Nita Lowey

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time, and I rise to address this House for the final time. For 32 years, it has been my privilege to serve as United States Representative from New York; and in the 116th Congress, it has been my distinct honor to be the first chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee. By wielding the power of the purse, this bill will make a profound difference in the lives of millions of Americans and people around the world. I am proud to have worked with so many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to assemble this bill and other legislative successes. You have challenged and inspired me, and I treasure the friendships that we have made. My dear friend, Kay Granger, it has been such an honor getting to know you. Texas values, New York values, no matter what they say, we became good friends and worked so well together. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I would be remiss if I did not thank the talented staff who have worked so hard to put this bill together, led by Clerk and Staff Director Shalanda Young, the extraordinary Shalanda Young, who is way back there. Thank you, Shalanda Young. And also the extraordinary deputy staff director, Chris Bigelow. What a team. They manage. No matter how much paper and no matter what the challenge, they seem to be able to put it all together and get it right. Shalanda and Chris, I thank you--and always with an assist by my chief of staff, Elizabeth Stanley. I do want to thank the staff director of the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee, which I chair, Steve Marchese. There is one principle that has guided my 32 years in public service: When you see a problem, whether it is here or in the district or in another community, do something about it. Too many people see a problem. They are good people, but they will all go off to this personal activity or another personal activity. Members of Congress know, when they see a problem, we have a responsibility to address it and do something about it to make life better for our community, the Nation, and the world. This bill does something to crush this virus and set us on the course for a strong and equitable recovery. Mr. Speaker, for the last time and with a deep sense of gratitude for the honor of serving in this House, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), my friend for 32 years in the House, the outstanding Speaker of the House.

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

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), a senior member of the Appropriations Committee.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters), the chairwoman of the Committee on Financial Services.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone). We came to Congress together, and he is the chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Virginia, (Mr. Scott), the chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), the chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), the chair of the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, and now the chair of the full committee, where I know she will serve with her great knowledge with distinction.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Visclosky), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Defense, who has spent the last 35 years in the Congress. Mr. Speaker, we all share his knowledge, which he shares with us so willingly, and we appreciate his service, not just to the committee, but to the Congress, to the country, and we wish him the very, very best. We thank him for his service in the Congress and on this committee. (Mr. VISCLOSKY asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Clyburn), the distinguished majority whip.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur), the distinguished chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to present legislation that comprises all 12 fiscal year 2021 appropriations bills, a number of items agreed to on a bipartisan basis between authorizing committees, and a coronavirus relief package. The 12 appropriations bills include a strong increase in nondefense discretionary funding, allowing Congress to make important investments for the people. I am particularly proud that we have been able to fund better education for our students; more affordable housing; food security initiatives; safer communities, with funding to address America's gun violence epidemic; clean air and water; action on the climate crisis; and care for our veterans, with a special emphasis on suicide prevention and gender-specific care. As chairwoman of the Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, I am also proud that this legislation bolsters international security and stability. In particular, the Middle East Partnership for Peace fund will support people-to-people exchanges and economic partnerships between Israelis and Palestinians. Turning to the coronavirus relief portion of the legislation, the bill provides $892 billion to confront the pandemic. While Republican intransigence means the legislation doesn't include the State and local relief that is desperately needed, the amounts it provides for education, public health, and transportation will greatly benefit our local communities. Of particular importance to me, the $4 billion for GAVI will help children across the world receive the coronavirus vaccine, though far greater investments are needed to support international COVID-19 response. President-elect Biden has spoken about the dark winter that we face because of this pandemic. It is my hope that this bill will be a source of light as we face that winter. I am proud that, through the careful use of Federal funds, the appropriations in this bill will help set our Nation on a course to build back better. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur).

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion at the desk.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the majority leader.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 133.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1271, I call up the bill (H.R. 133) to promote economic partnership and cooperation between the United States and Mexico, with the Senate amendment thereto, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I send to the desk a concurrent resolution and ask unanimous consent for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I send to the desk a concurrent resolution and ask unanimous consent for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, on Friday, I informed the House that we were very close to agreement on a year-end funding package. I am pleased to say that we have now reached agreement, but logistics of assembling such a comprehensive bill require additional time. This continuing resolution provides that additional time and will allow this Congress to complete our work on government funding and coronavirus relief. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this clean extension of funding. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.J. Res. 110, currently under consideration.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 110) making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2021, and for other purposes.

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