Nita Lowey

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Foster) a member of the Financial Services Committee.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline), a senior member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Ms. Spanberger), a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Krishnamoorthi), a member of the House Intelligence Committee.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, I yield the gentleman from Illinois an additional 1 minute.

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

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, I claim time in opposition to the gentleman's amendment.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, Ranking Member Rogers and I have worked hard to craft a bill that provides the necessary tools to the Secretary of State and the USAID Administrator to advance United States foreign policy. The bill also upholds many bipartisan positions and congressional interests. I have long opposed amendments that indiscriminately apply an across- the-board cut to the carefully thought-out funding recommendations in each appropriations bill. Such amendments make no provision for protecting high-priority programs and activities, such as security assistance for Israel, which would be cut by $66 million; global health programs, which would be cut by $184 million, including $118 million less for HIV/AIDS activities; humanitarian assistance, which would be cut by $158 million; and funding to protect our diplomats and development personnel and their facilities, which would be cut by $120 million. Cuts would also impact support for other key allies, such as Jordan, Egypt, Ukraine, Colombia, and countries in Eastern Europe battling Russian aggression and disinformation. Mr. Chair, Congress must strengthen, not cut, these civilian agencies so that they can respond to foreign policy crises and protect our economic interests abroad. I strongly urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment.

Mrs. LOWEY. I yield to the gentleman from Kentucky.

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

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, I strongly urge a ``no'' vote on the gentleman's amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, pursuant to House Resolution 436, I offer amendments en bloc.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, this en bloc includes amendments from Representative Kildee and Representative Sherman. The amendment includes a number of good ideas that were not included in the original bill. I support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman), a senior member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman.

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

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mrs. LOWEY

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

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, Ranking Member Rogers and I have worked hard to craft a bill that provides the necessary tools to the Secretary of State and USAID Administrator to advance United States foreign policy. Smart use of global health, humanitarian, and development assistance supports the United States' interests, builds greater global stability, and promotes American values. The gentleman's amendment would, not trim, but entirely cut all these investments, including support to 14.7 million people receiving lifesaving HIV treatment, including 700,000 children; 70 million children learning to read with U.S. assistance; 68.5 million refugees displaced by conflict or natural disasters; and 7,200 Peace Corps volunteers serving as excellent representatives of the United States. How are these cuts in our national interest? Mr. Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote on the gentleman's amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, our national security is strongest when development, diplomacy, and defense are equally prioritized. This amendment undermines United States leadership and diminishes our engagement in the world. Mr. Chair, 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. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Our global partners are critical in combating climate change, and the Paris Agreement is a sign of the global commitment from these countries to fight this scourge together. In addition, climate change is a serious national security threat, and we need to treat it as such by seeking allies, including multilateral institutions to address it with urgency. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Rouda).