Nita Lowey

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I inquire of the gentleman from Kentucky if he has any further requests for time.

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

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Jane Orans, who is being honored by Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic for her work on behalf of women and children throughout Westchester County, New York, and the Hudson River Valley. Jane has dedicated herself to advocating on behalf of women's health so that every woman has the right to determine her own healthy timing and spacing of pregnancy. It is for this reason that she has been so involved in Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic. Her tireless work with the organization has helped empower women, men and young people to determine their own reproductive rights and futures. In addition to her work with Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic, Jane has spent much of her life educating children. She was a nursery school teacher and for fourteen years was a member of the Mamaroneck, New York School Board. In this capacity, she has worked hard to ensure children have the necessary support to become healthy, successful adults. Mr. Speaker, Jane's tireless advocacy on behalf of women's health is an inspiration to us all, and I urge my colleagues to join me in applauding her work and her recognition by Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize my friend, Rabbi Emeritus Amiel Wohl, who will be honored this Friday during a special farewell Shabbat Dinner and Service at Temple Israel of New Rochelle in New Rochelle, New York. Throughout his life, Rabbi Wohl has dedicated himself to his faith and his community. He has served as Rabbi at Temple Israel in New Rochelle since 1973. Previously, he served congregations in Waco, Texas; Baltimore, Maryland; and Sacramento, California, where he was the Chaplain of the California Senate. Since moving to Westchester, he has served as President of the Westchester Jewish Council, represented the Central Conference of American Rabbis on the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations, and is a past President of the Westchester Board of Rabbis. He was also instrumental in creating the only Sabbath service radio broadcast in the New York Metropolitan Area. As a local leader, Rabbi Wohl has worked to advance peaceful cooperation in our diverse community. He was a founder of the Interreligious Council of New Rochelle, and served on the Human Rights Commission of New Rochelle and the Westchester County Human Rights Commission. He also helped create the Coalition for Mutual Respect, an organization that supports dialogue and understanding between Black and Jewish members of the community. Mr. Speaker, Rabbi Wohl's many accomplishments have left an indelible imprint on the communities he served. I congratulate my dear friend on a lifetime of commitment to the Jewish people and steadfast embodiment of, and devotion to, Jewish values.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 496.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel for their support and their enthusiasm for this bill. Mr. Speaker, I rise in full support of H.R. 4481, the Education for All Act, which I introduced earlier this year with our colleague David Reichert. Today, millions of American children are settling into new classrooms and getting back in the swing of their school routines. Despite the challenges many students and schools face, it is hard for us to imagine this time of year not being occupied with the excitement of new school supplies, teachers, and school sporting events. Unfortunately, the ability to access education at all remains a luxury in too many areas around the world. In fact, in 2014, 263 million children, adolescents, and youth were not in school. Our own U.S. Agency for International Development has reported: The world is in the midst of a global learning crisis. As of 2014, an estimated 25 million children were never expected to enroll in school, and 758 million adults could not read or write a simple sentence. Women and girls represent two-thirds of these staggering figures. Even daring to attend school requires taking life- threatening risk for girls in many regions. Malala Yousafzai was shot by the Taliban in Pakistan at the age of 15 for attending school and advocating for other girls to do so. Hundreds of girls have been kidnapped by Boko Haram for seeking a basic education and still remain hostage. That is why this legislation is so critical. The promotion of international basic education must be among our chief development priorities. Not only is it in the national security interests of the United States, it is simply the right thing to do. The bill before us today prioritizes USAID's work with foreign governments, NGOs, and multilateral organizations to help nations develop and implement quality programs, address key barriers to school attendance, and increase completion rates for the poorest and most vulnerable children worldwide. With a comprehensive strategy, the U.S. can lead the world in expanding access to millions of children who aren't in school and improving the quality of education for millions who are. Measurable learning outcomes and updates to this strategy every 5 years, with feedback from local and international education and development partners, will ensure we build upon our successes to make progress toward universal education. Additionally, the legislation strengthens Congress' role and enhances oversight of these efforts by creating a Senior Coordinator of United States International Basic Education Assistance tasked with improving coordination, monitoring the education strategy, and reporting to Congress on implementation. These efforts will not only teach students the three Rs, they will ultimately help protect vulnerable children from poverty, disease, hunger, and, ultimately, extremism. I have long said there is no greater force multiplier than education. An education is the fundamental tool with which girls and boys are empowered to increase their economic potential, improve their health outcomes, provide for their families, address cultural biases, and participate in their communities. Children who receive a quality education also contribute to more prosperous economies and healthier, peaceful, and democratic societies. That is why the 9/11 Commission concluded that ensuring educational opportunity is essential to defeating global terrorism.

Mrs. LOWEY. First introduced in 2004, the bill we consider today represents many years of hard work to elevate the importance of global education, bipartisan compromise, and the support of over 30 nonprofit and advocacy organizations, including RESULTS, the Basic Education Coalition, the Global Campaign for Education, the Global Poverty Project, the Malala Fund, and many other vital partners. So, in closing, I want to thank, again, Chairman Royce, Ranking Member Engel, and their hardworking staffs for their diligent efforts to bring the Education for All Act before the House today. I urge immediate passage.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, in the face of extraordinary suffering, we are not asking for extraordinary courage from Members. We are asking for commonsense measures most Americans support. Thousands of children in Flint have been exposed to lead, yet Congress has done nothing. Over 4,000 Americans have been infected with Zika ahead of peak mosquito season, yet Congress has done nothing. Gun violence in America is an epidemic, killing over 30,000 Americans each year, yet Congress has done nothing. It is cowardly to return to our constituents for 7 weeks without action. It is cowardly for this majority to run from our responsibilities because they are scared of the NRA when Americans consistently live in fear of gun violence. This House has done nothing to address these real, widespread concerns. We should not recess without taking action for the American people.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. I thank Chairman Calvert, Ranking Member McCollum, and Chairman Rogers for their work on this bill. Mr. Chairman, the bill before us would provide $32.095 billion for the Department of the Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency, which is a decrease of $64 million from the enacted level and a staggering $1 billion below the President's request. As a result, the bill contains serious shortcomings. The drastic underfunding of the EPA, which is the agency tasked with protecting public health and safety, with a cut of $164 million from already inadequate funding levels, would decimate its operating budget. The crisis in Flint is a horrifying reminder that we cannot afford to starve the EPA. Eight thousand children under the age of 6 have likely been exposed to lead contamination. The long-term impacts of that exposure are severe and will not end when the water is clean. Decades or even a lifetime of difficulty may plague those affected. Considering the severity of the Flint water crisis, I am shocked that this bill would cut the Clean Water State Revolving Funds. If the tragedy in Flint has shown us anything, it is that we must invest in our Nation's infrastructure. Perhaps of greatest concern is the inclusion of partisan and dangerous policy riders. Yet again this year, these controversial riders imperil the appropriations process. These include blocking the administration's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; stopping the EPA from implementing its lead renovation, repair, and painting rule, preventing the EPA from protecting millions of at-risk children from increased exposure to lead; and, once again, attacking the Endangered Species Act, putting politics above science and jeopardizing the protection of precious species. Neither Democrats in Congress nor President Obama will agree to poison pill riders that cause harm to our environment and public health. I concede there are a few positive elements in the bill, namely an $80 million increase for the National Parks Centennial Initiative and for the competitive historic preservation grant programs for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Unfortunately, these are not enough to redeem the entire bill, and I must urge my colleagues to vote against it.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Chair, before I begin, I would like to thank Chairman Crenshaw, Ranking Member Serrano, and Chairman Rogers for their efforts. And I also want to send my sincerest best wishes to my friend, Chairman Crenshaw. Andy, your willingness to work across the aisle, respect for this institution and the Appropriations Committee will be missed. I know we wish you continued success in whatever work you choose to pursue, but you will be missed here. Good luck to you. Democrats remain eager to support appropriation bills that invest appropriately and are free of poison pill riders. We have seen time and again that bills making irresponsible cuts to critical priorities, or loaded with divisive and ideological riders, cannot be enacted because Democrats will not support them, and Republicans can enact them on their own. Unfortunately, the bill before us is an example of this dilemma. It is already loaded with poison pill riders and surely will have more when we complete floor consideration. At $21.735 billion, a cut of 6 percent from current levels and 11 percent below the President's request, it is no surprise which agencies would be subject to impractical and inadequate funding levels. This bill would slash the IRS' resources by $236 million, allowing more tax cheats to go undetected and preventing law-abiding Americans from receiving assistance. Similarly, funding the SEC at $226 million below the request would thwart its ability to protect investors. This is particularly egregious because the SEC is fee funded, and meeting the Commission's needs would not cost taxpayers a dime. I offered an amendment at the full committee markup that would have provided the SEC with the President's funding request. It was rejected, despite the fact that it would cost taxpayers nothing. Instead of investing in infrastructure, the bill would gut and cut GSA construction and acquisition projects by $1.3 billion. It only partially funds a new headquarters for the FBI and does not fund the next phase of the Department of Homeland Security's headquarters, further delaying the ability to consolidate our homeland security apparatus into one location. Yet inadequate funding is only part of the story, and the long list of riders turns a bad bill into an example of the Republican majority's unnecessary culture war. Attacks on women's health, interference in implementation of the Affordable Care Act and net neutrality, restrictive provisions on Cuba, and a demeaning effort to dictate local governance to Washington, D.C., are particularly shameful. Once again, these misguided provisions unnecessarily jeopardize the success of the overall appropriations process. Despite these numerous shortcomings, the bill adequately supports the Small Business Administration and would help communities combat the growing heroin epidemic by increasing the Drug-Free Communities program and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program. This bill provided the House with the opportunity to put investments ahead of politics. Unfortunately, the House Republican majority has no interest in these priorities. I urge my colleagues to vote against the bill.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following: Pursuant to the provisions of clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the House of Representatives, the results of each roll call vote on an amendment or on the motion to report, together with the names of those voting for and those voting against, are printed below:

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, the Orlando shooting reminds us there is too much that has been left undone to stop gun violence. The Republicans have voted 13 times to retain the outrageous loophole that allows suspected terrorists to legally purchase weapons--and not just on the House floor. The Republican majority rejected my no fly, no buy amendment five times in the Appropriations Committee. In a 2011 video, al Qaeda noted the accessibility of guns in the U.S., asking: So what are we waiting for? The real question is: What are we waiting for? Americans agree with prohibiting terror suspects from purchasing guns, and Congress is overdue to act.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, with only the fourth appropriations bill of the year on the floor, we should not be patting ourselves on the back. Today's bill blows up last year's budget agreement through a gimmick that needlessly creates a funding cliff next spring. It forces the new President, as one of her or his first actions in office, to request emergency supplemental funding. The difference here is about more than bookkeeping. Sending our military men and women into some of the most dangerous places on Earth--Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria--without ensuring mission support, including to combat ISIL, or their salaries for a full year, is the height of irresponsibility. Here are some of the things that Secretary Carter has said about the Republican OCO budget gimmick: deeply troubling, flawed, gambling with warfighting money, creating a hollow force structure, working against our efforts to restore readiness, a road to nowhere, a high probability of leading to more gridlock, undercuts stable planning and efficient use of taxpayer dollars, dispirits troops and their families, baffles friends, and emboldens foes. Additionally, President Obama issued a veto threat due to this harmful gimmick. Mr. Chairman, I include in the Record the President's Statement of Administration Policy on H.R. 5293. Statement of Administration Policy H.R. 5293--Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2017--Rep. Rogers,

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, using OCO for base funds detracts from the true purpose of OCO, which is to fund wartime efforts. This prevents our Armed Forces from using these funds to counter ISIL and other threats. A great deal of good elsewhere in the bill is overshadowed by this failure. I thank the chairman for his work to increase cybersecurity operations by nearly $1 billion; invest in the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance resources combat commanders clamor for; provide strong, bipartisan support for our allies in the Middle East; and finance important health initiatives that help warfighters and their families. All of that could have been done while providing certainty for troops in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere. I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, I thank Ranking Member Wasserman Schultz. And I thank Chairman Graves and Chairman Rogers. It is a pleasure for me to work here with all of them. However, in the fiscal year 2017 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill, the House majority has put its political interests first with a process that limits amendments based on a fear of another embarrassing failure, like the Energy and Water Appropriations bill, which the House rejected 2 weeks ago. The legislative branch bill contains a number of important services that allow the public to safely visit the U.S. Capitol and for Members to respond to the needs of their constituents. The bill would provide modest increases for the first time in years, including more funding for the Library of Congress, Capitol Police, Architect of the Capitol, and the Members' Representational Allowance. These increases are badly needed. The legislative branch bill has remained essentially flat for several years, despite the steadily growing needs of this institution, including staff shortages, enhanced security, repairs to aging buildings and infrastructure, and preservation at the Library of Congress, among others. Unfortunately, rather than focus on these institutions' value to the public, House Republicans went out of their way to include provisions that ignore these issues, and instead push a partisan agenda that wastes taxpayer dollars. First of all, House Republicans inserted language meant to appease the most extreme members of their conference by directing the Library of Congress to use the term ``illegal alien'' in its subject headings for searches rather than the Library's preferred ``noncitizens'' or ``unauthorized immigration.'' This unnecessary interference into the routine work of the Library of Congress politicizes a change meant to help provide the most up-to-date, thorough information. The inclusion of such language is sadly nothing new for the subcommittee. In the past few years, the majority has spent close to $7 million on a partisan, political Benghazi investigation; $2.3 million defending the Defense of Marriage Act; and is now engaging in shameful, unprecedented attacks on biomedical researchers and women's health. Frankly, I am outraged at how the majority on the Select Investigative Panel is conducting its business. The majority's witch hunt of researchers, including scientists, physicians, and even graduate students, will have real consequences that harm medical advances, and are nothing more than a political charade and waste of taxpayer money. Their request for information and subpoenas without any assertion of wrongdoing are an abuse of authority, a violation of House oversight practices, and a page out of the McCarthy-era bullying tactics that are a stain on our legislative process. The panel should be disbanded immediately. It is unacceptable that we cannot move appropriation bills forward in a bipartisan manner because Republicans would rather play partisan politics with taxpayer dollars than deal with the pressing challenges facing this institution and this country.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor an extraordinary public servant, Anita Datar, who was tragically killed late last year during the despicable terrorist attack at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Bamako, Mali. Anita, only 41 years old, was senior director for field programs for the international development firm, Palladium. She went to Mali on a USAID-supported research project focused on women's reproductive health. Raised in New Jersey, Anita devoted her entire career to international public health and development. She started as a Peace Corps volunteer in Senegal, and then continued to travel throughout sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, helping vulnerable communities escape poverty and disease. Anita founded a nonprofit organization that connects low-income women in developing countries to quality health services. She was especially committed to expanding access to family planning services and treating and preventing HIV. Anita's son, Rohan, is in the gallery today with his father, David. They will join Anita's friends and colleagues at a reception this evening at the U.S. Institute of Peace to remember Anita and celebrate the mark her work left on so many. Rohan recently moved to my home district in New York. Rohan, we are proud and honored to have you in our community. Your mom made the world a better place through her passion, spirit, and dedication to helping others. Her selfless commitment to service is one of the many indelible legacies Anita bestowed on Rohan and all those who had the honor of knowing her. I would also note that the Senate passed, on February 1, 2016, a bipartisan resolution, S. Res. 347, honoring the memory and legacy of Anita Ashok Datar; condemning the terrorist attack in Bamako, Mali, on November 20, 2015; and extending heartfelt condolences and prayers to the family, friends, and colleagues of Anita Ashok Datar, particularly her son, Rohan; and the individuals touched by the life of Anita Ashok Datar or affected by her death, including the dedicated development professionals and volunteers that continue to selflessly engage in critical humanitarian and development efforts. The text of S. Res. 347 can be found on pages S134-S135 of the Congressional Record, dated Wednesday, January 20, 2016. We will continue to be inspired by Anita's dedication to helping others.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, before I make my statement, I just want to respond to our distinguished chair of the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies. Has the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations introduced subcommittee allocations for either the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies or the Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs? The answer is no. Has the chairman set markup dates for either the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies or the Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs bill? The answer is no. So there is no chance that Congress will send either appropriations bill to the President by September 30. This really is a charade. CDC Director Tom Frieden says 3 months is an eternity for control of an outbreak. There is a narrow window of opportunity here, and it is closing. So, Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge my colleagues to defeat the previous question so we can support a robust and aggressive response to an imminent public health emergency. Researchers at Harvard and CDC reported that pregnant women who contract the Zika virus in their first trimester face as high as a 13 percent chance that their baby will have microcephaly. Nearly 300 pregnant women in the United States and its territories are terrified that their child will have a devastating birth defect, and that number increases every day. Every day we learn more about the devastating virus, and each piece of news is more alarming than the last. That is why President Obama acted responsibly and requested $1.9 billion to research and develop vaccines and diagnostic tests, invest in mosquito vector control, and implement an aggressive public education and outreach campaign. Yet, the House Republican Zika bill would provide a mere $622 million, which is less than one-third of the $1.9 billion that public health experts tell us is necessary to protect American communities. To make matters worse, the bill robs Peter to pay Paul, stealing funding still needed to protect against Ebola and increase public preparedness at home. The spread of the Zika virus is taking a severe toll on Brazil and other South and Central American countries. It has spread to Puerto Rico, and the outbreak is knocking at our door. Why are my friends in the majority acting more like bureaucrats and accountants than responsive representatives of hardworking Americans? Protecting American communities is the foremost responsibility of the Federal Government. Yet, the majority has failed to lead the way to a response worthy of this emergency. If the previous question is defeated, Mr. McGovern will amend the rule to offer my bill, H.R. 5044, as a substitute, providing the full $1.9 billion the administration requested, without offsets, to ensure an adequate response to Zika that doesn't rob our Ebola response. I urge me colleagues to vote ``no'' on the previous question.

Mrs. LOWEY. As my colleague knows, I have great respect for the distinguished chairman of the Labor-HHS Subcommittee, for which we don't even have a number right now, so we don't know how much we have to spend. But I also would like to respond to your comments about we have enough now, we may have enough next year. We don't in the United States of America respond to crises on the installment plan. As you well know, Dr. Frieden and Dr. Fauci have said: This is the request. We need the money. This isn't extra money that we are requesting. This is what the experts have requested to address this crisis now.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Chair, before I begin, I would like to thank Chairman Simpson, Ranking Member Kaptur, and Chairman Rogers for their work on the bill. The energy and water bill is the second bill we will consider on the floor this year. Over and over again, the majority has promised a return to regular order. Well, without a budget resolution and a full slate of 302(b) suballocations, this promise has clearly not been kept. The fiscal year 2017 Energy and Water Development bill would allocate $37.4 billion in discretionary funding, $260 million above the fiscal year 2016 level and $168 million above the administration's request. While this allocation is an improvement, the majority's continued dysfunction jeopardizes Congress' ability to meet the significant challenges we face, including many in the bill before us. For instance, the bill does not adequately invest in infrastructure development. The American Society of Civil Engineers estimates the United States must invest $3.6 trillion in our infrastructure to ensure public health and safety, and yet the Army Corps of Engineers is funded at $6.089 billion, which is billions of dollars short of what we need to meet our infrastructure needs. Additionally, this bill does not adequately fund programs to combat climate change. To truly tackle the challenges posed by climate change, the Federal Government must prioritize investments in research. Yet the energy efficiency and renewable energy account would be reduced to $1.825 billion, a cut of $248 million, and $1.07 billion below the President's request. The Republican majority will continue to bury their heads in the sand and dismiss the science and consequences of climate change instead of taking action to save our planet. However, the most concerning aspect of this bill is the inclusion of misguided and dangerous policy riders. An annual appropriations bill is not the place to amend or significantly change the Clean Water Act or restrict gun laws. These controversial riders, year after year, imperil the appropriations process. Yet this year's energy and water bill would impede an effective and timely response to the continuing drought in California, permanently prohibit the Corps from changing the definition of ``fill material,'' which is an interest of mountaintop mining companies, permanently prohibit the Army Corps of Engineers from clarifying the definition of navigable waters, expand the area in which guns can be carried on Corps of Engineers lands, and prevent implementation of the national ocean policy. Neither Democrats in Congress nor President Obama will agree to poison pill riders that harm our environment or public health. Unfortunately, this bill fails to address our Nation's infrastructure needs, invest in job creation, and take appropriate action to combat climate change. Given inadequate funding levels and the presence of harmful riders, I urge my colleagues to oppose the bill.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentlewoman an additional 30 seconds.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez), the ranking member of the Small Business Committee.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. In February, the World Health Organization declared Zika a public health emergency of international concern, and the President called for $1.9 billion to respond to the impending crisis to prevent the spread in our very own communities. According to the National Governors Association, the Nation is on the threshold of a public health emergency. In a separate letter, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, National League of Cities, National Association of County and City Health Officials wrote to urge Congress to provide emergency supplemental money for Zika, rather than repurpose money from other high-priority programs. I include in the Record both letters. May 10, 2016. Hon. Thad Cochran, Chairman, Senate Appropriations Committee, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. Hon. Roy Blunt, Chairman, Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services & Education, U.S. Senate, Washington,

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, as summer approaches, the CDC confirmed 1,204 cases, including more than 100 pregnant women in the continental United States, Puerto Rico, and other U.S. territories as of May 11. So far all of the continental U.S. cases are associated with travel, but experts expect the first locally transmitted cases in a matter of weeks. The scientific community has concluded, after careful review, that Zika can cause microcephaly resulting in miscarriage and other severe fetal brain defects, as well as adult neurological disorders. When the House Republican leadership failed to act, the administration was forced to redirect $589 million, mostly from emergency Ebola balances, to fund immediate efforts to respond to Zika. According to Dr. Fauci at the National Institutes of Health, the redirected funds allowed the United States to start work. But we cannot finish what we need to do. The Republican bill does not allow us to finish the job either. It provides $622 million, less than a third of what is needed. The administration requested $743 million for State and local efforts to reduce mosquito populations as well as conduct public health studies of the Zika virus. The House Republican bill provides $120 million, plus an additional $50 million for block grants. By providing such a small fraction of the requested amount, we would be drastically underfunding State and local public health departments, hampering efforts to expand mosquito control and mitigation, and unnecessarily placing millions of pregnant women at risk. In addition, the administration requested $246 million in direct assistance for Puerto Rico, an epicenter in the Zika outbreak. The House Republican bill does not provide this direct funding for Puerto Rico, again, placing tens of thousands of pregnant women at risk. In the past, Congress has come together in a bipartisan manner to address and respond to emergencies from the Ebola and H1N1 viruses to natural disasters and agreed that these emergencies should not be offset. When a tornado strikes, we don't steal money from the unfinished relief efforts for the last hurricane; yet House Republicans would take more Ebola funding, risking that it could reemerge, and give less than it needed to stop the spread of Zika in communities throughout the United States. Without full funding to replenish Ebola accounts, we won't complete commitments to fortify international public health systems or have health contingency funds in place to respond to outbreaks of either disease or any other unanticipated public health crisis. That is why I introduced H.R. 5044, which would provide the full emergency supplemental to combat Zika and prevent the virus from spreading without risking investments in our public health infrastructure. Mr. Speaker, that is the bill we should be debating today, not the House Republican Zika, which is a day late and a dollar short. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), a distinguished member of the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on the Budget.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, the Republican Zika bill provides $622 million, about one-third of the $1.9 billion requested. The bill also steals more Ebola funding as an offset instead of replenishing what was already redirected to Zika. We don't offset spending to respond to emergencies, and we certainly don't steal from prior emergency response efforts still underway when a new emergency arises. Let's just consider, my friends, recent history. Emergency funding was provided to respond to both Ebola and H1N1. In last year's omnibus, Congress used emergency funding without offsets to pay for wildland fire suppression, mostly in the West. Congress also provided emergency funding to respond to two hurricanes and flooding in the Carolinas and Texas, again without offsets. When those disasters struck, we didn't steal money from prior disaster response, like the emergency funding provided for hurricane damage in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida; or storms in West Virginia; or tornadoes in Oklahoma and Kentucky. In fact, after the 2013 Oklahoma tornadoes, my friend, Chairman Rogers, said: ``I don't think disasters of this type should be offset. We have an obligation to help these people.'' Now that the Zika public health emergency has ravaged Brazil, spread to Puerto Rico, and threatens an outbreak in the continental United States, suddenly Republicans insist on shortchanging efforts to ensure the deadly Ebola virus doesn't reemerge to pay for Zika response. The money they would take from Ebola isn't nearly enough to prevent the spread of the deadly Zika virus that especially endangers pregnant women and children who could be born with very severe disabilities. If the previous question is defeated, Mr. Hastings will amend the rule to offer my bill, H.R. 5044, as a substitute, providing the full $1.9 billion the administration requested without offsets to ensure an adequate response to Zika that doesn't rob our Ebola response. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the previous question.