Nita Lowey

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, it is time to end the Trump shutdown. Let's vote ``yes.'' Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, the Trump shutdown is now in its 21st day. It is outrageous that more than 800,000 Federal employees are going without pay, many of them while they are still working, and the American people are being denied vital services, all because of President Trump's demands for a wasteful border wall. The bill before us today would reopen the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of the Interior, and other critical agencies, such as the Indian Health Service and the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board. The Trump shutdown has suspended cleanups of hazardous materials and delayed lifesaving rulemaking to keep toxic chemicals like methylene chloride out of American homes. The Trump shutdown threatens the enduring natural beauty and conservation efforts of our national parks as trash piles up and the safety of visitors is in question. Public health and safety should not be political bargaining chips. House Democrats have passed bills to open the government, but the President and the Senate Republicans continue to obstruct and delay instead of working with us to get the people's business done. The solution to this crisis is simple: pass the bills where we can agree and extend funding for Homeland Security for a month to allow time for negotiation on border security and immigration policy. Madam Speaker, I hope that my colleagues across the Capitol come to their senses and stop this ridiculous Trump shutdown.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, the Trump shutdown is now in its 20th day. More than 800,000 Federal employees are going without pay, many while they are still working and the American people are being denied vital services. Due to President Trump's shutdown over his demands for a wasteful border wall, the Food and Drug Administration cannot conduct routine inspections for food safety and has slowed evaluation of new drugs and medical products. USDA is no longer able to provide farmers and rural communities with loans and grants to assist housing, utilities, or economic development. And approximately 40 million Americans who depend on SNAP for food assistance, including more than 3 million New Yorkers, have faced unnecessary fear and uncertainty about whether they are weeks away from going hungry. House Democrats have passed bills to open the government, but the President and Senate Republicans continue to obstruct instead of working with us to get the people's business done. In my judgment, the solution to this crisis is simple: Let's pass the bills where we can agree, where there is bipartisan support, and let's extend funding for Homeland Security for 30 days--1 month--to allow time for negotiation on border security and immigration policy. This seems to me, in my judgment, to be fair, to be thoughtful, and to be the way for us to get together and open this government. I do hope that my colleagues across the Capitol come to their senses and stop this ridiculous Trump shutdown. We can begin this bipartisan path by passing the bill before us. This bill passed the Senate in September with a vote of 92-6. This bill would open the Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration and adequately fund these services through the end of the fiscal year. Sadly, to date, my Republican colleagues have followed the President's blind lead all while jeopardizing these vital services upon which American families and businesses rely. Let's pass the bill today and put USDA and FDA back to work for the American people.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, the Trump shutdown is now in its 20th day. More than 800,000 Federal employees are going without pay, many while they are still working, and the American people are being denied vital services all because of President Trump's demands for a wasteful border wall. The bill before us today would reopen the Department of Transportation, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and other critical agencies like the National Transportation Safety Board and U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. Frankly, it is outrageous that safety-critical personnel who are ensuring our trains operate and air traffic runs smoothly cannot count on a paycheck. They and the thousands of furloughed Federal employees cannot afford this kind of financial uncertainty and missed paychecks. The Trump shutdown has also had dangerous housing implications for many hardworking families. For example, HUD's project-based Section 8 housing assistance program, which covers tens of thousands of low- income renters, is in trouble. Payments have been made for tenants this month, but due to staff furloughs, HUD contracts with landlords that expired since the shutdown began have not been renewed. This could lead to evictions of senior citizens and the disabled, displacing the most vulnerable among us. House Democrats want to open the government, but the President and the Senate Republicans continue to obstruct instead of working with us to get the people's work done. The solution to this crisis is simple: Pass the bills where we can agree, and extend funding for Homeland Security for a month to allow time for negotiation on border security and immigration policy. I do hope that my colleagues across the Capitol come to their senses and stop this ridiculous Trump shutdown.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am so pleased to thank Chairman Engel for initiating and working so hard on this absolutely essential issue. It is really shocking to me, with anti-Semitism spreading throughout Europe and other places in the world, that we don't have a Special Envoy. I have brought this to the attention of the former Secretary of State. The urgency of this issue demands a person who is focused, with a staff, and working with Members of Congress who share their passion. We need this Special Envoy now.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with what we call our cardinal, the chair of this distinguished Subcommittee of Appropriations, and I thank him for yielding me some time. Mr. Speaker, the Trump shutdown is now in its 19th day. It is simply outrageous that more than 800,000 Federal employees are going without pay and that the American people are being denied vital services, all because of President Trump's demands for a wasteful border wall. House Democrats want to open the government, but the President and the Senate Republicans continue to obstruct and delay instead of working with us to get the people's business done. The solution to this crisis is simple: Pass the bills where we can agree, and extend funding for Homeland Security for a month, 30 days, to allow time for negotiation on border security and immigration policy. I hope that my colleagues across the Capitol come to their senses and stop this ridiculous, dangerous Trump shutdown. Unless Congress acts, the American people will continue to experience serious impacts from the shutdown. Taxpayers rely on the IRS to assist them in making big choices for their financial planning. That advice helps families make important decisions, like whether to put money into their savings or buy that new appliance to replace a broken one. With taxpayer assistance, phone lines, and centers closed for business, our constituents don't have anyone they can turn to. Outside of the IRS, small businesses, which make up the backbone of our economy, also take a hit. With no access to Small Business Administration loans during the shutdown, those businesses will remain unable to make capital improvements, and entrepreneurs can't even attend workshops with the SBA to seek advice. We can reopen both the IRS and the SBA today, along with other vital agencies like the FCC, the SEC, and the Federal judiciary. Democrats are again ready to act. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, last night, the Senate unanimously passed legislation that would fund our government through February 8. Democrats are disappointed that Congress would kick the can down the road once again; yet, we remain willing to pass that bill to keep the government open. Unfortunately, even that simple, stopgap measure is apparently unacceptable to a President hell-bent on shutting down the government over his wasteful wall. And instead of showing leadership and moving forward with the Senate legislation, despite the President's tweets, House Republicans have caved once again to Trump's political whims. They now have put up this grab bag of legislation that wastes taxpayer dollars, fails to meet the urgent needs of disaster victims, and, frankly, is dead on arrival in the Senate. With all the challenges facing our country, from soaring healthcare costs to crumbling infrastructure, it is inconceivable that Republicans want to spend $5.7 billion on an unnecessary wall that President Trump himself promised Mexico would pay for. Moreover, the disaster supplemental attached to this bill shortchanges nutrition needs in Puerto Rico, needs that were apparent 16 months ago. Republicans have continued their pattern of denying science by grossly underfunding mitigation and resilience against future disasters caused by climate change. Mr. Speaker, this bill is nothing but another attempt by lameduck Republicans to appease President Trump. It is a fitting final act for the most chaotic and dysfunctional Congress in modern history. Mr. Speaker, I oppose this reckless and irresponsible bill. I urge my colleagues to reject this legislation, and, instead, pass the Senate's clean CR. Keep our government open, and prevent a Trump shutdown. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur), the ranking member of the Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

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

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price), the ranking member of the Transportation, House and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Roybal-Allard), who is the ranking member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee.

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

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), who is the Democratic whip.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman from Maryland an additional 1 minute.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), the ranking member of the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to make it clear that most of the opioids, the drugs, are coming through the ports of entry. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Bishop), the ranking member of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Legislative Branch.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Quigley), the ranking member of the Financial Services Subcommittee.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, Democrats support strong, smart border security, but we will not allow Republicans to fleece American taxpayers by making them pay $5.7 billion for Trump's ineffective wall. I remind my friends that 88 percent of opioids seized come through the port of entry. Let's get the facts on the table. I will say my other comment includes praising Chairman Frelinghuysen for his distinguished career in public service, for the debates on a bill that has an actual chance at becoming law. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.