Nita Lowey

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of those affected by Crohn's disease and Ulcerative Colitis, or Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD), in observance of National IBD awareness week. IBD affects over 1.6 million Americans, and there is no known cause or cure. The unpredictable nature of these painful and debilitating diseases creates a significant burden on the community and the economy with more than $2.2 billion in direct and indirect healthcare costs. As co-chair of the Crohn's and Colitis Caucus, I am dedicated to educating the American public and other Members on awareness of IBD. We must do all we can to assist research dedicated to finding cures for IBD and improve the quality of life for those affected by these diseases. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize IBD Awareness Week and the millions of Americans suffering from these diseases. I urge my colleagues to join me in observance of National IBD Awareness Week.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to particularly thank Chairman Ed Royce and my good friend, our ranking member of the committee, Eliot Engel, and all those who were so involved in putting this important resolution together. I rise in support of House Resolution 354. It was introduced by the co-chairs of the Bipartisan Taskforce for Combating Anti-Semitism. In the aftermath of appalling anti-Semitic incidents throughout Europe, including the devastating terrorist attacks at the Paris kosher supermarket and the Great Synagogue of Copenhagen, this important resolution urges the United States Government to help improve the safety and security of Jewish communities in Europe. From Austria to Belgium, Germany to the United Kingdom, Ukraine to France, there has been a sharp rise in assaults on Jewish individuals and acts of vandalism on Jewish places of worship, cemeteries, and memorials. Such destruction and desecration is unacceptable and must be stopped. That is why this resolution is so critical. It highlights specific ways the administration can work with European governments, especially law enforcement agencies, to formally recognize and partner with Jewish organizations to develop common safety standards, alert systems, information-sharing mechanisms, and ensure that local law enforcement personnel are effectively trained to monitor, prevent, and respond to anti-Semitic violence. I want to express my appreciation to my fellow co-chairs of the Anti- Semitism Taskforce, Representatives Smith, Engel, Granger, Israel, Ros- Lehtinen, Deutch, and Roskam. The task force remains committed to working across regions, religions, and party lines to condemn all anti- Semitism and fight for the right of Jews to live freely as Jews without fear. Before closing, I also want to express my strong support for H. Res. 293, which condemns anti-Israel and anti-Semitic incitement within the Palestinian Authority and calls on President Abbas to discourage such despicable behavior. The latest cycle of terrorism against Israel must end. The only way it will end is if Palestinian leaders take genuine and immediate steps to denounce all violence and promote security cooperation, coexistence, and peace with Israel. As the ranking member of the Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs of the Committee on Appropriations, I will continue to do everything in my power to bolster Israel's security to combat incitement and to promote stability and peaceful coexistence throughout the world.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, as ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, I rise to support this bipartisan legislation that ensures the full faith and credit of the United States and sets a path to a responsible appropriations process this year and next. Since the beginning of this year's appropriations process, Democrats have called for relief from damaging, austerity-level budget caps so Congress can invest in our Nation's future. Unfortunately, the majority's budget resolution and appropriation bills would have strangled economic growth and not met our Nation's needs with cuts to Pell Grants that help families pay college tuition and law enforcement grants, for example. The list goes on and on. From the start of the appropriations process, I urged my majority colleagues to negotiate reasonable spending caps that protect our economy and national priorities. I am pleased these talks finally happened and resulted in this bipartisan package that provides an additional $40 billion for defense, $40 billion for non-defense, over 2 years. These investments are critical. Upon its passage, I look forward to working together in a similarly responsible manner to reach bipartisan consensus on the spending bills to avoid a government shutdown in mid-December. I urge passage of this bill so we can immediately begin our appropriations work, already overdue.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, it's been almost four months since Congress failed to renew the Export-Import Bank's charter--marking the first lapse in the Bank's 81 years of operation. This disservice to American businesses must end. The Export-Import Bank helps U.S.-made products remain competitive and reach overseas markets, while supporting thousands of middle-class jobs. In my own district during the last eight years, the Ex-Im Bank has supported $2.2 billion worth of exports and over 14,000 jobs at 22 exporters--including nine small businesses. The Bank has been reauthorized 16 times by Republican and Democratic Presidents. There is no reason to keeping politicizing the Bank's Reauthorization. I urge immediate passage.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, we may temporarily avert this most recent crisis if we can get this bill to the President tonight, just hours before the entire Federal Government shuts down, but it is certainly not a cause for celebration. This very short-term continuing resolution avoids the most immediate crisis. But what is step two? After we enact this stopgap measure, are there any firm plans to begin negotiating the full-year appropriations bills we should be passing today? I remain deeply concerned about the potential of finding ourselves facing a government shutdown again in December. The stakes are very high. We have an economy that is genuinely recovering. Unemployment is down. Economic growth is up. But we still have progress to make. The uncertainty and unnecessary tumult of playing games right up to the brink of a government shutdown is not helpful to our fragile economy. The last shutdown cost the economy $24 billion in GDP, according to Standard & Poor's. This continuing resolution buys us 10 weeks and takes care of only a handful of the most pressing Federal responsibilities: Provides desperately needed emergency firefighting funds to address the cataclysmic fires raging in the West; provides additional resources for processing disability claims at the Veterans Administration; increases the authorization in the Small Business Loan Guarantee Program to ensure new loans can be administered to help small businesses across the country; and extends several expiring authorizations for programs within the Department of Homeland Security. Notably, the continuing resolution does not address other key priorities that could bolster our economy, such as the expired authority of the Export-Import Bank, which has created or sustained 1.5 million private sector jobs at no cost to the taxpayer since 2007 and supported billions in American economic activity. By settling on this short-term extension, we fail to provide proposed increases for medical research at the National Institutes of Health and the Nation's aging transportation system and infrastructure. The President's request for defense funding is shortchanged, which would put our national security at risk in a long-term CR. Leaving our Federal agencies on autopilot without the line-by-line, year-by-year adjustments that should come from this committee and this Congress is irresponsible and hurts our ability to grow our economy, create jobs, and give hard-working families the services they need. Yet, with the Republican dysfunction that has driven a change in the majority's leadership on the brink of a government shutdown, the prospects for forging a reasonable, responsible solution by December are not good. One more indication of the dire outlook is the cynical gimmick--an ``enrollment correction''--the majority has put forward today to supposedly defund Planned Parenthood. Fortunately, it will have no practical effect on the CR for two reasons. First, the Senate will ignore it. Second, there is no need for a correction since, as my friend Mr. Cole noted this weekend, ``there is no money'' in the CR for Planned Parenthood. PolitiFact even confirmed this claim. I will strongly oppose this attack on women's health today as I support the temporary continuing resolution and urge all of my colleagues to do the same so we can at least avoid a worst-case scenario. But I again implore outgoing and incoming Republican leadership to please engage with the President and House Democrats immediately on an agreement to replace the sequester-level caps, avert the next crisis just weeks away, stop playing political games with women's health, and invest in American economic growth and security. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), a distinguished member of the committee.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from New York (Mr. Israel).

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum), a distinguished member of the Appropriations Committee.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I was thinking about that, except, I believe, we have some distinguished members of our committee who are running a little late. So I would just like to say, Mr. Speaker, that I am very pleased that we are here today, and I do hope that there will be strong bipartisan support for the continuing resolution. This has been a difficult year. I know how hard our distinguished chairman has worked, trying to put together a bipartisan appropriations bill. Although I am very pleased that we are passing a continuing resolution today, it is really amazing that we should be celebrating in the United States of America, the most distinguished country, supposedly representative of our great democracy, that we are keeping the government open. I feel very confident, Mr. Speaker, that if members of the Appropriations Committee, both Democrats and Republicans, would sit down very seriously, we could work out an arrangement whereby we would lift the sequester, just as we did with Ryan-Murray. I was on that committee with some distinguished members of the party, and we had some good discussions. We had some differences of opinion; we had some lively debates; but at the end of the day, we came up with a product that we could be proud of. So, Mr. Chairman, I do hope that after this continuing resolution has passed--and I think you have another speaker who would like to speak while we are waiting for our speaker. In closing, I would just like to say that I am cautiously optimistic that, after the CR is passed, we can really do our work and come up with a good, strong omnibus bill that reflects our values. I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), our distinguished leader.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I just want to reiterate again to my colleagues that I look forward to working in a bipartisan way with the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Appropriations to move the process forward. I particularly think, because it was just mentioned by the previous speaker, that for us not to increase the appropriations to the National Institutes of Health--this is just one area of the bill that came through the committee in the committee process. This means research for a whole range of illnesses, whether it is autism or diabetes or heart. We have a responsibility to lift these caps, negotiate a really good bill, and provide adequate funding for the American people. This is important for their health, for their work life. We have to be sure we are investing so we are creating jobs and keep the economy moving. I look forward to that process. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, this resolution is more political theater: all sound and fury, signifying nothing and going nowhere. We are proceeding to debate this resolution even though there is no money-- zero money--in the CR for Planned Parenthood and even though we all understand that if the Senate also adopts this resolution, it will effectively shut down the government, slowing economic growth and job creation. Planned Parenthood provides essential preventive health services, including birth control, lifesaving cancer screenings, well-women exams, and advice on family planning to nearly 3 million women each year. Community health centers are not an alternative to Planned Parenthood. The California Primary Care Association noted: ``Eliminating Planned Parenthood from our State's comprehensive network of care would put untenable stress on remaining providers. We do not have the capacity for such an increase in care.'' I urge a ``no'' vote on the resolution.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Carolyn Fish, who has spent her life as a vocal advocate for women in Rockland County, New York. Carolyn's activism began in the 1970s when she attended an early planning meeting for the Rockland County Chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW). She helped organize Rockland NOW's first conference at Rockland Community College, a pivotal moment in the growth of the women's rights movement in the county. Following the conference Carolyn continued to organize and plan events highlighting women's issues, eventually becoming vice president of Rockland NOW in 1977. Since 1978 Carolyn has been the Executive Director of the Rockland Family Shelter (RFS), leading its growth from a small shelter to a full-service violence and sexual assault agency. The shelter provides residential and non-residential services that encompass all the needs of survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Under her leadership, RFS has fouced on addressing oppression and integrating awareness of racism and sexism to better meet the needs of the women and children RFS serves. During her tenure RFS has received numerous awards, including the Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Community Service in 1985, the Distinguished Housing Award from the State of New York in 1986, and the Pinnacle Award for Outstanding Achievement by a Non-Profit Organization from the Rockland Business Association in 2004. Carolyn has also lectured throughout the nation on the causes and effects of domestic violence and has served on a statewide task force to develop the New York State Domestic Violence Policies for Counties, the New York State Crime Victims' Board Advisory Council, and the New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence. For her hard work and dedication, she has received numerous awards and honors, including the Oustanding Victim Advocate Award from the New York State Crime Victims Board in 1999, and a Women of Distinction Award from the New York State Senate, also in 1999. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Carolyn Fish for her lifetime of work on behalf of women in Rockland County, New York, and across the country. I urge my colleagues to join me in applauding her achievements.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor three New York scientists--Professors Walter Mischel, Joel Cohen and Christopher Small--for receiving the 2015 Golden Goose award for research within their respective fields. Founded in 2012, the Golden Goose Award recognizes researchers whose obscure, federally funded research has returned significant benefits to society. This annual contest was inspired by my friend, Representative Jim Cooper of Tennessee, as a way of highlighting the tremendous human and economic benefits of federally funded research. Dr. Mischel of Columbia University, in conjunction with Drs. Philip Peake and Yuichi Shoda of Stanford University, were recognized for their ``Marshmallow Test.'' This project measures human behavior, specifically our self-control, by offering children one marshmallow immediately or two if they could wait just 15 minutes alone with their potential treat. The project revealed the importance of self-control and how the trait can be cultivated to appropriately teach our children. Dr. Mischel's work was made possible by funding from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation (NSF). Drs. Cohen and Small received the 2015 Golden Goose award for their study on population densities at various altitudes. Working out of the Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory in my district, Drs. Cohen and Small developed the first global map of human population distribution with respect to Earth elevation. This innovative way of looking at population density will help us understand how events such as natural disasters or sea-level rise impact population distribution and health. Their work was made possible by funding from the NSF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Professors Walter Mischel, Joel Cohen and Christopher Small for receiving the 2015 Golden Goose Award. Their projects symbolize the importance of federal funding for scientific research and the creativity that research fosters. I urge my colleagues to join me in commending them for their hard work.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, reasonable people disagree about the merits and shortcomings of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. In the strongest democracy in the world, we have a sacred duty to uphold the high standard of debate and govern responsibly. That is why I am profoundly disappointed by vitriolic personal attacks and character assassinations on both sides of this debate; and I am outraged by the Republicans' attempt to score political points on this critical issue of national and global security. The threat to pursue wasteful litigation and to tie the hands of our President until the end of his term are particularly outrageous, when the Senate has indicated it will not even consider these measures. I strongly oppose the blatantly irresponsible partisan political measures before the House this week. As ranking Democratic member of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, I have participated in dozens of classified and unclassified Iran briefings with the Obama administration, including members of our negotiating team and colleagues in Congress during the last 2 years. I have thoroughly evaluated the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action released in July, met with foreign leaders, nuclear experts, and heard from thousands of thoughtful and passionate constituents. After careful consideration, I will vote against approval of the agreement. Sufficient safeguards simply are not in place to address the risk associated with this agreement, and it will not dismantle Iran's nuclear infrastructure. First, in 15 years, Iran will become an internationally recognized nuclear threshold state capable of producing highly enriched uranium to develop a nuclear weapon. Second, relieving U.N. sanctions on conventional arms and ballistic missiles and releasing billions of dollars to the Iranian regime will lead to a dangerous regional weapons race and enable Iran to bolster its funding of Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and Bashar al-Assad. Third, the deal does not explicitly require Iran to fully disclose its previous military work before sanctions relief is provided. Inspectors will not have anytime, anywhere access to the most suspicious facilities, particularly the Parchin military complex, with a process that lacks transparency and could delay inspectors access for up to 24 days. Finally, there are no clear accountability measures regarding punishment for minor violations of the agreement. In recent weeks, the administration has responded to some of my concerns by committing to additional security assistance to Israel and our Gulf partners and to improving international cooperation on countering Iran's nonnuclear destabilizing activities. I will work in Congress and with the administration to expeditiously implement these commitments to enhance--not just maintain--nonnuclear- related sanctions to establish stronger mechanisms to deter Iran and to ensure Iran never develops a nuclear weapon. One of my highest priorities will continue to be the protection of Israel's qualitative military edge so that our closest ally in the region can defend itself against all threats from Iran or its proxies. In the same week, my colleagues, that Congress holds this important vote, Iran's Supreme Leader vowed again to annihilate the Jewish State of Israel and to vilify the Great Satan that he calls the United States of America. It is my sincere hope that we can work together in a bipartisan way moving forward. The security of the United States of America and our allies depends on it.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 907, U.S.- Jordan Defense Cooperation Act of 2015. The United States has no stronger partner in the Arab world than Jordan, and His Majesty King Abdullah II continues to be a pioneer in bolstering moderate political voices both in Jordan and throughout the Muslim world. During such a tumultuous time in the region, with the rise of ISIL and the unprecedented humanitarian needs of millions of refugees, stability and security in Jordan remain vital to our own interests. That is why this legislation is so important. It would help strengthen military and economic ties between our two countries. As the Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, I remain committed to our strategic partnership with Jordan, and I will continue to work as hard as possible to promote stability, economic growth, and prosperity for the Jordanian people.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank Chairman Calvert; Chairman Rogers; as well as my good friend Betty McCollum, who is doing an outstanding job in her first year as ranking member of the subcommittee; and all the hard-working staff on both sides of the aisle. However, while I appreciate the chairman's willingness to accommodate some Democratic priorities, this is the latest in a series of bills that drastically shortchanges job- creating investments and vital environmental protections, while carrying a wish list of special interest giveaways that hurt hard- working American families' health and safety. The President proposed to end sequestration through more reasonable and realistic budgeting 4 months ago, but Republicans have yet to engage on finding a workable solution. How much longer do we have to play this charade, the Republican shutdown strategy, before the House considers bills that could be enacted? Refusing to adopt a sufficient overall allocation for discretionary investments has led to a bill that severely underfunds far too many priorities. The EPA would be slashed $1.17 billion below the President's request, $718 million below the 2015 enacted level. Such a draconian cut would take EPA investments back to 1997 levels. Capital programs are dramatically underfunded, with Indian Health facilities receiving $173 million less than the President's request. Over half a billion dollars in cuts to the State revolving funds endanger our Nation's water infrastructure, cutting 32,000 construction jobs on 207 projects, risking public health with fewer water and drinking water projects. The Land and Water Conservation Fund, which conserves irreplaceable lands and improves outdoor recreation opportunities, would be cut by 30 percent below the current level. Unsurprisingly, the majority seeks to dismantle critical environmental protections in the bill that are supposed to advance environmental initiatives. In a demonstration of solidarity with climate change deniers and the coal industry, the majority would prevent the administration from advancing new rules to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Despite the fact that it harmonizes existing activities to protect the environment, 2.8 million ocean industry jobs, $282 billion in GDP generated by ocean industries in coastal States, the National Ocean Policy's implementation would be blocked. Once again, the majority has waged war on the Endangered Species Act, placing politics above science and jeopardizing the protection of precious species, including wolves. Instead of allowing the United States to lead the world to end the trade of ivory, the Fish and Wildlife Service's efforts would be rolled back. Given the number of unnecessary riders, it is particularly disappointing that the majority didn't include our colleague, Mr. Simpson's wildfire bill, an excellent proposal that would improve our ability to prepare for and respond to disasters. Democrats are more than willing to find a balanced and fiscally responsible way to lift the sequester that is strangling our investments in America's future and invest in a stronger defense, better infrastructure, and bigger paycheck for America's hard-working families. I hope that, as we move forward, this bill makes those investments and sheds unnecessary policy changes. I urge my colleagues to oppose this misguided bill.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Frank Fanelli, who is retiring after 43 years of outstanding service as a teacher, coach, and administrator in the Port Chester-Rye Union Free School District, which I am proud to represent. Mr. Fanelli was born and raised in Port Chester, New York, and first distinguished himself on the high school gridiron as the last district player to be named an All-American football player. He began to think of a teaching career in high school and started as the junior high school health teacher in the 1970s. After teaching for 23 years, Mr. Fanelli moved into administration, holding positions including Assistant Principal, Director of Grants, and currently Assistant Superintendent. Mr. Fanelli has devoted his professional career in the Port Chester schools to his philosophy of educating the whole child. During his tenure, the Port Chester school district implemented Full Service Community Schools, two of which have received National Blue Ribbons, and developed the JFK Early Learning Center. Under his leadership, the district received grants totaling more than $50 million that enhanced the educational opportunities for students. In more than four decades of service, his achievements have won many well-deserved awards including Westchester County Health Teacher of the Year, Port Chester Teacher of the Year, and most recently, special recognition from the Port Chester, Rye Brook, and Rye Town Council of Community Services. Mr. Fanelli's leadership and tireless efforts have truly ensured that Port Chester students are prepared to excel in the future. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Frank Fanelli for his 43 years of dedicated service to his community. He truly has improved the lives of thousands of students and their families as well as inspired hundreds of educators, many whom he has selflessly mentored. I urge my colleagues to join me in celebrating his exemplary career and wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, I would like to thank Chairman Frelinghuysen, Ranking Member Visclosky, and Chairman Rogers for their efforts. I particularly want to thank Chairman Frelinghuysen and Ranking Member Visclosky for working in such a cooperative manner. However, the two parties remain very far apart in their approach to the appropriations process. Our differences were plainly evident during consideration of the fiscal year 2016 budget resolution. Not one of my Democratic colleagues supported the majority's budget because it maintained sequestration levels. As the President said: the majority has returned our economy to the same top-down economics that has failed us before and slashes investments in the middle class that we need to grow the economy. During debate on the previous five appropriations bills, my majority colleagues argued strenuously that allocations at the sequester level were nonnegotiable. They argued our committee was hamstrung by the Budget Control Act and that we were powerless to renegotiate another sequester relief package, as had been done under the Murray-Ryan agreement 2 years ago. At the same time, others on our committee told the press that ``pressure would build'' to address sequestration or pass a continuing resolution because sequester-level bills cannot be enacted. The Defense bill before us appears to be operating under a different set of rules, with funding over the magical sequester level, a level we were told was the law of the land. It was not cut below the President's request, as were all the other nondefense bills. By using $38 billion in overseas contingency operations funding to plug the hole created by the budget caps, this bill fully funds defense programs and avoids the inadequacies facing the other bills. Let me be very, very clear. I am not making a case that the Defense bill is too high or advocating that it should be reduced. We live in a very dangerous world. We need to attend to our defense, but we should do so in a responsible fashion. Our military leaders have discouraged the use of the overseas contingency operations/global war on terror budget to fund regular defense costs. They contend that doing so undermines the Defense Department's ability to plan over the long term. Funding $38 billion of the Pentagon's regular base budget activities with war funds creates future-year budget caps that would be difficult to fill. This practice irresponsibly addresses only one of the budget imperatives, creating clear losers in most of the other appropriation bills. If this bill were to move forward as is, I fear my majority colleagues would mentally move on; the urgency facing the entire appropriations process would fade because we have ``taken care of'' our national security needs. That, my friends, is a dangerous strategy, especially given that we know none of these bills are likely to be signed into law by the President as they are currently written.

Mrs. LOWEY. We can deal with that fact now or deal with it again over the holidays, but we are going to have to deal with it. Members of the armed services and their families live in every one of our communities. They drive on crowded highways and over crumbling bridges. Most of them send their kids to public schools. These families expect the meat and products they buy to be safe and the airplanes in which they fly to be protected. If they should ever get sick, they need to have the biomedical research in place so that safe and effective treatments are available to them. These are reasonable expectations. What is not reasonable is to put forward several annual spending bills that mindlessly cut these priorities simply because we can't agree on a reasonable budget. National security and economic strength are inextricably linked. Let's get back to the table and set realistic spending caps to provide what is needed both for our national security and to create jobs, improve infrastructure, fund biomedical research, and grow the economy. Let's get together. Let's vote ``no'' on this bill and move on.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor PepsiCo, which is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary. Founded in 1965, PepsiCo has had its headquarters in Purchase, New York, since 1970. As a Fortune 500 company, PepsiCo has not only transformed the food and beverage industry, it is a global leader in finding solutions for many of the serious challenges facing the international community. The company's philanthropic arm, the PepsiCo Foundation, supports programs that encourage healthy lifestyles, improve the availability of nutrition and clean water, and empower women. Most recently, the foundation announced that, through its collaborative efforts, more than four million people in Latin America now have access to safe, clean water. PepsiCo has displayed a commitment to increasing opportunities for female leaders in its workforce. In 2011, the company launched the Pinnacle Group in the United States as a way of retaining the most talented female employees through career development, leadership training, and mentoring opportunities. In Asia, the Middle East and Africa (AMEA), PepsiCo has successfully increased female participation through gender equity awareness and inclusion of women in leadership roles. Today, more than a quarter of PepsiCo executives in the AMEA region are female and the company is led by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Indra Nooyi. Since 2005, PepsiCo has donated more than $600 million to agencies working in the environmental, educational, civic, arts and health and human services fields. It also provided more than $1.4 million for Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring PepsiCo on its fiftieth anniversary.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, I, too, would like to congratulate Chairman Diaz-Balart and Ranking Member Price in their new roles on the subcommittee. You have worked so hard, you have worked together, and I really do want to express my appreciation. And to Chairman Rogers, thank you for your work. I would particularly like to thank the chairman for his support of my grade crossing safety requests. However, the Republican bill to fund transportation and housing priorities drastically shortchanges job-creating investments critical to hard-working American families, like roads, bridges, rail systems, and access to safe and affordable housing. At the same time, it includes special interest giveaways for the trucking industry and other policy riders that make our roads less safe and our rail system less competitive and meddles foolishly in foreign policy. Despite the fact that our infrastructure needs are increasing, the bill before us takes a giant step backward. We cannot meet tomorrow's challenges by slashing investments in TIGER, transit, and air traffic modernization. Even though the bill was considered in full committee the morning after last month's tragic Amtrak crash in Philadelphia, the majority voted down amendments to increase funds for Amtrak capital investments and positive train control, which the NTSB has said would have prevented the derailment. Yet it does not receive any funding in the bill. While we do not yet have all of the answers to the horrific accident in Philadelphia, we do know that starving Amtrak of funding will inhibit safety upgrades, track, and capital improvements. Our continued failure to invest in road and rail infrastructure is not just unwise; it is plainly a public safety hazard. Before I turn to housing, it is important to mention the plentiful legislative riders. Christmas came early for the trucking industry: longer, heavier trucks; the stalled enforcement of hours-of-service rules; and inadequate insurance requirements. Controversial riders have no place in an already difficult appropriations process. At a time when roads and bridges are crumbling and when there is a national crisis of affordable housing, it makes no sense to use this critical bill to meddle in foreign policy by including riders on Cuba. With regard to housing, adequate funding to renew existing vouchers is provided, but it isn't sufficient to meet our country's actual housing needs. Significantly cutting Lead Hazard Control will slow the progress on eliminating household toxins despite the fact that the successful program has resulted in lower lead poisoning and in better educational and behavioral outcomes. Slashing Choice Neighborhoods by $230 million, or 92 percent below the President's request, guts resources to transform clusters of poverty into functioning, sustainable mixed-income neighborhoods; and it prevents the children who live there from having the opportunities that all Americans deserve. Employing gimmicks to fund HOME through the housing trust fund perpetuates another gap in the spectrum of affordable housing. Democrats are more than willing to support bills that make investments to grow our economy and create opportunity for hard-working Americans. Unfortunately, this bill falls far short of that goal. Again, in conclusion, I want to thank the chairman, the ranking member, and all of the hard-working staff. Although I urge my colleagues to vote ``no,'' I do hope we can move forward and get to real bills so we can work together and complete this process on especially this very important piece of legislation.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chair, I would like to take a moment to congratulate Chairman Culberson on his first Commerce, Justice, and Science bill, as well as Ranking Member Fattah and full committee Chairman Rogers for their efforts. I know how hard they worked to try and put together the best bill possible. Before I go further, I want to thank my friend, Ranking Member Fattah, and join him in expressing our heartfelt condolences to the Vice President on the loss of his son. I just can't imagine the pain that one feels at such a tragedy. I know our hearts and prayers go out to the Biden family. The pictures of the floods in Texas were so horrifying, and I know how hard everyone was working to minimize the loss of life. I also want to express my condolences to Chairman Culberson as well. The House Republican ``work harder for less'' budget resolution was opposed by every Member on my side of the aisle in part because it really makes it impossible to give hard-working Americans the opportunity to succeed. Democrats want to end the sequester, and we need more reasonable and realistic budgeting that could help families afford college, a home, and a secure retirement. The insufficient overall allocation for discretionary investment hurts initiatives in all the appropriation bills that grow the economy, create jobs, and make us more secure. While I appreciate the chairman's efforts, the grossly inadequate allocation creates shortcomings that are evident in the fiscal year 2016 Commerce, Justice, and Science bill. Instead of providing the desperately needed investments in community policing and improving the juvenile justice system, the COPS hiring program would receive no funding, and the Office of Juvenile Justice would receive $68 million less than fiscal year 2015 and $156 million less than the President's request. These failures are particularly shameful, given the inclusion of a number of gun riders, including language blocking a reporting requirement on multiple purchases of rifles or shotguns by individual buyers. We must eliminate riders such as these that prevent law enforcement from sensibly addressing gun crimes. While Violence Against Women prevention and prosecution programs would appear to receive an increase above both fiscal year 2015 and the President's fiscal year 2016 request, it is actually below the request when you account for a transfer in Victims of Trafficking grants. Similar gimmicks are also included in the portion of the COPS program that would be funded. The Legal Services Corporation would fare far worse: $75 million below fiscal year 2015, $152 million below the request. This is unacceptable for a vital service that provides legal help for hard- working Americans. Turning to science, the bill continues the majority's practice of burying its head in the sand instead of focusing on the stark climate change realities. As in previous years, the bill severely cuts funding for NOAA climate research by 19 percent below fiscal year 2015, a $30 million decrease. We should be supporting, not hindering, this important work to help save our environment. The bill also cuts Geosciences and Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences of the National Science Foundation by $257 million below the fiscal year 2015 level, an approach universally opposed by the scientific community. Rather than properly preparing for the constitutionally mandated 2020 Census, the mark is $387 million below the President's request for the U.S. Census Bureau. Failure to provide these funds now will only cost taxpayers more in the long run, as the Census Bureau would be unable to thoroughly develop and test innovative, cost-saving business practices. Developing a well-designed and thoughtful Census now could save up to $5 billion in 2020 Census costs. As in other bills, the majority has included a number of controversial riders. In addition to those on firearms I already mentioned, another provision is aimed at placing restrictions on exports to Cuba. However, despite the numerous shortcomings, I want to thank the chairman again for his work related to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, Byrne Justice Assistance Grants, and the community Backlog Reduction Program to process sexual assault kits. These evidentiary kits have historically gone untested for decades, giving violent and culpable offenders the ability to strike again. So it is important we fund this program at a workable level. I want to make it clear that Democrats are more than willing to support bills that include adequate spending levels to ensure public safety, promote economic growth, and that exclude unnecessary riders. Unfortunately, although this bill does such wonderful things, and I am a great supporter once again of all the brain research, the important investments that are being made to address Alzheimer's, autism, and other serious, serious diseases of the brain, the bill does not make appropriate investments that hard-working Americans need but, instead, advances misguided policy changes. I urge my colleagues to vote against this bill. Thank you again to our chair and ranking members.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, I thank Chairman Graves and Ranking Member Wasserman Schultz for their hard work on this bill. Today, during what the majority has labeled ``Innovation Week,'' we consider the smallest of the appropriation bills, which funds the operations of our Nation's legislative branch. Mr. Chairman, there is absolutely nothing innovative about this bill. Without Senate items, the bill is $3.341 billion. Despite years of ``tightening our belts,'' the majority has, yet again, kept funding flat and further damaged this institution's reputation and ability to function at the highest level. Member representational allowances, or MRAs, would be frozen for a third consecutive year and will continue to strain the House's ability to serve the American people due to fewer staff for constituent casework, the inability to effectively communicate with our constituents, and fewer district offices. Furthermore, we will consider amendments to the bill which would compound the problems legislative branch agencies face: our buildings are crumbling, life and safety projects are postponed, and agencies have hit the limits of what they can do with inadequate funding. Further cuts proposed today will have even greater implications for the operations of the Congress. I am concerned that the majority continues funding for a partisan lawsuit against the President. At a time when we are putting appropriation bills under tight budgetary restrictions, this waste of taxpayer dollars only distracts us from the serious work Congress should get done. Notwithstanding my misgivings, I want to again congratulate the chairman for putting forth his first bill and working with the ranking member, where possible. We need more cooperation between the majority and the minority.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act, which will ensure Congress a role in evaluating any final deal reached between the P5+1 countries and Iran. As the author of the crippling sanctions that brought Iran to the negotiating table, Congress' continued oversight role is critical. Serious concerns remain about the proposed framework, particularly of the enforcement and verifiability of any deal, and whether it will, indeed, close all possible pathways to a bomb. Any deal must include full and unfettered inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency of any facility, military or otherwise--including Parchin, Fordow, Natanz--and Iran must account for the possible military dimensions of its past activities. Given Iran's history of deception, sanctions should remain in place until Iran has taken major nuclear-related steps that demonstrate their sincerity. We all want a diplomatic solution, but as long as Iran's leaders continue to refer to Israel as the ``barbaric'' Jewish state that ``has no cure but to be annihilated,'' we must approach any deal with the utmost scrutiny. That is why I urge the immediate passage of this important legislation.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman. This is a new low in the war on women. Women have been fired for using in vitro fertilization and fired for being pregnant before they are married. This isn't some hypothetical or a cautious story from the 1950s. This is happening in America in the 21st century. The D.C. Council voted unanimously to protect workers from this type of discrimination because it understands what House Republicans must not, that employees should be judged by their performance, not their reproductive healthcare choices. Madam Speaker, hard-working women already have enough on their plate, from making 78 cents on the dollar compared to men, to acting as caregivers without paid family and medical leave. The majority doesn't even have the courage to bring up this bill in the light of day. Congress should be focused on growing the economy and providing opportunity for all Americans, not making women fear that they might be fired if their employer does not approve of contraception or the manner in which they conceive children.