[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 185 (Friday, December 18, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1834-E1835]
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. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 17, 2015

  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, as the ranking member of the 
Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, I can attest that 
Division F of the bill before us today, which provides funds for the 
Department of Homeland Security, is the result of careful 
consideration, intense scrutiny, and bipartisan collaboration. I want 
to thank Chairman Carter for his leadership and his partnership in 
crafting our portion of the bill.
  The bill provides significant resources for critical priorities, 
including funding: to recapitalize the Coast Guard air and marine 
fleets; to fully fund FEMA's disaster relief activities, including 
wildfire management assistance grants, and to significantly enhance 
support for flood mapping and pre-disaster mitigation; to maintain 
funding for FEMA terrorism preparedness grants, including $50 million 
in new funding to help communities counter violent extremism and 
prepare for complex, coordinated terrorist attacks; to allow the Secret 
Service to continue implementing the recommendations of the Protective 
Mission Panel; and to enhance cybersecurity across the federal 
government, along with significant additional funds to help protect 
DHS's own cyber systems.
  I am pleased that the bill does not include the harmful immigration 
policy riders that were adopted during committee consideration of the 
House bill.
  I am also pleased that the omnibus incorporates a number of 
amendments and priorities I fought for during the Appropriations 
Committee markups. These include my amendment with Congresswoman Lee 
which creates and funds a comprehensive, non-partisan child poverty 
study, and my amendment to defund the licensing or relicensing of Class 
B animal dealers who sell ``random source'' dogs and cats for use in 
research. It is also important to note that my colleagues and I were 
successful in preserving funding for the Agency for Healthcare Research 
and Quality (AHRQ) and the Corporation for National and Community 
Service (CNCS).
  This funding bill is not entirely what I had hoped for. Many of my 
colleagues feel the same way, and I share many of their concerns.

[[Page E1835]]

  I was extremely disappointed that provisions to help our U.S. Citizen 
Puerto Rican brothers and sisters manage the fiscal crisis in Puerto 
Rico were not included in the bill. The residents of Puerto Rico are 
suffering, and we have a responsibility to provide them with the tools 
they need to rebuild their economy.
  I was also disappointed that on the heels of a historic climate 
change agreement, the bill includes a giveaway to Big Oil by ending the 
40-year prohibition on the exportation of crude oil. This prohibition 
was set in place to help our country achieve energy independence and to 
protect national security and economic interests. Lifting this ban will 
only hinder our goals and harm American refinery jobs, all for the sake 
of a handout to Big Oil.
  However, without this omnibus bill, my home state of California and 
communities across the country would be faced with the uncertain 
funding level of a continuing resolution, or, in the worst case, the 
effects of a government shutdown.
  We cannot risk another government shutdown or another year of flat 
funding for the critical programs our communities need. On balance, I 
believe this bill should move forward. For that reason, I ask for an 
aye vote.

                          ____________________