Nita Lowey

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 1\1/4\ minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran).

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, I would also suggest before I yield to the gentleman, Mr. Levin, that these provisions, the charts disappeared. If you would like to refresh your memory, there are 15 provisions that I left in this bill that make it absolutely clear that no U.S. dollars may go for abortion. I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin).

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield 10 seconds to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan).

Mrs. LOWEY. I'm very pleased to yield 2 minutes to my good friend, a distinguished Member of this Congress from New York, Mr. Joseph Crowley.

Mrs. LOWEY. I just would like to respond quickly, before I recognize Mr. Kirk, to my good friend, Mr. Wolf. As Mr. Wolf knows, no money is going to China. China has no participation in this debate at all. It's very clear. In fact, not only did we not address UNFPA in this bill, we strengthened the prohibition so that not a dime would be spent in China. So I just wanted to clarify that China has nothing to do with this debate on contraceptives. I am delighted to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kirk).

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

Mrs. LOWEY. Absolutely not. My amendment would not alter or weaken these long-standing provisions which I chose to retain in the fiscal year 2008 bill, 15 different provisions that were offered by various Members of Congress. Every provision is still in this bill that prohibits the use of U.S. tax dollars for abortion or restricts family planning.

Mrs. LOWEY. I do thank my two friends and colleagues for their work on this important issue and for this opportunity to clarify the intent of the provision. I want to be very clear. The intent of this provision is only to allow for the donation of the contraceptives and not to provide funding. While I disagree with broader interpretations of this language, I wanted to offer an amendment to clarify this provision. My amendment is crystal clear. It would only allow NGOs to receive U.S.-donated contraceptives, not funds, for distribution to millions of men and women across the globe in desperate need of these products. I hope that our discussion and my clarifying amendment that I intend to offer will alleviate any concerns that you or other Members have about the intent behind this provision.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for his willingness to withdraw the amendment. I know we'll work together on these very important issues. The discussion certainly will continue between this Congress and the administration as we move forward. I thank the gentleman again for withdrawing.

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

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, I want to remind the gentleman that this bill is $700 million below the President's request. We all understand that the Nation is at war. We have tremendous challenges. This bill provides important resources to address these challenges internationally. It is absolutely irresponsible, in my judgment. It is not in the national security interests of the United States of America. I strongly oppose this irresponsible amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back my time.

Ms. LOWEY

Ms. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to the gentleman's amendment. Now is exactly the wrong time to cut funding for foreign assistance programs. This is not the way to balance the budget. Instead of an overall cut, we should work to decrease instability worldwide and address the underlying problems that cause that instability. The programs in this bill are pivotal to winning back the hearts and minds overseas. They address the most difficult problems in the world today, HIV-AIDS, famine, disease and disasters. The bill includes programs that work to address the root causes of global instability that require us to devote so many of our tax dollars to failed and failing states to ensure that we protect our Nation. It is these problems that have gotten us into the disastrous deficit that we are in and it is these problems that the programs in this bill will address. This bill is a carefully crafted, bipartisan measure. It is currently $700 million below the President's request. We have already cut enough from these important foreign assistance programs, and this amendment would cut an additional $324 million. Think about the most vulnerable and susceptible among us. This amendment would take $51 million from addressing global HIV-AIDS. Our goal is to turn the tide on this horrendous pandemic, not turn our backs. This bill currently has the funding to ramp up treatment, care and prevention activities. We can't turn around now. I strongly oppose this irresponsible amendment. It is not consistent with our national security. I urge my colleagues to reject this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Jackson) to shed some light on the misinformation that we have been hearing this evening about tax increases. It seems to me, Mr. Jackson, that we have this huge deficit that has been brought about by the Republican majority in the past 10 years, at least. Would you like to comment on it for 3 minutes?

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

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

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey).

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words.

Mrs. LOWEY. I am pleased to yield to the majority leader.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, we have expressed our real concerns about these cuts and I strongly oppose this amendment. In addition to the cuts that have been mentioned by my colleagues, I wonder if my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, the gentlewoman from Colorado in particular, really understands the impact of this across-the-board cut. First of all, this bill has already been cut 2 percent from the President's request. Two percent. Now you are recommending another half percent. You support a $120 million cut for Israel, Mrs. Musgrave? You support a $120 million cut in aid for our ally Israel? You support a $250 million cut for HIV/AIDS? You support $200 million for foreign military financing; and my colleague, Mr. Israel, talked about the impact on the military that these cuts would cause. My colleagues, this is a bill that is in the national security interest of the United States of America. We have heard many people on the other side of the aisle that we have to fight it over there. We don't want to fight it over here. Well, when you are funding HIV/AIDS, when you are preventing avian flu, when you are funding our colleagues in the war on terror, we are fighting it over there rather than fighting it over here. I strongly, strongly, would not support the cuts which you are recommending. I strongly oppose them. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, may I ask you the time remaining on both sides?

Mrs. LOWEY. I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Emanuel).

Mrs. LOWEY. I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Farr).

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the distinguished gentleman from New Jersey, a member of the subcommittee, Mr. Rothman.

Mrs. LOWEY. I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Israel).

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order on the gentleman's amendment.