Nita Lowey

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to the bill, which fails to prioritize the middle class, create jobs, and provide opportunity for every citizen to succeed, yet it contains a misguided political agenda, unworkable funding levels, and unnecessary riders that inhibit agencies' ability to crack down on special interest abuses. For our economy to succeed, investors must have faith that regulators do their jobs, especially when we are still recovering from the economic harm caused by risky industry practice, yet this bill could put mom-and-pop investors and our entire economy at risk with inadequate funding authority for the SEC at $300 million below the request. This is outrageous when you consider that the SEC's funding does not take a dime of U.S. taxpayer dollars or impact the deficit in any way because it is entirely fee-funded. In the last fiscal year, due to budget constraints, the SEC examined only about 9 percent of registered investment advisers. The number of investment advisers has increased by 40 percent over the past decade, and assets under management have more than doubled, yet the SEC's funding has not kept up with the need. It is clear this bill should do more to protect investors and ensure that industry does not resume practices that endanger Americans' hard- earned money. This bill would cut the IRS budget by more than $340 million, to below fiscal year 2008 levels. These cuts would force the IRS to operate with 9,500 fewer staff. The rate of response for taxpayers who call the IRS for assistance, which is currently a dismal 61 percent, would fall to less than 50 percent. Small business owners, taxpayers would waste their time on hold, instead of using that time to focus on strengthening their businesses and the economic security of their families or creating jobs. Disturbingly, these cuts would result in $2 billion in uncollected revenue compared to the request level. While actions at the IRS warrant further oversight and reform, these cuts are excessive. The IRS should receive the resources it needs to train its workforce to uphold the highest standards, not cut it for the sake of making a political point. These IRS cuts will only make it easier for tax cheats to go undetected and more difficult for law-abiding taxpayers to get assistance. Other troublesome measures attempt to dictate local government decisions for Washington, D.C., and prohibit implementation of health reforms that have given millions of Americans affordable health coverage for the first time. It is also full of riders that unnecessarily involve women's health, needle exchanges, even a denial of funds for D.C. voting rights. If Congress imposed these demands on any other area of the country, and particularly areas represented by some of my Republican friends, I expect many would yell from the rooftops that the Federal Government was imposing on your way of life and in your local decisions. These efforts are unfair to the citizens of Washington, D.C. What frustrates me most is that my Republican friends know that government agencies cannot function at the levels they would impose, but would rather vote to slash funding even lower because it suits their political purposes. Our constituents deserve better than this cynical political exercise. Vote ``no'' on this shameful bill that prioritizes special interests over the middle class.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Chair, I want to thank the chairman and the ranking member, whose bipartisan cooperation and hard work are evident in the bill before us. This bill invests in a number of important programs that have strong Democratic backing. It underscores the constraints of virtually flat discretionary spending. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, underinvestment in our marine ports and inland waterways endangers more than 1 million U.S. jobs and $270 billion in U.S. exports by 2020. While the Corps of Engineers would be given a slight increase above this year's level, budget caps won't help the Corps make a dent in its $60 billion project backlog, forcing them once again to put off vital projects that would protect homes, businesses, and communities. We are also missing an opportunity to ramp up investments in science and technology. Research and development spending has fueled our economic growth for the last 60 years, and dramatic increases in this area are needed to sustain our economic recovery. Flat funding for ARPA-E and the Office of Science is particularly problematic, given that other countries, including China, Russia, Germany, and Singapore, are increasing investments in these fields. We cannot permit an innovation deficit. We must ensure that tomorrow's breakthroughs occur in American labs and universities. Given, however, the subcommittee's allocation, I am pleased that these critical accounts were mostly protected from cuts or slightly increased, but we could do better. There are a number of shortcomings I would like to mention. First is the continued safeguarding of Federal spending that benefits Big Oil and fossil fuel companies instead of supporting investments in emerging renewable technologies. I strongly disagree with the $113 million cut to the energy efficiency and renewable energy account and the decision to fund the fossil energy account at $117.5 million above the President's request. Our country is home to a robust fossil fuels industrial base that makes over $100 billion annually in profits and actively invests in robust private sector R&D spending to advance its interests. With such a tight allocation, we should invest in creating green jobs of the future instead of backing an industry which already benefits from billions in tax breaks. Second, the bill includes unnecessary riders related to navigable waters and the definition of fill materials under the Clean Water Act. The Corps of Engineers and EPA recently released a proposed rule regarding navigable waters, and their work needs to move forward in order to address the ambiguity created by Supreme Court rulings in 2001 and 2006. Despite strong disagreements regarding the merits of the proposed rule, these issues should be resolved through the rulemaking process, not in this bill. By preemptively stopping any efforts to update the definition of fill materials, this bill ensures that communities in coal country will continue to live with public health threats and the environmental consequences of mountaintop removal mining. Lastly, this bill does not do nearly enough to address the incredibly damaging effects of climate change. Rising sea levels and increased flooding from torrential downpours and hurricanes demonstrate the overwhelming need to invest in new water infrastructure to safeguard our communities. Yet the subcommittee can't invest in new projects because its allocation is dwarfed by the growing backlog of ongoing projects, which includes projects that were authorized decades ago. Clinging to outdated fossil fuels instead of doubling down on the promise of renewable energy slows future job growth that saves lives by lessening the impact of climate change.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. I would like to thank the chairman and the ranking member. The Defense Subcommittee has a long tradition of working closely together, and I sincerely appreciate these bipartisan efforts. Mr. Chairman, this is an extremely important and timely bill as the Department is tasked with drawing down forces in Afghanistan, is appropriately responding to the upheaval in Iraq, and is facing other challenges across the globe. Totaling $490.7 billion, the base portion of the bill is approximately $200 million above the President's request. However, after accounting for appropriate increases in Active Duty pay and housing costs, the remainder of the bill is actually below the President's proposed level. Budget caps and sequestration force difficult decisions, many of which will be debated this week. Before we begin that discussion, I want to again thank the chairman and ranking member and recognize the constraints under which they assembled the bill. The bill includes a number of provisions I strongly support: additional investments to address the epidemic of sexual assault plaguing our military; substantial funds for health services and suicide prevention as my colleague just informed me that, in March, there were zero combat fatalities, but there were 700 suicides; a 1.8 percent increase for Active Duty pay; support for the National Guard and Reserves as well as family support programs; significant funding for cybersecurity to protect our critical infrastructure from cyber attacks; and continued support for the Israeli Cooperative missile defense programs. I applaud the inclusion of language that fences 75 percent of funds for the Defense Healthcare Management System Modernization, requiring a report from the Secretary of Defense on acquisition and the cost of the program, plus the status of efforts to achieve interoperability with the Department of Veterans Affairs. This system is critical to the health of our servicemembers, and expeditious interoperability between the DOD and the VA is essential to ensuring quality of care as they become veterans. Through continued oversight, this committee will make sure that the DOD stays on course and delivers the promised objectives. I remain concerned about the lack of a formal budget for the overseas contingency operations funds. With continued uncertainty about future U.S. actions in Afghanistan, work remains on this account. Again, I appreciate the professionalism and collegiality of the process, and I look forward to further cooperation as we work toward passing this bill.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the efforts of the chairman and the ranking member in putting together this bill. While many of the funding decisions are appropriate, I do oppose this bill because I have deep objections to controversial riders. First, this bill would begin to back away from much-needed efforts to make school meals healthier. According to the CDC, as of 2012, more than one-third of children and adolescents were obese. Obese children are more likely to become obese adults, and thus are at a much greater risk of developing heart diseases, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and forms of cancer. Schools should support and teach healthy eating habits. Instead of providing waivers, this bill should help the districts meet this higher standard by providing the technical assistance and training to become compliant. Additionally, bill language would make white potatoes eligible for purchase by WIC participants, which is inconsistent with the purpose of the WIC program to include only foods based on documented nutritional deficiencies. White potatoes are excluded today based on the best available science, and science, not special interests, should continue to be the guide for WIC's policies. The majority should have fully embraced the work and purpose of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and fully funded the administration's request. I am also concerned that the bill provides only half of the requested funds to expand and improve oversight of drug compounding to ensure products are safe and effective. I thank the chairman for working with me to ensure that the summer feeding pilot program remains open to children in rural and urban areas and adding report language related to sunscreen ingredients, sprays, and high SPF products. I very much support the additional $13 million in funding for the McGovern-Dole food aid program and the restoration of funding for the Food for Peace program. However, the bill should have also included the administration's proposal to allow up to 25 percent of title II resources to be made available in cash for emergencies to better respond to multiple, high- level crises around the world. This change alone would have allowed U.S. aid to reach an estimated 2 million more people in chronically food-insecure communities. The bill provides sufficient funds for nutritional assistance programs, such as WIC and SNAP, and provides needed discretionary funds for food safety programs within FDA and the Food Safety and Inspection Service. It is my sincere hope that we can improve these shortcomings before a bill is signed into law.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. John S. Ruskay for his contributions to the American Jewish community. Dr. Ruskay has dedicated his life to the pursuit of education and philanthropy, serving many roles within the Jewish community throughout his career. From 1980 to 1985, Dr. Ruskay was the Educational Director of the 92nd Street Y in New York. This venerable institution is renowned for its devotion to philanthropy and community enhancement. It is a testimony to Dr. Ruskay's talents that he ran the educational pursuits of this institution. He has also served as a senior consultant to the Wexner Foundation and the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies. These organizations are at the forefront of fostering connections between individuals and their community. Their work has helped ensure that future generations of the Jewish community are not just aware of their cultural heritage, but that they are instilled with a desire to give back to the community as leaders. For the past 15 years, Dr. Ruskay has served as CEO of the United Jewish Appeal-Federation of New York. In this role, he has provided strong leadership and has helped advance UJA-Federation's vision of a more interconnected Jewish community. Under his leadership, the UJA- Federation mobilized its resources to help launch the Israel Trauma Center to help Israeli victims of terror attacks during the second intifada. It was also under his leadership that the charity launched Connect to Care to help people struggling during the recession. And in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, UJA-Federation provided millions of dollars to help restore damaged communities. Dr. Ruskay has been honored with numerous awards for his extensive work in the Jewish community in New York, the United States, and worldwide. He is a recipient of the Bernard Reisman Award for Professional Excellence from Brandeis University's Hornstein program and the Association of Jewish Communal Service's Mandelkom Distinguished Service Award. He also holds honorary doctorates from The Jewish Theological Seminary of America, the Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership, Hebrew Union College, and Yeshiva University. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize Dr. John S. Ruskay for his remarkable service and lifelong commitment to enriching the lives of others. I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring his tremendous accomplishments.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, I thank Chairman Latham and Ranking Member Pastor for their outstanding service to the Congress and to the country. They exemplify the spirit and history of bipartisan cooperation of the Appropriations Committee, and they will certainly be missed. I wish them both the best in the next chapter of their lives. I appreciate their efforts to put this bill together. Their job was made all the more difficult by much lower than expected FHA and Ginnie Mae receipts. Unfortunately, I must oppose this bill because it provides inadequate funding for our country's highway and transit infrastructure. Specifically, cuts to the following critical infrastructure programs are unacceptable: Amtrak's capital funding is decreased by $200 million below fiscal year 2014, which will defer critical repairs; capital investment grants, which support new subway, light rail, and commuter projects are $809 million below the request, and the bill contains no funding for transit projects that are in the pipeline; TIGER would receive a paltry $100 million--while I am pleased the majority included it in its bill for the first time, the proposed level is insufficient; and on the housing side, both HOME and the Public Housing Capital Fund, which are vital for the rehabilitation and modernization of our country's affordable housing stock, face sharp decreases. At $700 million, HOME is funded at its lowest level since the program began in 1992, and the Public Housing Capital Fund is funded below the sequester level. In addition, funding wasn't included to support the installation of positive train control, which could prevent deadly rail accidents like those experienced in New York and Connecticut in recent years. However, I do appreciate that the chairman is committed to addressing this issue if additional resources become available. While I would have liked this bill to fully support the President's new safe transportation of energy products fund for prevention and response activities across all agencies at DOT that are grappling with the dangers of crude oil transport by rail, I thank the chairman for working with me to include approximately $11 million for the Federal Railroad Administration to support grade crossing safety improvements on rail routes that transport energy products and the hiring of safety staff to monitor the routing of energy products. There is also $7 million for Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to improve training and outreach efforts related to incident response, along with report language that directs the Department of Transportation to update emergency spill response plans for rail crude oil spills, improve first responder training protocols for spill incidents, and finalize a rule for improving safety standards for crude oil tank cars, like the DOT-111, by the end of September. I would be remiss if I didn't note my objection to the inclusion of riders on California high-speed rail and on truck weight exemptions. These controversial riders will only hinder the bill's progress through the Congress. I would note for my colleagues that the Senate Appropriations Committee marked up its transportation and housing bill last week. The Senate bill's allocation was nearly $2.4 billion higher than this bill. As a result, it addresses many of the shortfalls of the bill we consider today. It is my sincere hope that we can improve this bill in a conference with the Senate before it is signed into law.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mrs. Souvenise Jeanne Bazile, who passed away on May 11, 2014. Mrs. Bazile, who lived in Spring Valley, New York, was 107 at the time of her passing. Originally from Haiti, she moved to the United States in 1978 to join her husband. Mrs. Bazile was a loving mother who dedicated herself to her six children, fifteen grandchildren, and fourteen great-grandchildren. Just a few months ago, Mrs. Bazile fulfilled one of her dreams-- becoming an American citizen. After living here for three decades, working hard and contributing to society, Mrs. Bazile became one of the oldest immigrants ever to gain citizenship. She is truly an inspiration for all those who hope to one day achieve the American dream. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize my constituent, Mrs. Souvenise Jeanne Bazile. I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring her tremendous life.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. I want to thank the outstanding ranking member of this committee for his work on this bill. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of this amendment. Let me be very clear. The long gun rider currently in this bill makes it easier for drug cartels to smuggle weapons across the border and more difficult for law enforcement to identify straw purchasers and get weapons out of the hands of dangerous people. The reporting of multiple purchases for powerful semiautomatic firearms is the same policy we have had for handguns for decades, and it saves lives. Let me be very clear, my friends. The long gun reporting requirement would not stop a law-abiding person from purchasing a firearm. It only allows the reporting of multiple sales of powerful, semiautomatic rifles--greater than the .22 caliber--and only if they can hold detachable magazines. The Justice Department found that more than half of the guns recovered in Mexico in connection with drug cartels originated in the United States of America. A case study of firearms trafficking by one drug cartel found that, during a 15-month period, the cartel purchased 251 assault rifles from U.S. gun dealers, all but one of which was purchased as part of a multiple sale. Law enforcement needs more, my colleagues, not less to fight drug cartel violence. Support this amendment. Help law enforcement stop the trafficking of weapons and save lives.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I use today to recognize Ms. Souvenise Jeanne Bazile, who passed away on May II, 2014. Ms. Bazile, who lived in Spring Valley, New York, was 107 at the time of her passing. Originally from Haiti, she moved to United States in 1978 to join her husband. Ms. Bazile was a loving mother who dedicated herself to her six children, fifteen grandchildren, and fourteen great- grandchildren. Just a few months ago, Ms. Bazile fulfilled one of her dreams: becoming an American citizen. After living here for three decades, working hard and contributing to society, Ms. Bazile became one of the oldest immigrants ever to gain citizenship. She is truly an inspiration for all those who hope to one day achieve the American dream. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize my constituent, Ms. Souvenise Jeanne Bazile. I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring her tremendous life.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Chair, the Fiscal Year 2015 Commerce-Justice- Science bill before us today provides good funding levels for important programs to support public safety, such as Byrne Justice Assistance Grants and Violence Against Women Act services. I thank Chairman Wolf for working with me to include report language directing the FBI to publish annual reports on the types of records submitted by each State and Federal agency to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. It is only as useful as the information it includes, and these reports will help improve the system. Chairman Wolf and Ranking Member Fattah should be commended for fully funding the Office of Science and Technology Policy, including its working group on Neuroscience, as well as an increase of $21.5 million for National Science Foundation's BRAIN Initiative. Investments in research and development grow our economy and help to ensure that future scientific breakthroughs happen in American labs, not those overseas. In addition, I am extremely pleased that this bill will provide $125 million for the DNA Initiative, as well as $36 million for a new community backlog reduction program to process sexual assault kits which, currently, are often untested for years--sometimes decades--when information contained in these kits could help put violent criminals behind bars. However, I continue to be baffled by efforts aimed at limiting the ability of the Federal Government to keep firearms out of the hands of dangerous individuals. An ill-advised and dangerous amendment was included during the markup to make it more difficult for the ATF in four Southwest border States to be aware of multiple purchases of powerful semiautomatic rifles. ATF already receives this information for handguns. It is unfathomable that we would prevent law enforcement from having this information for semiautomatic rifles, especially when this amendment would make it more difficult to prevent the smuggling of guns to Mexican drug cartels. This backwards policy will put lives at risk. We must not let it stand in the final bill. Other measures must also be addressed before final enactment. The COPS program would be cut by $118 million. The ``wet side'' of NOAA is also cut, including a 40 percent reduction to fisheries habitat conservation and restoration, and the complete elimination of the community-based restoration program. While the bill funds NOAA weather satellites and the National Weather Service, it includes a sizable cut of 24 percent to NOAA climate research. As the National Climate Assessment showed, storms and weather events are becoming more frequent, more severe and, as a result, more costly. We should be investing in research to combat the threat of climate change, not sticking our heads in the sand, pretending the science is wrong because combating such an obstacle would be too costly and inconvenient. While far from perfect in its current form, this is a reasonable bill that I can support. However, it is imperative that no poison pill policy riders be included during House consideration. As I close, I want to say to the chairman--Chairman Wolf--and Ranking Member Fattah, this really is an example of bipartisan cooperation. You worked so effectively in putting this bill together, and I want to congratulate you. Before I close, I also want to thank the retiring chairman for your amazing service to our country. It really has been a pleasure for me to work with you, and we know there is never a doubt, when Frank Wolf gets up to speak, he speaks with conviction and power and determination. You are so impressive. I do want to wish you and your family the very best. For me, it has really been a delight getting to know you. Thank you so much for your service.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, this year, we celebrate 66 years of Israeli independence as well as over six decades of steadfast friendship between Israel and the United States. When President Truman recognized the State of Israel on May 14, 1948, only eleven minutes after David Ben-Gurion declared independence, the United States became an unwavering supporter of the Jewish state. Israel is now our strongest ally in the Middle East as well as the longest-standing democracy in the region. It's a partnership based on shared values and common goals. That is why the United States will continue to be the greatest force against efforts to delegitimize Israel in the international community as well as the greatest advocate for a lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians and recognition of Israel by all of her neighbors. Together, we will continue our efforts to turn these goals into a reality. I join all Israelis in celebrating this year's Yom Ha'atzmaut.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Chair, I want to thank Chairman Cole and Ranking Member Debbie Wasserman Schultz for their hard work on this bill. It really was a bipartisan effort, and I do think you have produced a good bill. Today, we consider the smallest of the appropriations bills which funds the operations of our Nation's legislative branch. Without Senate items, the bill is $3.326 billion, the same as 2014. While I am pleased with the overall funding level, it was my hope that, after years of cuts to Member Representational Allowances, or the MRAs, we might provide a modest increase this year. Member offices have sustained $106 million in cuts since 2010. While some reduction was appropriate, those cuts have severely strained 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. Unless we return to sensible funding levels, we cannot stave off the further erosion of expertise, morale, and comity in this great institution. This bill funds the Open World Leadership program at $3.42 million, a reduction of $2.58 million. Instead of reducing funds equivalent to the amount for exchanges with Russians, we should shift the funds to support a larger presence in Ukraine and other countries fostering democratic principles, as suggested in the committee report. Madam Chair, with that said, I congratulate, once again, the chairman and the ranking member of the subcommittee for putting forth a balanced bill and urge its support.

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Chairman, I rise in strong support of the amendment. When I came to Congress, I was outraged by the behavior of some of my colleagues. In one incident, a woman Member was told to share a seat with a male colleague when there weren't enough chairs at a committee meeting. While there have certainly been improvements, recent events embarrassing this institution highlight the continued need for training. We cannot allow ``Mad Men''-style antics to occur in our offices. Sexual harassment training will help victims, improve awareness of what is not allowed, and is necessary if we want to be serious about stopping inappropriate acts. I thank the gentlelady for offering this amendment, and I encourage your support.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank our distinguished chairman, Mr. Culberson, and the distinguished subcommittee ranking member, Sanford Bishop, who really have done an extraordinary job on this bill. Since it is the first bill coming to the floor, I share the pride expressed by the big chairman, Chairman Rogers. This is regular order, this is an outstanding bill, and we can be very proud of the work. So thank you again, Chairman Culberson, Ranking Member Bishop, for this very, very important bill. This is the first of the 12 spending bills that the House will consider for fiscal year 2015. As I mentioned, I am so pleased that we are beginning the process with a bill, as reported out of committee, that includes reasonable spending levels and is devoid of controversial riders. I hope this is a sign of what is to follow. Despite fiscal constraints, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill would meet the needs of servicemen and servicewomen and continue to support our veterans. I am particularly pleased with the emphasis on the increased need for prosthetics for our female servicemembers. Congress must continue to track and provide vigorous oversight, as you heard from Chairman Rogers and Chairman Culberson and Ranking Member Bishop, on the VistA Evolution Electronic Health Record to ensure its capability and interoperability with whatever health records system the Department of Defense eventually selects. As we have discussed many times, this discussion has gone on much too long. It is time for closure, and it is time for coordination. I do hope that happens sooner, rather than later. The overall increase above the fiscal year 2014-enacted level to the IT account should help the VA move forward. This bill also takes several steps to reduce the disgraceful veterans claims backlog. The committee has previously provided the VA with additional resources. This bill would provide $173.3 million to the Veterans Benefit Management System and an additional $20 million to the Veterans Benefit Administration for digital scanning of old paper files, the centralized mail initiative, and staff overtime. It withholds 75 percent of the VistA Evolution funds until VA provides information on the system, particularly regarding planned interoperability with the DOD. It will continue to require the VA to provide monthly records on claims processing and remediation efforts for underperforming regional offices. The VA has made progress in the last year, and this bill provides the resources to end the claims backlog, and that is what we expect of the Secretary in 2015. This is a good bill. I hope it is preserved as the House considers amendments. Mr. Chairman, I urge your support.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the extraordinary Mr. Vaclav Havel who died in 2011 at the age of 75. Mr. Havel will forever be remembered as a defender of democracy and human rights in the former Soviet Union, having fought against communism and repression throughout the Cold War. Mr. Havel played a central role in the 1989 Velvet Revolution that ultimately paved the way toward democratic governance in the Czech Republic. Mr. Havel went on to serve as the first post-communist President of the Czech Republic. His leadership and vision helped lay the groundwork for the country's prominent standing in our democratic community of nations. I join my colleagues in support of this bipartisan resolution. It is time that we honor Mr. Havel's legacy by allowing his bust alongside those of Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr., Raoul Wallenberg, Sir Winston Churchill, and Sojourner Truth in the U.S. Capitol. Their busts serve as a timeless celebration of some of our most cherished human rights defenders. Mr. Speaker, I urge your support.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. We must come together today on a bipartisan basis to support the people of Ukraine and take a stand against Russia's aggression and illegal violation of Ukraine's sovereign and territorial integrity. Since last November, the world has watched with growing alarm as the hopes and democratic aspirations of the Ukrainian people were met with violent crackdowns against activists, harassment of journalists, and restrictive legislation limiting basic democratic freedoms. The bloody images from the city square and rising death toll are horrific. Last month, the Ukrainian Parliament, the democratically elected institution, responsibly exercised its mandate and took action on behalf of the people of Ukraine. Within days, hope returned as the Parliament ousted the reckless and dangerous former President Yanukovych, began discussions with the IMF on a financial support package, and formed a transitional government with early elections scheduled for May. But Russia, through its dangerous and illegal military occupation of Crimea, has imperiled this progress and unnecessarily escalated this crisis. Russia has violated international law and its own treaty obligations with Ukraine. Ukraine now teeters on the brink of disaster and bloodshed, and I urgently call upon President Putin to work with Kiev and the international community to deescalate the situation immediately. Now is the time for us to support the people of Ukraine. I strongly support President Obama's comprehensive aid package to support Ukraine, which includes $1 billion in loan guarantees, technical assistance on trade, and recovery of stolen assets. The IMF is working with the transitional government in Kiev and is instrumental in stabilizing the Ukrainian economy. This crisis illustrates the importance of the IMF to our national and global security interests, and I hope the final assistance package we enact for Ukraine will include support for the IMF. In addition, I urge my colleagues in Congress to support the IMF quota reforms in the President's budget request, which would expand the IMF's capacity to respond to these kinds of crises and maintain U.S. leadership, instead of continuing to pursue shortsighted, isolationist attacks on the IMF. In the meantime, however, we should not let the perfect stand as the enemy of the good. In the bipartisan spirit of this bill, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' to stand beside the people of Ukraine in their hour of darkness. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel), the ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Schiff), a member of the Foreign Operations Subcommittee of Appropriations.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin), the ranking member of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the minority whip of the House.

Mrs. LOWEY. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), a member of the Rules Committee and the ranking member of the Helsinki Commission.

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

Mrs. LOWEY. I yield the gentlewoman an additional 3 minutes.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, it doesn't seem to me that we have additional speakers. We may have an additional speaker on the way.