Barbara Lee

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor the memory of Rheba Mae Dent, a victim of gun violence who never received a moment of silence on the House floor.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, 2 weeks ago, Democrats sat on the House floor for more than 26 hours. For a full day and night, we demanded justice for victims of gun violence and action to prevent the next tragedy; not just thoughts and prayers, but action. Republicans turned off the mics. They turned off the cameras and just left. They cannot silence our voices because we are speaking for the 80 percent-plus of Americans who support commonsense reforms to stop gun violence, like background checks and keeping guns away from terrorists. While the recent tragedy in Orlando--a tragedy that claimed 49 innocent lives--sparked the sit-in, there have been too many victims of gun violence throughout our country for too many years. In my district in 2012, we suffered a large campus mass shooting. These people were trying to get an education. They were studying to become nurses because they wanted to help people. But their lives were cut too short by gun violence. A man with a semiautomatic weapon killed Tshering Bhutia, Doris Chibuko, Sonam Chodon, Grace Kim, Kathleen Ping, Judith Seymour, and Lydia Sim. Sadly, these aren't the only members of my community who have lost their lives or loved ones to gun violence. Let me remember some of the victims of gun violence in my own community once again. In my district, for example, there were 89 gun deaths in 2015. What is worse, many of these were children. Since July 2009, nearly 50 students in the Oakland Unified School District have been slain. Let me be clear: that is 50 kids. Why isn't the Speaker allowing us to do anything about this? Just this past weekend, in my community, four people were gunned down in two separate incidents. Every day in my community and places around this country, this senseless violence continues. How can House Republicans just ignore this bloodshed? Let me talk about a few additional victims so you can just understand their lives and share the horror that cut their loves so short. Davon Ellis. This is Davon. Davon was a star football player and an excellent student at Oakland Technical High School. My nephew was walking with him when he was gunned down. Antonio Ramos. Antonio was shot on September 29, 2015. Antonio was a talented artist working on an antiviolence mural. He was one of 60 artists working on Oakland's superheroes mural project. He was shot by someone trying to steal his camera. Chyemil Pierce. Chyemil was 30 years old. She was shot on March 13, 2015. She was a mother of three that was shot by a stray bullet while shielding her children. She had walked her 7- and 9-year-old children home from school at about 4:45 p.m., in broad daylight. Two others were injured in this shooting. Torian Hughes. Torian was the grandson of my friend, Oakland Council president Lynette Gibson McElhaney. He died by a gunshot just a few days before Christmas. Mr. Speaker, how many more Torians? How many more Antonios? How many more Chyemils will die protecting their children? Enough is enough. It is past time to do something. It starts with enacting background checks on all gun sales and making sure that guns stay out of the hands of those who cannot fly on airplanes. That is just common sense. The American people know it. It is about time the Republicans listen. I am so proud that my community, California's East Bay, has rallied to support our efforts. Some family members attended our National Day of Action last week and pleaded with us to do something. I want to share what one of my constituents said during our sit-in 2 weeks ago on the House floor. She called my office, in tears, with a powerful message for all of us, especially Speaker Ryan. She said: ``I am a victim of gun violence, and I really appreciate what you are doing.'' She made one simple request--a request that the entire House Democratic Caucus has been making: ``I hope you can settle down and get a vote.'' I dare the Speaker to call her back and tell her: Sorry, we are trying to gain consensus. Some Members still have reservations. Sorry, reelection support from the NRA is more important than addressing the epidemic of gun violence. Call her, Mr. Speaker, and tell her that the NRA and its millions matter more than her. We need to keep guns out of the hands of people who should not have them. Vote on our bills for background checks for all. Enough is enough.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank our ranking member for his stellar leadership as our ranking member on this subcommittee and for his kind remarks. Also, I want to thank our chairman, Mr. Crenshaw, for working with our side of the aisle despite our differences. Mr. Chairman, I rise, though, in strong opposition to the fiscal 2017 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill. This is yet another spending bill filled with ideologically driven riders from House Republicans. Sadly, the bad provisions in this bill greatly outweigh the few good provisions, like increased funding for community development financial institutions and the Small Business Administration's Women's Business Centers. Both have good provisions. Unfortunately, however, once again, my colleagues across the aisle have chosen to score political points instead of doing the serious work of governing. Just to name a few, this bill includes numerous--numerous--dangerous and offensive riders, one to undermine the rule of law in the District of Columbia and deny low-income D.C. women their basic right to safe and affordable comprehensive healthcare choices, including abortion. Now, the women of the District of Columbia should be allowed to make their own reproductive health choices, whatever health choices they deem they need, want, and desire. Republican Members of Congress should not be interfering in the District of Columbia women's health decisions. That is offensive, it is wrong, and they need to stop that. Another rider prevents the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau from protecting the hard-earned paychecks of American families. Another rider undermines our efforts to normalize relations with Cuba after a 50-year failed policy by the United States of America. This bill also blocks the Federal Communications Commission from ensuring a free and open Internet for all.

Ms. LEE. These are just a few amendments that are unacceptable. Now, let me say, when I joined the Appropriations Committee, I was told legislating on appropriations bill was not allowed. Once again, the majority continues to violate the rules of the House, so I guess they just kind of make up these new rules as they write these bills, which is really irresponsible and totally unfair. The majority should consider the disservice that they are doing to the American people by continuing to push through these woefully underfunded appropriations bills packed with these dangerous and partisan riders--these policy decisions that have been made on an appropriations bill. These bills hurt our economy, they stifle opportunities, they erode women's rights in the District of Columbia. Year after year, the most vulnerable Americans are pushed further into poverty because congressional Republicans keep underfunding many of these vital programs that are in this bill. I hope my colleagues will join me in opposition to this bill until Republican appropriators stop the political gamesmanship and get serious about funding our government to meet our Nation's vital needs.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, if I were present, I would have voted no on roll call number 334 to H.R. 5525. If I were present, I would have voted yes on roll call number 335 to H.R. 5388. If I were present, I would have voted yes on roll call number 336 to H.R. 5389.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, this article lists program after program, many of which our generals did not even ask for, that has cost billions of taxpayer dollars without making us any safer. So it is time to stop pouring billions into unnecessary and nonstrategic pet projects. Let's pass this amendment.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Colorado for his important and consistent work to bring financial sense to the Pentagon. I rise to urge my colleagues to support the Polis-Lee amendment. This amendment will help rein in unnecessary and bloated Pentagon spending while protecting the pay or health benefit account of our brave servicemembers and their families. Over the last 15 years, Pentagon spending has ballooned by 50 percent in real terms, and we still haven't even been able to audit the Pentagon. You talk about waste, fraud, and abuse? My goodness. One percent, this is a pittance in terms of what we need to do, but we have got to start somewhere. Pentagon spending now consumes more than half of the Federal discretionary budget that we oversee. It is just outrageous. We need a faster, smarter, more modern military, not bloated spending that drives up our national debt. Many of you may remember the reports of cash in suitcases being passed around by Karzai in Afghanistan. American tax dollars, cash, where did that money go? Come on, we could put that into health care for our troops. Recently, The New York Times made this case in their editorial, ``A Better, Not Fatter, Defense Budget.'' I include the New York Times editorial, ``A Better, Not Fatter, Defense Budget,'' in the Record. [From the New York Times, May 9, 2016] A Better, Not Fatter, Defense Budget (By the Editorial Board) To hear some military commanders and members of Congress talk, the American military is worn out and in desperate need of more money. After more than a decade in Iraq and Afghanistan, they say, troops are lagging in training and new weaponry, which is jeopardizing their ability to defeat the Islamic State and deal with potential conflicts with Russia and China. While increased funding for some programs may be needed, total military spending, at nearly $600 billion annually, is not too low. The trouble is, the investment has often yielded poor results, with the Pentagon, Congress and the White House all making bad judgments, playing budget games and falling under the sway of defense industry lobbyists. Current military spending is 50 percent higher in real terms than it was before 9/11, yet the number of active duty and reserve troops is 6 percent smaller. For nearly a decade after 9/11, the Pentagon had a virtual blank check; the base defense budget rose, in adjusted dollars, from $378 billion in 1998 to $600 billion in 2010. As the military fought Al Qaeda and the Taliban, billions of dollars were squandered on unnecessary items, including new weapons that ran late and over budget like the troubled F-35 jet fighter. The waste and the budget games continue with the House Armed Services Committee approving a $583 billion total defense authorization bill for 2017 last month that skirts the across-the-board caps imposed by Congress in 2011 on discretionary federal spending. The caps are supposed to restrain domestic and military spending equally, but defense hawks have insisted on throwing more money at the Pentagon. That doesn't encourage efficiency or wise choices. The panel took $18 billion from a $59 billion off-budget account, which has become a slush fund renewed annually to finance the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and other trouble spots, and is not subject to the budget caps, and repurposed that money for use in the $524 billion base military budget. The move will underwrite the purchase of more ships, jet fighters, helicopters and other big-ticket weapons that the Pentagon didn't request and will keep the Army from falling below 480,000 active-duty troops. It also means the war account will run out of money next April. Representative Mac Thornberry, the Republican chairman of the committee, apparently assumes the next president will be forced to ask for, and Congress will be forced to approve, more money for the war account. This sleight of hand runs the risk that troops overseas, at some point, could be deprived of some resources, at least temporarily. The full House should reject this maneuver. Many defense experts, liberals and centrists as well as hawks, agree that more investment is needed in maintenance, training and modernizing aging weapons and equipment. These needs were identified years ago, yet the Pentagon and Congress have chosen to invest in excessively costly high-tech weaponry while deferring maintenance and other operational expenses. The Pentagon can do with far fewer than the 1,700 F-35s it plans on buying. It should pare back on President Obama's $1 trillion plan to replace nearly every missile, submarine, aircraft and warhead in the nuclear arsenal. Defense officials recently reported that 22 percent of all military bases will not be needed by 2019. Civilian positions will have to be reduced, while reforms in health care and the military procurement system need to be carried out. All of these changes make good sense, given the savings they would bring. But they are politically unpalatable; base closings, for instance, have been stubbornly resisted in recent years by lawmakers fearful of angering voters by eliminating jobs in communities that are economically dependent on those bases. Todd Harrison, a defense budget expert with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, says that sustaining the current military force of roughly two million and paying for all the new weapons systems will cost billions more than Congress has allowed under the budget caps. To maintain sensible troop levels, Congress and the administration need to begin honestly addressing the hard fiscal choices that they have largely been loath to make.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chair, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Garamendi).

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, first, let me just say I rise in very strong support of the McGovern-Jones-Lee amendment. I want to thank the gentleman from Massachusetts for his strong, steady, and bold leadership on this issue and issues of war and peace. Mr. Chairman, this amendment is really simple. It would use the power of the purse to prevent funding for combat operations in Iraq and Syria unless an Authorization for Use of Military Force is enacted. We all agree that ISIL must be degraded and dismantled. Then why is Congress missing in action? The 2001 authorization was specific to 9/11. I voted against it because I knew it would be broadly interpreted, which it is. It is a blank check. ISIL, though, did not even exist in 2001. Every day, more bombs fall, and the battlefield expands. We have already spent more than $10 billion. That is $615,000 per hour. Congress needs to show up for work, muster its courage, exercise its constitutional responsibility for debate, and vote on the ongoing war in Iraq and Syria. We owe nothing less to our brave men and women who are in harm's way. It is past time to force a debate and vote on this issue. Again, I thank the gentleman for his tremendous leadership and for continuing to beat the drum until we get this done.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chair, we are going to try again with a variation of what we just discussed. This is another amendment to reclaim our constitutional authority over matters of war and peace, and I ask Members to support the Lee- Jones-Welch amendment. Our amendment is simple. It would require Congress to finally put forth a new ISIL-specific Authorization for Use of Military Force by April 30, 2017. That is the date when funding for the overly broad 2001 authorization would be restricted. Upon enactment into law--this would be in October--Congress would have ample time--until April 30, 2017--to come up with a new authorization. Mr. Chair, 5,389 days have passed since Congress wrote a blank check for endless war to any President, and Congress still hasn't acted. 678 days since we started, once again, to bomb Iraq in a war that Congress has never debated or specifically authorized, and still Congress has not acted. 632 days since we started bombing Syria, a nation not covered by the 2002 or the 2001 AUMF--it is, clearly, not intended by either of these two--and Congress still has not acted. 491 days since President Obama sent Speaker Boehner a draft authorization, and still-- and now we have a new Speaker--Congress has not acted. And 33 days since a United States Army captain filed a lawsuit that demands an authorization for the war that he and other servicemembers are fighting, and still Congress has not acted. Mr. Chair, how many more days until we take the power to wage war and return it to the American people through Congress? Our brave servicemen and -women can't wait any longer. The American people can't wait any longer. Clearly, Congress must be required to act. This amendment would require Congress to finally debate and vote on the nearly 2-year-long war that is raging in the Middle East, a war that has already claimed the lives of three brave servicemen. The House simply cannot continue to abdicate its sacred constitutional responsibility to give the American people a voice in matters of war and peace. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chair, how much time do I have remaining?

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Welch).

Ms. LEE. I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his clarity on this issue. Mr. Chair, in the nearly 15 years, according to a Congressional Research Service report, the AUMFs that we are discussing today--the 2001 and the 2002--have been used more than 37 times in 14 countries to justify military actions. They have been used 18 times by President Bush and 19 times by President Obama. This report only examines the unclassified incidents. How many other operations have been conducted without the knowledge of Congress or the American people? These authorizations have not only been used to justify wars that are thousands of miles away, but they have also been used closer to home to justify warrantless surveillance and wiretaps and the targeted killings by drones, including of American citizens. How can we ask our brave men and women in uniform to fight a war while this Congress can't even muster the courage to debate it? Again, every hour, we spend $615,000 on this war. Every day, more bombs fall, the battlefield expands, and more American servicemembers are put in harm's way. How many more days until we do something about this complete and utter abdication of our responsibility? This is not a new issue for me or a new effort. I have been working on this for years to end the reliance on the overly broad 2001 authorization blank check. That is why I couldn't vote for it. I am pleased to say that this effort is growing in strength in bipartisan numbers. Congress must finally take action to vote on a specific Authorization for Use of Military Force in this new war to address the threat of ISIL, and this amendment would require us to do just that. We wouldn't have to do it until April 2017. We have plenty of time, plenty of time to do it. So let's stand up for the Constitution, our servicemen and -women, and our national security by supporting the Lee-Jones-Welch amendment.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, if I were present I would have voted yes on roll call number 297 to H.R. 4939.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, each June, our nation celebrates the extraordinary achievements of the LGBT community and their allies. Thanks to the tireless activism of individuals and groups fighting for LGBT rights, we can all take pride in our nation's progress toward full LGBT equality. Just one year ago, the Supreme Court joined a growing number of Americans who recognize that love is love. Now millions have the security of knowing their rights and dignity are recognized and affirmed by our federal government. There has never been a better time to rejoice in these hard fought victories. However, there is still work to be done. Congress must pass the Equality Act to ensure that LGBT individuals are protected from discrimination. And we must take strong action to protect transgender Americans from an epidemic of violence, particularly transgender women of color. All people deserve to live without fear and with dignity. We must continue the march towards LGBT equality in the United States and across the world. I am honored to join with my colleagues in the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus and all Americans in celebrating PRIDE month. I am confident that if we stand united, we will win the fight for equality and justice.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, on roll call no. 289, had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.'' On roll call no. 290, had I been present, I would have voted ``no.'' On roll call no. 291, had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.'' On roll call no. 292, had I been present, I would have voted ``no.'' On roll call no. 293, had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.'' On roll call no. 294, had I been present, I would have voted ``no.'' On roll call no. 295, had I been present, I would have voted ``no.'' On roll call no. 296, had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, first, let me take a moment to offer my condolences and prayers to the families and victims of the horrific gun violence against the LGBT community in Orlando. These despicable acts have shattered the lives of so many people. Our response must be not only in words, but also in deeds and in action. My congressional district has and will continue its outpouring of sympathy and support for the people of Orlando, and we stand ready to assist in whatever way is needed. Let me now take a moment to thank Chairman Royce and Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. I also thank Congressman Engel for yielding and for his tremendous leadership on the Foreign Affairs Committee. I had the honor to serve on the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee of the Foreign Affairs Committee for several years when Mr. Engel was chair. We talked early on about the importance of the Caribbean as a region and how we must make it a priority in our foreign policy. So today I want to thank both sides: our ranking member, Chairman Royce, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, and especially Mr. Engel, for not just their words, but also their tremendous leadership, as demonstrated by this important bill. It has taken a while to get to this point, but thank goodness we are doing this in a bipartisan way. So I just want to thank them very much for that. As a lead cosponsor, of course, I stand in strong support of H.R. 4939. The bill would enhance U.S.-Caribbean relationships by requiring the Secretary of State, in coordination with the administrator of USAID, to submit a multiyear strategy for U.S. engagement with our Caribbean neighbors to Congress. I just want to, again, thank both sides. I remember when we had to work to really get the Caribbean to be included in all PEPFAR legislation, programs, and funding. So that was a major step in the right direction. This is a huge step now in moving forward. This bill is very timely. It is a very important bill. As a long-time supporter of the Caribbean and a frequent visitor to the region--actually, my son attended school in Grenada.

Ms. LEE. As I said, my son attended school in Grenada, and I am a frequent visitor to the region. So I am very proud to see us debate this today and, hopefully, pass the bill again on June 13. Congress unanimously passed H. Con. Res. 71, which Mr. Engel and Ms. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen referenced. I authored that, actually, in February 2006, when President Bush was in office. He signed it. Since then, President Obama has issued a proclamation annually recognizing June as Caribbean American Heritage Month. Caribbean Americans have contributed immensely to the fabric of the United States. So as we celebrate this month, we are reminded also of the relationship between the United States and our Caribbean neighbors. This bill does that and more. H.R. 4939 strengthens and enhances ties between the U.S. and the Caribbean by promoting energy sustainability, diplomatic relations, and economic cooperation. Caribbean countries, unfortunately, have been neglected in our foreign policy. This bill brings a focus on making the Caribbean region and the West Indies a priority. So, Mr. Speaker, now is the time for the United States to recommit our strong priorities with our Caribbean neighbors. We must revitalize and enhance our outreach to our Caribbean neighbors now and in the future. This bill does just that. I urge an ``aye'' vote.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, if I had been present on Wednesday, June 8, and Thursday, June 9, 2016 I would have voted the following ways: No on Question of Consideration of the Resolution--the Rule for H.R. 5325--Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2017. No on Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule providing for consideration of H.R. 4775, H. Con. Res. 89 and H. Con. Res 112. No on H. Res. 767--Rule providing for consideration of H.R. 4775-- Ozone Standards Implementation Act of 2016, H. Con. Res. 89--Expressing the sense of Congress that a carbon tax would be detrimental to the United States economy, and H. Con. Res. 112--Expressing the sense of Congress opposing the President's proposed $10 tax on every barrel of oil. Yes on H.R. 3826--Mount Hood Cooper Spur Land Exchange Clarification Act.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, if I was present on Tuesday, June 7, 2016 for Congressional votes I would have voted the following ways: H. Con. Res. 129--YES

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, tonight I rise with my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus to urge our Republican colleagues to stop their reckless assault on the right to vote in America. First, let me thank my colleagues, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty and Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, for organizing this important special order and for their dedicated leadership in ensuring equality and liberty for all. I'd also like to thank Chairman G. K. Butterfield for his mighty leadership of our caucus as we work to ensure all Americans have an equal voice at the ballot box. At the signing of the Voting Rights Act in 1965, President Johnson told the American people: ``The vote is the most powerful instrument ever devised by man for breaking down injustice and destroying the terrible walls which imprison men because they are different from other men.'' And Dr. King, our drum major for peace and justice, agreed saying: ``Voting is the foundation stone for political action.'' I am proud to say that we have come a long way in the 50 years since the signing of the Voting Rights Act. In April, the Supreme Court unanimously upheld ``one person one vote'' with its 8-0 ruling, in Evenwel v. Abbott. The ruling affirmed that legislative districts must continue to be drawn based on total population, not just the total number of voters. This will ensure that the concerns of all constituents will be equally represented. However, we must confront the fact that our voting rights are once again under attack. There are many working to turn back the clock, so we must continue working to ensure that each man and woman has an equal voice at the ballot box. We cannot allow the victories of the Civil Rights Movement to be undone. In 2013, the Supreme Court opened the door to these voting rights attacks. In its Shelby v. Holder decision, the Court carelessly and callously gutted the milestone the Voting Rights Act. In the three years following this ruling, we've watched Republican state legislatures fall over themselves to erect new and undemocratic barriers to the ballot box. This year, 16 states instituted new restrictions for the first time Let me repeat--for the first time, during a presidential election year, 16 states instituted new voting restrictions. And the clearly partisan nature of these voting rights attacks is not lost on the American people. These new barriers range from unnecessary voter ID laws, to ending same-day voter registration and reducing or completing eliminating early voting. Since 2010, 21 states have implemented new restrictions. Mr. Speaker, this is a crisis; our democracy is in crisis. While states have put up barriers, Speaker Ryan, Judiciary Chairman Goodlatte and some Congressional Republicans have ignored the clear, bipartisan conscience to fix the Voting Rights Act and restore voting rights protections for all Americans. Republican Congressman James Sensenbrenner has introduced the bipartisan Voting Rights Amendment Act (H.R. 885), which I am proud to co-sponsor with 105 of my colleagues, including 14 Republican Members representing 11 different states. But let me be clear--simply fixing the Voting Rights Act is not enough. We need to empower voters and Congresswoman Sewell's bill--the Voting Rights Advancement Act (H.R. 2867)--would do just that. Now--we often talk about how states in the south like Alabama have laws threatening voting rights. But this is still an issue around the country, including in California. While California has implemented many policies that improve access to the ballot box, including vote-by-mail, automatic voter registration and expanded absentee voting--we are not perfect. Three California counties--Kings County, Monterey County and Yuba County--were covered by the section 5 of the Voting Rights Act before the Shelby decision--meaning they needed preclearance from the Justice Department before changing voting rules or jurisdiction. Mr. Speaker, we must restore the preclearance process to prevent voter discrimination and disenfranchisement before it happens--not after. It is clear--our democracy is in a crisis. There is an assault against voting rights and we must come together to stop it. My Democratic colleagues and the Congressional Black Caucus are serious about protecting voting rights and pass the Voting Rights Advancement Act. It is past time that all Republicans in Congress join our efforts to protect the foundation of our democracy: the right to vote. Our work is not over until the voice of EVERY American is equally heard.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chair, let me thank the Ranking Member and Chair for including language to recognize the importance of workplace diversity in the Department of Energy's National Laboratories and directing the Department to provide a detailed plan on the recruitment and retention with minority-serving institutions, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). I am also pleased that the bill includes language on Energy-Water Nexus initiative that I worked on with our Ranking Member Marcy Kaptur. This language encourages the Department of Energy to enter into an agreement with the Department of Agriculture at various national labs to work on development of affordable and efficient food production systems for our most food insecure communities. This is a critical step towards addressing food insecurity and poverty. Lastly, I'm pleased that the Advanced Light Source program is fully funded in this bill at the level of $64.95 million in FY2017. This $2 million increase over FY 2016 enacted levels will ensure that these facilities remain fully operational, including the Advanced Light Source and Molecular Foundry at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab in my home district. However, I remain deeply concerned regarding the many poison pill policy riders and low funding levels included in this spending bill. We know that California is experiencing an unprecedented drought coupled with the real effects of climate change. The fact that most of H.R. 2898, the Western Water and American Food Security Act of 2015, has shamefully been inserted into this bill is a disgrace. This harmful rider fails to adequately address critical elements of California's complex water challenges and will only worsen the effects of the drought. It would also violate existing laws protecting salmon and other endangered fish in California's Bay-Delta estuary. I am also concerned regarding the other harmful policy riders that would shamefully allow guns on Army Corps of Engineers land and prevent implementation of the administration's Clean Water Rule. Mr. Chairman, instead of trying to roll back vital environmental protections, we need to be proactive about preserving our environment for the health and safety of future generations. We need to make more investments in clean energy like solar, wind, and geothermal. Unfortunately, this bill does not do that. I hope that as the process moves forward, these terrible policy riders and low allocations are resolved.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to remove my name as a cosponsor of H. Res. 752.