Betty McCollum

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I rise today in gratitude to thank the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association for their endorsement of H.R. 2407, the Promoting Human Rights for Palestinian Children Living Under Military Occupation Act. This endorsement by more than 300 respected rabbis sends a strong signal by people of all faiths that every child deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, and that includes Palestinian children. No longer can we ignore the countless cases of mistreatment and abuse of Palestinian children by the Israeli military. As a nation, we should no longer condone the detention of these children with the support of our tax dollars. So, again, I thank leaders of all faiths, but especially these rabbis for their commitment to human rights and the rights of children and for standing up and saying no more abuse of Palestinian children.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, the National Football League is celebrating its 100th anniversary, and its popularity and economic success is indisputable. Millions of fans watched the NFL last year, and the league's 32 teams split more than $16 billion in revenue. One team, the Washington franchise, exploits a racist slur and a racist mascot that insults and demeans Native Americans to help generate profits for the NFL owners. In the 21st century, we should rightly condemn the use of racial slurs that disparage African Americans, Latinos, Asians, or anyone. And there is no doubt about it. The term ``redskin,'' in fact, was used in conjunction with scalp hunting in the 19th century. In 1863, in Winona, Minnesota, my home State, a newspaper, the Winona Daily Republican, printed an announcement: ``The State reward for dead Indians has been increased to $200 for every redskin sent to purgatory. This sum is more than the dead bodies of all the Indians east of the Red River are worth.'' A news story published in the Atchison Daily Champion in Atchison, Kansas, on October 9, 1985, told the stories of settlers' ``hunt for redskins, with a view of obtaining their scalps.'' No doubt about it, this is a negative word. This is a slur. So it is remarkable that the NFL commissioners and owners continue to sanction the racist and shameful use of the term ``redskin'' to describe Native Americans and then profit from it. There are millions of Native Americans in this country whose ancestors endured forced removal from their lands, suppression of their culture, and state-sponsored campaigns of ethnic cleansing. The NFL racist mascot mocks this painful history. Tomorrow night, the Washington team and its racist mascot will be in Minnesota, the home of 11 proud sovereign Tribal nations. I will be joining Tribal leaders, elected officials, and other Minnesotans gathering outside the stadium. We will be speaking out against racism and exploitation. We will stand proudly with our Native American brothers and sisters. With one voice, we will be calling on the NFL to end its racist exploitation of Native Americans and to do one thing: Change the mascot.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, last week President Trump held a rally in the Twin Cities where, once again, immigrants and refugees were demonized. This time it was the Somali and east African communities who call Minnesota home who were attacked. We should call those attacks on those who have come to the United States seeking a better life for what they are: racist and wrong. Since the rally, members of the Somali community have come forward publicly to share their fear of being targeted: fear to go to work, fear to go to school, fear to gather socially in public. Minnesota has a long and proud history of welcoming refugees. Minnesotans will always stand up for our values and our neighbors. To my Somali and east African neighbors, my message is clear: You are welcome in Minnesota. You are an important part of the fabric of our community, and the contributions you make to the State we all love makes Minnesota stronger. Your friends and neighbors stand with you, and together we will continue to defend our long and proud history of welcoming refugees.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Minnesota Community Care's 50th anniversary. With 18 locations in Saint Paul that serve more than 37,000 patients each year, Minnesota Community Care is the largest federally qualified community health center in Minnesota and a leader in innovative, compassionate, community-based care for patients where they live, work and go to school. Since 1969, Minnesota Community Care has been serving the health care needs of its patients across Saint Paul in a culturally appropriate way. In 1972, the nonprofit organization was incorporated as West Side Health Center, delivering care to 1900 patients from a clinic in the Neighborhood House community center in the heart of the neighborhood. A foundational part of Minnesota Community Care's mission is providing care to our most vulnerable populations, including young people, homeless and uninsured families, and others in need. Its Health Care for the Homeless program began in 1987. In 1992, in collaboration with Ramsey County, it started its HouseCalls homeless prevention program. A year later, working with the St. Paul Public Housing Agency, it established McDonough Homes Clinic--a primary care clinic for public housing residents in the North End neighborhood. Minnesota Community Care is a leader in providing affordable dental care, understanding its impact on overall health. In 1978, it started providing dental services and in 2001, West Side Dental Clinic was established. In 2013, with the help from a major Affordable Care Act grant, it expanded its dental care to reach more patients when it opened its new East Side Family Clinic. As communities across our state have worked to improve educational achievement, Minnesota Community Care is working to keep students healthy and in school learning by caring for student patients where they are. Through its 10 school-based clinics, youth can access critical medical, mental health, and nutrition services and learn to be advocates for their health. These school-based clinics are a model for improving health and education outcomes at the same time. Madam Speaker, it was a pleasure to host you during your visit to Saint Paul in May as we met with leaders from Minnesota Community Care and other community health centers. Working to strengthen our community health centers is one of the most effective ways to increase access to affordable health care across our community. Please join me in honoring the 50th anniversary of Minnesota Community Care's dedication to providing quality and affordable health care for all.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Lieutenant Colonel Marisol Chalas for her exemplary dedication to duty and service as an Army Congressional Fellow in my office and Congressional Budget Liaison for the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Management and Comptroller). Lieutenant Colonel Chalas is transitioning from her current assignment to serve as the Legislative Assistant to the Vice Chief of Staff, Army. Born in Bani, Dominican Republic, Lieutenant Colonel Chalas moved with her family to the United States at the age of nine. She began her military career as an enlisted Soldier in July 1990, and in 2001 she received her commission as Second Lieutenant in the Aviation branch from the Georgia Military Institute Officer Candidate School. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Engineering from Massachusetts Maritime Academy, a Master of Business Administration from Georgia State University and a Master of Legislative Affairs from George Washington University. Lieutenant Colonel Chalas has served in a broad range of assignments during her extensive military career. These include two rotations as Company Commander, operational experience at multiple echelons with Army units and Joint Task forces, international duties with Dominican Republic Canadian Forces, and completion of the Army Congressional Fellowship program. In 2017, as an Army Congressional Fellow, I had the privilege of working with Lieutenant Colonel Chalas in my office for a year and during her subsequent assignment as a Congressional Budget Liaison for the U.S. Army. She worked tirelessly as Defense Fellow, assisted my office on a range of legislative issues, and coordinated with Members of Congress and their staffs to accurately articulate the Army's budget positions to the Appropriations Committees. Her professionalism, diligence, and commitment to the mission are unmatched, and her work both as a fellow and as a liaison very effectively represented the U.S. Army and the Department of Defense to the United States Congress. Throughout her career, Lieutenant Colonel Chalas has positively impacted soldiers, peers, and superiors. Our country has benefited from her extraordinary leadership, judgment, and passion for the Army profession. I join my colleagues today in honoring her dedication to our Nation and invaluable service to the United States Congress as an Army Congressional Budget Liaison. Madam Speaker, it has been a genuine pleasure to have worked with Lieutenant Colonel Chalas since the first session of the 115th Congress. It is with great appreciation that I recognize and commend Marisol for her service to our country and wish her all the best as she continues her service in the United States Army.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Episcopal Homes of Minnesota on its 125th anniversary of caring for and serving senior communities in Saint Paul. Episcopal Homes began in 1894 with a visionary leader named Sister Annette Relf. Sister Annette was a hospital nurse and Minnesota's first Episcopal Deaconess, who saw a need for a home and place of comfort for poor and elderly women. The first home was founded at 710 Martin Street in Saint Paul. In 1909, Sister Annette herself became a resident of the home until she died in 1915. The tradition of strong women's leadership continued in 1930, when Eliza May was elected as the first President of the Board and women took over daily management of the home. The Great Depression brought major challenges to the community, and the federal government responded by granting the home an exception from taxes. The Social Security Act was passed which kept many residents out of poverty by providing retirement security. After World War II, the home grew to accommodate 70 residents. In 1970, the home officially became the Episcopal Church Home of Minnesota. The need for more supportive services led to the hiring of an occupational therapist who could address the physical, recreation and social needs of residents. Episcopal Homes has continued to grow to serve residents, receiving a major grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to build subsidized housing for seniors. In 2011, Kings Crossing Apartments opened in Saint Paul's Frogtown neighborhood, which HUD lauded as a model for innovative community planning and neighborhood revitalization. This federal investment has continued and been valuable to Episcopal Homes' nine senior communities located near Green Line Light Rail stops along University Avenue in Saint Paul. Episcopal Homes has won numerous awards and recognition for its care and services-- including those from Aging Services of Minnesota, the Metropolitan Council, the Midway Chamber of Commerce, the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce and U.S. News & World Report. Today, Episcopal Homes is home to more than 1400 residents who thrive in their retirement years through the continuum of care offered through the homes in the heart of Saint Paul. Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring the 125th anniversary of Episcopal Homes of Minnesota's dedication to building affordable, diverse, vibrant communities and enhancing the lives of older adults.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of American Legion Post 39 of North Saint Paul, Minnesota. Shortly after the end of World War I, 15 veterans living around the village of North Saint Paul came together to discuss a new national organization called the American Legion that was dedicated to serving veterans and their families. These veterans decided to seek a charter for a local post, which was issued on August 1, 1919, beginning a century of service and support for Minnesota veterans, their families and the greater good of the surrounding North Saint Paul community. The newly formed American Legion Post 39 quickly found its focus serving the community by leading a Safety First Committee which worked with businesses to improve safety around crossing guards and signals at rail and street crossings. To honor and support their fellow veterans, another part of their mission was to support the Minneapolis and Hastings Veterans Homes, the Veterans Rest Camp and the Fort Snelling Rifle Squad. The post also made investments in America's future by sponsoring Boy's State, Legionville school patrol camp and providing college scholarships for local students, as well as their American Legion Baseball team the 39ers. Spouses, daughters and granddaughters of Post 39 have always been integral to the success of its work. Post 39 Auxiliary was formally chartered in May 1926 to work alongside the post and expand its community contributions, including support of Girls' State and Webster Elementary School. The auxiliary has also assisted important entities like the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans and the Veterans Administration Community Resource and Referral Center. The auxiliary has played a vital role in the success of the Post. As a life member of the Post 39 Auxiliary, I know firsthand the many contributions that the post makes to our veterans, our state and our nation. The sons and grandsons of veterans who comprise Squadron 39--Sons of the American Legion have supported among many programs the North St Paul Food Shelf, American Legion Baseball, the Silver Lake Splash and the Shop, Ship and Share program. Just last year, Post 39 was a key supporter of the American Legion National Convention, held in Minneapolis--which marked the start of the 100th anniversary of the national organization. Through its support of the work and advocacy of the American Legion, Department of Minnesota as well as the National Organization, the North Saint Paul Post 39 epitomizes the Four Pillars of the American Legion--Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation, National Security, Americanism, and Children and Youth. Madam Speaker, as veterans, families and members of the area communities gather on August 3, 2019 to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the founding of American Legion Post 39 of North Saint Paul, Minnesota please join me in honoring this major milestone and the generations of leaders and members of this veterans service organization.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3239, the Humanitarian Standards for Individuals in Customs and Border Protection Custody Act. Having visited federal immigration detention facilities along the U.S.-Mexico border, I have seen firsthand the alarming conditions imposed on many immigrant refugees by the Trump administration. There is no question that we have a humanitarian crisis on our border. It is also clear that the immigrant detention system operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) needs significant reform and passing H.R. 3239 is the first step in the process of improving this distressing situation. H.R. 3239 would finally establish a basic standard of care for immigrants in CBP custody, including clearly defining the requirements for sanitation, nutrition, and hygiene in CBP detention facilities. The legislation would also ensure health screenings by medical professionals for every immigrant in CBP custody. I would note that this legislation was written with the input of CBP Officers who both understand the scope of the humanitarian crisis and the changes that need to be made in order to ensure that immigrants in CBP custody get the necessary medical care they may require. With regards to the Republican Motion to Recommit on H.R. 3239, I am unable to support it because Congress still requires answers from CBP officials on why Members of Congress and immigrants were targeted in a derogatory Facebook group run by current and former CBP employees. However, I would like to strongly state that I will always stand in support of our federal employees who follow their oath of office. Many employees at CBP put their safety at risk on a daily basis, conduct themselves with integrity, and they should be supported. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3239.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the International Institute of Minnesota on the occasion of its 100th anniversary. The Institute's original mission is as vital today as it was after World War I when it welcomed refugees fleeing strife and instability in their homelands and helped them achieve self-sufficiency and full membership in American life. In 1919, leaders of the Saint Paul YWCA came together to address an urgent need in the community to serve those who were arriving to Minnesota, displaced in the aftermath of the ``War to End All Wars.'' Out of this effort, the Institute became one of the first state resettlement voluntary agencies (VOLAGS). The onset of World War II saw the need for the Institute's services to expand. During this time, the organization partnered with the War Relocation Authority, helping to free Japanese-Americans from internment camps and working as translators and codebreakers at Fort Snelling. At the end of the Vietnam War, many refugees were displaced from Southeast Asia to Minnesota, particularly ethnic Hmong and others from Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. Since 1974, the Institute has resettled approximately 25,000 refugees from every region of the world, including recent arrivals from Somalia and Myanmar. As economists point to increasingly tight labor markets and a growing scarcity of workers as two of our state's most significant barriers to sustained economic growth, the Institute contributes to our economic vitality by opening the door for those pursuing the American dream. By partnering with new Americans on a path to citizenship, entrepreneurship and full membership in our community, state and country, the Institute has empowered thousands of new Americans to become our trusted doctors, business leaders, teachers, engineers, scientists, policemen and soldiers. Recognizing that new Americans enrich our state in many ways, the Institute honors and shares our state's growing diversity and fosters cultural understanding. For nearly 90 years, the Institute's Festival of Nations has drawn thousands of people together each May to celebrate the many traditions that are shared by Minnesotans. Through this festival, Minnesotans can better appreciate how as a state and nation of Native Americans and immigrants, our strength is our diversity of backgrounds, viewpoints and religions. The motto inscribed on the Great Seal of the United States: ``E Pluribus Unum--Out of Many, One'' underscores that the foundation of our nation has always been the collective power of many different people coming together. For 100 years, the International Institute of Minnesota has proudly supported our nation by welcoming and empowering new refugees and immigrants from different backgrounds to come together as new Americans. Please join me to congratulate the staff, volunteers and donors to the International Institute of Minnesota for providing 100 years of hospitality, empowerment, hope and opportunity for new Americans.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, peaceful dissent and the protesting of injustice are the right of all Americans guaranteed by the Constitution. It is called freedom of speech. H. Res. 246 renounces the peaceful promotion of human rights, self-determination, and justice on behalf of Palestinian people living under Israeli military occupation. At the same time, this resolution completely ignores the Netanyahu government's brutality, dehumanization, and subjugation of Palestinian people at the root of this peaceful movement. The State of Israel is a sovereign nation, an ally of the United States, and a military power that occupies Palestinian lands for the benefit of Jewish settlers. H. Res. 246 originally claimed that the use of voluntary boycotts, divestment, and sanctions ``undermines the possibility of a negotiated solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.'' I am pleased that this language has been removed. I am also very pleased that resolving clause 3 was added to affirm the Constitutional right of U.S. citizens to free speech, including ``the right to protest or criticize the policies of the United States or a foreign government.'' Israel cannot be delegitimized by any outside movement, it is a nation-state that is selfgoverned and makes its own laws, its own policies. Sadly, and I say sadly because I want peace and security for the Israeli people, it is the actions of the Netanyahu government that delegitimizes Israel's standing in the world community. Today's Washington Post ran a headline: ``Israeli demolition of Palestinian homes provokes outcry.'' Is this the action of a nation seeking peaceful negotiations? Is the annexation of Palestinian lands or the military detention and torture of Palestinian children an effort to seek a negotiated peace agreement? Under Prime Minister Netanyahu, Israel is engaged in a systemic, violent, and repressive strategy to annex Palestinian lands and permanently displace the Palestinian population, not seek a negotiated peace or a two-state solution. Shamefully, the President of the United States and the U.S. ambassador to Israel are enabling this effort in a reversal of decades of bipartisan U.S. foreign policy. Actions by Congress, like passing H. Res. 246, which ignore reality and effectively supports military occupation, violations of international humanitarian law, and the subjugation of the Palestinian population, does not strengthen Israel, but it does damage the standing of the U.S. House in the eyes of the world. It is time for Congress to exercise real American leadership that is based on our values and the belief that Israel deserves peace and security, and at the same time the Palestinian people deserve justice, equality, and an end to Israeli repression and occupation. H. Res. 246 offers nothing but the perpetuation of the status quo, repression, and conflict. I am voting to oppose H. Res. 246.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the centennial anniversary of Saint Paul's Sterling Club, the oldest African American men's club in the nation. Founded at a time when racism and segregation were the norm, and African Americans could not access the same accommodations as white community members, the Sterling Club provided a strong community to allow neighbors to come together and to host and celebrate visiting African American dignitaries. On a bright and cold New Year's Day in 1918, men from Saint Paul's Rondo neighborhood chartered a bus to spread the word of a new club created for African Americans. The Sterling Club, and later the Women's Auxiliary, would quickly become a cornerstone of the social and civic strength of Saint Paul's African American community. During its first hundred years, the Sterling club has hosted countless events, balls and social gatherings. Above all, the organization's principal purpose was ``the proper entertainment of persons of note who may visit.'' Officially incorporated on August 28, 1919, the Sterling Club was not a social club in the same vein as others, which typically only catered to community elites and the professional class. Among its ranks one could find, lawyers, architects, government employees and decorated war veterans. Officers and members also included railroad workers, janitors, meat packers, elevator operators and postal workers. Then as now, the egalitarian ethos speaks to the community-building and organizing principles of the Sterling Club. In 1900s Saint Paul, African American community members were eager to hear from leaders speaking about overcoming the adversity and racism that was commonplace throughout our nation. To address this desire, the Sterling Club began hosting notable and national leaders including Booker T. Washington, William Monroe Trotter and W.E.B. Du Bois. The club remains actively focused on civic engagement and has hosted forums for generations of candidates seeking elected office in Saint Paul. The development of the Sterling Club Charitable Fund has also contributed greatly to the community, sponsoring student scholarships and honoring volunteers who give back to our community. Despite being a men's group, the longevity and success of the club would not have been possible without the women of the Auxiliary. Spouses of club members long played a significant role in fundraising, planning and organizing. Without shrewd and savvy women of the Auxiliary scraping together enough funding, the club likely would not have been able to survive past the Great Depression and World War II to flourish in the post-war years. The Sterling Club has always relied on the collective experience and abilities of members to organize, resist, thrive and give back to the community. Founded in a time and place where the color of your skin could mean the difference between a comfortable life or a life at the margins, the Sterling Club stands tall as an example of how a community coming together can claim the American Dream in the face of adversity of prejudice and discrimination and forge a new and better future for everyone. Madam Speaker please join me in celebrating 100 years of Saint Paul Sterling Club.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 70th anniversary of Cecil's Delicatessen in Saint Paul, Minnesota. On July 1, 1949, Cecil and Faye Glickman opened the doors for the first time to hungry Saint Paul customers. Seven decades later, Cecil's is a landmark destination for Highland Park neighbors and international visitors alike. In the early days, Cecil and Faye Glickman were among a large number of Saint Paul Jewish families operating restaurants and delicatessens. Today, Cecil's remains as the only traditional deli in the city. This long record of success is due to its loyal customers' love of Cecil's made-from-scratch dishes, baked goods and high-quality imported products served up each day by friendly, hardworking and dedicated staff. Family has always been the key ingredient to success for four generations. In 1980, Cecil and Faye's daughter Sheila and her husband David Leventhal bought the deli from her parents when they decided to retire. Sheila still takes orders and David balances the books. In addition, Sheila and David's children and even grandchildren work around the deli, alongside many other longtime employees. Governors, movie stars and regular folks young and old have been served delicious Jewish delicacies and family creations by the Glickmans and Leventhals. In fact, there used to be a saying in Highland Park that a baby's first three words were mama, papa, and Cecil's. Walking through the front door at Cecil's transports customers back to an earlier time. With its black and white parquet floors, diner style red chairs, and deli counter piled high with corned beef, potato salad, and a plethora of delicacies, Cecil's serves up delicious food with a perfect-sized side of nostalgia. While the menu has expanded to more than 150 items, one thing that has remained the same is the attention to detail, great food and service. All of these ingredients come together to make Cecil's one of Saint Paul's most beloved places to relax and get a bite to eat with friends and neighbors. Madam Speaker, please join me in celebrating the 70th anniversary of Cecil's Delicatessen.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2740, the first Fiscal Year 2020 appropriations package that includes funding for the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Defense, State, and Energy. The Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies bill includes $189.9 billion, $11.8 billion over FY19 levels, in critical investments in medical research, public health, workforce training, and education for the next generation of Americans. Among the important provisions in this bill are $41.1 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for lifesaving medical and disease research, and $760 million for Community Service Block Grants (CSBG) that will go directly to Community Action Agencies to help low-income families rise out of poverty. The bill also contains a provision that will enable states to develop best practices to identify and treat newborns with a Congenital Heart Defect. This is an issue that I have worked on since I served in the Minnesota State House, and I am pleased to see its inclusion. The Defense bill includes $690.2 billion in funding, $15.8 billion above FY19 levels, improves our national security, and ensures that our servicemen and women will have the equipment and training necessary to complete their missions and come home safe. The bill includes a 3.1 percent military pay raise and funds the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response programs for the services at $297 million, a significant increase over FY19 levels. As the Vice Chair of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, I am particularly pleased that the bill includes $1.26 billion for defense environmental remediation activities, $14.8 million above FY19 levels. This funding will continue Department of Defense efforts to remediate contaminated soil, ground and drinking water at formerly used and current defense installations. This includes $13 million to study and assess the levels of PFOS/PFOA contamination at domestic military facilities. The bill also makes a $33.4 billion investment in Defense Health Programs, including increased funding for medical research that will help save the lives of our service members and veterans. The State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs bill includes $56.4 billion in funding, $2.2 billion above FY19 levels, and is a robust investment in global health and nutrition programs, national security, and diplomacy. Important provisions in this bill include $2.6 billion for maternal child health and infectious disease programs, $750 million for family planning services, and $5.9 billion for PEPFAR to combat HIV/AIDS. I am also pleased to see strong levels of funding for the Global Food Security Act, a critical piece of U.S. foreign assistance in reducing global hunger, improving child nutrition, and finally achieving food security around the world. The Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies bill includes $46.4 billion, an increase of $1.8 billion over FY19, and makes needed investments in water infrastructure projects that impact every state in our nation. That is why robust funding for the Army Corps of Engineers, the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the water resources projects in this legislation are so important. My district is home to the St. Croix River and the Mississippi River. My constituents know that the Mississippi River is a working river, and failures in our infrastructure can significantly impact the overall economy by hurting our transportation, agriculture, and recreation industries. Madam Speaker, as the appropriations process moves forward on the floor, it is clear that Democrats are making critical investments for the people. Democrats will continue to be loud and clear about the importance of quality healthcare for all, education for our children and grandchildren, investments in infrastructure, and ensuring our national security. H.R. 2740 is a down payment on all of these important priorities for our constituents. I strongly encourage my colleagues to support this legislation.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, as the designee of Chairwoman Lowey, I move to strike the last word.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment in order to be able to speak on it. The Acting Chair. The gentlewoman from Minnesota is recognized for 5 minutes.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, I thank both gentlemen for their concern and dedication to this issue. In the 1990s when I served in the Minnesota House on our environment and agriculture committee, I first learned of chronic wasting disease and the way that it was frightening hunters and people who like to consume deer meat. We took some action when I was in the statehouse to address this, only to find out it is a bigger flare-up and something that we need to address. In my home State of Minnesota, under the leadership of Governor Walz, we are putting more time, more energy, and more resources into working on this issue. That is why my colleagues will find that the House report accompanying the Interior bill highlights the committee's concern about chronic wasting disease and the need to continue to collaborate with partners to develop early detection tools and compounds to disrupt the transmission of this deadly disease. As of June 7, 2019, chronic wasting disease has been reported in at least 24 States in the continental United States as well as in two provinces in Canada. Once this disease is established in an area, the risks can remain for a long time in the environment, and we are finding out that ``a long time'' is a long time. The lack of treatment or vaccines for this insidious disease highlights the need for more research. As a member of the Agriculture Committee, we have been talking to the USDA about what we can do about disposing of these carcasses because this disease not only appears in the wild, it also appears in some captive herds that are used for consumption. I want my colleagues to know that I look forward to working with them on this issue. I wanted to use this as an opportunity to let both gentlemen know that it is in the report language, and we look forward to the authorizers working more so we can do even more to address this disease. Madam Chair, I thank the gentlemen once again for their amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, we have many fine employees at the EPA-- great employees--and I would be hesitant to put them in the way that sometimes the term ``bureaucrat'' is used, because sometimes that can feel demeaning. So, to the great scientists in the EPA, I just want them to know that I respect their work. Madam Chair, I rise in strong opposition, as I said, to this amendment, which would prevent the EPA from implementing its endangerment finding that greenhouse gases endanger human health and welfare. The EPA's endangerment finding is simply a legal restating of something that the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said. Every single scientific academy in the world--and I want to stress that, Madam Chair. I heard the gentleman talk about some kind of peer review, but I am going to go with what the national scientific academies in the world and 97 percent of climate scientists have been telling us for decades. I am going to go with 97 percent of the scientists, Madam Chair. Whether or not my colleague on the other side of the aisle will admit it, our climate is changing. We know it in Minnesota, and I hear other people from around the country talk about it. And we do know that it is caused by human activity. We are already experiencing negative impacts from climate change. The severity of those impacts will only increase if we don't reduce climate pollution. The endangerment finding does not regulate climate pollution, but it does say that we need to take action to address it, and I agree. We have a moral obligation to future generations to leave this planet better than we found it. Blocking the endangerment rule won't make that happen for future generations. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Once again, what I see is delay by not going with scientists around the world. Madam Chair, 97 percent of the scientists leading the way on what we should be doing clearly state that human activity has a direct impact on climate change. We can't ignore the dangers of it. We need urgent and bold action to address climate change. We don't need to be putting our heads in the sand. We don't need to be delaying. I oppose the taxpayers of this country spending more money when we already have sound science. I oppose wasting time. So I oppose this amendment, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, to be clear, many States supported the clean energy rules of the Obama administration because they know air knows no boundary. So one State decides it is not going to have clean air rules, and that drifts into the next State, affecting that State's health and quality of life. So it was prudent for the Federal Government to step in and set standards. No one's power plant was going to be forced to be closed. They were just being told to clean up the air. So when it leaves one State to drift into the next State, it is not causing asthma attacks for children. I believe we have a moral obligation to future generations to leave this planet better than we found it. Limiting pollution for power plants is an important part of an overall strategy to protect us from the worst impacts of climate change. We owe it to the next generation. They are watching our actions. I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, I claim the time in opposition. The Acting Chair. The gentlewoman from Minnesota is recognized for 5 minutes.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, I believe I have the right to close. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McCOLLUM

Mr. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, the amendments included in the en bloc were made in order under the rule. I support the amendment, and I urge its adoption. Mr. Chair, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Scanlon).

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment that would strike section 118 from the bill. I want to begin by setting the record straight on what section 118 of the Interior bill does and does not do. The opponents of this amendment have characterized the Interior language as preventing energy leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, ANWR. That is an outright misstatement, Madam Chair. Although, as I will explain, I can understand why those who championed the inflated revenue numbers 18 months ago might be a little worried. On the contrary, the language says that when the Department of the Interior offers those leases up for sale, it simply must make sure that the sale raises more than the $500 million that was promised. In 2017, the Republicans were putting together their tax bill. The budget resolution directed the House Natural Resources Committee and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to come up with legislation that would raise $1 billion over 10 years. Since the lease, that $1 billion was supposed to help offset the cost of a $5 trillion tax cut. In reality, I believe it was a scam to get around a point of order. Once the ANWR provision was included in the tax bill, the Congressional Budget Office said the provision would raise little more than $2 billion over 10 years, and, by law, half of those revenues go to the Federal Treasury and half go to the State of Alaska. According to the CBO, which got its information from the Interior Department, the first resale was going to raise $1 billion with $500 million going to the Federal Government. Well, if that $500 million is what the Interior Department told CBO they could raise from our public lands, then they should have no problem with the language in our bill, because that is exactly what our language does. It tells the Interior Department that if you decide to go forward with the lease sale next year, then you need to raise the $500 million you promised the American people. That is called accountability, and the taxpayers have a right to expect it. Now, since we don't know exactly how many acres Interior intends to offer up for lease, and we can't know the exact per acre dollar amount, but if the department leases a minimum of 400,000 acres required by law, then all it needs to do is put out a lease sale requirement to the companies to bid $2,500 an acre for these public lands. Apparently, the administration and the congressional opponents are having second thoughts about those promises now and want a little amnesty. On May 21, the Office of Management and Budget sent the Appropriations Committee a letter making it clear that the administration opposes section 118 language. OMB says that the $500 million figure was arbitrary and unrealistic. Now, how could the administration claim that that number was arbitrary and unrealistic when CBO estimates were based on the administration's data? Where was OMB in December of 2017 when CBO first came out? More importantly, where were the congressional opponents of drilling ANWR back then? Why didn't they sound a little alarmed 18 months ago? Why not speak up and say: ``Wait a minute, I think this number is too high, maybe it is unrealistic''? Well, I suspect they thought they would never be held responsible for the projections that they were touting back then, and maybe that explains why the language in the Interior bill is characterized as preventing lease sales. Supporters know that the department is required to live up to the promises everyone made, and they may be unattainable to achieve. So let me be clear. I oppose opening up ANWR for drilling. But now that it is in the tax bill, we have an obligation to make sure that the American taxpayer is protected, and the language currently in the Interior bill does exactly that, Madam Chair. It ensures that the public property is not given away to the oil and gas industry for a song. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.