Nita Lowey

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, as we conclude our discussion, I just want to make it clear that I look forward to continuing to work with my friend, Chairman Rogers, and hopefully we can consider each bill as we address the needs of fiscal year 2014. I agree with my dear friend, Congresswoman DeLauro, on the problems with this bill and the accounts that we have not funded adequately. I do hope as we move forward we can work in a bipartisan way to, yes, continue to root out waste, fraud, and abuse, but also address the many needs of our constituents, all the people of the United States of America, and people around the world who look to the United States as a beacon of hope and opportunity. So I again feel that I will support this bill because we cannot allow the government to shut down in 6 days, but I look forward, with optimism, that we can work together to address the many needs that we have not considered appropriately in this bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Andrew A. Athens for his lifetime of philanthropic service, most notably to the Greek Community and Orthodox Church. Known as the leader of millions of Greeks living outside of Greece, Mr. Athens served as the President of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad, SAE, since its founding in 1995. In 2006, Mr. Athens was named President Emeritus by the Sixth World Assembly of SAE. Since its founding, SAE has worked to promote Hellinism, support the efforts of the Greeks worldwide, and strengthen ties between Greece and the countries of residence of Greek expatriates. During his tenure with SAE, Mr. Athens has travelled to every continent to further SAE's mission. He also worked closely with other notable Hellenes in the Coordinated Effort of Hellenes. He has met with nearly every U.S. President and leader in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives on Hellenic and Orthodox issues. It is with Mr. Athens' care and dedication that SAE has thrived. Mr. Athens was also a proud founder of Hellenicare, a Primary Health Care Initiative and humanitarian effort. Under his direction, a total of seven medical care centers were opened in Hellenic areas of the Republic of Albania, Armenia, Georgia, and Ukraine. These centers provide free medical services for those who would otherwise have no access to high quality medical treatment. A decorated U.S. Army Captain, Mr. Athens was honored with the Bronze Star and the U.S. Army Commendation Medal for his service in World War II. He has also led a successful career in business, founding the Metron Steel Corporation, which continues to be one of the largest steelworks in the country. Mr. Athens has been honored with more than 42 awards, medals and distinctions for his service to the community. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize my friend Andrew A. Athens for his remarkable service and his 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. Speaker, by re-affirming this year's across-the-board cuts and slashing even more deeply into critical priorities like schools, roads and bridges, and medical research, the House budget resolution is a blueprint for stalled growth, joblessness, and abandonment of American families. Since 2010, Congress has cut discretionary spending by $1.5 trillion over ten years. The Fiscal Year 2011 Appropriations bills lowered Congressional Budget Office (CBO)-projected spending by $550 billion over 10 years, and the Budget Control Act (BCA) of 2011 lowered future spending by an additional $900 billion over 10 years. Congress' failure to replace this year's across-the-board budget cuts mandated through sequestration with a balanced alternative slashed an additional $68 billion in discretionary services and investments in Fiscal Year 2013. The nonpartisan, independent Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reported this will result in 750,000 fewer American jobs this year alone. The Republican budget resolution would further exacerbate these dangerous cuts. Under the caps already in place, spending on non- defense discretionary services and investments, relative to the size of the economy, will fall to the lowest level on record--and records go back to 1962. Nevertheless, the Ryan budget would cut an additional $1 trillion over 10 years from funding levels agreed to by Democrats and Republicans through the Budget Control Act. With proposed funding levels this irresponsible and dangerous, it is not surprising that Republicans failed to identify the services they would cut. This budget presents a false choice between services and assistance that Americans rely on, like veterans' benefits, homeland security, schools, medical research, law enforcement, and Pell Grants. Despite unprecedented discretionary spending cuts since 2010, the Republican budget proposal would continue to inflict wounds on our economy by deepening cuts to initiatives that support job growth and help middle class families.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. The House Republican budget resolution is a blueprint for stalled growth, joblessness, and abandonment of American families. Since 2010, Congress has cut services and investments critical to American families by $1.5 trillion. Sequestration slashed an additional $68 billion, which will cost 750,000 jobs this year alone. This budget resolution will exacerbate this damage by cutting an additional $1 trillion over 10 years from funding levels agreed to in the Budget Control Act. It would have a severe impact on critical services and investments like veterans' benefits, homeland security, schools, medical research, law enforcement, and Pell Grants. It is time to stop the mindless cuts to critical services and investments and support job growth and middle class families.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Before us is a defense bill and a Military Construction-Veterans Affairs bill adjusting the FY 2012 funding levels to meet FY 2013 needs. It is unacceptable that Federal agencies and departments covered by the 10 remaining bills would be forced to operate under full-year continuing resolutions based on planned spending levels enacted 15 to 18 months ago. Congress' failure to do our jobs and pass responsible annual spending bills limits our ability to respond to changing circumstances, implement other laws enacted by Congress, and eliminate funding that is no longer necessary. Specifically, this bill will delay implementation of the Affordable Care Act scheduled to begin enrolling participants in October. Without IT infrastructure to process enrollments and payments, verify eligibility, and establish call centers, health insurance for millions of Americans would be further delayed. Last year's levels will hamper enforcement of Dodd-Frank protections against improper practices in the financial sector. The bill underfunds Head Start, child care, essential for many working parents who would otherwise have to quit their jobs. The bill fails to strike outdated language allowing HUD to use public housing agency reserves to fund operations or provide a requested increase to make up for the shortfall resulting in the lowest per-unit operating subsidy since 2007, despite rising housing costs. The bill we consider today even denies increases for health care fraud and abuse control and Social Security disability reviews and SSI eligibility determinations, both of which return more money to the Treasury than they cost. And the continuing resolution excludes loan guarantees for Jordan, necessary to help an important ally stabilize its economy. The effects, my colleagues, of these outdated plans and spending levels in the continuing resolution are compounded by Congress' failure to replace sequestration with a balanced, responsible, long-term debt reduction plan. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that sequestration would cut economic growth in 2013 by a third. That's jobs. That's people's lives. Last year, our fragile economy struggled to create a total of 2.2 million jobs. CBO says sequestration will wipe out, get rid of, 750,000 jobs, more than a third of all the jobs created last year. Now, I want to make it very clear, my colleagues, this bill reaffirms sequestration. The terrible impact of those indiscriminate cuts will begin to take effect. This summer, we can expect significant flight delays and long lines at airports due to furloughs of air traffic controllers and a hiring freeze and reduced hours for transportation security officers. Yesterday, the Labor-HHS Subcommittee, heard testimony from the directors of the National Institutes of Health and CDC on the detrimental effects these irresponsible cuts will have, including declining medical research, fewer child vaccinations, and reduced protections against epidemics. Just try and explain that to dear friends and neighbors who have children with autism, seniors who are dealing with Alzheimer's, friends who have heart cardiology issues. Just try and explain what the National Institute cuts in research will do. In addition to the impact in the research on these illnesses, these are real people who are going to be laid off and impede our future research. All Americans rely on timely and accurate weather warnings and forecasts from the National Weather Service. Reduced resources will compromise critical satellites, radar, computer analysis, and modeling. Now, I am pleased that two bills, the defense bill and the Military Construction-Veterans Affairs bill, are the FY 2013 bills that were agreed on by the House and the Senate. But, my colleagues, let's not forget that sequestration will still strike our national defense. Even if this bill is enacted, another $46 billion will be subtracted from defense spending. Most of the civilian workforce will face significant furloughs, readiness will still face cuts, and defense health care will need to make some very tough choices with scarce resources. Mr. Speaker, I cannot support this bill because it fails to take responsible steps to support the middle class in really tough economic times or responsibly address the long-term fiscal health of our Nation. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. McKeon, I just want to emphasize again that General Odierno in the recent appropriations hearing on the Defense bill testified that sequester would be a disaster for the military. And it's unfortunate that we are not ridding ourselves of the prospect of the disaster that the sequester bill will result in. Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mrs. LOWEY. At this time, I'm delighted to yield 2 minutes to my distinguished leader from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer). (Mr. HOYER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

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

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

Mrs. LOWEY. I would just like to quickly remind my colleagues on both sides of the aisle that the Defense bill will be subject to the $46 billion as a result of sequestration, which General Odierno said will hollow out the force. Mr. Speaker, I am very honored to yield 2 minutes to my colleague, the gentleman from North Carolina, Mr. David Price, a distinguished ranking member of the Appropriations Committee.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, may I ask how much time remains.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished ranking member, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Serrano).

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

Mrs. LOWEY. I yield an additional 15 seconds to the gentlewoman.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I'm delighted to yield 2 minutes to my friend, the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), the distinguished ranking member of the Labor, Health, Human Services, Education Subcommittee.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Farr), the distinguished ranking member of the Agriculture Subcommittee of Appropriations.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Bishop), the distinguished ranking member of the MILCON Subcommittee of Appropriations.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Before I yield to my next speaker, I would like to thank Mr. Frelinghuysen for addressing sequestration and the devastating testimony of all those representing our distinguished Armed Forces. But I would also like to clarify again that this continuing resolution reaffirms sequestration. It does nothing in language or deed to make any efforts to cancel sequestration. We on this side of the aisle would be very pleased to continue to work with you in regular order to go through every bill, casting away waste, fraud and abuse, but to do away with sequestration. And I know my distinguished chair and I could work it out so that we could not have sequestration. This bill, section 3002, reaffirms sequestration.

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

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, I would be delighted to work with you, but I have read this continuing resolution very carefully and section 3002 reaffirms sequestration. Let's work together. We can be the leaders. Let's send over a bill that does away with sequestration, which my good friend, Mr. Frelinghuysen, says--and I was at that defense hearing, too--would hollow out our forces. Let's do that. Let's do that today. Why don't you submit an amendment? Let's get rid of sequestration.

Mrs. LOWEY. I would be delighted, Mr. Speaker, to yield 1 minute to our distinguished leader, who has provided important leadership on the issue of cutting out waste, fraud, and abuse in our budget, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi).

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, we have three remaining speakers.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), the distinguished ranking member of the Leg Branch Subcommittee of Appropriations.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished ranking member of the Defense Appropriations Committee, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Visclosky).