Betty McCollum

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, it is my hope that Members of Congress and the American people can stand united in the belief that justice, human dignity, and human rights are values we share and promote. Certainly, when it comes to protecting the rights of children we should be able to find universal agreement that ensuring their safety and well-being is a priority. Today, I am introducing legislation to protect children from abuse, violence, psychological trauma, and torture. This bill condemns the targeting of children with the intent to intimidate, mistreat, and abuse in a manner designed to leave lifelong scars. This abuse is completely preventable. Unimaginably, it is abuse that is perpetrated not only with intent, but systematically applied to intimidate, control, and create fear amongst families, communities, and an entire population. And, unbelievably, it is in part funded by U.S. taxpayers. The children this legislation seeks to protect are Palestinian who have lived their entire lives under Israeli military occupation. The perpetrator of this system of child abuse is the Government of Israel and its military, police, and intelligence apparatus occupying the Palestinian West Bank. And, it is U.S. tax dollars provided by Congress, the unregulated $3.8 billion military aid package to Israel, that helps to cover the cost of Israeli soldiers arresting, interrogating, and abusing children, some as young as 9-years old, in the name of Israeli security. The legislation I am introducing--Promoting Human Rights for Palestinian Children Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act--is expressly intended to end U.S. support and funding for Israel's systematic military detention, interrogation, abuse, torture, and prosecution of Palestinian children. This bill not only highlights actions by the Government of Israel that violate international humanitarian law by their treatment of Palestinian children in detention, it affirmatively declares that equality, human rights, and dignity for Palestinians and Israelis are the values the American people expect the U.S. government to advance. On March 16, 2019, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz ran an in-depth expose detailing the detention and mistreatment of Palestinian boys by Israel's military. It identifies Omar, a ten-year old boy who ``looks small for his age.'' Omar was arrested by Israeli soldiers last December as he played in front of his house because ``he threw pebbles at birds that were chirping in the trees.'' Soldiers saw Omar, caught him, knocked him down, and kicked him. Omar wet his pants. The Haaretz story states, ``The 10-year old is one of hundreds of Palestinian children whom Israel arrests every year: the estimates range between 800 and 1,000.'' Why would one of the world's most advanced and powerful military forces, a nation that possesses nuclear weapons, send soldiers to attack, terrorize, and detain a 10-year old boy? There can be no justifiable explanation. On April 1, 2019, only weeks ago, CNN reported on armed Israeli soldiers entering a primary school in Hebron to arrest a 9-year old boy and his 7-year old brother. Such a story is simply too extreme a violation of human rights and decency to be rational. Yet, it happened and there is video footage (provided by the Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem) of the soldiers in the school and the principal and teachers trying to protect the children. Eventually, CNN reports 9- year old Zein was ``frog-marched away and taken to an army vehicle.'' Neighbors said the boy ``was taken off to a nearby military post.'' In a terrifying description, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz tells what happens to the Palestinian children victimized by Israel's system of occupation and military detention: ``They're seized in the dead of night, blindfolded and cuffed, abused and manipulated to confess to crimes they didn't commit.'' Since 2000, it is conservatively estimated that more than 10,000 Palestinian children have been detained by Israeli security forces. The brutality and trauma inflicted on Palestinian children by Israel's occupation and system of military detention in the West Bank has been extensively documented by credible international human rights monitors, including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Israel's B'Tselem, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Defense of Children/Palestine, and the U.S. Department of State. Israel's system of military detention of Palestinian children must be condemned and it must stop. At a minimum, U.S. funding for this state- sponsored child abuse must be explicitly prohibited by law and fully monitored and enforced by the State Department. The detention and ill- treatment of Palestinian children is a cruel and intentional tactic of Israel's military occupation. It is intended to terrorize, inflict fear, and send an unmistakable message that Palestinian lives lack value. Promoting Human Rights for Palestinian Children Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act amends a provision of the Foreign Assistance Act known as the ``Leahy Law'' (22 U.S.C. 2378d) to prohibit funding for the military detention of children in any country, including Israel. The bill explicitly declares that it is the policy of the United States to identify Israel's system of military detention of Palestinian children as a human rights violation inconsistent with international law and the laws of the U.S. The bill also establishes ``The Human Rights Monitoring and Palestinian Child Victims of Israeli Military Detention Fund.'' The bill authorizes $19 million annually for NGO monitoring of human rights abuses associated with Israel's military detention of children. The Fund also authorizes qualified NGOs to provide physical, psychological, and emotional treatment and support for Palestinian child victims of Israeli military detention, abuse, and torture. Any Palestinian age 21 or younger providing documentation of military detention as a child is eligible for services under this provision. In 2017, I introduced H.R. 4391, the Promoting Human Rights by Ending Israeli Military Detention of Palestinian Children Act. My goal was to shine a light on the dehumanizing effects of military occupation and human rights abuses on Palestinian children. The more than thirty colleagues who joined as co-sponsors in the 115th Congress were courageous and fearless promoters of human dignity and the belief that the U.S. has the obligation to protect human rights, not use U.S. tax dollars to help fund the abuse of children. I strongly believe there is a growing consensus among the American people that the Palestinian people deserve justice, equality, human rights, and the right to self-determination. After more than fifty years of Israeli military occupation and now the promise by Israel's prime minister to annex Palestinian lands, it is time to stand up for Palestinian rights and stand with Palestinians, Americans, Israelis, and people around the world to reject the destructive, dehumanizing, and anti-peace policies of Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump. The Promoting Human Rights for Palestinian Children Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act is a step in that direction. It gives my congressional colleagues a clear choice--support human rights for Palestinian children and their families or support perpetuating the occupation and repression in the name of Israel's security. For the cause of peace, justice, human dignity, and a better future for Palestinians, Israelis, and Americans I intend to work tirelessly this Congress to advance this bill.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mary Mackbee on a remarkable 53-year career in public education as she prepares to retire as principal of Saint Paul's Central High School. Mary is a highly gifted educator, and far more--a civic leader in Minnesota's Capital City, a mentor to students, teachers, and parents alike and a model of what it means to be an engaged and caring member of the community. Growing up in New Orleans, Mary attended segregated schools. Her teachers became vital to her life, so much so that by the time she was in 9th grade she knew that being a public educator was her life's calling. After attending Xavier University of Louisiana where she studied Social Studies and English, Mary was recruited to begin her teaching career here in Minnesota. So it was in September of 1966 that she embarked on what would become a career spanning more than five decades, primarily in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Mary began as a classroom teacher before moving to positions as principal and district administrator in the Saint Paul Public Schools. She ultimately returned to the role she loved more than any other in 1993. As principal of Saint Paul's Central High School, the oldest continuously operating high school in the state of Minnesota, she has overseen the education of an estimated 13,000 students during her tenure. She has earned a reputation as an ardent advocate for the arts and extracurricular programs, and is a frequent attendee of Central's various arts and athletic events beyond regular school hours. Principal Mackbee has demonstrated resilient leadership through tumultuous changes in technology, demographics and traumatic events in the community and the ``Central family.'' When difficult situations affect students and teachers at Central, she sets the tone by listening and leaning into what she believes is her school's strength--the diversity of the community. Mary notes that, ``It (Central High School) always drew a very, very diverse population, from the black community of Rondo, the Jewish community of Highland, the rich community of Summit Avenue . . . I think that's what makes us strong.'' Through it all, Central High School has been successful in recruiting and retaining excellent teachers and maintaining outstanding academic, athletic and fine arts programs. This would not have been possible without the leadership and strong advocacy Mary has provided. The results show that this playbook is working--Central High School consistently ranks among the top high schools in the state for academic achievement and graduation rates. Mary often starts her days at 6:30 in the morning and often doesn't leave campus until after eight o'clock. Staff and former students often remark about how there is no task too small for her to do when it comes to Central. Whether it be attending meetings with parents or students to wiping down cafeteria tables, Mary Mackbee knows what it takes to keep Central High School running and strong. Because of Mary, generations of students received outstanding instruction in a vibrant and supportive environment at Saint Paul's Central High School. Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring the remarkable 53-year career of one of our communities most respected and beloved leaders, Principal Mary Mackbee.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, Democrats and Republicans support the Corporation for National and Community Service and all of its volunteer organizations like AmeriCorps, VISTA, and Senior Corps. President Trump's 2020 budget eliminates the Corporation and all the volunteer activities our communities rely on. As we speak, the Corporation's CEO is executing a plan to close all 46 State offices in the next 90 days, which they are calling the Sustainability and Transformation Plan. Contrary to its name, this plan is a step towards accomplishing the administration's ultimate goal of eliminating national service and abandoning local volunteers and stakeholders. Last month, the Corporation's own inspector general reported to Congress: ``Aspects of this plan present heightened risks of fraud, waste, and mismanagement that warrant particularly close oversight.'' So now it is time for Congress to act to protect national service, not fund a plan that promotes fraud, waste, and abuse. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor H.R. 1458, the Keep Community Service Local Act, which prohibits the closing of State offices.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this conference committee report. The Interior and Environment section provides $35.6 billion, which is $300 million more than fiscal year 2018 enacted. We made critical investments in this legislation in Indian Country, environmental protection, public land management, and the arts. The Environmental Protection Agency is funded at $8.8 billion. This funding will enhance the EPA's ability to protect human health and the health of our environment. We continue to invest in land and water conservation funds, civil rights initiative programs, and historic preservation. We worked in a bipartisan way to increase funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and the Humanities. Finally, it is critically important that this Interior bill upholds the Federal Government's trust responsibilities to our Native American brothers and sisters. Funding for Indian Country is over $1 billion more than the President's budget, and we did it in our committee's nonpartisan way. Programs in the Interior bill impact all of us, from preserving our natural and cultural resources, to protecting our health and safety. Mr. Speaker, I support this bill, and I encourage my colleagues to vote for it as well.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Maine for organizing this. Madam Speaker, right now, millions of Americans all across this country are struggling, and they are uncertain about the future because of a government shutdown. Federal employees, government contractors and their families, they are all hurting. Small businesses, nonprofits, State and local governments, they are feeling the pain, and they know they cannot count on Congress and the Federal Government as a reliable partner. So who is at fault for this irresponsible, negligent, and dangerous shutdown? President Trump and the Republicans. They are demanding a wall, a wall the Republican majority refused to fund for 2 years, and they are willing to inflict pain on millions of Americans, damage our economy, and put our Nation at risk to get their way, all so the President can keep a campaign promise. Mr. Trump and the Republicans in Congress have taken 800,000 Federal workers hostage, and for them to get back to work and get paid, the ransom demand is Trump's wall. Last week, I met with over 40 Federal employees, air traffic controllers, TSA agents, prison guards, all forced to work without pay. I met with Federal workers from HUD, and the IRS, and the Agriculture Department, who are furloughed and without pay. They are struggling. They feel betrayed by their government. They feel betrayed by their President. Tomorrow, these valued workers will miss their second paycheck. They are hurting. They feel desperate. Their families are hurting, and they feel afraid. They are being treated like pawns by this President, and it is just outright cruel. House Democrats have passed appropriation bills 10 times to fund and immediately open the government, but Republicans keep voting ``no.'' It is time for Congress and Democrats to vote to open the government and to end this shutdown. Then we can negotiate the details of comprehensive border security and immigration reform with the government open. Every Federal worker, on the job or at home, I want you to know, you are valued for your service and your contribution to the safety and security and to the success of our Nation. You deserve to be treated with respect. You deserve to get paid immediately. And the one way that we can collectively thank them for their service is to open the government now.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise to address the Republicans' motion to recommit that was offered on the previous bill and to explain to the American people the harm that that motion would have caused. The Trump shutdown is in its 33rd day. Critical programs that help our most vulnerable friends and neighbors, like SNAP benefits for seniors, will soon run out. As chair of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, I know the difficulties this shutdown is causing for Indian Country, where basic healthcare programs could end soon. Mr. Speaker, for our Native American brothers and sisters, this shutdown is literally a life-or-death matter, and that is why the Republican motion to recommit was so very disappointing. It strips the entire text of the bill, keeping the Federal Government closed and threatening the well-being of tens of millions of Americans. It is callous, it is cruel, and it is wrong. And that is why I join my Democratic colleagues in rejecting the motion to recommit. House Democrats are doing our job. We are passing legislation to reopen the government and to fund our Federal employees with the paychecks they deserve. Mr. Speaker, it is time for the Senate and the President to do the same.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this omnibus appropriations bill, and I come to you in good faith with it. Two weeks ago, our colleagues on the other side of the aisle told us that they could not support the appropriations bills on the House floor because they reflected only the Senate's priorities. Well, there is good news today. The bill before us is a product of bipartisan negotiations. It reflects both the priorities of the House and the Senate. It is a compromise bill, and it will reopen our government. The interior and environment section provides $35.6 billion, which is $300 million more than the fiscal year 2018 enacted bill. We made critical investments in this legislation in Indian Country, environmental protection, public lands management, and the arts. The National Park Service is funded at $3.2 billion, an increase of more than $20 million. This money is more urgently needed than ever because of the damage at our national parks due to the Trump shutdown. The Land and Water Conservation Fund, which supports tens of thousands of projects all across the States, is funded at $435 million. That is a $10 million increase. The Environmental Protection Agency is funded at $8.8 billion. That is an increase of $17 million above the 2018 enacted level. Clean water and safe drinking water go hand-in-hand, so I am pleased that this bill includes $2.9 billion for the State revolving funds and $35 million for grants that reduce lead in drinking water, even at our schools. This funding will enhance the EPA's ability to protect human health and the health of our environment. We continue to invest in Historically Black Colleges and Universities, the Civil Rights Initiative grant program, the Historic Preservation Fund, and Save America's Treasures. Once again, we have worked in a bipartisan way to increase funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and for the National Endowment for the Humanities. Congress also continues its commitment to providing funds necessary for the Smithsonian to complete its rehabilitation on the beloved National Air and Space Museum. Finally, critically, it is important that this interior bill upholds the Federal Government's trust responsibilities to our Native American brothers and sisters. Funding for Indian Country is $1 billion more than the President's budget. It provides a $266 million increase in the Indian Health Service, the largest increase for any agency in this bill, and it is a $17 million increase for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. This bill is a lifeline to restart funding and stop the senseless cruelty of the Trump shutdown in Indian Country. Basic services like health clinics, Tribal Justice services, and food assistance for seniors are being put at risk for nearly 1.9 million Americans throughout Indian Country. As Democrats have continued to advance bills to reopen the government, to end the Trump shutdown, I have listened to my colleagues across the aisle. Our colleagues insisted that, if we brought up the conference negotiated bills, they would give their support. Well, this is it. This is the conference negotiated bill, and, Mr. Speaker, I am looking forward to their support. Programs in the interior bill impact all of us, from preserving our natural and cultural resources to protecting our health and our safety by ensuring clean air to breathe and clean water to drink, for today and for future generations. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides to support this bill, and I thank Mrs. Lowey for yielding me the time.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman for the time. As I pointed out earlier, the supplemental includes $824 million to the U.S. Forest Service to help California and those who have been impacted by wildfires and Hurricanes Florence and Michael to recover. While the funding includes $27 million for hazardous fuel, I support the gentleman's proposal to increase this amount because we know we have a lot of work to do in fuel reduction. I would like to point out to the gentleman, I also support the continuing resolution portion of this legislation in front of us today because we need to reopen the Forest Service so we can use these funds.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, I rise in support of this funding package, and I am pleased that, within the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee's jurisdiction, the bill provides more than $2 billion for recovery from devastating natural disasters. This includes $849 million to rebuild drinking water and wastewater systems to a state of resiliency against future storms, $50 million for coastal resiliency projects to reduce ecosystem and community vulnerability to help with sea level rise and with the flooding and erosion caused by storms. The bill provides funds to repair Federal facilities that were destroyed or damaged, such as the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, funds for historic preservation grants to repair culturally significant sites and properties, and funds to clean up hazardous and solid waste sites. A critical provision in this bill provides $720 million to fully repay the U.S. Forest Service for funds it was forced to borrow in the last fiscal year to cover the cost of wildland fire suppression. An additional $103 million will help the Forest Service to address damage to national forests and treat hazardous fuel loads. This emergency funding is in sharp contrast to the President's threats to block disaster response funds to Californians who are struggling to restore their lives and to return to their homes after the devastating fires of last year. I have just heard from a friend that he is being evacuated now because of potential mudslides because of the burnt area in the Malibu part of California. Americans in all of our States and territories deserve Federal support so they can recover from natural disasters, and our government agencies have to be open in order to ensure the delivery of these important emergency funds. Democrats are proud to bring this bill to the floor to help our communities who have suffered from these natural disasters and want to begin to rebuild and heal in their lives. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, a point of parliamentary inquiry.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, the supplemental appropriation that we are discussing today includes $8.24 million for the U.S. Forestry Service to work on disaster relief, and it includes $2 million for State and private forestry. As I have told the Members here, I totally support the gentleman's proposal to increase the amount, and they have done an excellent job describing why it is so important. As wildfires continue to increase in both frequency and intensity as a result of climate change, we need to do more to prevent them. The State private forestry programs bring together States, Tribes, and local governments and gives them the tools they need to protect communities and our environment from wildfires. I have seen firsthand. I have spoken to people who have used these programs, and it is money well spent to prevent wildland fires. However, in order for the Forestry Service to be able to use these critical funds, I will be supporting the CR portion of this bill to reopen the government, because without this continuing resolution the agencies won't be able to receive funds to get to work immediately. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, I leave that to the gentleman. He has 1 minute remaining, Madam Chair, if he would like to use it now and then I will use my own time.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition, even though I am not opposed to the amendment.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, could I ask unanimous consent to rise in opposition even though I am not opposed to the bill, claim 5 minutes, and then the gentleman could have time to close?

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on the measure under consideration.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. I rise today in support of H.R. 266, the fiscal year 2019 Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. Today is the 21st day of the Trump shutdown, and the damage it inflicts on the families and communities across this country continues to grow. More than 800,000 Federal workers are without pay, and today will be the first missed paycheck for those families. Many of our civil servants are working without pay, and telling them that they have to file for unemployment is outrageous and it is wrong. Today, Democrats are offering this bill that provides critical funds to reopen the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, Indian Health Service, and other important agencies. Our national parks, America's crown jewels, are under threat. This administration continues to allow visitors to enter as if everything is normal. Our Park Service does not have the funding to ensure visitor safety, address the most basic standards of cleanliness, and protect park assets. Joshua Tree National Park is experiencing significant damage because there are not enough rangers to stop off-road driving in the park. New tracks are being cut into the sensitive landscape, and many of Joshua's trees, the precious namesake of this park, have been destroyed. Just this past week, the Department of the Interior announced an illegal plan to force parks to start redirecting funds from entry fees. Now, those fees are designated for capital improvement projects, and now they will be used to clean toilets. There is no substitute for the park system's annual operation budget of $2.5 billion. As I said, lasting damage is being done to our national parks, and their long-term upkeep is being compromised. We must ensure public safety and protect our pristine spaces; and that is why I am calling on the National Park Service to close all parks until the government reopens. Congress needs to pass this bill to fully fund and staff and protect our national parks. Passing this bill will allow the Forest Service to get back to work on critical activities, like hazardous fuel management. That work needs to happen now in order to prevent wildfires. The Environmental Protection Agency's mission is to protect human health and the environment, but the Trump shutdown has furloughed more than 13,000 employees, stopping inspections at drinking water systems, stopping inspections at hazardous waste management facilities, and stopping inspections at chemical facilities. This places the health of the American people and their communities in jeopardy. The Trump shutdown is particularly threatening to the health and safety of our Native American brothers and sisters. Once again, we have failed to meet our treaty responsibilities to Tribal nations. Basic services like health clinics, Tribal justice services, and food assistance for seniors, are being put at risk for nearly 1.9 million Americans throughout Indian Country. Approximately 54 percent of the Indian Health Service budget goes to Tribal organizations to run their own programs. During the Trump shutdown, critical programs in Indian Country run by Tribal organizations stop. This includes the Domestic Violence Prevention Initiative, the Indian Children's Program, the Suicide Prevention Program, and Alcohol and Substance Abuse Programs. Native American Lifelines is an example of a healthcare program that is under contract with the Indian Health Service. Clinics focus on care for the needy and the elderly, and I am outraged to report that, as of today, these remarks that I deliver, well, those clinics have been forced to close, and they will not be able to continue to coordinate care for their patients, like the 80-year-old woman who depends on Native American Lifelines to help her manage her type 2 diabetes. It is time to reopen the government. The Interior bill before us was drafted by the Senate, passed overwhelmingly with a bipartisan vote of 92-6. This bill also should be familiar to everyone as it was part of a six-bill package that passed overwhelmingly on the House floor with bipartisan votes last week. This bill provides $35.9 billion, which is $601 million over the fiscal year 2018-enacted bill. It maintains funding for nearly every agency at or above the fiscal year 2018- enacted level, including the Environmental Protection Agency. It is important to note, however, this bill does not contain any new partisan riders. Now, clearly, I would have written things differently, especially with regard to funding for Indian Country. However, this bill will immediately open up the Department of the Interior, the EPA, and other agencies, and give us a path forward to end the Trump shutdown. Last year, Congress had the opportunity to pass the bill negotiated by the Conference Committee, but Republican leadership controlled the floor and they chose not to finish their work. And then we thought there was an agreement to keep the government open while the issues of homeland security were being worked out. Senator McConnell brought the continuing resolution to the floor of the Senate and it passed unanimously. But Speaker Ryan, along with President Trump, decided to shut down the government, and Congress went home. Now, nearly 800,000 employees are without a paycheck today, and Democrats are doing everything that we can to quickly pass a bipartisan bill to reopen the government. We need to finish last year's work so that we can move forward to serve the American people in 2019. So I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bill. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), a member of the Appropriations Committee.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record two articles dealing with the administration's illegal use of taking fees to keep our parks and refuges open. [From the Hill, Jan. 6, 2019] House Panel To `Demand Answers' on Interior's Move To Use Visitor Fees To Keep Parks Open (By Miranda Green and Timothy Cama) The House Natural Resources Committee intends to investigate the Trump administration's decision to dip into visitor fees to keep parks open, the panel's chairman warned Sunday. Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) said that his committee--which oversees Interior--has plans to look into the legality of the decision, saying the shutdown has done ``terrible damage'' to the U.S. ``President Trump and his advisors apparently just woke up to the fact that the shutdown they created several weeks ago has done terrible damage to our country,'' Grijalva said in a statement Sunday. ``This is not how a rational president behaves, and the Natural Resources Committee will demand answers about whether these moves are legally justified.'' The National Park Service (NPS) announced to staff Sunday a plan to dip into ``entrance, camping, parking and other fees collected from park visitors'' to pay staff to assist in urgent maintenance needs at a number of national parks overburdened by visitors during the recent government shutdown. ``As the lapse in appropriations continues, it has become clear that highly visited parks with limited staff have urgent needs that cannot be addressed solely through the generosity of our partners,'' Daniel Smith, NPS deputy director, said in a statement obtained by The Hill. Smith said he and acting Interior Secretary David Bernhardt developed the plan to ``address the maintenance and sanitation issues that have arisen at a number of highly visited parks.'' ``We are taking this extraordinary step to ensure that parks are protected, and that visitors can continue to access parks with limited basic services,'' the statement read. Bernhardt signed a memorandum Saturday to use the fees known as Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act money, The Washington Post reported. Jonathan Jarvis, who led the Park Service under President Obama from 2009 to 2017, slammed the strategy as a ``significant departure'' from how the agency has historically used the money parks. ``Since [the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act's] original passage, it's always been interpreted by the Park Service as not available for operations,'' said Jarvis, who worked in the agency for more than three decades, including as director of the Pacific West region. ``This is a significant departure. It wasn't even a consideration during the 16-day shutdown when I was director,'' he said, referring to the 2013 shutdown. ``That's eating your seed corn.'' Jarvis worried that using the fee money in this way would take it away from park maintenance, which has a backlog nearing $12 billion across the country. Jarvis had officials close parks entirely during the 2013 shutdown, despite criticisms from Republicans and others. He's been highly critical of the Trump administration's strategy to keep them open with little to no staff. ``It sends a particular message that they don't really care about the resource, and probably increasingly, they don't seem to care about the visitor either,'' he said. ``They only seem to care about the bad press that they're getting.'' The gates to most U.S. national parks were left open under the most recent shutdown, which has extended since Dec. 22. While visitors have been able to access parks, many services including bathrooms and trash pick-up was suspended as government employees were kept home. That's created a number of headaches across the country at highly visited parks where trash is piling up, bathrooms are at capacity and visitors aren't being watched by experts. At least one park, Joshua Tree National Park in California, was shuttered due to ``health and safety concerns.'' While in the past access to national parks has been restricted during a shutdown due to safety concerns, former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke made keeping parks up a priority during his tenure. During the last shutdown last January, Zinke told reporters the parks shouldn't be used as a bargaining chip in shutdown negotiations. ``Our public lands and our monuments really belong to the people and not the government,'' he told CNN. He said however, ``by law'' Interior wasn't allowed to provide clean up services to parks. ``Law enforcement is still there. But things like cleaning the bathrooms . . . and telling the story of our parks, which is important--that side of it, while the `Schumer shutdown' is in, by law we're not able to provide those services,'' Zinke said, mentioning the GOP label for the shutdown at the time. In an interview earlier this week Zinke told The Associated Press that the public should ``Pitch in, grab a trash bag and take some trash out.'' Zinke's last day at Interior was Jan. 2. He resigned from the agency in December amid multiple ethics investigations. However, Interior's plan to dip from the fee pot was laid out clearly in its 2019 shutdown contingency plan, which read: ``Parks that collect fees under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) will utilize available retained recreation fees balances to provide basic visitor services in a manner that maintains restrooms and sanitation, trash collection, road maintenance, campground operations, law enforcement and emergency operations, and staffing entrance gates as necessary to provide critical safety information.'' Spokesmen for Interior and NPS did not return requests for comment. Critics are questioning the legality of Interior's decision to use the park fees, money that is assigned by Congress to pay for other federal expenses, including the department's multibillion-dollar maintenance backlog. Theresa Pierno, president of the National Parks Conservation Association, called NPS's action the equivalent of stealing. ``Instead of working to reopen the federal government, the administration is robbing money collected from entrance fees to operate our national parks during this shutdown,'' she said in a statement. ``It's incredibly concerning that the Acting Interior Secretary is putting political pressure on Superintendents to keep parks open at the expense of parks' long-term needs and protection.'' Out of the 418 park units across the country, 165 collect fees, and they took in $285.2 million in fiscal year 2017, according to a report last year by the Congressional Research Service. Usually, at least 80 percent of that revenue has to stay with the park that took it in, and the rest can go to other parks. At least one group, the National Park Hospitality Association, applauded the agency's fee strategy. The organization represents companies that operate businesses in parks, like gift shops, restaurants and lodging. ``NPHA has actively supported visitor fee retention by federal recreation providers and use of collected funds for visitor-related purposes,'' Scott Socha, the group's chairman and president for parks and resorts at Delware North Cos., said in a statement.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this motion to recommit.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, responsibility of funding the government is one of Congress' most important duties. Republicans failed to meet this obligation, and they have allowed President Trump to peddle chaos. The Trump shutdown is creating uncertainty for families, businesses, and communities. More than 800,000 employees are not getting paid today. For that, I am deeply heartsick. Vital services are being disrupted and small businesses are being forced to lay off employees. Democrats are ready to end the Trump shutdown. The Interior bill has already received bipartisan support from the Senate. After this House bill passes, Senate Republicans will have a choice: pass their own bill and end the shutdown, or reject it and keep the government closed. On Monday, the National Governors Association sent a letter asserting ``a Federal Government shutdown should not be a negotiating tactic.'' I agree with the Governors. I am sure that Federal employees whose paychecks are being withheld today feel the same way. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I also hail from one of the Great Lakes States. The funding in the Senate bill and the House bill for the Great Lakes was identical. So at least in this portion of the funding, it was equal for both the House and the Senate. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Huffman), who is a member of the House Natural Resources Committee.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Will the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) yield once more?

Ms. McCOLLUM. As you know, Mr. Chairman, I feel as strongly as you do about the health and protection of our public lands. In your view, as chairman of the committee that oversees the Interior Department, is the administration protecting the quality of our public lands during this shutdown?

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to say, once again, I am sorely disappointed that, before the end of December and before the new Congress came into being, some of the suggestions here were to move forward with conference committee reports, to bring them to the floor, to work with the President. Now that we have the new Congress sworn in, for the President to say: You get those conference committee reports going. We will do a continuing resolution to keep government open. We will negotiate the Homeland Security bill off to the side--but there is silence. There is no commitment. Quite frankly, I don't know if the President would change his mind again, if he did agree to that. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Kilmer), who is a member of the Appropriations Committee and serves on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I think the gentleman and I would both be concerned. I quote from one of President Trump's tweets: ``Billions of dollars are sent to the State of California for forest fires that, with proper forest management, would never happen. Unless they get their act together, which is unlikely, I have ordered FEMA to send no more money. It is a disgraceful situation in lives and money.'' Mr. Speaker, I would just like to note that the bill that we will pass today, hopefully shortly, will provide $1.76 million more than House Republicans passed last year for the Department of the Interior wildland fire management and $26 million more for the U.S. Forest Service for wildland fire management. Mr. Speaker, I think we should all grieve for loss of life and loss of property for those who have been impacted by our wildland fires. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva), the chair of the House Natural Resources Committee.