Nita Lowey

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, cutting funds to bilateral family planning programs is simply bad foreign policy. It undermines U.S. Agency for International Development objectives and hurts millions of women and girls. I strongly urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, I claim time in opposition, although I am not opposed to the amendment.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, while this amendment does not have a budgetary effect, I would like to thank my colleague for raising such an important issue for millions of women around the world. For more than 200 million women, female genital mutilation can mean health problems that haunt them for the rest of their lives. The quest for gender equality will not be complete until women are no longer subjected to these practices. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, I claim time in opposition, although I am not opposed.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, while this amendment does not have a budgetary effect, I thank my colleague for raising such an important issue. I was pleased to be able to increase the resources available in this bill by $10 million, for a total of $100.6 million to combat wildlife trafficking and poaching. Wildlife trafficking generates more than $8 billion, annually. I am optimistic that a comprehensive and appropriately resourced approach to address the drivers of trafficking will help us turn the corner. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chair, most of us, even my friends across the aisle, agree that climate change is a real global threat. Our military also believes this. Prohibiting United States contributions to the multilaterals that combat climate change is a shortsighted, harmful policy that does not prepare our country to face this threat. I cannot emphasize enough that climate change is exacerbating the root causes of conflict. We will see an increasing demand on our humanitarian and other resources if we don't address it now. We cannot afford to stand idly by while others address climate change, nor will we simply avoid its impact. We already feel its effects. This is precisely why we should not be alienating multilateral partners who want to join us in the fight. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, in times of crisis, we seek to join forces with multilateral partners to help mitigate and recover from damage, and our approach to combating climate change should be no different. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chair, while this amendment does not have a budgetary effect, I would like to thank the gentleman for raising such an important issue. The International Outfall Interceptor pipeline is long overdue for repair. When wastewater leaks from the pipeline, it poses a severe public health risk and a threat to southern Arizona's regional economy and drinking water. Mr. Chair, I encourage my colleagues to support the amendment.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change brings together critical multilateral partners so the United States does not have to combat climate change alone. By supporting the UNFCCC, we are signaling to the world that we are committed and serious about combating this threat. The United States has been a party to the UNFCCC since 1992. As chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee, I will never support efforts that jeopardize our treaty-based obligations, and I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, the United States must remain committed to our global partners because climate change just cannot be fought alone. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. Will the gentlewoman yield?

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, while this amendment does not have a budgetary effect, I would like to thank my friend for raising such an important issue. The progress made in Armenia's transition to democracy and the Velvet Revolution is a refreshing development at a time when so many other countries are headed in the opposite direction. This account funds critical programs to counter Russian aggression and influence in Europe and Eurasia and support to key partners like Ukraine and Georgia. I am prepared to work to provide the necessary resources to encourage continued progress in Armenia, and I am willing to accept the amendment.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Speier).

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, I thank my friend for bringing this issue to our attention. The committee takes seriously oversight of taxpayer dollars. I concur with the gentlewoman's remarks. The SIGAR continues to serve American taxpayers by reporting on instances of waste, fraud, and abuse in Afghanistan. The language included in the House report was not intended to suggest that the committee expects or is directing SIGAR to cease operations by September 30, 2021. Rather, the requirement in the House report is for SIGAR to provide a plan on its future state considering the administration's proposing drawdown in Afghanistan. We must protect American taxpayer funds from waste, fraud, and abuse. I look forward to working with SIGAR on effectively achieving this important mission as the U.S. engagement with Afghanistan continues to evolve. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition, although I am not opposed.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, I share the gentleman's frustration that the current withholding, a restriction that has been in place since 2014 that has withheld $165 million to date, has not yet compelled the Government of Pakistan to release Dr. Afridi from prison. It has been reported that after being held for 8 years by the Pakistani Government, Dr. Afridi's health has begun to deteriorate. We must increase pressure on the Government of Pakistan to release Dr. Afridi. Mr. Chair, I support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, pursuant to House Resolution 431, I offer amendments en bloc.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, this en bloc includes amendments from Representatives Cohen, Foster, Connolly, Cicilline, Boyle, Panetta, Krishnamoorthi, Espaillat, Cox, Cunningham, Spanberger, Levin, and Murphy. The amendment includes a number of good ideas that were not included in the original bill. I support this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin), a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cohen), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee.