[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 29, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E140-E141]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RULE GOVERNING DEBATE ON H.R. 3547 ``OMNIBUS APPROPRIATIONS ACT FOR FY 
                                 2014''

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 29, 2014

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak on the rule and the 
underlying bill, H.R. 3547, the bipartisan ``Omnibus Appropriations Act 
for Fiscal Year 2014.''
  I want to thank Chairman Rodgers and Ranking Member Lowey for their 
constructive work in fashioning this bipartisan and bicameral 
legislation to fund the government for the remainder of Fiscal Year 
2014.
  The bill before us is not perfect--far from it--but it is a modest 
and positive step toward preventing Republicans from shutting down the 
government again and manufacturing crises that only harm our economy, 
destroy jobs, and weaken our middle class.
  As with any compromise there are some things in the agreement that I 
support and some things that I do not.
  The bill abides by all the terms set by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 
2013 (the ``Ryan-Murray Agreement''), providing a total of $1.012 
trillion for the operation of the federal government, a substantial and 
necessary increase over the inadequate $968 billion spending limit 
contained in the House budget resolution which led to the shutdown of 
the federal government last October.
  The bill contains all 12 regular appropriations bills for fiscal year 
2014, with no area of the government functioning under a Continuing 
Resolution, thus allowing every program to be considered on its own 
merits and prioritized, rather than be subject to arbitrary across the 
board cuts.
  The bill also provides increased funding for several programs that I 
strongly support. Let me list just a few of the more important ones.
  Agriculture and Related Agencies:
  $6.7 billion for Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, 
Infants, and Children (WIC), sufficient to meet expected need in 2014.
  Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies:
  $17.65 billion for NASA, which is $154.8 million more than the 2013 
enacted level.
  $376 million for Byrne-JAG grants, which is $8.3 million less than 
the 2013 enacted level and $11 million more than the post-sequester 
level.
  $214 million for the COPS program, which is $4 million less than the 
2013 enacted level and $4 million more than the post-sequester level.
  $417 million for Violence Against Women Prevention and Prosecution 
Programs, which is $9.1 more than the 2013 enacted level.
  The bill rejects House proposals to prohibit the Department of 
Justice from using funds to challenge state immigration laws; and 
prohibit grants from being awarded to ``sanctuary'' cities.
  Defense:
  Multiple provisions focused on eliminating sexual assault in the 
Department of Defense and supporting victims, including: (1) Fully 
funds request of $156.5 million for Sexual Assault and Prevention 
Office (SAPRO) services; (2) $25 million above request to implement a 
Sexual Assault Special Victims Program; (3) Prohibition on obligation 
of funds contravening more severe penalties for perpetrators 
established in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
  Fully funds Peer Reviewed Medical Research Programs and includes $125 
million above the request for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and 
Psychological Health research and $4 million above the request for 
alcohol and substance abuse research.
  The final agreement repeals last year's cut to cost of living 
adjustments for disabled military retirees and survivors.
  Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies:
  $1.912 billion for Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, which is 
$102 million more than the 2013 enacted level.
  $5.467 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers, which is $495 million 
more than the 2013 enacted level (excluding emergency funding for 
Hurricane Sandy relief).
  $1.11 billion for water resources projects within the Department of 
Interior, which is $46 million more than the 2013 enacted level.
  The agreement eliminates the majority of riders proposed in the House 
bill, including those related to Waters of the United States, guns on 
Corps lands, Clean Water Act agriculture exemptions and ceiling fan 
standards.
  Financial Services and General Government:
  $673.3 million for the District of Columbia, which is roughly equal 
to the 2013 enacted level.
  Homeland Security:
  $10.6 billion for Customs and Border Protection, $220.4 million more 
than the 2013 enacted level.
  $4.93 billion for the Transportation Security Administration, which 
is $225.8 million less than the 2013 enacted level.
  $923.8 million for Cybersecurity and Communications, an increase of 
$27.5 million above the 2013 enacted level.
  $4.35 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, $3.8 
million above the 2013 enacted level.
  $1.5 billion for State and Local Grants, an increase of $35.4 million 
above the 2013 enacted level; and
  $680 million for Firefighter Grants, an increase of $5.7 million 
above the 2013 enacted level.
  Controversial House riders related to abortion services and 
immigration enforcement are not included in the bill.
  Among the contentious riders dropped was a provision to prohibit ICE 
from adhering to enforcement guidance, including a June 15, 2012, memo 
prioritizing enforcement actions against dangerous criminals ahead of 
DREAM Act children.
  Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies:
  $3.938 billion for wildland fire, which is $417 million more than the 
2013 enacted level.
  $4.4 billion for the Indian Health Service, which is $78 million more 
than the 2013 enacted level.
  A total of $2.35 billion for the Clean Water and Safe Drinking Water 
Funds, which is only $4.7 million less than 2013 enacted levels but 
$119 million more than the post-sequester level.
  $2.6 billion for the National Park Service, which is $29 million more 
than the 2013 enacted level.
  $146 million each for the National Endowment for the Arts and the 
National Endowment for the Humanities, which is equal to their 2013 
enacted levels.
  Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies:
  $8.6 billion for Head Start, which is $612 million more than the 2013 
enacted level, sufficient to both fully restore the cuts to Head Start 
and to invest in the Administration's Early Head Start-Child Care 
Partnerships.
  $2.6 billion for job training through WIA Training and Employment 
Formula Grant program, which is $10 million less than the 2013 enacted 
level but $121 million more than the post-sequester level.
  $815 million for Seniors' Nutrition programs, which is equal to the 
2013 enacted level and $46 million more than the post-sequester level, 
allowing full restoration of meals.
  $2.36 billion for Child Care & Development Block Grants, which is $36 
million more than the 2013 enacted level.
  The agreement abandons the futile but wasteful effort by House 
Republicans to repeal the Affordable Care Act and provides the 
Department of HHS roughly the same amount as it had last year for 
implementation of the Affordable Care Act, and some additional funds 
will become available through existing fees on policies sold on the 
exchanges.
  Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies:
  $63.2 billion in discretionary funding for Veterans Affairs, which is 
$2.3 billion more than the 2013 enacted level.
  $585.6 million for prosthetic research, which is $3.5 million above 
the 2013 enacted level.
  The Omnibus provides new tools and resources to address the backlog 
of veterans disability claims by increasing personnel, enhancing 
training and quality oversight, and strengthening accountability.
  State, Foreign Operations, and Related Agencies:
  The final agreement does not include a policy rider codifying the 
`Global Gag Rule,' which prohibits non-governmental organizations 
(NGOs) receiving federal funds from providing women information about 
certain health services.
  I would have preferred that the bill provide more than $2.67 billion 
for Embassy Security, Construction and Maintenance, an amount that is 
$224 million less than the 2013 enacted level. Our diplomats who risk 
their lives serving in dangerous outposts around the world

[[Page E141]]

deserve all the resources required to keep them safe.
  Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related 
Agencies:
  $600 million for National Infrastructure Investments (TIGER), which 
is $100 million more than the 2013 enacted level.
  $17.4 billion for Section 8 Tenant Based Rental Assistance renewals, 
which is $123 million more than the 2013 enacted level.
  $9.6 billion for Section 8 Project Based Rental Assistance renewals, 
which is $596 million more than the 2013 enacted level.
  $1 billion for HOME Investment Partnerships, which is equal to the 
2013 enacted level.
  The bill does not include any funds for high-speed rail. I believe 
this decision is shortsighted and shortchanges our nation's future. 
Highspeed rail will save energy, create jobs, and increase our nation's 
global competitiveness.
  As I stated, this bill is not perfect. But on balance it is a 
significant improvement over the spending bills considered in the House 
last year and is worthy of our support.

                          ____________________