[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 185 (Friday, December 18, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1832]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND VETERANS AFFAIRS AND RELATED AGENCIES 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2016

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 17, 2015

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Omnibus 
Appropriations bill. While this is far from a perfect bill, I believe 
it represents the best way forward to keep the government open and 
advance many important priorities that help Maryland get ahead. I thank 
Ranking Members Mikulski and Lowey and the Democratic negotiators for 
their work to protect critical priorities.
  I was pleased to help lead efforts to lift sequester caps, which has 
allowed us to make needed investment to support jobs and the economy. 
The Purple Line, WMATA, and efforts to ensure a clean Chesapeake Bay 
are all supported. The National Institutes of Health will see its most 
significant funding boost in many years. Education programs like Head 
Start, Title I, and special education get added resources, and the 
maximum Pell grant will be increased. And I am pleased that funding for 
full consolidation of the FBI headquarters was included in the bill--
Team Maryland will keep fighting for it to be relocated to Prince 
George's County.
  Important tax provisions were included in the Omnibus. I strongly 
support extension of the renewable energy tax incentives that will 
create jobs and aid our transition to a clean energy economy. I am also 
pleased with the delay in the so-called Cadillac tax, which would 
otherwise erode health benefits for workers. The Omnibus also 
reauthorizes the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, 
finally fulfilling our promise to first responders.
  Democrats were also able to reject countless corrosive policy riders, 
including those that would defund Planned Parenthood, block refugees 
from Syria, pollute our air and water, and erode worker protections.
  However, some damaging riders remain. I strongly oppose lifting the 
oil export ban, a Christmas gift to Big Oil. If we are to reduce global 
carbon emissions, as world leaders pledged to do just last weekend, we 
must reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and keep more of them in the 
ground. Lifting the export ban would do the opposite. Moreover, there 
is no evidence that American consumers would see any benefit from this 
policy.
  The Omnibus also contains a rider to delay action at the IRS to 
clarify rules surrounding political activities by nonprofits. It delays 
efforts at the SEC to require corporate disclosure of political 
spending, a critical step to address the dark money that is influencing 
our elections.
  The bill continues the prohibition on gun violence research--known as 
the Dickey Amendment--that our nation's public health experts strongly 
oppose. We should be acting with urgency to confront this plague of 
violence in our nation, and that includes research into preventing 
injuries and death. Even former Congressman Jay Dickey, who authored 
the amendment, now opposes it, writing in the Washington Post that 
``The same evidence-based approach that is saving millions of lives 
from motor-vehicle crashes, as well as from smoking, cancer and HIV/
AIDS, can help reduce the toll of deaths and injuries from gun 
violence.''
  I am troubled by provisions of a cybersecurity authorization that 
were packaged into this bill and believe they deserve a fuller hearing 
than the few days we have had to review this measure. While cyber 
attacks are a clear threat that must be confronted, we must be vigilant 
to ensure the protection of civil liberties.
  While I support the short-term extension of the Land and Water 
Conservation Fund, I am disappointed that a permanent extension was 
blocked. LWCF funds are a critical tool for local conservation and the 
program should not be allowed to lapse, as it did in October for the 
first time in 51 years.
  I remain concerned that we are underfunding important investments in 
the middle class and those working to join the middle class, 
particularly in light of the enormous, unpaid-for tax package that was 
just passed by this House. If we can afford tax giveaways to special 
interests, we can afford a stronger investment in middle class families 
and those seeking to join the middle class. More must be done to bring 
families out of poverty, rebuild our infrastructure, and provide 
opportunity to all.
  Ultimately, no bill of this size is perfect, and all sides have made 
concessions to move our country forward. I will continue to fight for 
the investments we need to make our nation safer, stronger, and more 
prosperous for all.

                          ____________________