Nita Lowey

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, the best and the brightest among us--our military, our business leaders, our scientists--all agree that climate change is real and is a serious threat. We are already experiencing its harmful effects which will continue if we do not act alongside our multilateral partners. If we want to prepare our country to better mitigate and manage climate change, then I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, climate change is a global threat that the United States cannot tackle alone, and the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change convenes multilateral partners working together to mitigate damage to our globe. The United States has been a party to the UNFCCC since 1992, thanks in large part to the leadership of the George H.W. Bush administration. As chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, I will not support efforts that will jeopardize our treaty-based obligations. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment. Mr. Chair, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Rouda).

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, the United States is a world leader in many areas, and we need to step up on climate change. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, the amendment applies an indiscriminate 14 percent across-the-board cut to all programs, projects, and activities in the bill, apart from those administered by the Defense Department. The members of our committee worked hard to craft a bill that provides the Secretary of State and the USAID Administrator the necessary tools to advance United States economic and security interests abroad. While we did not agree on every issue, the bill prioritizes the programs and activities that Members on both sides of the aisle requested. For example, under the amendment, global health programs would be cut by $1.3 billion, including drastic cuts to HIV/AIDS, maternal and child health, family planning, and infectious disease programs. Humanitarian assistance, including funds to respond to those displaced by the crises in Venezuela, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and South Sudan, would be cut by $1.5 billion. Embassy security, which ensures the protection of our diplomatic and development personnel and facilities overseas, would be cut by $850 million. Development assistance, which supports basic education, water, sanitation programs, efforts to combat human and wildlife trafficking, and global food security activities in the developing world would be cut by $583 million. Mr. Chair, I strongly urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and 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. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition to the gentleman's amendment.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, our committee has worked hard on a bipartisan basis to craft a bill that provides the Secretary of State and the U.S. administrator with the necessary tools to advance United States foreign policy. As I have said before, I have long opposed amendments that indiscriminately apply across-the-board cuts to the carefully thought- out funding recommendations in appropriations bills. Such amendments make no provision for protecting high-priority programs and activities. For example, the amendment would cut $33 million from security assistance to Israel. It would cut $92 million from global health programs, including $118 million less for HIV/AIDS; $79 million from lifesaving humanitarian assistance; and $60 million from funds made available to protect our diplomats and development personnel and their facilities. Cuts would also impact funding for other key allies, such as Jordan, Egypt, Ukraine, Colombia, and countries in Eastern Europe battling Russian aggression and disinformation. Mr. Chair, I tell my friend, as a grandmother of eight, I strongly urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, we must ensure we do everything possible to expand opportunities for veterans in this country. I will continue to encourage the State Department to increase grant and contract opportunities for veterans and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. Mr. Chair, I support this amendment.

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

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, while deportation policy is a component of immigration and should most appropriately be considered by the House Judiciary Committee, I appreciate my friend raising awareness on this issue. The concerns expressed here today are echoed by many communities across the country who were distressed by the administration's actions. I commend the gentleman from California for highlighting this matter and urge my colleagues to support the amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

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. 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. 2740.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, today, we bring four bills to the floor that reject the slash-and-burn approach of the Trump administration and, instead, chart a new course: one that increases investments in American families to make up for lost ground; one that gives every person a better chance at a better life. With these bills, we are investing for the people. We invest in education and in the health of the American people, in infrastructure, and in the environment, in our national security and in the needs of servicemembers and military families. And let me just say--because, frankly, the administration's misuse of government funds should concern both parties--this bill includes necessary oversight provisions to prohibit the administration from misappropriating funds, including for a border wall. This hallowed institution must not be a rubber stamp for Presidential pet projects. As chair of the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee, I am proud of the fiscal year 2020 State and Foreign Operations division, which reflects congressional priorities that advance United States foreign policy. The allocation of $56.381 billion, a 3.9 increase above fiscal year 2019, is critical to support important investments in our national security, fund our international commitments, and repair America's reputation abroad. This bill rejects the administration's unacceptable budget request and irresponsible policies and, rather, strives to uphold many bipartisan congressional priorities. America's foreign policy is strongest when diplomacy, development, and defense are well-funded and equally prioritized, as many of today's global challenges cannot be addressed by military intervention alone. I want to quickly highlight some of the key provisions in this division. Unlike the administration's fiscal year 2020 request, this bill would ensure ample funding for humanitarian assistance, multilateral organizations, basic education, and reproductive health services. It would also permanently repeal the antiwoman global gag rule and prevent prior funds from implementing this destructive policy. To restore U.S. leadership on fighting climate change, the bill would replace the prohibition on the Green Climate Fund with permissive authority and prohibit the use of funds to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement. It would provide robust funding to our key allies while protecting our investments in the Northern Triangle. Members on both sides of the aisle know these efforts save lives, promote goodwill, and support American interests abroad. This bill would support these programs and restore American leadership in the world. Our talented Appropriations Subcommittee chairs will tell us more about what the other parts of this package do for the people. In totality, this legislation truly is a product of hard work and bipartisan cooperation, with input from Members on both sides of the aisle, that meets the diverse needs of our Nation. Hubert Humphrey once said: The moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those in the shadows of life. This has been our goal. If we pass this bill, it can be our achievement. So as we consider this bill, let's do so in good faith. Let's pass this bill for the good of the American people. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur), the distinguished chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Ohio.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, I am very pleased to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Visclosky), the chairman of the Defense Subcommittee. (Mr. VISCLOSKY asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), who is the chair of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Connecticut.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), who is a member of the Appropriations Committee.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, I yield the gentlewoman from California an additional 1 minute.