immigration raids, not for detention beds, not for a border wall. This bill would better protect migrants' rights and dignity with stronger requirements for care of unaccompanied children, including standards for medical care and medical emergencies; nutrition, hygiene, and facilities; and personnel training. Strict conditions on influx shelters that house children would mandate compliance with requirements in the Flores settlement. Sponsors and potential sponsors would be safeguarded from DHS immigration enforcement based on information collected by HHS during the sponsor vetting process. Madam Speaker, we cannot be complicit in the crisis and suffering at the border. I urge support for this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), the distinguished and outstanding chair of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Connecticut.