Nita Lowey

Mrs. LOWEY

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

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment. I agree with the gentleman's sentiments to put greater emphasis and engagement with our Southern neighbors. The United States can and should be very involved with the issues in our own backyard, especially those involving crime and drug smuggling. However, to fund this increased engagement, this amendment takes a further cut from the contributions to the international organizations account, which funds our assessed contributions to the U.N. and other international bodies. This account is already $188 million below our current enacted level and will put us in further arrears to our international partners. I also think it is important to note that the offset proposed by the gentleman's amount would also come at the expense of our support to regional partners, such as the Organization of American States, the Pan American Health Organization, and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment.

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

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

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, there is bipartisan consensus that our foreign assistance should be as effective and efficient as possible. That is why I am deeply concerned that several amendments offered by myself and my colleagues to address the destructive policies facing women's health were blocked from consideration on this bill. We know the disastrous effects of the global gag rule, which force reproductive health providers to choose between receiving U.S. funds or providing comprehensive healthcare. But this bill would exponentially increase the damage of the global gag rule by expanding its application to all global health assistance. It is unconscionable to insert abortion politics into lifesaving programs that prevent pandemics, lower rates of maternal and child deaths, and treat those suffering from malnutrition, HIV, AIDS, and malaria. Since May, organizations have been trying to ensure compliance with unclear guidance. Most do not yet know the impact on their programs or whether they will be able to find new partners in hard-to-serve areas. Expanding this policy without knowing the impact is senseless and will jeopardize lives. The bill also prohibits funding for UNFPA, a primary U.S. partner ensuring women fleeing violence have safe maternal care. The United States neither can nor should conduct programs in every country. We currently conduct bilateral family planning programs in 34 countries. By contributing to UNFPA, we can help women in nearly 100 additional countries get access to needed services. This bill ignores the fact that family planning is the most effective way to prevent abortion and unwanted pregnancies, and it decimates the effectiveness of our global programs for millions. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), my colleague on the State, Foreign Operations Subcommittee who has been an effective, aggressive advocate on a whole range of issues and an invaluable member of our committee.

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

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, the comments of a single individual should not be an excuse to eliminate funding for an entire institution. My understanding is that individual has already offered her resignation. The United States Institute of Peace is one of the best tools the United States has to bring people together--government officials, civil society practitioners, and defense experts--to creatively solve problems that are some of the world's thorniest issues. Congress created USIP for this purpose in 1983. USIP applies practical solutions directly in conflict zones and provides analysis, education, and resources to those working for peace. USIP has specialized teams of mediators, trainers, and others in some of the world's most dangerous places, including Iraq and Afghanistan, equipping others with the skills necessary to prevent or resolve their own violent conflicts before they threaten the United States. In 2015, USIP facilitated a local Sunni-Shia accord and decree that averted bloodshed and let 380,000 internally displaced persons return home. In Burma, they trained civic leaders, government officials, and police to help achieve a peaceful 2015 election for a more democratic government during a delicate transition from autocratic rule to democracy. USIP works on the ground with local partners on the root causes of conflict that all too frequently result in America's military gains of diplomatic and development investments going to peace. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel), the ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

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

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of my colleague from New York's amendment. TB is the biggest killer of people worldwide, yet the current strategies for combating the disease are not keeping pace with the burden and complexity. In an increasingly connected world, TB will increase its threat to U.S. citizens directly. Without investments in new technologies and building the systems to diagnose and treat active infections, we risk failing even further. Already, scientists estimate 2 million children have been infected with multidrug-resistant TB. We can and should be doing more to fight this known disease. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, I thank my good friend, who has certainly worked with many women, and women who focus on the needs of women around the world, and I thank her very much for this very important amendment, and that is why I am rising in support of my colleague's amendment. One of the deficiencies of the fiscal year 2018 State and Foreign Operations bill we are considering is the treatment of international organizations that serve U.S. interests and help our own resources reach farther and deeper. My colleague raises the important contribution of UN Women and of U.S. support for its work. UN Women ensures that the critical role of women is part of the international dialogue and that the effects of policies are considered on both women and men before they are implemented. UN Women works in complex environments like Afghanistan with the treatment of women and their involvement in the economy and political systems. There are these reasons and so much more as to why I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and UN Women. I really am urging my friends on the other side of the aisle, as this process continues, that we look to renew the funding.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, I want to express my appreciation to my colleague who is always there to speak out against injustice and to help respond to the tremendous challenges we have. I was as shocked as the gentleman had been, frankly, on the recent actions in Burma or Myanmar, and I look forward to addressing that with him as well. The reports from the ISIS-controlled areas are truly horrific, especially for the women and children who have been most vulnerable to the horrors of ISIS control. In these cases, support for the emotional and mental recovery of victims is as important as the standard humanitarian assistance of food, shelter, and water. I look forward to continuing to work with the gentleman to address these issues because we have to speak out and act and respond to these horrors. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Mrs. LOWEY

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

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

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

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the devastation in Texas and Louisiana from Hurricane Harvey warrants swift congressional action. I am pleased we are here today to ensure that FEMA can continue to support the States affected by this disaster. The $7.4 billion for FEMA and $450 million for the Small Business Administration in H. Res. 502 are only a first step in a long process that will require a long-term Federal presence. I represent areas, Mr. Speaker, affected by Superstorm Sandy and understand, firsthand, the need for Federal intervention when storms overwhelm State and local capacity. Following Sandy, the last administration requested and Congress approved funding for resiliency to ensure that future generations can mitigate the damage from storms that have grown in intensity. We can argue about the effects of climate change on storms, but we must all agree that our communities must receive much-needed mitigation funding to protect lives and livelihoods in future storms and to prevent more costly damage. Despite the fact that some of the Representatives for areas affected by Hurricane Harvey heavily criticized and voted against the assistance provided in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, I wholeheartedly support the funding in this resolution and expect a much larger request from the administration, including funding to mitigate damage from future storms. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Cuellar), a member of the Appropriations Committee.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gene Green).

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee), who we know was struggling with her fellow Texans and trying to be as helpful as she could during this horrible, horrible disaster.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, before I yield to our next speaker, I would just thank Mr. Culberson. I just want to thank you, Mr. Culberson, because, of course, we are all totally supportive of this aid package, but I remember that you were the only Member from the majority in Texas who supported our Sandy package. I just wanted to, at this time, thank you again for your generosity and your warm heart for every American.

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

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Al Green).

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Roybal-Allard), a very distinguished ranking member from the Homeland Security Subcommittee on the Appropriations Committee.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Ms. Plaskett), who understands the impact of a disaster of this kind not only in her district, but in other areas where there has been so much suffering.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley), the chairman of the Democratic Caucus.