[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 128 (Friday, July 28, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1079-E1080]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2018

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 27, 2017

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (ER. 3219) making 
     appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal 
     year ending September 30, 2018, and for other purposes:

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Chair, I will vote against H.R. 3219, the 
Department of Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2018, also 
ironically named the, ``Make America Secure Appropriations Act'' (Roll 
no. 435). I commend House appropriators for their work on this bill and 
realize that putting it together was no easy task. However, due to 
several poison pill provisions and deep budgetary issues, I could not 
support it.
  Most concerning, the bill contains $1.6 billion in funding to begin 
construction of a wall

[[Page E1080]]

along the U.S.-Mexico border. A border wall serves only to instill fear 
and puts United States taxpayers on the hook for something that is 
unrealistic, costly, and unnecessary. It's immoral and goes against our 
values as Americans.
  There are also severe budgetary concerns. The bill would increase 
defense spending more than $72 billion above limits set in the Budget 
Control Act. House Republicans have refused to work with Democrats on a 
new budget agreement, and without a budget resolution, the funding 
levels in this legislation would be subject to a sequester. H.R. 3219 
is an affront to smart spending and a testament to misguided governing.
  The legislation increases funding levels for several redundant 
weapons programs, including certain dangerous nuclear weapons programs. 
The prioritizing of weapons systems over our troops and veterans is 
wrong and will result in the hollowing out of the Army, Navy, and Air 
Force conventional forces. We need to set clear spending priorities.
  In addition, the bill contains a number of provisions that ignore 
basic environmental policy requirements and important investments in 
renewable energy. It includes a rider that would prevent the federal 
government from protecting clean water and even exempts discharged 
dredged or fill material from clean water act requirements. The bill 
would also eliminate the Department of Energy's advanced energy 
research program and the energy loan guarantee program and would slash 
energy efficiency & renewable energy investments by nearly $1 billion. 
The so-called Making America Secure Act even prevents agencies from 
collaborating on federal ocean policies.
  There was a bright spot. The House passed an amendment to defund 
painful experiments on dogs conducted by the Department of Veterans 
Affairs. It is critical that Congress work to strengthen animal 
protections, which is why I've laid out an ambitious agenda to help 
animals and crack down on abuse.
  I hope we can work together going forward to pass a budget resolution 
that prioritizes appropriately.

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