Nita Lowey

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Roybal-Allard), the outstanding chairwoman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee.

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Serrano), the distinguished chairman of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I have great respect for the minority leader, but I ask Mr. Minority Leader: If not this bill, what bill can provide aid to these children? Where is this Senate bill, Madam Speaker? It is being held up by a Republican Senator from the same State as the majority leader.

Mrs. LOWEY. Just let me finish, and then I will be delighted to yield. So I want to ask again: This bill is being held up by a Republican Senator from the same State as the majority leader. So, Madam Speaker, a ``no'' vote on this bill by any Member will ensure that children remain in absolute squalor. Stop hiding behind the Senate bill that has not passed. I yield to the gentleman from California.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Minority Leader, I have to reclaim my time. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Cuellar), who is a member of the Appropriations Committee.

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I yield the gentleman from Texas an additional 30 seconds.

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur), the chairwoman of the Energy and Water Subcommittee.

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

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from New York (Mr. Jeffries), the chairman of the Democratic Caucus.

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Espaillat).

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. The humanitarian crisis at the border demands action. This bill funds a compassionate response, while doing our utmost to protect the rights and dignity of migrants. I urge my colleagues, join me. Let's pass this bill. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the Republican motion to recommit.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, a budget is a statement of our values, and an appropriations bill puts those values into action. That is why this bill invests for the people. We have chosen to strengthen critical domestic initiatives that give every American a better chance at a better life. We have invested in a mix of defense, diplomacy, and development that will keep our country safe and restore our reputation in the world. This MTR is a chance, it is an opportunity for Republicans to share these priorities and explain how they would do things differently. And with this MTR, the minority is giving a clear answer. They have no plan, no priorities, no idea of where we go for the good of our country. Instead of working to strengthen our Nation, Republicans' only proposal is to slash funding that working families depend on. Mr. Speaker, just consider the many critical activities that this MTR attacks: Head Start centers for our children; childcare assistance for families; support for students and teachers; job training for unemployed workers; resources to address the opioid epidemic; lifesaving medical research at the NIH; water infrastructure projects; energy efficiency and transformational science. All of these initiatives would be delayed, delayed, delayed. Mr. Speaker, the minority wants to tell you that this amendment is about responsible funding levels, and that couldn't be further from the truth. So let me set the record straight. Unless Congress acts, unworkable budget caps that snap back into place in fiscal year 2020 will cause deep cuts to both defense and nondefense spending. This MTR would jeopardize our national security. It would slash critical services for children and families, and take our country back, back, back. We cannot, we must not allow our country to careen off this fiscal cliff. Instead, we must raise the caps, invest for the people, bolstering our national security, addressing critical needs across our country. House Democrats have made our position on raising the caps clear. It is time for President Trump to rein in his assistant, Mr. Mulvaney, and agree to a reasonable caps deal. But Congress can't wait for the White House to come to its senses. If we do, we might very well have another government shutdown. To that end, the House voted to deem funding levels that are reasonable, responsible, and allow us to move our country forward. When Republicans were in the majority, they also deemed funding levels. Unlike ours, however, their funding levels were wildly unrealistic. We have chosen a different path, and that is why I am so proud to support these bills which ensure that America is safe, strong, and moving forward. This MTR sets us on a bleaker path, shutting families out of childcare, starving our schools, stopping lifesaving research, and sticking our heads in the sand on the climate crisis. The choice is clear. Vote ``no'' on the MTR. Let's invest for the people. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 3055.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chair, today we continue investing for the people with H.R. 3055, consisting of five fiscal year 2020 appropriations bills that offer a brighter future for American families and make American communities safer and stronger. This legislation invests in America's infrastructure. It would provide billions for the roads, highways, and transit systems of tomorrow. It would strengthen and modernize public housing. It would expand programs that ensure every community has clean and safe drinking water, and it would help bring the promise of broadband to more rural communities. This legislation would protect our environment and tackle the climate change crisis. It rejects misguided cuts to the EPA and would expand climate research. And it would prioritize resilience to the effects of climate change in key Federal programs. Finally, among many priorities, this legislation would strengthen our democracy. Strong funding increases would enable a thorough and accurate 2020 Census, improve civil rights enforcement, and help protect voting rights. This legislation is the product of hard work and input from Members on both sides of the aisle. I am very proud of our talented Appropriations subcommittee chairs and our outstanding staff, and I look forward to discussing more about what this package does for the people. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, I am very pleased to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Serrano), the chairman of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, I am pleased to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price), the chairman of the Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Bishop), who is the chairman of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Chair, I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Chair, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum), the chair of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Chair, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), the chairwoman of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Chair, I yield myself the balance of my time. H.R. 3055 is a bill full of important investments that would make a real difference in people's lives. It truly is a bill for the people. It would improve quality of life, strengthen communities, and offer a brighter future for our Nation. I urge support. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent, in the engrossment of H.R. 2740, the Clerk be authorized to make technical and conforming changes to reflect the actions of the House.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, I am shocked that my colleague would propose an amendment that would strike all funding for bilateral family planning. These services prevent unintended pregnancies, maternal deaths, and abortions; reduce rates of infant and child mortality; empower women to stay in school and join the workforce; create stronger and healthier families; and improve economies. Aren't these bipartisan policy outcomes that both sides of the aisle should be supporting? Family planning does exactly what it says: It helps women plan when to have a family. But, as we sit here today, more than 200 million women around the world still lack access to modern contraceptives. If we want to build the self-reliance of countries, one of the most cost-effective measures is to increase access to the family planning services that women so desperately seek. Mr. Chair, I ask my colleagues to oppose this amendment. I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), a member of the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee.