Nita Lowey

Mrs. LOWEY

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

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this bill, which guts critical investments in clean energy, guts clean water protection. The Republican raw deal prioritizes President Trump's border wall and deportation force over much-needed increases to services that help American families, from early childhood education, job training, to securing the sanctity of our elections. I vote ``no,'' and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor my constituent, Louis C. Tharp of Upper Nyack, New York. Mr. Tharp recently finished a six-year term on the Army Education Advisory Committee, a committee governed by the Federal Advisory Committee Act. During his tenure on the Army Education Advisory Committee, Mr. Tharp worked on a number of important issues including women in combat, sexual assault and harassment, a facilitated soldier teaching plan, soldier talent management, Soldier 2020, an assessment of drill sergeant responsibilities, and second-and third-order effects of transgender integration. He was recommended for this Senior Executive Service position by former Pennsylvania Congressman Patrick Murphy and the Victory Institute's Presidential Appointments Initiative. During his tenure at West Point, Mr. Tharp served as the first out gay coach and authored ``Overachiever's Diary, How the Army Triathlon Team Became National Contenders.'' The proceeds from its sale benefited the team. Mr. Tharp served honorably in the Indiana National Guard. In addition, he has contributed to several organizations, including Knights Out, the West Point LGBT alumni association, and the Rockland County Anti-Bias Commission, which he chaired. He currently serves as Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Global Healthy Living Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of people with chronic illness. Mr. Tharp and his husband, Jim Bumgardner, will celebrate 34 years together this fall. Mr. Speaker, I urge my fellow Members of Congress to join me in expressing thanks to Mr. Tharp for his service.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Schneider) for working with me on this very important amendment. Indian Point Energy Center, in my district, is scheduled to cease operations in 2021. When the plant closes, the village of Buchanan will be left with a large amount of stranded nuclear waste on site. This amendment would help Buchanan and the town of Cortlandt access vital resources for economic redevelopment. Until the Department of Energy takes title to nuclear waste and removes it from our communities, the Federal Government must do all it can to support these de facto interim storage sites. Mr. Chair, I urge adoption of the amendment.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, our Nation still grieves the loss of a great New Yorker, Louise Slaughter. I will never forget when Louise and I, still just junior Congresswomen at the time, charged up the steps of the U.S. Senate to demand that Anita Hill be allowed to testify against Clarence Thomas. Louise never lost that fighting spirit, fearlessness, and commitment to justice, equality, and women's rights. She broke barriers, becoming the first woman to chair the House Rules Committee, and set a strong example of public services and principled leadership as dean of the New York congressional delegation. As a leading champion of women's empowerment, she proudly represented Seneca Falls, the site of the first women's rights convention. It was an honor to charge alongside Louise up the steps of the Senate that fall day years ago, and during the many battles we fought together for America's healthcare, women's rights, opportunity for working men and women, and so much more. New York, the Congress, and our country have suffered an immeasurable loss. I do pray that Congresswoman Slaughter's family and the legions of staff who served her may find comfort knowing her great legacy and many accomplishments have improved the lives of so many Americans.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the Consolidated Appropriations Act repudiates the abysmal Trump budget, investing robustly in critical priorities like childcare, transportation infrastructure, national security, election protection, medical research, opioid abuse prevention and treatment, veterans' health services, and much more. These investments are key to strong families and communities, job creation, and economic growth. This bill rejects scores of divisive poison pill riders targeting women's health, clean air and water, worker rights, consumer financial protections, health insurance, and other critical priorities. In addition, I am pleased the omnibus includes language clarifying that the CDC has the authority to conduct research on the causes of gun violence. Within the State and Foreign Operations division, this omnibus invests in stronger and more stable communities around the world, alleviating poverty and disease and strengthening democratic political systems. These investments in diplomacy and development are critical to our national security. I am pleased this final product rejects onerous policy riders like the global gag rule. These responsible investments and policies signal to the world that, despite an erratic President, the United States remains a world leader. To be clear, this omnibus is not a perfect product. I strongly object to the majority's fixation on walling off our southern border and building capacity to arrest and detain immigrants. While the bill rejects the administration demands for a border wall, a large deportation force, and more detention beds, the amount provided is nonetheless a waste of money and contrary to our national character. Before I conclude, I would like to thank Chairman Frelinghuysen for his partnership and all the members of the committee for their contributions. I would also like to thank the minority, majority, and personal office staffs who worked so very hard, particularly Shalanda Young and Chris Bigelow and Richard Meltzer. I also want to thank the committee's minority outstanding communications director, Matt Dennis, who is departing the House next month. He has served this institution for nearly 15 years at the Appropriations Committee in my personal office and in former Congressman Rush Holt's office. We will really miss his dedicated service. I want to make sure I thank the majority staff, Nancy Fox and her team, because there was real cooperation between the majority and the minority. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum), who is the ranking member of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

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

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), who is the ranking member of the Labor-HHS Subcommittee.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 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 gentleman from Texas (Mr. Cuellar).

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

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

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the distinguished Democratic whip.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee). (Ms. JACKSON LEE asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

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

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), the Democratic leader.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water.

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

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Mr. Speaker, this isn't the bill I would have written, but I am very proud that it provides $117 billion more than President Trump requested in nondefense investments to grow the economy, create jobs, and help American families. Again, I would like to thank our distinguished chair, Chairman Frelinghuysen, and the entire committee for its tireless work forging this bipartisan package. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. It is a basic constitutional responsibility of Congress to fund the Federal Government and Republican majorities in the House and the Senate are just turning the process into an embarrassing spectacle, running from one crisis directly into the next. It has been clear for 9 months that a bipartisan budget agreement would be needed to enact appropriations law, yet it has taken five continuing resolutions, two lapses in funding, countless hours of effort to take even this first step toward full-year funding bills, more than 4 months into the fiscal year. I am pleased with many aspects of the budget agreement. Increasing statutory spending caps would allow the Appropriations Committee to write responsible, bipartisan spending bills that will invest in this Nation's families, communities, and national security. I am also pleased the legislation would provide funding for families and communities in Texas, Florida, California, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to rebuild their lives following natural disasters. Unfortunately, this legislation cannot be considered in a vacuum. The Speaker of the House's refusal to commit to considering bipartisan legislation to protect teenagers and young adults from deportation is unjustifiable and maddening. DREAMers are sons, daughters, parents. They are students and teachers. They serve with distinction in our Armed Forces. They pay taxes and contribute to their communities. President Trump and the Republican majority hold the lives and futures of these children and young adults in their hands, yet their only concern seems to be how much they can extract and exchange for doing what a decent human being should do simply because it is right. I cannot vote in good conscience to provide Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the very funding that could be used to deport the DREAMers. I cannot vote to continue the appropriations process while an unthinkably tragic fate hangs over the head of 1.6 million young people. I do hope that in the weeks ahead a bipartisan bill for DREAMers can pass the Senate and enough pressure can be brought to bear on House Republicans to act. History will condemn these Republican majorities if they fail to do what is right. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from New Jersey (Mrs. Watson Coleman).

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Aguilar), a member of the Committee on Appropriations.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), the Democratic leader.