[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 125 (Friday, September 20, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H5773-H5788]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS RESOLUTION, 2014
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution
352, I call up the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 59) making continuing
appropriations for fiscal year 2014, and for other purposes, and ask
for its immediate consideration.
The Clerk read the title of the joint resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 352, the
amendment printed in House Report 113-216 is adopted and the joint
resolution, as amended, is considered read.
The text of the joint resolution, as amended, is as follows:
H.J. Res. 59
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, That the
following sums are hereby appropriated, out of any money in
the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, and out of
applicable corporate or other revenues, receipts, and funds,
for the several departments, agencies, corporations, and
other organizational units of Government for fiscal year
2014, and for other purposes, namely:
Sec. 101. (a) Such amounts as may be necessary, at a rate
for operations as provided in the applicable appropriations
Acts for fiscal year 2013 and under the authority and
conditions provided in such Acts, for continuing projects or
activities (including the costs of direct loans and loan
guarantees) that are not otherwise specifically provided for
in this joint resolution, that were conducted in fiscal year
2013, and for which appropriations, funds, or other authority
were made available in the following appropriations Acts:
(1) The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug
Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2013
(division A of Public Law 113-6).
(2) The Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act, 2013 (division B of Public Law 113-6).
(3) The Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2013
(division C of Public Law 113-6).
(4) The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act,
2013 (division D of Public Law 113-6).
(5) The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and
Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2013 (division E of
Public Law 113-6).
(6) The Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013
(division F of Public Law 113-6).
(b) The rate for operations provided by subsection (a) for
each account shall be calculated to reflect the full amount
of any reduction required in fiscal year 2013 pursuant to--
(1) any provision of division G of the Consolidated and
Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 (Public Law 113-
6), including section 3004; and
(2) the Presidential sequestration order dated March 1,
2013, except as attributable to budget authority made
available by--
(A) sections 140(b) or 141(b) of the Continuing
Appropriations Resolution, 2013 (Public Law 112-175); or
(B) the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013 (Public
Law 113-2).
Sec. 102. (a) No appropriation or funds made available or
authority granted pursuant to section 101 for the Department
of Defense shall be used for (1) the new production of items
not funded for production in fiscal year 2013 or prior years;
(2) the increase in production rates above those sustained
with fiscal year 2013 funds; or (3) the initiation,
resumption, or continuation of any project, activity,
operation, or organization (defined as any project,
subproject, activity, budget activity, program element, and
subprogram within a program element, and for any investment
items defined as a P-1 line item in a budget activity within
an appropriation account and an R-1 line item that includes a
program element and subprogram element within an
appropriation account) for which appropriations, funds, or
other authority were not available during fiscal year 2013.
(b) No appropriation or funds made available or authority
granted pursuant to section 101 for the Department of Defense
shall be used to initiate multi-year procurements utilizing
advance procurement funding for economic order quantity
procurement unless specifically appropriated later.
Sec. 103. Appropriations made by section 101 shall be
available to the extent and in the manner that would be
provided by the pertinent appropriations Act.
Sec. 104. Except as otherwise provided in section 102, no
appropriation or funds made available or authority granted
pursuant to section 101 shall be used to initiate or resume
any project or activity for which appropriations, funds, or
other authority were not available during fiscal year 2013.
Sec. 105. Appropriations made and authority granted
pursuant to this joint resolution shall cover all obligations
or expenditures incurred for any project or activity during
the period for which funds or authority for such project or
activity are available under this joint resolution.
Sec. 106. Unless otherwise provided for in this joint
resolution or in the applicable appropriations Act for fiscal
year 2014, appropriations and funds made available and
authority granted pursuant to this joint resolution shall be
available until whichever of the following first occurs: (1)
the enactment into law of an appropriation for any project or
activity provided for in this joint resolution; (2) the
enactment into law of the applicable appropriations Act for
fiscal year 2014 without any provision for such project or
activity; or (3) December 15, 2013.
Sec. 107. Expenditures made pursuant to this joint
resolution shall be charged to the applicable appropriation,
fund, or authorization whenever a bill in which such
applicable appropriation, fund, or authorization is contained
is enacted into law.
Sec. 108. Appropriations made and funds made available by
or authority granted pursuant to this joint resolution may be
used without regard to the time limitations for submission
and approval of apportionments set forth in section 1513 of
title 31, United States Code, but nothing in this joint
resolution may be construed to waive any other provision of
law governing the apportionment of funds.
Sec. 109. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
joint resolution, except section 106, for those programs that
would otherwise have high initial rates of operation or
complete distribution of appropriations at the beginning of
fiscal year 2014 because of distributions of funding to
States, foreign countries, grantees, or others, such high
initial rates of operation or complete distribution shall not
be made, and no grants shall be awarded for such programs
funded by this joint resolution that would impinge on final
funding prerogatives.
Sec. 110. This joint resolution shall be implemented so
that only the most limited funding action of that permitted
in the joint resolution shall be taken in order to provide
for continuation of projects and activities.
Sec. 111. (a) For entitlements and other mandatory payments
whose budget authority was provided in appropriations Acts
for
[[Page H5774]]
fiscal year 2013, and for activities under the Food and
Nutrition Act of 2008, activities shall be continued at the
rate to maintain program levels under current law, under the
authority and conditions provided in the applicable
appropriations Act for fiscal year 2013, to be continued
through the date specified in section 106(3).
(b) Notwithstanding section 106, obligations for mandatory
payments due on or about the first day of any month that
begins after October 2013 but not later than 30 days after
the date specified in section 106(3) may continue to be made,
and funds shall be available for such payments.
Sec. 112. Amounts made available under section 101 for
civilian personnel compensation and benefits in each
department and agency may be apportioned up to the rate for
operations necessary to avoid furloughs within such
department or agency, consistent with the applicable
appropriations Act for fiscal year 2013, except that such
authority provided under this section shall not be used until
after the department or agency has taken all necessary
actions to reduce or defer non-personnel-related
administrative expenses.
Sec. 113. Funds appropriated by this joint resolution may
be obligated and expended notwithstanding section 10 of
Public Law 91-672 (22 U.S.C. 2412), section 15 of the State
Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2680),
section 313 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act,
Fiscal Years 1994 and 1995 (22 U.S.C. 6212), and section
504(a)(1) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C.
3094(a)(1)).
Sec. 114. (a) Each amount incorporated by reference in this
joint resolution that was previously designated by the
Congress for Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on
Terrorism pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A) of the Balanced
Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 or as being
for disaster relief pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(D) of such
Act is designated by the Congress for Overseas Contingency
Operations/Global War on Terrorism pursuant to section
251(b)(2)(A) of such Act or as being for disaster relief
pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(D) of such Act, respectively.
(b) Of the amount made available by section 101 for
``Social Security Administration--Limitation on
Administrative Expenses'', $470,638,000 is additional new
budget authority specified for purposes of subsection
251(b)(2)(B) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit
Control Act of 1985.
(c) Section 5 of Public Law 113-6 shall apply to amounts
designated in subsection (a) for Overseas Contingency
Operations/Global War on Terrorism.
Sec. 115. Section 3003 of division G of Public Law 113-6
shall be applied to funds appropriated by this joint
resolution by substituting ``fiscal year 2014'' for ``fiscal
year 2013'' each place it appears.
Sec. 116. Section 408 of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C.
1736b) shall be applied by substituting the date specified in
section 106(3) of this joint resolution for ``December 31,
2012''.
Sec. 117. Amounts made available under section 101 for
``Department of Commerce--National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration--Procurement, Acquisition and Construction''
may be apportioned up to the rate for operations necessary to
maintain the planned launch schedules for the Joint Polar
Satellite System and the Geostationary Operational
Environmental Satellite system.
Sec. 118. The authority provided by section 1206 of the
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012
(Public Law 112-81) shall continue in effect, notwithstanding
subsection (h) of such section, through the earlier of the
date specified in section 106(3) of this joint resolution or
the date of the enactment of an Act authorizing
appropriations for fiscal year 2014 for military activities
of the Department of Defense.
Sec. 119. Section 14704 of title 40, United States Code,
shall be applied to amounts made available by this joint
resolution by substituting the date specified in section
106(3) of this joint resolution for ``October 1, 2012''.
Sec. 120. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
joint resolution, except section 106, the District of
Columbia may expend local funds under the heading ``District
of Columbia Funds'' for such programs and activities under
title IV of H.R. 2786 (113th Congress), as reported by the
Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives,
at the rate set forth under ``District of Columbia Funds--
Summary of Expenses'' as included in the Fiscal Year 2014
Budget Request Act of 2013 (D.C. Act 20-127), as modified as
of the date of the enactment of this joint resolution.
Sec. 121. Notwithstanding section 101, amounts are
provided for ``The Judiciary--Courts of Appeals, District
Courts, and Other Judicial Services--Defender Services'' at a
rate for operations of $1,012,000,000.
Sec. 122. For the period covered by this joint resolution,
section 550(b) of Public Law 109-295 (6 U.S.C. 121 note)
shall be applied by substituting the date specified in
section 106(3) of this joint resolution for ``October 4,
2013''.
Sec. 123. The authority provided by section 532 of Public
Law 109-295 shall continue in effect through the date
specified in section 106(3) of this joint resolution.
Sec. 124. The authority provided by section 831 of the
Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 391) shall continue
in effect through the date specified in section 106(3) of
this joint resolution.
Sec. 125. (a) Any amounts made available pursuant to
section 101 for ``Department of Homeland Security--U.S.
Customs and Border Protection--Salaries and Expenses'',
``Department of Homeland Security--U.S. Customs and Border
Protection--Border Security Fencing, Infrastructure, and
Technology'', and ``Department of Homeland Security--U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement--Salaries and Expenses''
shall be obligated at a rate for operations as necessary to
respectively--
(1) sustain the staffing levels of U.S. Customs and Border
Protection Officers, equivalent to the staffing levels
achieved on September 30, 2013, and comply with the last
proviso under the heading ``Department of Homeland Security--
U.S. Customs and Border Protection--Salaries and Expenses''
in division D of Public Law 113-6;
(2) sustain border security operations, including
sustaining the operation of Tethered Aerostat Radar Systems;
and
(3) sustain the staffing levels of U.S. Immigration and
Customs Enforcement agents, equivalent to the staffing levels
achieved on September 30, 2013, and comply with the sixth
proviso under the heading ``Department of Homeland Security--
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement--Salaries and
Expenses'' in division D of Public Law 113-6.
(b) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall notify the
Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives
and the Senate on each use of the authority provided in this
section.
Sec. 126. In addition to the amount otherwise provided by
section 101 for ``Department of the Interior--Department-wide
Programs--Wildland Fire Management'', there is appropriated
$36,000,000 for an additional amount for fiscal year 2014, to
remain available until expended, for urgent wildland fire
suppression activities: Provided, That of the funds provided,
$15,000,000 is for burned area rehabilitation: Provided
further, That such funds shall only become available if funds
previously provided for wildland fire suppression will be
exhausted imminently and the Secretary of the Interior
notifies the Committees on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives and the Senate in writing of the need for
these additional funds: Provided further, That such funds are
also available for transfer to other appropriations accounts
to repay amounts previously transferred for wildfire
suppression.
Sec. 127. In addition to the amount otherwise provided by
section 101 for ``Department of Agriculture--Forest Service--
Wildland Fire Management'', there is appropriated
$600,000,000 for an additional amount for fiscal year 2014,
to remain available until expended, for urgent wildland fire
suppression activities: Provided, That such funds shall only
become available if funds previously provided for wildland
fire suppression will be exhausted imminently and the
Secretary of Agriculture notifies the Committees on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate
in writing of the need for these additional funds: Provided
further, That such funds are also available for transfer to
other appropriations accounts to repay amounts previously
transferred for wildfire suppression.
Sec. 128. The authority provided by section 347 of the
Department of the Interior and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act, 1999 (as contained in section 101(e) of
division A of Public Law 105-277; 16 U.S.C. 2104 note) shall
continue in effect through the date specified in section
106(3) of this joint resolution.
Sec. 129. Activities authorized under part A of title IV
and section 1108(b) of the Social Security Act (except for
activities authorized in sections 403(b) and 413(h)) shall
continue through the date specified in section 106(3) of this
joint resolution in the manner authorized for fiscal year
2013, and out of any money in the Treasury of the United
States not otherwise appropriated, there are hereby
appropriated such sums as may be necessary for such purpose.
Sec. 130. Notwithstanding section 101, the matter under
the heading ``Department of Labor--Mine Safety and Health
Administration--Salaries and Expenses'' in division F of
Public Law 112-74 shall be applied to funds appropriated by
this joint resolution by substituting ``is authorized to
collect and retain up to $2,499,000'' for ``may retain up to
$1,499,000''.
Sec. 131. The first proviso under the heading ``Department
of Health and Human Services--Administration for Children and
Families--Low Income Home Energy Assistance'' in division F
of Public Law 112-74 shall be applied to amounts made
available by this joint resolution by substituting ``2014''
for ``2012''.
Sec. 132. Amounts provided by section 101 for ``Department
of Health and Human Services--Administration for Children and
Families--Refugee and Entrant Assistance'' may be obligated
up to a rate for operations necessary to maintain program
operations at the level provided in fiscal year 2013, as
necessary to accommodate increased demand.
Sec. 133. (a) During the period covered by this joint
resolution, any unobligated amounts available in the
``Nonrecurring expenses fund'' established in section 223 of
division G of Public Law 110-161 (42 U.S.C. 3514a) may be
transferred to ``Department of Health and Human Services--
Office of the Secretary--Public Health and Social Services
Emergency Fund'' for an additional amount for fiscal year
2014, to remain available until expended, for expenses
necessary--
(1) to support advanced research and development pursuant
to section 319L of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
247d-7e),
[[Page H5775]]
and other administrative expenses of the Biomedical Advanced
Research and Development Agency;
(2) for procuring security countermeasures (as defined in
section 319F-2(c)(1)(B) of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 247d-6b(c)(1)(B))); or
(3) to prepare for and respond to an influenza pandemic and
other emerging infectious diseases, including activities such
as the development and purchase of vaccine, antivirals,
necessary medical supplies, diagnostics, and other
surveillance tools.
(b) Products purchased with amounts made available by this
joint resolution for ``Department of Health and Human
Services--Office of the Secretary--Public Health and Social
Services Emergency Fund'' may, at the discretion of the
Secretary, be deposited in the Strategic National Stockpile
pursuant to section 319F-2 of the Public Health Service Act
(42 U.S.C. 247d-6b).
Sec. 134. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
joint resolution, there is appropriated for payment to Bonnie
Englebardt Lautenberg, widow of Frank R. Lautenberg, late a
Senator from New Jersey, $174,000.
Sec. 135. Notwithstanding section 101, amounts are
provided for ``Department of Veterans Affairs--Departmental
Administration--General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits
Administration'' at a rate for operations of $2,455,490,000.
Sec. 136. The authority provided by the penultimate
proviso under the heading ``Department of Housing and Urban
Development--Rental Assistance Demonstration'' in division C
of Public Law 112-55 shall continue in effect through the
date specified in section 106(3) of this joint resolution.
Sec. 137. (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, no Federal funds shall be made available to
carry out any provisions of the Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148) or title I and
subtitle B of title II of the Health Care and Education
Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-152), or of the
amendments made by either such Act.
(b) Limitation.--No entitlement to benefits under any
provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
(Public Law 111-148) or title I and subtitle B of title II of
the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010
(Public Law 111-152), or the amendments made by either such
Act, shall remain in effect on and after the date of the
enactment of this joint resolution, nor shall any payment be
awarded, owed, or made to any State, District, or territory
under any such provision.
(c) Unobligated Balances.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, all unobligated balances available under
the provisions of law referred to in subsection (a) are
hereby rescinded.
Sec. 138. (a) In General.--Until December 15, 2014, in the
event that the debt of the United States Government, as
defined in section 3101 of title 31, United States Code,
reaches the statutory limit, the Secretary of the Treasury
shall, in addition to any other authority provided by law,
issue obligations under chapter 31 of title 31, United States
Code, to pay with legal tender, and solely for the purpose of
paying, the principal and interest on obligations of the
United States described in subsection (b) after the date of
the enactment of this joint resolution.
(b) Obligations Described.--For purposes of this
subsection, obligations described in this subsection are
obligations which are--
(1) held by the public, or
(2) held by the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund
and Disability Insurance Trust Fund.
(c) Prohibition on Compensation for Members of Congress.--
None of the obligations issued under subsection (a) may be
used to pay compensation for Members of Congress.
(d) Obligations Exempt From Public Debt Limit.--Obligations
issued under subsection (a) shall not be taken into account
in applying the limitation in section 3101(b) of title 31,
United States Code, to the extent that such obligation would
otherwise cause the limitation in section 3101(b) of title
31, United States Code, to be exceeded.
(e) Report on Certain Actions.--
(1) In general.--If, after the date of the enactment of
this joint resolution, the Secretary of the Treasury
exercises his authority under subsection (a), the Secretary
shall thereafter submit a report each week the authority is
in use providing an accounting relating to--
(A) the principal on mature obligations and interest that
is due or accrued of the United States, and
(B) any obligations issued pursuant to subsection (a).
(2) Submission.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall
be submitted to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House
of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the
Senate.
This joint resolution may be cited as the ``Continuing
Appropriations Resolution, 2014''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers) and
the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey) each will control 30
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky.
General Leave
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend
their remarks and include extraneous material on the consideration of
H.J. Res. 59, and that I may include tabular material on the same.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Kentucky?
There was no objection.
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, I yield myself 5 minutes.
Madam Speaker, the continuing resolution that we bring up today will
keep the government operating into the next fiscal year. The base CR is
straightforward, it's clean, it's short-term, it continues reductions
in Federal discretionary spending. But most importantly, Madam Speaker,
it will prevent a government shutdown.
The legislation also includes an amendment to the base bill, which
adds the text of H.R. 2682, the Defund ObamaCare Act of 2013, and the
text of H.R. 807, the Full Faith and Credit Act.
H.J. Res. 59 will fund the government for the first 76 days of fiscal
year 2014, until December 15, 2013. It provides $986.3 billion in
funding, approximately the same rate as the current post-sequestration
level, with some minor adjustments.
The base bill is extremely clean. Additional provisions were only
added in a very limited number of cases where adjustments were needed
to prevent catastrophic shortfalls or unintended disruptions to
critical programs or services. It simply keeps the lights on in our
government to provide for the safety, security, and well-being of all
Americans.
I'd like to remind my colleagues, Madam Speaker, both in the House
and the other body, that a government shutdown is a political game in
which everyone loses. It shirks one of our most basic duties as Members
of Congress, and it puts our national security at stake.
To be clear, if this legislation is not enacted and we embark on a
government shutdown, the consequences are severe. Our brave men and
women in uniform don't get paid; our recovering economy will take a
huge hit; and our most vulnerable citizens, including the elderly and
the veterans who rely on critical government programs and services,
could be left high and dry.
A government shutdown, even the illusion of the threat of a shutdown,
says to the American people that this Congress does not have their best
interests at heart.
This continuing resolution keeps this Congress moving in the right
direction. It gives us time to solve the urgent fiscal issues facing
our Nation, finding a balanced and attainable plan that eliminates
sequestration, implements careful reforms for both discretionary and
mandatory spending, and keeps our economy growing.
It is my hope that the House will pass this bill today, and that the
Senate will act in short order so that this matter will be wrapped up
well before the deadline on the 30th.
So I urge my colleagues to do their jobs as Members of the House, and
to do what's best for this country, and vote ``yes'' on this bill
today.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I will oppose this continuing resolution. On September 10, Chairman
Rogers introduced the CR, and his statement noted, ``This bill is free
of controversial riders and does not seek to change existing Federal
policy.'' How things have changed.
Unfortunately, this new package will attach not one, but two
politically motivated, ill-conceived, doomed provisions. One directs
the President to pay certain debts but not others in case House
Republicans are determined to default on America's obligations. The
other would defund the Affordable Care Act.
Defunding the Affordable Care Act has far-reaching consequences for
all Americans. If the House CR is enacted, no funds could be used to
administer payments calculated on the basis of ACA provisions.
Patients, doctors, hospitals, medical suppliers, and other health
providers would all experience significant disruptions. Many of the
improvements to Medicare made by the ACA would also have to be
suspended, such as better coverage for preventive services, lower
[[Page H5776]]
costs for drug benefits, and stronger tools to combat health care
fraud.
Most importantly, undermining the implementation of the ACA only
gives our medical choices back to the insurance companies and keeps
health insurance costs much too high for too many families.
The House Republican default plan is flawed as well. The majority
proposes that if they force default on Federal debt, the U.S. should
prioritize payments to Treasury bondholders, of which 47 percent are
foreign owned.
So while we pay back China, the following Americans would be pushed
to the back of the line: 1.4 million Active Duty troops; 780,000 troops
in reserves; 3.4 million disabled veterans who served their country
with honor; 1.1 million doctors and others who provide health care to
seniors with Medicare; 32 million children in schools that need
payments to continue serving nutritious lunches; 44,000 National
Institutes of Health grantees conducting lifesaving medical research
and providing an estimated 500,000 jobs.
We, my colleagues, should be focused on jobs, putting people to work.
Instead, the Republicans want to play games of brinksmanship on the
budget and the debt limit, even though the foreseeable consequence will
be plummeting stock markets and businesses freezing their hiring.
The Republican budget plan itself shortchanges American jobs and
infrastructure, results in education and defense layoffs, closes Head
Start and after-school programs, and divests in health research; and
the sequester, CBO tells us, will cost the United States economy up to
1.6 million jobs over the next year.
I hope, at some point, we are able to agree on a bipartisan CR that
can be enacted. The one before us, unfortunately, is not it.
Unfortunately, we'll be back here again next week facing the same
crisis.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Frelinghuysen), the chairman of the
Energy and Water Subcommittee on Appropriations.
Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
I rise in support of the continuing resolution. I do so with no small
amount of frustration, since Ranking Member Kaptur and I worked hard on
our Energy and Water bill, putting months of work into it. It passed
the House and now is held up.
Ours was a tough, but a balanced, bill. We made some difficult
choices to get under the $960 billion cap set by this House, while
still funding our Nation's critical priorities, strong national
defense, the work of the Army Corps of Engineers, and, yes, the work of
the Department of Energy. And all that work will be thrown away unless
we deal with sequestration and get back to what we call regular order.
Coming up with an approach to manage, or perhaps best, eliminate
sequestration, is going to take some time. As those decisions are being
made, our Nation must be kept open for business, and the government
must provide critical services.
If the government shuts down, many of those services will not be
funded. Military personnel will not be paid, and their families will
suffer.
{time} 0930
This would be an unpardonable breach of trust to our men and women in
uniform.
Under the jurisdiction of our committee, the Energy and Water bill,
many Army Corps of Engineers activities would quickly grind to a halt.
That includes the dredging of waterways critical to American jobs and
businesses and work on flood control structures such as levees.
At our national laboratories, critical and time-sensitive work to
maintain the reliability of our nuclear weapons would also slow down.
That would be unconscionable. Our work overseas to ensure that nuclear
weapons materials are kept out of the hands of those who would do our
country harm would also be curtailed.
The continuing resolution before us is a limited, temporary measure
which includes no objectionable provisions and ensures the government
keeps its obligations to the American people. It deserves passage so
the Senate can quickly begin its consideration of the measure.
Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Levin), ranking member of the Ways and Means Committee.
(Mr. LEVIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. LEVIN. Madam Speaker, this bill defunds still more than the
Affordable Care Act. It undermines Medicare. It would end improvements
in new prescription drug benefits, increases costs for those with
Medicare Advantage, and hurts children covered by CHIP as well as the
disabled. But this measure has still more peril for our country.
We in the House are like two ships passing in the night. House
Republicans will pass this bill. It will sail off to the Senate, surely
to return after the Senate has stripped off the effort to defund the
Affordable Care Act. So then it will be squarely up to the Speaker of
this House. Will he act as the captain of the entire House of
Representatives or remain a captive of his right-wing Republican mates?
Will he, as he acts, worry mainly about the risk to his Speakership or
the risk to our entire Nation?
House Republicans, taking the ship over the cliff, will take the
Nation's economic well-being with it. This is the inevitable danger of
the course being chosen today by House Republicans. Only those blinded
by rigid ideology can fail to see it.
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Carter), chairman of the Homeland Security
Subcommittee on Appropriations.
Mr. CARTER. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Madam Speaker, for years, I have pushed for the return to regular
order. This short-term CR will allow us to do just that by giving us
time to finalize a broader budget deal, complete the fiscal year 2014
appropriations bills, and get our Nation's fiscal house in order by
getting the budget process back to regular order.
Our appropriations process matters. It matters for the oversight of
the sprawling Federal bureaucracy. It matters to control our
government's spending, and it is a basic duty of the Congress that is
explicitly spelled out in the United States Constitution.
This is necessary. A base CR prevents a disastrous government
shutdown that no one wants and that would especially harm our men and
women in uniform. I urge the Senate to pass this and the President to
sign it into law as soon as possible to avoid a devastating and
avoidable government shutdown.
Furthermore, this bill responds to the clear will of the American
people by defunding ObamaCare, a tremendously flawed law that is
casting havoc upon businesses and citizens alike and that must be
repealed.
Mr. Chairman, I thank you for the leadership you are giving us on
this bill, and I thank you for your commitment to regular order and to
ensuring that, in the next few weeks, we wrap up the FY14 process the
right way--by accomplishing all 12 of the appropriations bills.
I urge the Members to support this CR, and I look forward to its
quick passage by the Senate and signature by the President to keep the
government running and to avoid a needless shutdown.
Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Culberson), chairman of the Military
Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Appropriations.
Mr. CULBERSON. I thank the chairman.
Madam Speaker, today, the constitutional conservatives in the House
are keeping their word to our constituents and our Nation to stand true
to our principles to protect them from the most unpopular law ever
passed in the history of the country, ObamaCare, that intrudes on their
privacy. Our most sacred right as Americans is to be left alone.
We have also kept our word today in this continuing resolution to
ensure that our government continues to operate while we negotiate in
good faith with the President and with the Senate to find a way
forward.
[[Page H5777]]
Our short-term continuing resolution fully funds every aspect of the
government. In fact, it's important for people to remember that the
Senate has had the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill for
over 3 months, so they could have passed it a long time ago.
The Senate has had the Defense appropriations bill since late July.
So they could have passed that bill a long time ago, put it on the
President's desk, and we could have been sure that our military would
have been paid.
The Senate has had the Department of Homeland Security bill since
early June, and they've done nothing.
The Senate has had the Energy and Water bill since July 10 and have
done nothing.
So we have done our job. We in the House, the constitutional
conservative majority, have kept our word to our constituents and to
our Nation to do our job to fund the essential aspects of the
government and to ensure that we've done everything in our power to
protect our constituents from the most unpopular piece of legislation
ever passed in the history of the Congress, ObamaCare, by permanently
and totally defunding it while protecting the core functions of the
government.
It's essential that we pass this continuing resolution today from the
perspective of our veterans so we ensure we have the funding available
to handle the disability claims backlog, to ensure that we have the
resources necessary for the military to continue to build the
facilities they need around the world, and to ensure that our men and
women have everything they need to protect this great Nation and our
freedom in every corner of the planet.
I urge Members to join me in supporting this continuing resolution
and to keep our word to defund ObamaCare.
Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 5 minutes to
the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Visclosky), the outstanding ranking
member of the Defense Subcommittee on Appropriations.
Mr. VISCLOSKY. I appreciate the gentlewoman yielding.
Madam Speaker, at the beginning of my remarks, I want to acknowledge
that I have made a mistake and that I have been wrong for the nearly
three decades I have served in the United States Congress. I regret to
have to admit that. But this morning, in anticipation of today's
debate, I took a look at article I of the Constitution and realized in
article I, section 9, paragraph 7, I have been misreading it all of
these years as a member of the Appropriations Committee. The paragraph
reads: No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in consequence of
a continuing resolution.
The Constitution says nothing about appropriations, apparently.
Because since fiscal year 2007, this Chamber and the United States
Senate, the Congress collectively, should have enacted--made discrete
decisions, thought about legislation--84 appropriations bills. We have
individually enacted nine.
I am appalled that in late July, early August, the last couple of
weeks, every Member I have talked to in this Chamber on both sides of
the aisle, senior and new, have said, if we can only do a continuing
resolution, we can prevent the shutdown of the United States
Government.
Today, in the United States Congress, we consider it a success if all
we do is pass a continuing resolution to do what we did in fiscal year
2013, if we did what we did in fiscal year 2012, if we did what we did
in fiscal years 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, and 2007.
We are governing this country by looking backwards. We have a
responsibility to make decisions.
I want to remind my colleagues, just on the defense portion of this
bill, of some of the initiatives that will now not take place because
of the continuing resolution.
Under the leadership of Chairman Young and the members of that
subcommittee, one of our initiatives is to cut $153.5 million for
unjustified cost growth of the Joint Strike Fighter. One of the
initiatives we would like to enact into law but cannot under the
continuing resolution is for the EA-18G. We want to cut $131.4 million
for carryovers and cost growth.
What we would like to do, if we could legislate in this body, is to
trim $104 million for the F-18. Imagine cutting the defense budget by
$104 million in cost growth and for funding that is not needed in the
coming fiscal year.
We would like to reduce $99.9 million for the Next Generation Jammer.
Why? Because of poor program execution and contract delays.
Within the last couple of months, we had a failed ballistics missile
defense test. We would like to reduce that account and take the
initiative to cut it by $110 million.
But let's do a continuing resolution. Let's not make a decision about
how we fund the National Park Service.
What about the U.S. Copyright Office? For God's sake, what is there
to fight over in funding the U.S. Copyright Office?
What about the Bureau of Engraving and Printing? There must be some
catastrophic fight we're having because they're going to be under a
continuing resolution. Food safety administration, the National
Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
I am concerned and I want to make it clear that I profoundly
appreciate the leadership of Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Lowey
for trying to be responsible and get the job done. But if this
continuing resolution is passed as is, until December 15, I have a
profound fear that our colleagues will be so exhausted from lurching to
another crisis next month that we will do a CR for the rest of the
fiscal year and we will never go back to doing governance of this
country.
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Crenshaw), chairman of the Financial
Services Appropriations Subcommittee.
Mr. CRENSHAW. Thank you for yielding the time, Chairman Rogers, and
thank you for your leadership in this very difficult appropriations
process.
Madam Speaker, I think everybody agrees that the appropriations
process is one of the most important functions of this Congress, if not
the most important. While we would all like to be here having finished
all the appropriations bills, there just wasn't quite enough time.
{time} 0945
So all we're asking today is for the Members to adopt this continuing
resolution. It will continue funding the government for the next 3
months at the same level it was funded last year. That will give us the
time, as a body, to finish all the appropriations bills--some have
passed the subcommittee and the full committee; some have passed this
House.
I know that the subcommittee that I chair, Financial Services, we had
a number of hearings. Members worked hard to try to set priorities. It
passed the subcommittee, it passed the full committee, and is ready to
go before the House.
There are some very important things in that bill. I think we've all
heard the stories about the IRS and how they singled out individuals
and groups based on their political philosophy and then subjected them
to intimidation and bullying. We were all outraged. So in our bill, we
make a provision to say: We're going to hold you accountable, and we're
going to use the power of the purse and ask you to come clean. No more
of this. We actually condition some of the funding to the IRS as to
whether or not they will put in place the safeguards that have been
recommended to make sure they don't continue this kind of outrageous
behavior, and also make sure it doesn't happen again.
So I think that we should pass this continuing resolution, fund the
government for this short period of time, and put in place the spending
bills that set priorities and that make the tough choices that we have
to make in these difficult times.
So I urge all my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this continuing
resolution.
Mrs. LOWEY. I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Simpson), the chairman of the Interior
Subcommittee on Appropriations.
Mr. SIMPSON. I thank the chairman. I appreciate him yielding.
Madam Speaker, I have to tell you that I agree with the statement of
my good friend from Indiana (Mr. Visclosky). In fact, most people
sitting on the Floor are on the Appropriations Committee and agree with
him that we
[[Page H5778]]
need to get back to regular order. I can tell you that our chairman and
the ranking member have been trying to get us back to regular order
where we pass individual appropriations bills and get them done. So far
we haven't been able to do that, so it's necessary to do a short-term
CR.
I can tell you that we've heard over the last couple of days a lot of
talk about Republicans trying to shut down the government. That's the
last thing we want to do. If we wanted to do that, we wouldn't be doing
a short-term CR. The reason we're doing a short-term CR instead of a
long-term CR is because we need to allow the Appropriations Committee
to do their work--to finish their bills, to work with the Senate and
get conference reports done, and do our individual bills. And that's
what we're working on.
We can't fall into the abyss of a long-term CR. I will give you an
example. As many of you know, the West has been on fire this summer--in
fact, our chairman was out in Idaho reducing the number of fish in our
streams out there this summer. He saw the effects of the fires and what
it's having in Idaho and throughout the West. We were able to get into
this short-term CR 636 million additional dollars to fund the Forest
Service and the BLM in forest firefighting costs. If we do a long-term
CR, we lose that $636 million. If we do individual bills, we will be
able to keep it.
But we need to get to where we do individual appropriations bills so
that we can have our priorities met. Some people think doing a long-
term CR actually reduces spending. I will tell you that if you look at
where we were last year--with our bills that we almost got done and
then ended up with a long-term CR--the EPA is spending about $75
million more dollars this year than it would have under the bills that
we would have passed. So if you think that's the way to save money,
it's not. We need to do our job.
While I was talking about forest firefighting service, I have to tell
you, since I've got the floor for a minute, how proud I am of the work
that the Forest Service did, the contractors with the Forest Service,
with hotshot crews from across the country. I met with some of them
from Tennessee--I knew they were from Tennessee because they spoke
funny. But they did an amazing, amazing job. We ought to be proud of
the work they do, and we ought to make sure they have the resources to
fight these wildfires.
Let's pass this short-term CR, keep the government operating, and let
Appropriations finish their job.
Mrs. LOWEY. I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe).
Mr. POE of Texas. I thank the gentleman.
Madam Speaker, a single mother in Houston, Texas, wrote me this
letter:
The Affordable Care Act is affecting my family. I am a
single mother. I have raised five boys on my own. I currently
work two jobs to keep up with my monthly mortgage and utility
bills. This is because my primary employer would not hire me
to work more than 29 hours per week thanks to ObamaCare. Now
I have to work 7 days a week at two jobs to make ends meet.
While I am thankful I have these jobs, I am unable to
provide supervision and guidance I feel my son needs and
deserves to be successful. I had to make a tough decision
that I did not want to make. My son is now living with
relatives in another city. I am depressed that ObamaCare has
begun to tear my family apart and also has put an unhealthy
burden on me.
Madam Speaker, real person, real tragedy. It's time to free Americans
from the shackles of ObamaCare. Defund ObamaCare and tell the Senate to
do the same.
And that's just the way it is.
Mrs. LOWEY. I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentlelady from Texas (Ms. Granger), the chairman of the State, Foreign
Ops Subcommittee on Appropriations.
Ms. GRANGER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for allowing me to speak. Thank
you for the hard work you've put into the bills in our committee.
I rise in support of the continuing resolution to keep the Federal
Government operating through December 15. We hope this resolution will
give the Congress and the White House time to come together on a
comprehensive budget agreement.
I chair the State, Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee,
and funding the bill directly supports U.S. national security. The
world has never been a more dangerous place, and to cut back our
diplomatic activities at this time would be irresponsible.
Failure to get a CR enacted would impact key posts, including Israel,
Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iraq. This would mean
dramatically reduced influence in key regions like the Middle East and
Asia. Military assistance to our allies, such as Israel, could be
affected if payments are not made as planned, potentially jeopardizing
the readiness of our partners. This could also impact the U.S. jobs of
the men and women producing American-made equipment.
One year ago, terrorists attacked and killed Americans in Benghazi.
Failure to pass this CR could delay implementation of the Benghazi
Accountability Review Board recommendations and jeopardize the safety
of our diplomats who continue to serve abroad.
It's important that we pass this CR today and that the Senate
consider it as quickly as possible. It is a basic function and the
responsibility of Congress to keep the government open and working for
the people who elected us. This bill simply does that.
I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote ``yes.''
Mrs. LOWEY. I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf), the chairman of the Commerce,
Justice, Science Subcommittee on Appropriations.
Mr. WOLF. I want to thank Chairman Rogers for moving this bill. It is
very important.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.J. Res. 59,
providing continuing appropriations for the initial weeks of fiscal
year 2014 through December 15. This bill is needed to keep vital
government services and programs operating past the end of the current
fiscal year on September 30.
As the gentleman from Kentucky has stated, the Committee on
Appropriations has made significant progress in moving annual
appropriations bills. However, additional time is needed to allow for
the prompt completion of our fiscal year 2014 appropriations work.
This resolution continues funding for discretionary programs at the
current, post-sequestration level, including critical programs under
the jurisdiction of the CJS Subcommittee, such as the operation of the
Federal prison system. You can't shut down the Federal prison system.
The FBI counterterrorism activities, the FBI team that's working with
regard to Benghazi, as the former spokesman said, is also working on
counterterrorism.
The weather forecasts. We have seen major storms hit this Nation all
the way in the past year. To shut that down and the warnings and the
satellite programs that they depend on. And also for the continued
development of NASA space exploration programs.
Our Nation is in serious financial trouble, and it is well past the
time that we put everything--every, every thing on the table, including
entitlements, and agree on a long-term budget solution which includes
an end to sequestration.
Hopefully, the 76 days provided in the resolution by the chairman
will be enough time for an overall agreement to be reached, and also to
allow us to pass regular appropriations bills for FY14.
I urge my colleagues and all Members of the Congress to support this
CR, avoid a devastating government shutdown, and create a window of
time for the Congress to fulfill a basic Constitutional duty: the
appropriation of funds for government programs and services.
Mrs. LOWEY. I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Aderholt), the chairman of the Agriculture
Subcommittee on Appropriations.
Mr. ADERHOLT. Thank you, Chairman Rogers, for giving me the
opportunity to speak in support of H.J. Res. 59, which is the FY14
continuing resolution.
Of course I think it's very obvious by the comments that the
Republicans
[[Page H5779]]
have made on our side this morning that we do need to keep the
government open at its current sequestered funding level and continue
to provide the vital services that our constituents have grown to
expect from government, and certainly make sure that we don't have a
government shutdown.
As Chairman Rogers had mentioned, I chair the Appropriations
Subcommittee on Agriculture. Some may ask, why is it so important that
we keep the government open? Can't we just go with another year-long
CR?
I'd like to provide some reasons why the FY14 Ag Approps bill that
passed the committee provides great benefits to the taxpayer and why we
don't need to go to a year-long CR, and certainly why we don't need to
do a government shutdown.
In the Ag Appropriations bill, we direct the States to be in full
compliance with WIC and SNAP eligibility standards, and we increase
oversight of vendors to rein in the costs. We require the USDA to
report on strategies that are being implemented to help weed out fraud,
waste, and abuse in the SNAP program.
One thing that I hear a lot about is the new school meal regulation.
We want to provide more flexibility for local school districts as they
implement these new school regulations for meals for the students.
We require the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to develop cost-
benefit analysis of several Dodd-Frank provisions that are deemed to be
duplicative and also very costly.
We encourage the USDA to finalize an inspection rule that has proven
to decrease illness-causing pathogens in poultry operations at a
reduced Federal cost. I can tell you, representing a district that
grows a lot of poultry and produces a lot of poultry, that is very
important.
So, in closing, Madam Speaker, let me just say I fully support H.
Res. 59 and ask for my colleagues to do the same.
Mrs. LOWEY. I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from
California (Mr. Swalwell).
Mr. SWALWELL of California. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong
opposition to this radical, right-wing effort to walk our economy off
of a cliff and cause a government shutdown.
I invite my colleagues on the other side to wake up from this
radical, ideological wet dream and come back to reality.
It's time for us to come to the negotiating table. It's time for us
to talk about what we can do to avoid a government shutdown.
It takes health care coverage away from millions of people by
blocking funding for ObamaCare.
{time} 1000
This is the 42nd attempt to do so, and there is absolutely, as we all
know, zero chance of it happening. It makes sure that we pay China
first before we pay people in this country should the right wing
continue to demand defunding ObamaCare at all costs and force a first-
ever U.S. failure to pay its own bills.
We all know how this should end. There is a way to fund the
government which would pass this Chamber with votes from both sides of
the aisle. I can only hope that the Republican leadership will
eventually listen to the pleas from Americans in my district and in the
whole country and pursue this bipartisan effort.
Until then, I urge all Members to oppose this bill.
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the
gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Scalise).
Mr. SCALISE. I thank the chairman, the gentleman from Kentucky, for
yielding.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this bill to continue to fund
government while also defunding the President's health care law in
ensuring that this country does not default on its debts.
While some might criticize this effort, this is not a Republican
idea. Talk to union leaders. James Hoffa says that the President's
health care law is destroying the middle class family and the 40-hour
workweek. In fact, the President himself has acknowledged that the
Senate author of the bill calls this law a train wreck, and then the
President said that he wants to delay components of the law, but only
for the privileged class, only for those people that can get access to
the White House.
We are fighting to give that same relief to all American families.
This law is unworkable. It's killing jobs in America. It's causing
people to lose good health care that they have today.
In Louisiana alone, our families are facing over 50 percent increases
in their health care premiums because of this law that's devastating
our economy. It is not ready for prime time. The President has even
acknowledged it. He's signed seven bills to defund or repeal components
of the law himself.
It is time this House takes action and then the Senate does their job
and takes action as well.
Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished
gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer.)
Mr. BLUMENAUER. Madam Speaker, I appreciate the gentlewoman's
courtesy, as I appreciate, actually, the hard work of the
Appropriations Committee that has been placed in an impossible
situation.
We still have pending the T-HUD bill. If people were serious about
cutting government spending and enforcing the Republican budget, we
would be having appropriations bills on the floor, and we would be
dealing with them. We are not because the Appropriations Committee was
given an impossible challenge. They were given funding levels that the
House--the House--the House--will never approve, that Republicans in
the House will never approve.
We are sitting here with ObamaCare as sort of a side show. It is
going forward. Everybody in this Chamber knows that the President
wouldn't sign a repeal bill, which would not go through the Senate
anyway. That train has left the station.
I heard my friend from Indiana talk about real things. The
Appropriations Committee, if they were given real spending limits and
time on the floor and regular order--these are accomplished
distinguished people who care about the integrity of government--they
could work it out.
The quickest way to do it is if the Republican leadership would allow
a conference committee on the budget. This is what has handcuffed the
Appropriations Committee, they are operating under this unrealistic,
ideological document that won't pass the House. If the Republican
leadership would appoint conferees, we could work with the Senate that
has passed its budget and get down and work out something that is
agreeable. Then we won't have this fool's errand, we won't have the
hard work of the Appropriations Committee and their staff off into the
netherworld, and we could get down to cases.
It doesn't have to be this hard. Let regular order work; stop the
side show.
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Gardner).
Mr. GARDNER. Madam Speaker, I rise to engage the chairman of the
Appropriations Committee in a colloquy.
I would like to thank Chairman Rogers for his dedication and
willingness to work with all Members of the House of Representatives
when their States are impacted by natural disasters. You have been very
receptive, and I appreciate your efforts.
Right now, in Colorado, we are currently experiencing a major flood.
It has impacted 15 counties, crossing over approximately 2,000 square
miles. Certain areas received over 20 inches of rain, 19,000 homes have
been damaged or destroyed and the destroy count is now above 2,000
homes. Many areas are still in crisis; and because of the vast
devastation, the Federal Emergency Management Agency will be unable to
provide an accurate damage assessment for at least 30 days.
Additionally, the Colorado Department of Transportation estimates
that costs could exceed the $100 million cap which would exceed the
State event cap on the highway funds in the Disaster Relief Act.
The tragedy and devastation caused by this severe flood necessitates
a response from the Federal Government. I ask the chairman to consider
working with me and other members of the Colorado delegation to help
our State recover and rebuild from this tragedy.
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Will the gentleman yield?
Mr. GARDNER. I yield to the gentleman from Kentucky.
[[Page H5780]]
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. First, I want to thank the gentleman from
Colorado for all of his efforts to help Colorado through all of this
turmoil, a terrible disaster, and to recover from the flooding,
especially.
I am aware of the dire need to help Colorado and provide access to
emergency resources, including access to emergency transportation
dollars. I look forward to working with the gentleman to address this
important funding matter as quickly and expeditiously as possible.
I know I speak for all of the House when we say to the people of
Colorado that our hearts are with you and our prayers are with you, and
thank you for your great service.
Mr. GARDNER. I thank the chairman for your support.
Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), a distinguished member of the Appropriations
Committee.
Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this
cynical and misconceived funding bill, designed to push us into a
government shutdown.
Yesterday, we saw this majority on a party-line vote rob food from
the mouths of over 4 million low-income Americans, including children,
seniors, and veterans. This resolution before us would only further
punish American families and accelerate the majority's race to the
bottom.
In fact, the majority's leadership has been quite explicit about
their intentions. They want to lock in the cuts that we have seen to
education programs and health programs. They want to make those cuts
permanent. That's their opening position.
They have also been quite up front that the only way they would
mitigate against these cuts is in exchange for cuts to Social Security,
to Medicare, and to Medicaid. Even though these deep cuts are producing
harmful results all over the country, the majority wants to use them as
leverage for further negotiations. It is about ideology, and it is just
a game to them. People's lives don't seem to matter.
Let me remind this body what's happening all over America because of
the across-the-board cuts. More than 57,000 children are losing access
to early learning through Head Start. Over 1 million of our most
disadvantaged children at thousands of schools across America would
lose access to the support they need to provide the instruction that
they need.
Already overburdened State and local education agencies are being
forced to pick up a higher share of the cost for educating more than 6
million students with special needs. Over 30,000 kids are losing access
to childcare, putting their parents' jobs and their families' economic
security even more at risk.
Hundreds of thousands of unemployed adults, veterans, seniors, and
dislocated workers are losing access to job-training programs.
The biomedical research that saves lives in cancer, diabetes, autism,
that research is being curtailed. I'm a cancer survivor. Biomedical
research and the grace of God have allowed me to stand here today, but
they would cut off biomedical research. It is either going to be
delayed or lost. And the list goes on--food safety, law enforcement,
public health. We compromise our economy, the health and the well-being
of American families, and our very future as a Nation.
Instead of working to pass a compromised bill that addresses the
budget in a serious and in a responsible manner, they have used this
process to try, yet again, to derail the Affordable Care Act and deny
Americans affordable care for the 42nd time. These Members have health
insurance. Most Americans do not that they can afford.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the
gentlewoman.
Ms. DeLAURO. Members of Congress have health insurance. People in
this Nation can't afford health insurance, but they would cut it off.
They would make it impossible for people to get preventive care to keep
their kids up to age 26 on their own health insurance coverage and say
to the insurance companies, Go for it again. You can't deny people
health care coverage and talk about preexisting conditions.
Families all over America are struggling. This budget resolution is
designed to make it worse for them. This is not a game. We are talking
about people's lives. We have a moral responsibility. We are here to
represent the American people, not our own personal agenda, not our own
political agenda and our own ideology. We have to do better. We must
vote against this bill.
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mrs. LOWEY. May I ask how much time remains.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from New York has 11 minutes
remaining. The gentleman from Kentucky has 6 minutes remaining.
Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished
gentleman from Georgia, Mr. John Lewis.
Mr. LEWIS. Madam Speaker, I want to thank my friend and colleague for
yielding.
This is unbelievable. I cannot believe we are here again. With so
much to be done, so much good that we could do, this Republican
Congress wants to stop the country, to deny the people a chance to see
a doctor. How many times are we going to do this? What is next?
Medicare? Medicaid? Social Security? This is not right; it is not fair;
it is not just.
Madam Speaker, the voters have spoken; the Supreme Court has ruled.
The Affordable Care Act is the law of the land. It is constitutional,
it is compassionate, it is what is right, it is what is necessary.
So much progress has been made. Young people can stay insured under
their parents, more people will have coverage, coverage to help them
see a doctor when they need to, coverage that covers.
The American people are counting on us. We must fulfill our
constitutional responsibility to fund the Federal Government. We must
keep the promise of health care to the American people. We will not go
backwards. We have come too far and we cannot turn back.
Madam Speaker, health care is a right. It is not a privilege for the
wealthy. Every citizen of the United States should be able to see a
doctor when they need to. Every single one. This is a resolution that
would stop that. It is not the American way. It is not the America that
we believe in.
We should care for each other. We should look out for one another. We
are one family, one house--the American House--and we should not pull
the roof down on our heads to win political points.
Vote ``no'' on this backward deal. Vote for what is right, what is
fair and just.
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from
California (Ms. Pelosi), the distinguished leader.
{time} 1015
Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, I come to the floor in many ways: as a
mother, as a mother concerned about the children of America, as a
grandmother concerned about all of America's children, but as a mother
who steps into this Chamber to say, ``This place is a mess.''
Let's get our House in order. We are legislators. We have come here
to do a job for the American people, and that job means we have to make
the government run for the good of the people. We are not here to
expand government, but we're not here to eliminate government. If the
idea is to limit government, let's work together to do that; but what
is brought to the floor today is, without a doubt, a measure designed
to shut down government. It could have no other intent. Its purpose is
clear. If our colleagues on the Republican side deny that, then they
have no idea of the gravity of the situation or--to quote ``The Music
Man''--of the trouble that is contained in this resolution today.
It is a wolf in wolf's clothing. The underlying bill to shut down
government--the CR--is reason enough to object to it because that bill
will cost at least a million jobs in the course of the next year. It
will cost a million jobs. It will not only do that; it will cut our
investments in the future in education and in biomedical research.
The National Institutes of Health has the Biblical power to cure.
Where there
[[Page H5781]]
is scientific opportunity, we have a moral obligation to meet that
scientific opportunity with resources and to respect the talent, the
intellect--the God-given intellect--of the science to cure. And what do
we do in this bill? We say, ``No''--we cut that--doing serious damage
to science, to health and, not only that, to our competitiveness as a
Nation. It's a vote that guts those investments.
Not only that, if the underlying bill were not bad enough--if there
were not reason enough to say, ``No. Are you kidding? No''--then they
cloak it in wolf's clothing, and say, in their view, that they're going
to defund the Affordable Care Act. Do you know what that's about?
That's simply about putting their friends, the insurance companies,
back in charge of medical decisions for your families--but it goes
farther than that.
If that were not bad enough, it slashes the strongly bipartisan
Children's Health Insurance Program by 70 percent, effectively
eliminating an initiative that provides much-needed health care to
millions of low-income children. I will remind my colleagues that that
bill passed the United States Senate in a bipartisan way with a veto-
proof majority, but that's not good enough for you. You've got to slash
it by 70 percent to harm those children, once again, this week.
It wreaks havoc on the health care for our seniors by disrupting
provider payments for Medicare and Medicaid. Either you don't know what
you are doing or this is one of the most intentional acts of brutality
that you have cooked up--with stiff competition for that honor. It cuts
billions of dollars, again I say, from the National Institutes of
Health, delaying important research and denying medical breakthroughs
for future generations.
Democrats have a responsible proposal that balances, that reduces the
deficit under the leadership of Chris Van Hollen, our ranking member on
the Budget Committee. It reduces the deficit in a responsible way; it
ends the devastating across-the-board cuts of the sequester; and it
makes investments in the future and keeps government open, as opposed
to this bill--intended to shut government down. This keeps government
open and working for the American people.
I know my colleague Mr. Hoyer has been very vocal on this subject,
and he will quote some Republicans in what they have said about this,
so don't take it from us. Take it from you, Mr. Chairman, that this
bill does not enable us to do the work of government.
I urge a ``no'' vote on this continuing resolution. It is a terrible
proposition for our families and our communities and our country. It's
always, always time for us to work together to help ensure, not
endanger, the economic security and prosperity of the American people.
I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the
distinguished majority leader of the House, the gentleman from Virginia
(Mr. Cantor).
Mr. CANTOR. I want to thank the gentleman from Kentucky, the chairman
of the Appropriations Committee in the House, for his leadership in
bringing this bill forward.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this measure of
providing for the continuing resolution.
Today, millions of Americans across this country are struggling. They
are struggling to find good-paying jobs, and they are struggling to pay
their bills, and their frustration with government continues to grow.
These Americans--these hardworking, middle class Americans--are
counting on their elected Representatives to show leadership during
these hard times.
This continuing resolution will keep the government funded at its
current level without increasing spending on the discretionary level
while Congress finishes working on a real budget. Americans are tired
of seeing their government continue to spend more and more of their
hard-earned tax dollars, and for the first time since the Korean War,
it will be possible to have two consecutive years of discretionary
spending cuts.
This resolution will also protect the working middle class from the
devastating effects of ObamaCare. Each week, we hear stories about how
both major employers and small businesses are cutting back benefits and
cutting back hours. The President's health care law is turning our
full-time economy into a part-time economy. Even the heads of major
unions who were once so supportive of ObamaCare want to see this law
drastically changed to avoid further ``nightmare scenarios.''
Let's defund this law now and protect the American people from the
economic calamity that we know ObamaCare will create.
Americans back home are fighting for their families, and we in
Congress were sent to Washington by our constituents to fight for them.
They have put faith in their leaders to do what's right. For this
entire Congress, the House has led on restoring faith in our economy
and trust in our government. We should pass this continuing resolution
so the Senate can finally begin to do the same.
Again, I would like to thank the gentleman from Kentucky, the
chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Hal Rogers, for his work on
this measure, along with the help of the gentleman from Louisiana, the
Republican Study Committee chairman, Steve Scalise, for his hard work
on the issue, and I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished
whip, the gentleman from Maryland, Mr. Steny Hoyer.
Mr. HOYER. I thank the gentlelady for yielding.
Madam Speaker, today we are considering a measure to fund government
only if the Democratic Senate and Democratic President will agree to
dismantle the health care reform law that will help millions of
Americans access quality, affordable care.
That isn't going to happen, and it is a blatant act of hostage-
taking.
This Republican CR also lays the groundwork for a default on our
debt--an unthinkable act--by instituting a ``pay China first''
provision, and it fully embraces the dangerous and irrational policy of
sequester. This bill enshrines and confirms the descent into an
economy-destroying, national security-undermining, and ineffective
rendering of the government that our country and our people need.
The majority party, with its destructive obsession with the repeal of
the Affordable Care Act and its unrestrained hostility towards
government, has offered this bill notwithstanding Republicans' hollow
claims of the irrationality of the sequester policy their party adopts.
The majority does so notwithstanding their chairman's accurate
description of their policy of sequester as ``unrealistic and ill-
conceived''--his words, not mine--a policy which Chairman Rogers,
himself, says ``must be brought to an end.'' His words, not mine.
Chairman Rogers' vote today and the votes of his colleagues will, I
expect, do just the opposite. They will vote to continue a policy that
will inevitably lead to an American decline and retreat.
I will not be party to the disinvestment in America's greatness.
Today's bill undermines the education of our children, the security
of our seniors, the present and future health of our people, the
strength, training, and readiness of our Armed Forces, the growth of
our economy and the creation of jobs, the quality and viability of our
infrastructure, the health of our environment, the proper compensation
and respect for those who labor in the public sector, and most
certainly, the honoring of America's debts and obligations.
Today's bill undermines all of those priorities and more. I will not
support it, and I urge my colleagues to oppose it. It continues us on
the path so aptly described by Chairman Rogers--again, his words, not
mine--as ``this lurching path from fiscal crisis to fiscal crisis.''
I urge my colleagues, with wisdom and courage on your side of the
aisle, to oppose this bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mrs. LOWEY. I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.
Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, I am for a comprehensive, balanced, and
responsible policy that will put this Nation on a fiscally sustainable,
stable path. I have been and continue to be willing to work with all of
my colleagues to adopt such a bill. I take nothing off the table. I
believe it will take both reason and political courage to achieve such
an objective. Americans are hoping and, yes, praying that
[[Page H5782]]
we will have such wisdom and such courage.
I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill and to commit themselves to
adopting a bipartisan and effective alternative to this destructive and
irrational path.
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the
gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock).
Mr. McCLINTOCK. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Madam Speaker, the minority whip is dead wrong. This measure protects
the full faith and credit of the United States by assuring that our
sovereign debt will be paid in full and on time.
It is imperative that our creditors know that whatever battles rage
in Congress their loans to this government are absolutely secure. Our
ability to pay all of our bills depends on our credit, and this
resolution guarantees it. It also addresses two crucial fiscal
concerns.
I am getting frantic and heartbreaking calls from folks who have just
received staggering increases in their health premiums, who have been
notified their health plans are being dropped, or who are having their
work hours cut back as a result of ObamaCare. This stops that train
wreck.
Second, it's for limited duration. CRs abandon our fundamental
responsibility to superintend the Nation's finances. They should only
be used as stopgap measures, and this bill does that. This resolution
keeps the government open while meeting these vital tests.
Mrs. LOWEY. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr.
Moran).
Mr. MORAN. Madam Speaker, this vote is about more than these two
throwaway provisions, which we know are not going to be taken
seriously--and should not--by the Senate or by the country, but I am
going to oppose it for another reason: because I used to be very proud
of this institution.
I used to be able to go through my community--and many of those who
have served as long as I have know what it was like--and be proud to be
a Member of Congress, to know that we had improved the lives of our
constituents, that we had helped them build bridges and buildings and
roads, that we could walk through the NIH campus being proud of what we
had done for biomedical research, knowing we were improving lives in
curing illnesses.
We know what the government can do. This bill doesn't allow the
government to do what it can to improve the lives of our people. We
need to believe in this government again. We need to do what this
Congress was meant to do. We need to fund the government adequately to
be a first-class society with a first-class economy that can compete
and beat anyone. We can't do that on the cheap, and that's why we ought
to vote against this.
{time} 1030
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the
gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Nunnelee), a hardworking member of our
Appropriations Committee.
Mr. NUNNELEE. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the chairman for
yielding, but more importantly for his leadership.
The people sent me to Congress to help preserve liberty for future
generations by limiting government and growing the economy. There's not
a single law worse for individual liberty, for limited government, or
job creation than ObamaCare. We must get rid of ObamaCare and replace
it with a system that provides choice, lower costs, and puts patients
in charge of their health care decisions.
Today, we're standing up for our principles, our constituents, and
for Americans. We will pass this bill today out of the House, and I
encourage my conservative colleagues in the U.S. Senate to take up this
fight and stand with us to make sure we defund ObamaCare.
Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton).
Ms. NORTON. I thank my friend for yielding.
Madam Speaker, all of us are trying to keep the government open, yet
the Federal Government at the moment is engaged in contingency plans in
case of a shutdown, and so is the District of Columbia.
Because its budget is here, this local budget, this balanced $8
billion in local funds is right here because the Congress requires it
to come and hasn't freed the D.C. budget. It cost us 3,000 hours and
$131,000 in 2011 to prepare for a shutdown.
When speaker Newt Gingrich was the Speaker of the House, he worked
with me to keep the District of Columbia open even as the Federal
Government closed down, because one thing is clear: the only thing
worse than closing down the United States Government is closing down an
innocent bystander with not a dime in this fight, the capital city of
the United States.
Free the budget of the District of Columbia. Don't close down the
Nation's Capital.
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, might I inquire as to the time
remaining?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Kentucky has 3 minutes
remaining, and the gentlewoman from New York has 2\1/2\ minutes
remaining.
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the
gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Terry).
Mr. TERRY. Madam Speaker, the evidence is very clear that ObamaCare
is actually hurting people.
In the last week, I've heard from several constituents like Mike,
Jim, and Kathleen who told me that they recently received their notice
that they no longer have their insurance policy and must go into the
exchange. Upon exploring that, they found out their policy in the
exchange will cost anywhere from 50 percent to 100 percent more and
have higher deductibles and copays. They're not sure of what plan they
can go on. They're not sure of what the totality of the benefits and
costs will be. Kathleen is on a fixed income and is older. She may have
to have a policy with coverages that she doesn't want or need. I hear
heartbreaking stories like this from my constituents in the
metropolitan Omaha area. These are just three real-life examples of how
ObamaCare is truly hurting people and squeezing them.
I want the Senate to join us in acting on defunding ObamaCare. Let's
start over in a real bipartisan way and really help folks get the
health care they need.
Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
The people are counting on us to do our jobs, to work together, to
create jobs, to keep the government open and to keep the economy
running. This is not the time or the bill for relitigating health
reform or for holding up the administration's ability to protect the
full faith and credit of the United States of America.
With the great suffering in the wake of another natural disaster in
Colorado--my heart goes out to all those families who've lost lives,
who've lost loved ones, who've lost property--this is not the time, my
friend, to limit the ability of the United States of America to give
relief to those losing loved ones, homes, and livelihood.
Republicans refuse to work together with the Senate and the White
House to bring a constructive piece of legislation to this floor today.
Instead, we consider a bill we know is destined for failure in the
Senate and would be vetoed by the White House.
For months, the majority has failed to lead. They have refused to
appoint Members to work with the Senate on a top-line spending number.
They can't even pass their own spending bills in this Chamber. We
remember how the very important Transportation and HUD bill had to be
pulled off the bill because they couldn't find the votes. Today, they
risk halting government services, functions vital to the American
people and our economy, even when their own appropriations chairman, my
friend, Mr. Rogers, had said we should end the sequester, find a
balanced plan forward. Just days before the end of the fiscal year,
they're still playing political games.
I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill, support the responsible
replacement of the sequester with a balanced plan to create jobs and
keep our economy moving. I know we can do it, and I would be pleased to
be part of that partnership with the chair, Mr. Rogers.
I yield back the balance of my time.
[[Page H5783]]
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of
my time.
We are doing a CR, even though the Appropriations Committee on the
House side passed 11 of the 12 bills through the committee, four of
them across the floor of the House and the remaining ones waiting for
floor time as we've run out of time. Consequently, this continuing
resolution will continue the government past the September 30 end of
the fiscal year.
We were unable to pass the appropriations bill singly on the floor
because of lack of floor time, but also because the House and Senate
never agreed to an overall number to which we could mark. Consequently,
we were not able to bring those bills out because of that limitation.
With this CR until December 15, if we are given a number common with
the Senate to which we need to mark the individual 12 bills, we will do
so. This is a hardworking committee. We are pragmatists. We know that
we have to pass bills to fund the government, thus this bill.
If we were intending to close down the government and shut it down,
we wouldn't be here with this bill. We would just sit there. But this
is an effort by the majority party in the House to continue the
government and avoid a shutdown while we work out the differences on
these funding bills for fiscal year 2014.
Madam Speaker, this continuing resolution is straightforward, it's
clean, it's short term, it continues reductions in Federal
discretionary spending. I would point out we've actually cut
discretionary spending the last 2 years by $120 billion, the first time
that's occurred since World War II. We're trying to be responsible.
This bill is responsible, and I urge a ``yes'' vote.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GUTIERREZ. Madam Speaker, I plan to vote no on final passage of
H.J. Res. 59, the Continuing Appropriations Resolution.
Congress has a responsibility to the American people to pass a budget
that funds the government and reflects the priorities of the American
people. Instead of working with Democrats to end sequestration and pass
a budget that will create jobs, strengthen the middle class, and make
investments in housing, education and maintaining our critical
infrastructure, the Majority is willing to force a disastrous
government shutdown in order to try to defund the Affordable Care Act
for the 42nd time in the House of Representatives.
Instead of lurching from manufactured crisis to manufactured crisis,
I stand ready to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to
pass a clean Continuing Resolution, work on a balanced budget that
makes smart investments and responsible cuts, and pass comprehensive
immigration reform. That is what my constituents in the 4th
Congressional District of Illinois expect from us in Congress.
Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of this
continuing resolution, but I would much rather be rising today in
support of the Fiscal Year 2014 Defense Appropriations Bill.
Unfortunately, the Senate failed to do their job, and we're left again
with no option but to pass a CR.
However, as much as a CR is a painful and inefficient way to govern,
the threat of shutting down the government is far worse. Let me give
you some examples of impacts of a government shutdown on the Department
of Defense: all military personnel will continue to serve and accrue
pay, but will not actually be paid until appropriations are available;
most civilians, having recently been furloughed for six days, will be
furloughed again until appropriations are available; military medical
treatment facilities will scale back operations, impacting routine
medical and dental procedures; death benefits to families of military
members killed in the line of duty would be delayed; almost all weapon
and facility maintenance activities would stop; any new contracts,
including renewals, extensions, or exercising of options, may not be
executed; almost all travel or permanent change of station (PCS) moves
would be delayed or canceled; and almost all professional training and
educational activities would stop.
Those are just a few examples, but I think they point to how the
readiness and morale of our Armed Forces would suffer if we do not pass
this CR. The impact of a shutdown on the Department and the military
and civilian families--many of whom live paycheck to paycheck--is
simply catastrophic. Therefore, it is imperative we pass this bill, and
that the Senate act quickly to ensure appropriations are available on
October 1st.
But that is just the first step. This must be followed--and followed
quickly--by a comprehensive budget deal so we can conference and enact
true fiscal year 2014 appropriations bills. The Department, and more
specifically, the men and women serving this Nation, need and deserve
some fiscal certainty which will only come with a 2014 Defense
Appropriations Bill and a long-term comprehensive budget deal.
Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong
opposition to this poorly conceived, politically charged, and
economically disastrous Continuing Resolution before us.
With a few hours left for legislative work before the end of the
fiscal year, not one of the twelve funding bills required to keep the
government open has been enacted into law. In fact, a number of bills
have never even been brought before the Appropriations Committee for
debate. Even the initial short-term continuing resolution had to be
pulled from the floor because of Republican infighting.
My colleagues, the appropriations process--that hallmark of
Congress's constitutional authority and wellspring of our power to
conduct oversight and set national priorities--is on life support and
in danger of total collapse.
Unfortunately, this bill is yet another example of the complete
abdication of our Committee's constitutional responsibility, as we have
allowed fringe members of this body to craft a bill that stands no
chance of becoming law.
Let me repeat that in case there is any confusion--the bill before us
now has absolutely no chance of being enacted--zero.
Therefore, the only reasonable conclusion to draw is that the
Republican majority is intent on once again taking us to the brink of
shutdown--this time because of the zealot-like opposition in their
ranks to improving health care access for millions of Americans.
A government shutdown--which this bill invites--will hamper our
economic recovery, deny benefits to millions of Americans, and once
again compromise this institution and its core functions.
I urge my colleagues to reject this ideologically-driven CR.
Mr. LANGEVIN. Madam Speaker, I have come to the floor too often this
Congress to fight against legislation that harms the most vulnerable
members of our society and hinders access to health care for Americans
across the country. Rhode Islanders, the American people, and I have
seen enough. It is time for Republicans to stop perpetuating and
exploiting these self-imposed crises for political gain and join with
Democrats to find consensus on the budget, put people to work, grow our
economy and strengthen the middle class.
But instead of House and Senate Leaders working together to achieve a
balanced compromise, we will vote this afternoon on an untenable bill,
wasting yet another opportunity to address sequestration that even the
Republican Chairman of the Appropriations Committee has called
``unrealistic and ill-conceived.''
With this continuing resolution, Republicans are making a 42nd
attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which would not only prevent
millions of families from becoming insured, but would also gut the
well-established Children's Health Insurance Program that provides
coverage to over eight million moderate to low-income children.
In Rhode Island, we have finally started to recover from the Great
Recession. In April, we saw our unemployment rate drop below 9 percent
for the first time since 2009, yet only yesterday we learned it had
crept back up to 9.1 percent. Meanwhile, the Congressional Budget
Office estimates that the economic drag from the sequester will cost us
up to 1.6 million jobs by this time next year. Hardworking Rhode
Islanders are scrimping to get by as it is. We simply cannot afford
another hit to the economy. We have a responsibility as their
representatives to ensure that this downward trend in employment is not
only stopped in its tracks, but reversed.
Democrats have offered a responsible, balanced alternative to fund
the government and end the devastating, across-the-board cuts of the
sequester with a mix of spending cuts and revenue measures to reduce
the deficit in a responsible way. Regrettably, House Republicans have
refused seven Democratic requests to allow a vote on this proposal.
Every day, I hear stories from Rhode Islanders about the harmful
effects of sequestration on their lives and livelihoods. We seek public
office to represent the interests of our constituents, and to give a
voice to those who can't always speak for themselves. We must work
together to help grow the economy and provide for investments in
education, military readiness, research, public safety, infrastructure,
and the health of our country.
I urge my Republican colleagues to reject this highly damaging
funding bill and join Democrats in passing a budget that addresses
sequestration so we can alleviate the persistent a drag on our economic
recovery. We owe it to the hardworking families and business owners who
are looking to us for stability, certainty and opportunity.
Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I oppose defunding the
Affordable
[[Page H5784]]
Care Act. This is just another attempt by the majority to thwart a law,
one that was upheld by the Supreme Court, that they just don't like.
They didn't vote for it. There are a lot of laws I didn't vote for, but
I move on and help my constituents navigate the new system.
But, two weeks from the roll out of the health insurance
marketplaces, Republicans are focused on how to dismantle the law
instead of how to help their constituents access the help this law
provides.
Defunding the law doesn't make it go away, it just means the
government becomes less efficient.
People will be required to buy health insurance, but the marketplaces
won't be available to offer them the low-cost high quality options they
need.
Madam Speaker, we need to work together to improve this bill. But
holding the country and the federal government hostage in a half-baked
attempt to do something that hasn't worked for 41 consecutive attempts
is misguided.
Let's work to improve the bill and let's all go home and help our
constituents understand the complexities of the health insurance
marketplaces and assist them in purchasing the health insurance that
will improve their lives and increase their economic security.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.J.
Res. 59, which makes continuing appropriations for Fiscal Year 2014,
because it continues the devastating cuts to education set in motion by
the sequester and permanently defunds the Affordable Care Act (ACA),
legislation that will help save the lives of millions of Americans.
H.J. Res. 59 locks in the damaging sequester cuts through December 15
and even sets funding slightly below the current, post-
sequestration level.
It is long past time for Congress to reverse course from the
austerity approach that included slashing education across-the-board by
5 percent this year--the equivalent of cutting nearly all education
programs and Head Start by roughly $3 billion.
We need to end the sequester now by passing H.R. 900, the ``End
Sequestration Now Act,'' of which I am an original co-sponsor.
Madam Speaker, the level of cuts imposed by sequestration have
already taken federal funding back to pre-2004 levels while our
nation's schools are serving nearly 6 million more students since that
time.
Madam Speaker, to ensure equity for all students, Congress must
reverse this course.
To date, a disproportionate share of sequester cuts have impacted
higher-poverty communities and therefore, students most in need--57,00
children have already lost critical seats in Head Start classes,
schools served by Impact Aid have already seen drastic reductions in
funding, and additional harmful impacts are beginning to be felt in
classrooms as the school year begins.
Many of these school districts and their students rely heavily on
federal resources for education funding; some even up to 5 percent of
their total revenue.
Madam Speaker, Americans have suffered long enough from the adverse
impact of sequestration that House Republicans seek to continue with
resolution. The damage has been great and continues to get worse with
each passing day the Republicans refuse to work across the aisle to
reach agreement on a budget plan that is balanced and sensible.
Consider the damage inflicted or to be inflicted on the American
people by sequestration:
Education
Teachers and staff for the 23 million students in high-poverty
schools would be reduced by up to 47,000.
Education services for 6 million students with disabilities would be
curtailed.
National and Local Security
Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program would be
eliminated, resulting in 1,400 fewer police officers on the street.
Our national security is being weakened as Army training rotations
are being canceled; earlier this year nearly one-third of Air Force
squadrons were grounded; and maintenance on equipment and facilities is
being deferred.
More than 600,000 civilian Defense employees (85 percent) were
furloughed this summer for more than one week, meaning a pay cut of
more than $1 billion.
$37 billion in cuts to defense this fiscal year is harming economic
growth and our military readiness.
Health
Cutting $1.5 billion from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
means less research into preventing, treating, and curing diseases that
affect millions of Americans, like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
A $285 million cut for the Centers for Disease Control is limiting
their ability to detect and combat disease outbreaks like pandemic
influenza; plan for public health emergencies; and facilitate
immunizations that keep you and your family healthy.
Cutting NIH by $6.7 billion will hold back life-saving research.
Seniors
More than 5 million fewer meals are available for low-income seniors
through Meals on Wheels and related programs.
Infrastructure and Job-Creating Investments
Community Development Block Grants to ensure decent affordable
housing, provide services to the most vulnerable, and create jobs by
expanding and retaining businesses cut to lowest level in its history.
Clean energy and efficiency research are cut by nearly one-half and
breakthrough cutting edge advanced energy research cut 81 percent from
2013 enacted level.
Major job-creating investments in highways, transit, railways,
bridges and ports through the TIGER program would be eliminated, while
putting modernization of the air traffic control system at risk.
EPA cut by more than \1/3\ and grants to local communities for clean
water and drinking water slashed.
It is time for Congress to reject a continuation of these draconian
cuts and replace the sequester with a balanced package that demands
additional revenue, including closing corporate tax loopholes.
Instead of continuing sequestration levels of funding, and trying for
the 42nd time to defund, delay, or impede the implementation of the
Affordable Care Act, we need to work together to develop a balanced and
responsible plan that makes the necessary investments that will
generate economic growth and create jobs that will enable Americans to
live a middle class life.
We should reject this resolution and adopt the substitute resolution
offered by my colleague, Congressman Van Hollen, the Ranking Member of
the Budget Committee.
The Van Hollen alternative is vastly superior to the resolution
before us because it eliminates the sequester's immediate, excessive,
and irresponsible cuts to vital investments and replaces these with a
roughly 50/50 combination of targeted spending cuts and limits on tax
breaks to reduce the deficit in a balanced way.
Moreover, the proposal achieves over $75 billion more in deficit
reduction than the sequester would have achieved by doing the
following:
Targeted spending cuts--refocuses farm subsidies and makes targeted
reductions to out-year defense spending consistent with both the
President's budget request and the House Democratic budget.
Additional deficit reduction--reduces deficits by over $75 billion
more than the sequester amount.
I urge all members of the House to join me in voting to reject this
irresponsible resolution that will not create jobs, places our economic
recovery at risk, threatens the health security of millions of
Americans, and jeopardizes the creditworthiness of our nation.
[From the Houston Chronicle, Feb. 25, 2013]
Sequestration Budget Cuts Would Be Across-the-Board in Houston, County
(By Mike Tolson)
Like a hurricane churning across the Gulf of Mexico, the
looming federal sequestration threatens everything in its
path. If the deep and automatic federal budget cuts actually
take place starting Friday, there will be damage somewhere,
perhaps a lot of somewheres.
In Houston and elsewhere, airport lines could grow and
flights canceled. Passport lines may stretch even longer out
the door. Criminal investigations could move at a slower
pace. And federal housing vouchers might not be issued,
leaving low-income residents and their landlords in a
frightening limbo.
The broad cuts designed under the umbrella of sequestration
were intended by Congress and President Barack Obama to
create such a severe alternative to bipartisan compromise
that it would force lawmakers to come up with a better budget
solution. So far, no such luck.
``We all agree that we need to cut unnecessary waste in the
federal budget and streamline operations, but sequestration
isn't the way to manage government spending,'' said Houston
Congressman Gene Green, a Democrat. ``It's like taking a
hatchet to surgery instead of a scalpel. I'm hoping
leadership resolves their differences before the eleventh
hour.''
Ted Cruz, the freshman GOP senator from Texas, said in
Houston last week that he saw little hope that a deal would
be reached.
``There is a very substantial likelihood that the sequester
will go into effect,'' said Cruz, who blamed Obama's
unwillingness to embrace other cuts. ``I am hopeful that if
it does . . . it will result in some compromises.''
A statement from the White House Sunday said: ``The
President is willing to compromise, but on behalf of the
middle class he cannot accept a deal that undercuts their
economic security.''
Obama has a plan to reduce the deficit by more than $4
trillion.
Because the cuts are across-the-board, there is little
order or sense to what will be affected. Most agencies and
programs would see cuts in the range of 8 to 10 percent,
[[Page H5785]]
though some things are exempted, such as food stamps, college
loan grants and the school lunch program.
`Devastating blow'
Experts say the effect will be gradual in many cases. A
quick political resolution would see minimal disruption.
Should the impasse continue, the cuts will be seen and felt
in scores of different places, from neighborhood Head Start
programs to the world-renowned Texas Medical Center, where
$652 million of federal National Institutes of Health grant
money comes in every year for medical research.
``We don't know how it's going to play out, but it could be
a devastating blow,'' said Dr. Robert Robbins, president and
CEO of the Texas Medical Center Corporation. ``We are talking
hundreds of grants a year. We are very concerned about this,
needless to say.''
Johnson Space Center already has suffered cutbacks from the
end of the space shuttle program and a hiatus in human
spaceflight. Now it could see an estimated 5,600 jobs
affected, with other space centers across the nation facing a
similar scenario.
``These damaging cuts would slash roughly 5 percent from
the agency's current annual budget during the remaining seven
months of the 2013 fiscal year, a loss of about $726 million
from the president's budget request,'' NASA said in a
statement.
In some instances, the effect of sequestration cuts could
be noticed right away. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray
LaHood warned that air travelers will encounter longer lines,
canceled flights and shuttered airports in some cases, if
Congress fails to act before the deadline. In preparing to
reduce its expenditures by $600 million, LaHood said he will
begin to furlough 47,000 employees for approximately one day
per pay period through September.
A report prepared by the Texas House in January found:
--Texas would be one of the most severely affected by job
losses, standing to lose almost 99,000 defense jobs and
60,500 non-defense jobs, putting the state third behind
California and Virginia with the top job losses per state.
--The Texas Education Agency's estimated reduction of
$517.6 million is the most significant agency cut. The
Houston Independent School District has estimated a possible
loss of $12 million, much of it aimed at low-income students.
--The University of Texas system predicts that cuts to
research could total from $114 million to $123 million
annually across all institutions.
--Texas Department of Transportation stands to lose up to
$50 million of the $3 billion it normally receives, based on
estimates. Road building and transit projects eventually will
face money woes, but sequestration's effects won't be
immediate, and the agency is awaiting clarity from federal
officials before making any changes to upcoming projects.
Major transit projects, meanwhile, are unlikely to suffer at
all.
Defense cuts were ``especially concerning'' to the House
committee that looked at the impact. Texas is home to 15
active-duty military installations. Sequestration cuts would
affect not just active duty military but also civilian
employees and thousands of contractors and suppliers in the
state as well as the Texas National Guard.
Eviction threat
Texas cities, likewise, face daunting cutbacks in numerous
areas. More than 900 families in the Houston Housing
Authority's rental voucher program, for example, could be at
risk of eviction if the cuts come down, said CEO Tory
Gunsolley, who noted that the city covers 70 percent or more
of their rent. Also slashed would be funding for homeless
families, emergency shelters and housing for those with AIDS.
``At this point you're cutting into bone,'' Gunsolley said.
Counties, too, will face tough decisions. Nonprofit and
community groups rely on Harris County's Community Services
Department for program funding, which is awarded in October.
Each funding letter reminds the recipient that if HUD funding
is cut, their funding will drop, too, said director David
Turkel.
Some possible cuts in Texas
According to White House estimates released Sunday, the
sequestration could include these cuts this year in Texas:
$274.8 million: in military pay to 52,000 civilian
Department of Defense employees who would be furloughed
$51 million: for about 620 teachers, aides and staff who
help children with disabilities
$8.5 million: for clean water and air quality efforts, as
well as pollution prevention from pesticides and hazardous
waste
$6.8 million: to help prevent and treat substance abuse,
resulting in around 2,800 fewer admissions to substance abuse
programs
$3.6 million: for meals for senior citizens
$2.3 million: for job search assistance, referral and
placement for 83,750 unemployed residents
$2.2 million: in grants for fish and wildlife protection
$1.1 million: in grants that support law enforcement,
prosecution and courts, crime prevention, corrections, drug
treatment and enforcement, and crime victim and witness
initiatives
Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, on September 20, 2013, I was hosting
President Obama and Ford Motor Company President Allan Mulally in
Missouri's 5th Congressional District, which I have the honor of
representing in Congress. We were at the world-class Ford Claycomo
Plant where the proud members of UAW #249 produce the top-selling F-150
Ford pick-up truck.
Had I been present and voting on H.J. Res. 59, Continuing
Appropriations Resolution, 2014, I would have voted no because this
bill will cause irreparable harm to hard-working Americans and our
national economy. We in Congress owe our constituents better and I
remain committed to working across the aisle to forge a bipartisan
consensus.
Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to this
continuing resolution, which is part of a reckless plan from our
Republican colleagues to shut down the United States government unless
we shut down the Affordable Care Act, a law that is already providing
protections to children in this country with pre-existing conditions
and seniors on Medicare with high drug costs.
Moreover, as the Republican majority plans to potentially shut down
the government, they refuse to take action on the sequester, which is
causing real harm to our economy. The independent, nonpartisan
Congressional Budget Office (CBO) says that at this time next year we
could have up to 1.6 million fewer jobs in this country as a result of
the sequester. We could see economic growth cut in half.
The Democrats have a proposal to replace the sequester with targeted
cuts over a period of time to big tax breaks like oil and gas
subsidies. This is a plan that would achieve even more deficit
reduction without the job-killing, meat-ax cuts to the programs that
grow our economy.
Our country needs practical solutions, not self-inflicted economic
wounds. I urge my colleagues to oppose this damaging continuing
resolution and bring up my legislation to replace the sequester and
avoid a government shutdown.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. All time for debate has expired.
Pursuant to House Resolution 352, the previous question is ordered on
the joint resolution, as amended.
The question is on the engrossment and third reading of the joint
resolution.
The joint resolution was ordered to be engrossed and read a third
time, and was read the third time.
Motion to Recommit
Mr. ENYART. Madam Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is the gentleman opposed to the joint
resolution?
Mr. ENYART. Madam Speaker, I am opposed.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the motion to
recommit.
The Clerk read as follows:
Mr. Enyart moves to recommit the joint resolution H.J. Res.
59 to the Committee on Appropriations with instructions to
report the same back to the House forthwith with the
following amendment:
At the end of the joint resolution (before the short
title), insert the following:
full-year funding for accounts to process social security, medicare,
and veterans benefits
Sec. 137. Notwithstanding section 106, appropriations and
funds made available and authority granted pursuant to this
joint resolution for the following accounts shall remain
available until September 30, 2014:
(1) ``Social Security Administration--Limitation on
Administrative Expenses''.
(2) ``Department of Health and Human Services--Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services--Program Management''.
(3) ``Department of Veterans Affairs--Departmental
Administration--General Operating Expenses, Veterans Benefits
Administration''.
prohibition on cuts or modifications to social security and medicare
Sec. 138. None of the funds made available by this joint
resolution may be used to develop or implement a system
that--
(1) reduces old-age, survivors, or disability insurance
benefits under title II of the Social Security Act, or
privatizes the Social Security program that provides such
benefits; or
(2) reduces benefits under the Medicare program under title
XVIII of the Social Security Act, eliminates guaranteed
health insurance benefits available to seniors or individuals
with disabilities under such program, or establishes a
Medicare voucher plan that provides limited payments to
Medicare beneficiaries in order to purchase health care in
the private sector.
full-year funding for military personnel accounts
Sec. 139. Notwithstanding section 106, appropriations and
funds made available and authority granted pursuant to this
joint resolution for the following accounts of the Department
of Defense shall remain available until September 30, 2014:
(1) ``Military Personnel, Army''.
(2) ``Military Personnel, Navy''.
[[Page H5786]]
(3) ``Military Personnel, Marine Corps''.
(4) ``Military Personnel, Air Force''.
(5) ``Reserve Personnel, Army''.
(6) ``Reserve Personnel, Navy''.
(7) ``Reserve Personnel, Marine Corps''.
(8) ``Reserve Personnel, Air Force''.
(9) ``National Guard Personnel, Army''.
(10) ``National Guard Personnel, Air Force''.
increased funding for essential air service program with offset
Sec. 140. The rate for operations otherwise provided by
section 101 for ``Department of Transportation--Office of the
Secretary--Payments to Air Carriers'' is hereby increased,
and the rate otherwise provided by such section for
``Department of Transportation--Office of the Secretary--
Transportation Planning, Research, and Development'' is
hereby reduced, by $2,700,000.
Mr. ENYART (during the reading). Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous
consent that we dispense with the reading.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, I reserve a point of order.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. A point of order is reserved.
Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Illinois is recognized for 5
minutes in support of his motion.
Mr. ENYART. Madam Speaker, this is the final amendment to the bill,
which will not kill the bill nor send it back to committee if adopted.
If adopted, the bill will immediately proceed to final passage as
amended.
Madam Speaker, we are 9 short days from the end of the fiscal year
and 3 weeks from when we, as a Nation, can no longer pay our bills.
In 2011, congressional leaders changed the rules for the first time
ever by debating whether the United States should voluntarily refuse to
pay its bills. Congress ultimately raised the debt limit, but this
partisan brinksmanship led to business uncertainty, a drop in consumer
confidence, and the first ever downgrade of our Nation's AAA credit
rating. Most importantly, it cost job growth.
I cannot believe that the full faith and credit of the United States
would be threatened by this House. I cannot fathom how we can choose
not to pay the bills we've already incurred.
As we stand here today, we're hurdling toward a government shutdown
and once again facing default. I'm offering this amendment because the
last thing we should be doing is threatening seniors with losing their
Social Security and Medicare. Our troops, protecting us both
domestically and overseas, shouldn't have to worry about whether
they'll be paid. With this amendment, Social Security checks will be
processed and mailed on time; Medicare and veterans benefits will not
be cut nor delayed; our service men and women, serving around the
world, will receive the pay they have earned. This amendment prohibits
Social Security from being privatized and Medicare from being turned
into a voucher program.
Madam Speaker, I represent 136,263 Social Security recipients and a
thousand more veterans in southern Illinois. These are real people, not
statistics. They're not only the retired; they are the disabled,
widows, spouses, and children who look to us for leadership and depend
upon us to do the right thing.
Madam Speaker, our Nation is at a crossroads. This body was sent here
by our constituents to govern. Instead, a determined few have turned
the House of Representatives away from solving problems and are
creating problems. We need to turn to the most important work of our
great Nation today: creating jobs for those who want to work but can't
find employment.
{time} 1045
I hope my colleagues across the aisle will signal to the American
people that they are ready to get about the serious business of
governing. Join me to protect our seniors, our veterans, and our brave
servicemen and -women. We cannot do less.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, I withdraw my reservation on
the point of order, and I rise in opposition to the motion.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The reservation is withdrawn.
The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. This continuing resolution we spent the last
hour debating is absolutely necessary to keep the lights on in our
government. A shutdown is not what our businesses need, not what our
troops need, not what our people need, and not what our country needs.
The CR is straightforward. It's short term. It gives us the time we
need to sort out our fiscal differences with the other body. By funding
the government until December 15, Congress and the President will have
time to construct a budgetary path forward that deals with the most
pressing fiscal issues we face, raising the debt ceiling and
constructing one common discretionary number while we find true
savings, especially through entitlement reform.
Now this motion to recommit picks out a few programs and would fund
them for the entire next year, not the next 90 days, not until December
15. This motion would pick out a few programs to continue funding for
the rest of the year. Well, that's not the issue. It misses the point.
The issue is whether we can get agreement on an overall discretionary
number and replace sequester for all programs, not just a few. To get
the additional time to negotiate, we've got to pass this CR now.
The motion also addresses the importance of Social Security and
Medicare. There's nothing in this CR that does anything but preserve
these programs and protect the benefit payments for each and every
recipient.
For better or worse, Madam Speaker, we have spending levels in place
that are enforced by sequestration. Should my Democrat colleagues wish
to do away with those limits, I would respectfully invite them to vote
against this motion to recommit so we can keep the government open and
negotiate a full debt package between the House, the Senate, and the
President.
This bill is about keeping the government open, preventing a
shutdown, and providing the important services that only the Federal
Government can deliver for our people. The gentleman's motion is
tantamount to shutting down the government because it will never allow
for passage of the one thing critical to the functioning of government,
which is the continuing resolution before us. So I urge my colleagues
to vote against the motion and for final passage of the CR.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the previous question is
ordered on the motion to recommit.
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion to recommit.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that
the noes appeared to have it.
Mr. ENYART. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XX, the Chair
will reduce to 5 minutes the minimum time for any electronic vote on
the question of passage of the joint resolution.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 190,
nays 228, not voting 14, as follows:
[Roll No. 477]
YEAS--190
Andrews
Barber
Barrow (GA)
Beatty
Becerra
Bera (CA)
Bishop (GA)
Bishop (NY)
Blumenauer
Bonamici
Brady (PA)
Braley (IA)
Brown (FL)
Brownley (CA)
Bustos
Butterfield
Capps
Capuano
Cardenas
Carney
Carson (IN)
Cartwright
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Chu
Cicilline
Clarke
Clay
Clyburn
Cohen
Connolly
Conyers
Cooper
Costa
Courtney
Crowley
Cuellar
Cummings
Davis (CA)
Davis, Danny
DeFazio
DeGette
Delaney
DeLauro
DelBene
Deutch
Dingell
Doggett
Doyle
Duckworth
Edwards
Ellison
Engel
Enyart
Eshoo
Esty
Foster
Frankel (FL)
Fudge
Gabbard
Gallego
Garamendi
Garcia
Grayson
Green, Al
Green, Gene
Grijalva
Hahn
Hanabusa
Hastings (FL)
Heck (WA)
Higgins
Himes
Hinojosa
Holt
Honda
Horsford
Hoyer
Huffman
Israel
Jackson Lee
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Johnson, E. B.
Jones
Kaptur
Keating
Kelly (IL)
Kennedy
Kildee
Kilmer
Kind
Kirkpatrick
Kuster
Langevin
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Lee (CA)
Levin
Lewis
Lipinski
Loebsack
Lofgren
Lowenthal
Lowey
Lujan Grisham (NM)
Lujan, Ben Ray (NM)
Lynch
Maffei
Maloney, Carolyn
Maloney, Sean
Matheson
Matsui
McCollum
McDermott
McGovern
McIntyre
McNerney
Meeks
Meng
[[Page H5787]]
Michaud
Miller, George
Moore
Moran
Murphy (FL)
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Negrete McLeod
Nolan
O'Rourke
Owens
Pallone
Pascrell
Pastor (AZ)
Payne
Pelosi
Perlmutter
Peters (CA)
Peters (MI)
Peterson
Pingree (ME)
Pocan
Price (NC)
Quigley
Rahall
Rangel
Richmond
Roybal-Allard
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Ryan (OH)
Sanchez, Linda T.
Sanchez, Loretta
Sarbanes
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schneider
Schrader
Schwartz
Scott (VA)
Scott, David
Serrano
Shea-Porter
Sherman
Sinema
Sires
Slaughter
Smith (WA)
Speier
Swalwell (CA)
Takano
Thompson (CA)
Tierney
Titus
Tonko
Tsongas
Van Hollen
Vargas
Veasey
Vela
Velazquez
Visclosky
Walz
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watt
Waxman
Welch
Yarmuth
NAYS--228
Aderholt
Alexander
Amash
Amodei
Bachmann
Bachus
Barletta
Barr
Barton
Benishek
Bentivolio
Bilirakis
Bishop (UT)
Black
Blackburn
Boustany
Brady (TX)
Bridenstine
Brooks (AL)
Brooks (IN)
Broun (GA)
Buchanan
Bucshon
Burgess
Calvert
Camp
Campbell
Cantor
Capito
Carter
Cassidy
Chabot
Chaffetz
Coble
Coffman
Cole
Collins (GA)
Collins (NY)
Conaway
Cook
Cotton
Cramer
Crawford
Crenshaw
Culberson
Daines
Davis, Rodney
Denham
Dent
DeSantis
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Duffy
Duncan (SC)
Duncan (TN)
Ellmers
Farenthold
Fincher
Fitzpatrick
Fleischmann
Fleming
Flores
Forbes
Fortenberry
Foxx
Franks (AZ)
Frelinghuysen
Gardner
Garrett
Gerlach
Gibbs
Gibson
Gingrey (GA)
Gohmert
Goodlatte
Gosar
Gowdy
Granger
Graves (GA)
Graves (MO)
Griffin (AR)
Griffith (VA)
Grimm
Guthrie
Hall
Harper
Harris
Hartzler
Hastings (WA)
Heck (NV)
Hensarling
Holding
Hudson
Huelskamp
Huizenga (MI)
Hultgren
Hunter
Hurt
Issa
Jenkins
Johnson (OH)
Johnson, Sam
Jordan
Joyce
Kelly (PA)
King (IA)
King (NY)
Kingston
Kinzinger (IL)
Kline
Labrador
LaMalfa
Lamborn
Lance
Lankford
Latham
Latta
LoBiondo
Long
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Lummis
Marchant
Marino
Massie
McCarthy (CA)
McCaul
McClintock
McHenry
McKeon
McKinley
McMorris Rodgers
Meadows
Meehan
Messer
Mica
Miller (FL)
Miller (MI)
Miller, Gary
Mullin
Mulvaney
Neugebauer
Noem
Nugent
Nunes
Nunnelee
Olson
Palazzo
Paulsen
Pearce
Perry
Petri
Pittenger
Pitts
Poe (TX)
Pompeo
Posey
Price (GA)
Radel
Reed
Reichert
Renacci
Ribble
Rice (SC)
Rigell
Roby
Roe (TN)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rogers (MI)
Rohrabacher
Rokita
Rooney
Ros-Lehtinen
Roskam
Ross
Rothfus
Royce
Runyan
Ryan (WI)
Salmon
Sanford
Scalise
Schock
Schweikert
Scott, Austin
Sensenbrenner
Sessions
Shimkus
Shuster
Simpson
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (TX)
Southerland
Stewart
Stivers
Stockman
Stutzman
Terry
Thompson (PA)
Thornberry
Tiberi
Tipton
Turner
Upton
Valadao
Wagner
Walberg
Walden
Walorski
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Wenstrup
Westmoreland
Whitfield
Williams
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Wolf
Womack
Woodall
Yoder
Yoho
Young (AK)
Young (FL)
Young (IN)
NOT VOTING--14
Bass
Cleaver
Farr
Fattah
Gutierrez
Hanna
Herrera Beutler
McCarthy (NY)
Murphy (PA)
Polis
Rush
Sewell (AL)
Thompson (MS)
Wilson (FL)
{time} 1112
Messrs. TURNER and LABRADOR changed their vote from ``yea'' to
``nay.''
Ms. CLARKE and Messrs. NEAL, VELA, TIERNEY, CLYBURN, HOLT, and
HUFFMAN changed their vote from ``nay'' to ``yea.''
Mr. HALL changed his vote from ``present'' to ``no.''
So the motion to recommit was rejected.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the joint resolution.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that
the ayes appeared to have it.
Recorded Vote
Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. This is a 5-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 230,
noes 189, not voting 13, as follows:
[Roll No. 478]
AYES--230
Aderholt
Alexander
Amash
Amodei
Bachmann
Bachus
Barletta
Barr
Barton
Benishek
Bentivolio
Bilirakis
Bishop (UT)
Black
Blackburn
Boustany
Brady (TX)
Bridenstine
Brooks (AL)
Brooks (IN)
Broun (GA)
Buchanan
Bucshon
Burgess
Calvert
Camp
Campbell
Cantor
Capito
Carter
Cassidy
Chabot
Chaffetz
Coble
Coffman
Cole
Collins (GA)
Collins (NY)
Conaway
Cook
Cotton
Cramer
Crawford
Crenshaw
Culberson
Daines
Davis, Rodney
Denham
Dent
DeSantis
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Duffy
Duncan (SC)
Duncan (TN)
Ellmers
Farenthold
Fincher
Fitzpatrick
Fleischmann
Fleming
Flores
Forbes
Fortenberry
Foxx
Franks (AZ)
Frelinghuysen
Gardner
Garrett
Gerlach
Gibbs
Gibson
Gingrey (GA)
Gohmert
Goodlatte
Gosar
Gowdy
Granger
Graves (GA)
Graves (MO)
Griffin (AR)
Griffith (VA)
Grimm
Guthrie
Hall
Harper
Harris
Hartzler
Hastings (WA)
Heck (NV)
Hensarling
Holding
Hudson
Huelskamp
Huizenga (MI)
Hultgren
Hunter
Hurt
Issa
Jenkins
Johnson (OH)
Johnson, Sam
Jones
Jordan
Joyce
Kelly (PA)
King (IA)
King (NY)
Kingston
Kinzinger (IL)
Kline
Labrador
LaMalfa
Lamborn
Lance
Lankford
Latham
Latta
LoBiondo
Long
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Lummis
Marchant
Marino
Massie
Matheson
McCarthy (CA)
McCaul
McClintock
McHenry
McIntyre
McKeon
McKinley
McMorris Rodgers
Meadows
Meehan
Messer
Mica
Miller (FL)
Miller (MI)
Miller, Gary
Mullin
Mulvaney
Neugebauer
Noem
Nugent
Nunes
Nunnelee
Olson
Palazzo
Paulsen
Pearce
Perry
Petri
Pittenger
Pitts
Poe (TX)
Pompeo
Posey
Price (GA)
Radel
Reed
Reichert
Renacci
Ribble
Rice (SC)
Roby
Roe (TN)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rogers (MI)
Rohrabacher
Rokita
Rooney
Ros-Lehtinen
Roskam
Ross
Rothfus
Royce
Runyan
Ryan (WI)
Salmon
Sanford
Scalise
Schock
Schweikert
Scott, Austin
Sensenbrenner
Sessions
Shimkus
Shuster
Simpson
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (TX)
Southerland
Stewart
Stivers
Stockman
Stutzman
Terry
Thompson (PA)
Thornberry
Tiberi
Tipton
Turner
Upton
Valadao
Wagner
Walberg
Walden
Walorski
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Wenstrup
Westmoreland
Whitfield
Williams
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Wolf
Womack
Woodall
Yoder
Yoho
Young (AK)
Young (FL)
Young (IN)
NOES--189
Andrews
Barber
Barrow (GA)
Bass
Beatty
Becerra
Bera (CA)
Bishop (GA)
Bishop (NY)
Blumenauer
Bonamici
Brady (PA)
Braley (IA)
Brown (FL)
Brownley (CA)
Bustos
Butterfield
Capps
Capuano
Cardenas
Carney
Cartwright
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Chu
Cicilline
Clarke
Clay
Clyburn
Cohen
Connolly
Conyers
Cooper
Costa
Courtney
Crowley
Cuellar
Cummings
Davis (CA)
Davis, Danny
DeFazio
DeGette
DeLauro
DelBene
Deutch
Dingell
Doggett
Doyle
Duckworth
Edwards
Ellison
Engel
Enyart
Eshoo
Esty
Foster
Frankel (FL)
Fudge
Gabbard
Gallego
Garamendi
Garcia
Grayson
Green, Al
Green, Gene
Grijalva
Hahn
Hanabusa
Hastings (FL)
Heck (WA)
Higgins
Himes
Hinojosa
Holt
Honda
Horsford
Hoyer
Huffman
Israel
Jackson Lee
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Johnson, E. B.
Kaptur
Keating
Kelly (IL)
Kennedy
Kildee
Kilmer
Kind
Kirkpatrick
Kuster
Langevin
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Lee (CA)
Levin
Lewis
Lipinski
Loebsack
Lofgren
Lowenthal
Lowey
Lujan Grisham (NM)
Lujan, Ben Ray (NM)
Lynch
Maffei
Maloney, Carolyn
Maloney, Sean
Matsui
McCollum
McDermott
McGovern
McNerney
Meeks
Meng
Michaud
Miller, George
Moore
Moran
Murphy (FL)
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Negrete McLeod
Nolan
O'Rourke
Owens
Pallone
Pascrell
Pastor (AZ)
Payne
Pelosi
Perlmutter
Peters (CA)
Peters (MI)
Peterson
Pingree (ME)
Pocan
Price (NC)
Quigley
Rahall
Rangel
Richmond
Rigell
Roybal-Allard
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Ryan (OH)
Sanchez, Linda T.
Sanchez, Loretta
Sarbanes
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schneider
Schrader
Schwartz
Scott (VA)
Scott, David
Serrano
Sewell (AL)
Shea-Porter
Sherman
Sinema
Sires
Slaughter
Smith (WA)
Speier
Swalwell (CA)
Takano
Thompson (CA)
Tierney
Titus
Tonko
Tsongas
Van Hollen
Vargas
Veasey
Vela
Velazquez
Visclosky
Walz
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watt
Waxman
Welch
Wilson (FL)
Yarmuth
[[Page H5788]]
NOT VOTING--13
Carson (IN)
Cleaver
Delaney
Farr
Fattah
Gutierrez
Hanna
Herrera Beutler
McCarthy (NY)
Murphy (PA)
Polis
Rush
Thompson (MS)
{time} 1119
So the joint resolution was passed.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Stated against:
Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 478, I was
detained with constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted
``no'' against funding the Affordable Care Act.
____________________