[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 153 (Thursday, September 13, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H8239-H8245]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 5895, ENERGY AND WATER, LEGISLATIVE BRANCH, 
AND MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND VETERANS AFFAIRS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1059, I 
call up the conference report on the bill (H.R. 5895) making 
appropriations for energy and water development and related agencies 
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and for other purposes, 
and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 1059, the 
conference report is considered read.
  (For conference report and statement, see proceedings of the House of 
September 10, 2018, at page H7946.)
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
Frelinghuysen) and the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey) each will 
control 30 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present the conference report for H.R. 
5895.
  This conference report includes the Energy and Water Development, 
Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Legislative Branch 
Appropriations bills for fiscal year 2019. It is a product of months of 
negotiations between the House and the Senate.
  This conference report is a responsible compromise that addresses 
shared priorities: funding for programs that benefit all Americans, 
including national security, energy development programs and water 
resources infrastructure, care for veterans, and operations of the 
legislative branch. Critically, this conference report represents the 
next step toward fully funding the Federal Government for fiscal year 
2019.
  This is the first time since fiscal year 2017 that Congress will have 
passed any Appropriations bill before the end of the year and the first 
time in over a decade--since fiscal year 2007--that Congress will be 
sending more than one Appropriations bill to the President's desk 
before September 30.
  We have done our best to repair a broken appropriations process. This 
is a welcome and long overdue return to regular order and fulfills our 
promise to the American people to deliver results.
  Passage of this legislation also provides certainty to the Federal 
Government--most importantly, for our troops and their families, who 
rely on military infrastructure to sustain their quality of life and 
accomplish their missions, and for our veterans, who deserve full 
access to their benefits and healthcare.
  It is my sincere hope that we will continue this progress with the 
consideration of additional conference reports.
  The Energy and Water portion of the report provides $44.6 billion for 
Department of Energy, Army Corps of Engineers, and the Department of 
Defense's nuclear programs.
  Investments in national security programs help our Nation maintain 
its strongest possible nuclear deterrence posture, support our Navy's 
nuclear-powered fleet, and keep nuclear materials out of the hands of 
terrorists.
  And the bill also targets an array of energy programs that support 
our goal of energy independence and directs much-needed funds to water 
resources infrastructure across the country.
  The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs portion of the report 
totals $98 billion in discretionary funding. This includes the largest 
dollar amount ever for the Department of Veterans Affairs, $86.5 
billion, a substantial investment that will improve access to and 
quality of care for veterans.
  Importantly, this also includes additional funding for the VA MISSION 
Act and will support ongoing care for our veterans through community 
care centers, caregivers, and other medical services. This funding is 
provided within the existing discretionary spending caps.
  Also, the bill provides strong investments for our defense 
infrastructure and military installations. This will support the 
rebuilding of our Armed Forces, help counter threats and aggression 
abroad, and support our troops and military families.
  The third portion of this conference report includes the Legislative 
Branch Appropriations bill. This legislation continues the operations 
of Congress and its support agencies, ensuring that Members of Congress 
are best able to serve the American people.
  Within the total of $4.8 billion, provided for both the House and the 
Senate, funding is prioritized for security and safety within the 
Capitol complex, including increases for the Capitol Police.
  The legislation helps the legislative branch improve its functions. 
Of note, for the first time, we hav included dedicated funding for paid 
internships, which will allow more young Americans and students from 
all backgrounds to serve Congress.

  I want to express my deep gratitude to the chairs and ranking members 
of the three subcommittees who spearheaded this legislation--Energy and 
Water Chairman Simpson of Idaho and Ranking Member Kaptur of Ohio; 
Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Chairman Carter of Texas and 
Ranking Member Wasserman Schultz of Florida; and Legislative Branch 
Chairman Fortenberry of Nebraska and Ranking Member Ryan of Ohio--along 
with all our conferees.
  I also want to especially thank Ranking Member Lowey for her service, 
support, and friendship throughout many years on the Appropriations 
Committee.
  Lastly, I would like to thank our committee's hardworking 
professional and associate staff. Over the past months, they have been 
working without a break to complete negotiations and get this 
conference report and other reports to the floor. They are a

[[Page H8240]]

remarkable group of men and women, and I salute them.
  Support for this conference report today indicates that Congress is 
willing and able to get its work done on behalf of the American people 
on time, under regular order, and within our set budget limits.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on this conference report, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this three-bill minibus, 
which delivers important victories for the American people.
  The fiscal year 2019 Energy and Water Development, Military 
Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Legislative Branch bill is a 
bipartisan rejection of President Trump's extreme budget cuts. It 
restores $8.1 billion in funding for programs that create jobs and 
strengthen our economy.
  Instead of cutting energy efficiency and renewable energy programs 
within the Department of Energy, as House Republicans proposed, we have 
increased its funding. That means more resources to develop clean 
energy technology and accelerate job creation in this growing sector of 
the economy.
  And this bill gives an emphatic thumbs-down to President Trump's 
proposed elimination of the highly successful ARPA-E program, which 
promotes and funds research and development of advanced energy 
technology.
  Turning to the Military Construction-Veterans Affairs division, I am 
pleased that the bill provides a second installment of $2 billion for 
VA infrastructure improvements. And, as more veterans suffer from our 
country's devastating opioid epidemic, we are doing right by our 
veterans by providing $400 million for opioid treatment, prevention, 
and safety initiatives.
  We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to those who have sacrificed 
for us in our Armed Forces, and we must ensure they receive the 
benefits and assistance they deserve. Unfortunately, when it comes to 
the VA MISSION Act, the White House and House Republicans refuse to 
live up to that sacred trust.
  Despite the inclusion of nonbinding report language, the legislation 
before us utterly fails to address the transition of the VA Choice 
program from mandatory to discretionary spending.
  It is deeply disappointing that we have been unable to address this 
issue with a bipartisan, bicameral compromise. Instead, Congress has 
left behind a shortfall that will lead to cuts to vital domestic 
programs, including for our veterans.
  It is now imperative for next year that we find a responsible, long-
term solution to protect domestic priorities and veterans' healthcare.

                              {time}  1500

  Finally, I would be remiss if I did not celebrate one of the 
successes in this bill that is closer to home. I am delighted that we 
have secured $8.8 million in the new dedicated funding stream for 
Members' offices to pay interns.
  Congressional interns should be reflective of the country we serve. 
This new funding will help a more diverse range of young people follow 
their dreams and begin a career in public service.
  I appreciate the hard work of my friend, Chairman Frelinghuysen, and 
the subcommittee Chairmen Simpson, Carter, and Fortenberry, as well as 
our Senate counterparts in crafting this compromise. I am grateful for 
the leadership of Ranking Members Marcy Kaptur, Tim Ryan, and Debbie 
Wasserman Schultz fighting on behalf of our priorities for the American 
people. Of course, I thank the staff on both sides of the aisle who 
work so very hard night and day to help us deliver this important 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this minibus, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman 
from Idaho (Mr. Simpson), who is the chairman of the Energy and Water 
Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Idaho?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I will include my complete remarks for the 
Record.
  Mr. Speaker, I just want to say how thankful I am for Chairman 
Frelinghuysen and Ranking Member Lowey for their leadership on this 
bill, and for all the subcommittee chairmen and ranking members on both 
sides of the rotunda for the work they have done to complete this bill.
  Mostly, I want to thank the staff that the chairman has already 
thanked for the hard work they did. Most people don't realize that, 
when we are at home in August, they are here working hard every day, 
sometimes all night long, trying to come up with a compromise that 
maintains our House priorities.
  I think they have done a good job in this. It meets the NDAA 
requirements that were passed in the House and the Senate, and it meets 
the requirements of the Nuclear Posture Review and other things. So 
they have done a great job protecting House priorities.
  We didn't get everything we wanted in this bill. The Senate didn't 
get everything they wanted in the bill either. That is kind of the 
nature of a compromise. But this is a good bill. It should pass. It is 
our first step in restoring regular order, and I want to thank 
everybody who has been involved in creating this.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the conference report for 
H.R. 5895, the fiscal year 2019 Energy and Water Development, 
Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs 
Appropriations Act.
  Before I get into the details of the bill, I would like to thank 
several Members involved in this effort--my Ranking Member, Marcy 
Kaptur; our Senate partners, Lamar Alexander and Dianne Feinstein; our 
full committee leadership, Chairman Frelinghuysen and Ranking Member 
Lowey here in the House and Chairman Shelby and Ranking Member Leahy in 
the Senate; and all the conferees who participated in producing this 
final product.
  I'd like to assure my colleagues that the House conferees on this 
minibus worked diligently to ensure that House priorities were well 
represented in the final package. The Energy and Water bill totals 
$44.64 billion, which is $1.44 billion more than last year's level. 
Increases over last year are targeted to those areas where they are 
needed most to provide for our national defense and to support our 
nation's infrastructure.5895, the Fiscal Year 2019 ilitary Construction
  The conference report reflects the House priority of strong support 
for the Department of Energy's nuclear weapons security programs, 
including Weapons Activities, Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, and 
Naval Reactors. It aligns with the Administration's Nuclear Posture 
Review, or NPR, which calls for maintaining a strong nuclear deterrent 
to meet the challenges of a changing security environment, revitalizing 
the nuclear complex, and supporting effective arms control and 
nonproliferation efforts. Since the NPR was released after the budget 
submission, the House worked hard to ensure funds above the budget 
request were included for critical NPR recommendations.
  Overall funding for the national nuclear security programs totals 
$15.23 billion--an increase of $560 million above the fiscal year 2018 
enacted level and $138 million above the President's budget request. 
Within this amount, $65 million is provided to support the NPR's 
recommendation to pursue a lower-yield ballistic missile warhead to 
enhance the credibility of our nuclear deterrent and $1.07 billion is 
provided to address the growing backlog of deferred maintenance and to 
recapitalize aging nuclear weapons infrastructure. Also within this 
amount, the budget request for Naval Reactors is fully funded, an 
increase of $169 million above fiscal year 2018, to support the Navy's 
nuclear propulsion program.
  The conference report provides funding increases across the 
Department of Energy to defend against cyber attacks and to strengthen 
energy sector cybersecurity preparedness, response, and recovery.
  Addressing our nation's critical infrastructure needs is another 
House priority strongly reflected in the final conference report. 
Funding for the Army Corps of Engineers totals $7 billion. Harbor 
Maintenance activities are funded at $1.55 billion, which is $150 
million more than fiscal year 2018. The level exceeds the WRDA annual 
target and represents 92 percent of estimated revenues compared to the 
fiscal year 2019 target of 77 percent established in WRRDA 2014.
  Within the Bureau of Reclamation, the bill provides an additional 
$343 million for water

[[Page H8241]]

conservation and delivery projects, including $134 million for water 
storage projects authorized under the WIIN Act and $99 million for 
rural water projects.
  The bill advances an ``all-of-the-above'' energy strategy that will 
support a strong national economy well into the future. Specifically, 
the bill promotes innovation and growth in nuclear energy, funding 
research, development, and demonstration activities at $1.2 billion, an 
increase of $108 million above fiscal year 2018. Research to advance 
coal, natural gas, oil, and other fossil energy technologies is funded 
at $740 million.
  Basic science research funding totals $6.6 billion, $325 million more 
than last year. Increased funding will advance U.S. leadership in high 
performance computing and improve science research infrastructure at 
our national laboratories.
  Finally, the conference report registers the grave concerns of many 
Members of Congress over judicial interference in the operation of the 
Federal Columbia River Power System hydroelectric dams.
  All in all, this appropriations package, including the Energy and 
Water division, is a strong bill that incorporates many high priorities 
of the House. I urge my colleagues to support it.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished 
gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur), who is the ranking member of the 
Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this three-cornered 
minibus before us. It is really the opening pitch of 12 bills of which 
we are a part, and it partially funds our Nation's energy and water 
development requirements; military construction; the legislative 
branch; and, of course, programs to serve our Nation's veterans who put 
their lives in service to liberty at home and abroad every day.
  Please let me thank Chairman Frelinghuysen, Ranking Member Lowey, and 
our very able subcommittee chair, Mike Simpson, as well as our 
committee staff for their tireless efforts to bring this first set of 
appropriation bills over the finish line.
  Though it is fair to say Republican leaders took the long way to a 
bipartisan agreement, we now find ourselves passing three 
appropriations bills before the October 1 deadline of the beginning of 
the new fiscal year. Something that should not be a momentous occasion 
has thus turned into one.
  While I don't think that our subcommittee deserves a pat on the back 
for simply doing our job, let me note that this is an achievement we 
have not seen in many, many years with our bill, Energy and Water 
Development. This House must move toward regular order again, and this 
sets the pace.
  Our specific title contributes to ensuring the critical availability 
of energy and water for our Nation's domestic stability, as well as our 
national security, not just for today, but for the tomorrows to come.
  America has made enormous strides in increasing our energy 
independence to close to 90 percent in the short term. No bill is more 
important than this one in reaching 100 percent independence as the 
strategic goal for our Nation. But it is not yet time to declare 
mission accomplished. Future energy security is the ultimate goal we 
must continue to strive for.
  The nearly $7 billion in funding also in this bill for the Army Corps 
of Engineers will ensure continued forward progress across all project 
areas. The Corps can contribute mightily to infrastructure investment 
for modernization and job creation across our Nation. The Corps' role 
in essential flood control is critical as we watch the approach of 
Hurricane Florence and we think about navigation and the 
responsibilities of the Corps, as well as environmental restoration.
  I am grateful for the chairman's continued partnership to address the 
Asian carp threat to our freshwater Great Lakes ecosystem, as well as 
for funding to keep our Great Lakes ports open to shippers. Our Nation 
has a wonderful navigation system that drives economic investment and 
undergirds our essential industrial manufacturing base.
  This bill makes many other important investments for our Nation, 
including reversing the misguided cuts to the Office of Energy 
Efficiency and Renewable Energy in the House bill. The compromise 
yielded an additional $57 million to sustain the momentum to rapidly 
falling prices for wind and solar energy as critical to achieving an 
all-of-the-above energy platform.
  This funding also allows us to continue investing in the Office of 
Advanced Manufacturing, vehicles technology, and bioenergy. These 
programs are an investment in clean energy technologies, and they drive 
our global leadership in innovation and set us on the path for 
continuing job creation.
  This bill strongly funds programs that were eliminated in the 
President's budget, including weatherization assistance to conserve 
energy and the path-breaking office of the Department of Energy's 
advanced research, ARPA-E, which unlocks science to build our future 
and the progress that goes with it.
  Additionally, harmful, controversial policy riders that have no place 
in this bill were removed. One dealt with the waters of the U.S., and 
one would interfere with an ongoing judicial process. Both would have 
seriously hindered passage of this bill.
  With regard to funding the VA, I am concerned we have set ourselves 
on a course for another self-inflicted crisis when funding for the VA 
MISSION Act runs out. Our veterans deserve the best treatment in the 
world, not to have their care used as a political weapon for partisan 
gain.
  Mr. Speaker, again, I thank my colleagues and friends from the 
committee, Chairmen Simpson and Frelinghuysen, and Ranking Member 
Lowey, for their persistent leadership for our Nation, and to the 
Senate for bringing such a good example of bipartisanship, which I hope 
we can continue.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this package.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman 
from Nebraska (Mr. Fortenberry), who is the chairman of the Legislative 
Branch Subcommittee.
  Mr. FORTENBERRY. Mr. Speaker, first of all, let me thank Chairman 
Frelinghuysen for all of his dedicated, hard work on this bill and his 
leadership through many years of service. We are really grateful for 
the gentleman's mentorship and all of his exhaustive efforts to make 
America truly a much better place.
  In that regard, Mr. Speaker, while I was on my way over here, I was 
reflecting on something. The dome of the Capitol that connects our two 
bodies here continued to be constructed during the Civil War. Abraham 
Lincoln was encouraged to stop it, given all the other demands of the 
crises all around him. He refused. He said that, one day, that dome 
will unify our Nation once again.
  Here we are with the legislative branch bill. Even though it is the 
smallest of the appropriations bills, I believe it does capture the 
richness of the American experience and captures the heart of the 
narrative of our Nation.
  In that regard, we have worked very closely, of course, with the 
former chairman, Kevin Yoder, as well Ranking Member Tim Ryan, as well 
as the United States Senate to develop a very good bill here. The final 
product, I believe, is solid and reasonable.

  The legislative branch division provides about $4.8 billion in 
funding, and that is a 2.8 percent increase over last year. But the 
priorities, Mr. Speaker, were placed on security, transparency, and 
maintaining fiscal responsibility.
  The bill provides about $1.2 billion for the House of 
Representatives, which is a 2.7 percent increase. However, it needs to 
be noted that this is still below funding levels from the year 2010. As 
the chairman mentioned, this includes $8.8 million for a new account 
for the compensation of interns, which is a widely agreed upon new 
initiative, allowing each Member to spend up to $20,000 a year.
  In the areas of security, about $30 million is going to our Capitol 
Police to enhance the safety and security of this campus, as well as to 
protect Members when they are offsite.
  About $733 million is going to the Architect of the Capitol to ensure 
safety and security improvements to our historic buildings and to 
address a growing deferred maintenance list that we have. A 
particularly new initiative is that we are directing the Architect to 
design plans for a more welcoming arrival area around the Capitol South 
Metro Station.
  Regarding the issue of transparency, there is about $589 million for 
the Government Accountability Office, which

[[Page H8242]]

will enable them to hire 130 new persons to assist with GAO's critical 
oversight work that provides us in Congress accurate, nonpartisan 
reporting of how taxpayer dollars are being appropriately used. The 
Congressional Budget Office will also receive a slight increase to be 
better responsive to Members of Congress.
  Regarding fiscal responsibility and new initiatives, we have included 
language supporting the Library of Congress' visitor experience 
project, which has the potential to transform how our Library, the 
Library of America, welcomes the millions of visitors that it receives 
each year. We expect that this will become a model of public-private 
partnership in the years to come.
  Finally, I would like to draw attention to the expansion of the 
popular House Wounded Warrior Program that will now offer 110 2-year 
fellowships for those who have already sacrificed so much for our 
country and wish to pursue public service here among us.
  Mr. Speaker, a lot goes on in our Capitol, from the dedicated Capitol 
Police officers who stand guard around the clock, to the employees of 
the Architect of the Capitol who work to preserve and maintain this 
important physical infrastructure, to the IT professionals who have 
successfully defended our networks from 4.5 billion attempted cyber 
attacks last year alone, and to the committed staff that is a part of 
this legislative process. We owe them all.
  We also, again, are thankful to Chairman Frelinghuysen for his 
dedicated leadership. I would personally like to wish the gentleman all 
the best in his future endeavors.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio 
(Mr. Ryan), who is the ranking member of the Legislative Branch 
Subcommittee.
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I want to extend my congratulations to 
my friend from New Jersey for his work on this and so many other 
issues, and for his constant dedication to this Congress.
  I also sit on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee with 
Congressman Frelinghuysen. I just want to thank the gentleman for his 
leadership, hard work, and his years of travel around the world to make 
sure that the men and women in our military are safe and protected and 
have the equipment that they need. So I thank the gentleman for all his 
service.
  I rise in support, Mr. Speaker, of this conference agreement. Once 
again, we see that the Congress can pass decent legislation when 
Republicans and Democrats, House and Senate, all work together to reach 
a bipartisan agreement instead of one party trying to make all the 
decisions behind closed doors. This bill and these bills reflect that.
  The bill we are sending to the President's desk takes care of our 
veterans; it funds our civilian and military infrastructure and energy 
needs; and it pays for the operations of the legislative branch 
institutions essential to our democracy. Almost every agency in the 
legislative branch division of this bill receives its full budget 
request.
  One of the highlights of the bill is the funding for the Government 
Accountability Office, which works to root out waste, fraud, and abuse 
governmentwide. With so many safeguards having failed against 
mismanagement and corruption in our government over the past few years, 
the GAO is more important than ever.
  By providing the resources for the GAO to take another step toward 
restoring its pre-sequestration capacity, we are helping to save 
taxpayers money and prevent some of the worst abuses of the 
administration.
  Another key accomplishment in this measure is the restoration of the 
dedicated funding for paid internships in the House of Representatives. 
I also want to thank the gentlewoman from New York and the gentleman 
from New Jersey for helping make that possible.
  It has been 25 years since we have had a paid internship program here 
in the United States Congress. Once more, when a young person from a 
middle-class family comes to Washington, D.C., and desires to enter 
public service, they can worry a little bit less about the costs here 
in Washington, D.C., for rent and grocery bills, and compete with other 
applicants based on merit instead of economic background, which is just 
a matter of basic fairness.

                              {time}  1515

  There are so many other issues.
  One more, Mr. Speaker, that I would like to mention in this bill is 
that we have ensured we are doing all we can to address the epidemic of 
harassment and discrimination that has existed since time immemorial 
but rightly showed up in the headlines in the last year or two.
  The Office of Compliance is given over $1.3 million more than last 
year so they can have the resources to tackle the problem and to handle 
the increased workload we have given them by expanding their 
jurisdiction. In the near future, we expect their mission to expand 
further, and these funds will help them prepare for that.
  Again, I extend my sincere thanks especially, again, to Chairman 
Frelinghuysen, who is leaving, Nita Lowey, Chairman Fortenberry, 
Senator Daines and Senator Murphy, and so many others.
  Also, thank you to the staffs on both sides, including Anne Sokolov, 
Ryan Keating, Adam Berg, Jenny Panone, Tim Monahan, and Reyn Archer, 
for making this bill possible and, as Congressman Simpson said, for the 
long hours that they have put in over the August recess to make this 
happen.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman 
from Texas (Mr. Carter), chairman of the Military Construction, 
Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.
  Mr. CARTER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, first, I want to congratulate 
Chairman Frelinghuysen and Ranking Member Lowey for their incredible 
patience and deft negotiating to bring us to this point. I also want to 
thank Ranking Member Debbie Wasserman Schultz for her rock-solid 
support and keen analytic eye. I also think we need to remember Mr. 
Charlie Dent, who retired early from this committee. He was the 
chairman and had a strong hand in the product that came out here today.
  I am pleased to describe for my colleagues the good news in the 
Military Construction-VA division of the minibus.
  We are able to provide long overdue support to our military and their 
family members, with a total of $10.3 billion for military 
construction, which is an increase of $241 million, or 2.4 percent, 
above FY18 levels. With that funding, we are able to provide $465.3 
million for the Guard and Reserve components' projects in 20 States and 
territories, $352 million for two medical facilities, $267.5 million 
for five DOD schools, and just over $8 billion for military 
construction projects in the U.S.
  Members will appreciate that we are able to provide $693.2 million in 
unfunded requirements requested by the services, which includes $100 
million for upgrades for antiterrorism and force protection at military 
installations.
  The bill also includes $921.4 million in OCO funding, an increase of 
$171 million over FY18.
  Our bill fulfills Congress' commitment to our Nation's veterans with 
total discretionary funding of $86.5 billion for the Department of 
Veterans Affairs, a $5 billion, or 6.2 percent, increase over 2018. 
These funds provide important medical services to veterans, to include 
supporting the new and expanding programs resulting from the recently 
passed MISSION Act, as well as disability compensation, post-9/11 
education benefits, and a host of insurance and lending programs.
  Of note, we were able to provide $1.1 billion for the new electronic 
health record contract, the same record as DOD's, which will allow the 
exchange of veterans' health records with DOD and community providers.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Poe of Texas). The time of the gentleman 
has expired.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman an additional 1 
minute.
  Mr. CARTER of Texas. In addition, consistent with the budget caps 
agreement, the bill includes $2 billion in medical infrastructure 
assistance: nonrecurring maintenance, seismic improvement activities, 
major construction, and minor construction.
  I urge an ``aye'' vote on the package. Help us do the right thing for 
our servicemembers and veterans and their families who have given so 
much.

[[Page H8243]]

  I would also be remiss in not thanking all those involved in the 
committee work to get this bill forward. I am very grateful we had a 
conference.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Cuellar), a member of the Appropriations Committee.
  Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the ranking member, Mrs. 
Lowey, for yielding and for the wonderful work she has done as our 
leader in the Appropriations Committee. I certainly want to thank, 
also, the chairman for his leadership and the bipartisan work that both 
individuals, Mrs. Lowey and Mr. Frelinghuysen, have done in working 
together to make sure we pass this legislation and bring these three 
bills to the floor.
  I would like to highlight a couple of things that some Members have 
included.
  First of all, on the MILCON-VA, we are talking about a $5 billion 
increase. My friend from Texas (Mr. Carter) and Ms. Debbie Wasserman 
Schultz have worked together in a bipartisan way. There is $86.5 
billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs, which includes funding 
for mental health services, modernizing the VA's health record system, 
and addressing the claims backlog that every Member knows has been so 
difficult. So that extra $5 billion is going to do a lot to help the 
veterans.
  There is also $10.3 billion for military construction projects that 
will support our troops and our freedom at home. I know that in my part 
of San Antonio, San Antonio's Military USA, this is an important type 
of assistance.
  Certainly, we have $1.3 billion for telehealth. This amount is $30 
million above what we just provided earlier this year. This will 
further expand the telehealth capacity to rural areas.
  There is also $206 million for suicide prevention outreach for 
veterans.
  Again, whether it is this or the Energy and Water bill--and I see the 
two leaders over here, the chairman of the Subcommittee on 
Appropriations--these are monies that will be helpful to the San 
Antonio area for flood mitigation or even for Corpus Christi to improve 
the channel project that will make sure that they will be able to 
handle the capacity to export petroleum products, which is a $13 
million increase.

  Again, I want to say thank you to everybody working together in a 
bipartisan way.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Mrs. Murphy).
  Mrs. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, since coming to Congress, I have 
made it a priority to ensure that our men and women in uniform are 
prepared for success once their military service ends. The members of 
our Armed Forces serve and sacrifice for this Nation. We have a moral 
obligation to help them thrive when they transition to the civilian 
world.
  That is why I am so pleased the final version of this bill includes 
the bipartisan amendment I coauthored to increase funding for the 
Wounded Warrior Program. This initiative places disabled veterans in 
paid, 2-year fellowships in House offices, providing them with 
potentially life-changing opportunities for professional and personal 
growth. It also enables Members of Congress to better serve the 
American people, because veterans can use the unique skills they gain 
in the military to improve public policy and help constituents.
  I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bill.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Gene Green).
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5895, 
the Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and 
Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act. In an era of partisanship, 
bipartisan legislation like this bill is sorely needed.
  A little over a year ago, Houston was devastated by Hurricane Harvey. 
Recovering from a storm of that magnitude doesn't happen in a single 
year. The Houston ship channel is still in need of dredging just to 
return to the authorized depth that we were at before the storm hit. 
That is why bills like this one are so important.
  In this legislation, the Army Corps of Engineers will receive just 
under $7 billion, $171.5 million above the 2018 enacted level. The Army 
Corps works hand in hand with local organizations like the Port of 
Houston and Harris County Flood Control in our district to repair 
damage from previous storms and mitigate future risk.
  It is essential that we fund the corps at an adequate level that 
ensures that we are constructing projects that limit future damage, not 
just repair the damage already there.
  I am pleased to see that funding levels have increased in this year's 
bill, but more needs to be done. This issue is not a partisan one and 
affects districts far and wide.
  I am also pleased to see that the harbor maintenance trust fund will 
receive $1.55 billion, $149 million over the 2018 allocation and $584 
million above the request. Ports are the economic drivers are our 
country. At the Port of Houston, we had drafting restrictions that 
affected safety and commerce for months because of Hurricane Harvey.
  While I am pleased that we are increasing the allocated money this 
year, there is still an injustice that needs to be corrected with the 
harbor maintenance trust fund. Around $1.8 billion in harbor 
maintenance tax is collected every year through port user fees. When 
Congress enacted this fund, it intended to use the revenue to ensure 
that no port would be in need of dredging and that the people who use 
the port have a hand in funding the maintenance. It is essential that, 
in future years, Congress rectifies this issue and ensures that all 
money collected from usage of our ports goes directly to funding their 
maintenance, generating further economic activity.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5895, the Energy and Water, 
Legislative Branch and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs 
Appropriations Act. In an era partisanship, bipartisan legislation like 
this bill is sorely needed.
  A little over a year ago, Houston was devastated by Hurricane Harvey. 
Recovery from a storm of that magnitude doesn't happen in a single 
year. The Houston ship channel is still in need of dredging just to 
return to the authorized depth that we were at before the storm hit.
  That is why bills like this one are so important. In this 
legislation, the Army Corps of Engineers will receive just under $7 
billion, $171.5 million above the 2018 enacted level. The Army Corps 
works hand in hand with local organizations like the Port and Harris 
County Flood Control in our district to repair damage from previous 
storms and mitigate future risk.
  It is essential that we fund the Corps at an adequate level that 
ensures that we are constructing projects that limit future damage, not 
just repair the damage already there. I am pleased to see that funding 
levels have increased in this year's bill, but more needs to be done. 
This issue is not a partisan one and affects districts far and wide.
  I am also pleased to see that the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund will 
receive $1.55 billion, $149 million over the 2018 allocation and $584 
million above the request. Ports are the economic drivers of the 
country. At the Port of Houston we had drafting restrictions that 
affected safety and commerce for months after Harvey. While I am 
pleased that we are increasing the allocated money this year, there is 
still an injustice that needs to be corrected with the Harbor 
Maintenance Trust Fund.
  Around $1.8 billion in Harbor Maintenance Tax is collected every year 
through port user fees. When Congress enacted this fund it intended to 
use the revenue to ensure that no port would be in need of dredging and 
that the people who use the port have a hand in funding the 
maintenance.
  It is essential that in future years Congress rectifies this issue 
and ensures that all money collected from the usage of our ports goes 
directly to funding their maintenance, generating further economic 
activity.
  While there is work still to be done, this bill moves the ball 
forward and I urge my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my 
time.
  I would like to thank Mrs. Lowey for our close working relationship 
of well over 24 years.
  I would like to take the opportunity to thank all the ranking members 
who put this package together here, the remarkable men and women who 
make up our professional staff on the Appropriations Committee, and our 
personal staff who dedicated most of their August, part of July, and 
certainly this part of September to doing the work of

[[Page H8244]]

the people. I am enormously grateful to all of them for their hard work 
and their dedication.
  Mr. Speaker, I salute my colleague, Mrs. Lowey, and all members and 
staff for their work.
  Particularly, I'd like to thank:
  Nancy Fox, Maureen Holohan, Shannon O'Keefe, Jason Gray, Marta 
Hernandez, Tammy Hughes, Rachel Kahler, Parker Van de Water, and Tom 
Doelp in the Front Office; Angie Giancarlo, Loraine Heckenberg, Perry 
Yates, and Amy Murphy on the Energy and Water Subcommittee; Sue 
Quantius; Sarah Young; and Kiya Batmanglidj from the MilCon/VA 
Subcommittee; Jenny Panone and Tim Monahan from the Legislative Branch 
Subcommittee.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to thank my friend, Chairman 
Frelinghuysen.
  It has been far too long since multiple spending bills were enacted 
prior to the start of the fiscal year. It is a testament to the 
chairman's leadership that we are set to clear three today, and I hope 
we send at least one more package to the President before the end of 
the month.
  Additionally, I would like to thank the staff for their tireless 
efforts, particularly Adam Berg, Jaime Shimek, Matt Washington, and the 
majority staff, including clerks Jenny Panone, Sue Quantius, and Angie 
Giancarlo-Clark.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, today, I voted in support of the Conference 
Report for H.R. 5895, the Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and 
Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2019.
  The legislation includes several provisions that I strongly support, 
including nearly $7 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers. 
Specifically, this legislation provides $1.55 billion, $149 million 
above the 2018 enacted level, to Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund projects 
to ensure that critical harbor and port projects receive the funding 
they need. It also includes $86.5 billion for the Department of 
Veterans Affairs, including $8.6 billion for mental health, $348 
million for opioid treatment and prevention, and $206 million for 
suicide prevention programs.
  Despite funding these vital programs, I have concerns with a number 
of provisions included in the Conference Report. This legislation 
authorizes more than $97 billion, including $921 million to the 
Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) fund, an account which is not 
counted in the budget and is not paid for. It adds to the deficit and 
is used as a slush fund by the Pentagon.
  Unlike every other federal agency, the Department of Defense (DOD) 
has yet to complete a financial audit; taxpayers deserve to know how 
the biggest bureaucracy in the federal government spends their money.
  Additionally, the bill prohibits the closing of Guantanamo Bay, which 
costs more than $100 million each year to house 41 prisoners and has 
been used as a top recruiting tool by terrorists. The bottom line is 
that the prison has been a black eye for the United States, has eroded 
relationships with our allies, undermined U.S. missions abroad, and put 
U.S. citizens and our troops at risk of retaliation.
  Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my support for funding 
appropriated to the Office of Compliance contained within the 
Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 5895. This important funding will 
support efforts to the ongoing reform of the Congressional 
Accountability Act to better enable legislative branch offices and 
agencies to receive proper training regarding workplace conduct.
  I strongly oppose slush fund settlements being paid out with taxpayer 
dollars, and I am pleased that no funding contained in this bill will 
go towards money for settlements. I appreciate the work of the 
Conference Committee in getting this critical funding included in this 
appropriations package.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. All time for debate has expired.
  Pursuant to House Resolution 1059, the previous question is ordered.
  The question is on the conference report.
  Pursuant to clause 10 of rule XX, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, this 15-minute vote on adoption of 
the conference report will be followed by a
5-minute vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal, if 
ordered.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 377, 
nays 20, not voting 31, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 399]

                               YEAS--377

     Abraham
     Aderholt
     Aguilar
     Allen
     Amodei
     Arrington
     Babin
     Bacon
     Balderson
     Banks (IN)
     Barletta
     Barr
     Barragan
     Bass
     Beatty
     Bera
     Bergman
     Beyer
     Bilirakis
     Bishop (GA)
     Bishop (MI)
     Bishop (UT)
     Black
     Blum
     Blumenauer
     Blunt Rochester
     Bonamici
     Bost
     Boyle, Brendan F.
     Brady (PA)
     Brady (TX)
     Brat
     Brooks (IN)
     Brown (MD)
     Brownley (CA)
     Buchanan
     Bucshon
     Budd
     Burgess
     Bustos
     Byrne
     Calvert
     Capuano
     Carbajal
     Cardenas
     Carson (IN)
     Carter (GA)
     Carter (TX)
     Cartwright
     Castor (FL)
     Castro (TX)
     Chabot
     Cheney
     Chu, Judy
     Cicilline
     Clark (MA)
     Clarke (NY)
     Clay
     Cloud
     Clyburn
     Coffman
     Cohen
     Cole
     Collins (GA)
     Collins (NY)
     Comer
     Comstock
     Conaway
     Connolly
     Cook
     Cooper
     Correa
     Costa
     Costello (PA)
     Courtney
     Cramer
     Crawford
     Crist
     Crowley
     Cuellar
     Culberson
     Cummings
     Curbelo (FL)
     Curtis
     Davis (CA)
     Davis, Danny
     Davis, Rodney
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     Delaney
     DeLauro
     DelBene
     Demings
     Denham
     DeSaulnier
     DesJarlais
     Deutch
     Diaz-Balart
     Dingell
     Doggett
     Donovan
     Doyle, Michael F.
     Duffy
     Dunn
     Emmer
     Engel
     Espaillat
     Estes (KS)
     Esty (CT)
     Evans
     Faso
     Ferguson
     Fitzpatrick
     Fleischmann
     Flores
     Fortenberry
     Foster
     Foxx
     Frankel (FL)
     Frelinghuysen
     Fudge
     Gabbard
     Gaetz
     Gallagher
     Gallego
     Garamendi
     Gianforte
     Gibbs
     Gomez
     Gonzalez (TX)
     Goodlatte
     Gosar
     Gowdy
     Granger
     Graves (GA)
     Graves (LA)
     Graves (MO)
     Green, Al
     Green, Gene
     Griffith
     Grijalva
     Grothman
     Guthrie
     Gutierrez
     Hanabusa
     Handel
     Harper
     Hartzler
     Hastings
     Heck
     Hensarling
     Herrera Beutler
     Higgins (LA)
     Higgins (NY)
     Hill
     Himes
     Hoyer
     Hudson
     Huffman
     Huizenga
     Hultgren
     Hunter
     Hurd
     Issa
     Jackson Lee
     Jayapal
     Jeffries
     Jenkins (KS)
     Johnson (GA)
     Johnson (LA)
     Johnson (OH)
     Johnson, E. B.
     Johnson, Sam
     Jordan
     Joyce (OH)
     Kaptur
     Katko
     Keating
     Kelly (IL)
     Kelly (MS)
     Kelly (PA)
     Kennedy
     Khanna
     Kihuen
     Kildee
     Kilmer
     Kind
     King (IA)
     King (NY)
     Kinzinger
     Knight
     Krishnamoorthi
     Kuster (NH)
     Kustoff (TN)
     LaHood
     LaMalfa
     Lamb
     Lamborn
     Lance
     Langevin
     Larsen (WA)
     Larson (CT)
     Latta
     Lawrence
     Lawson (FL)
     Lee
     Lesko
     Levin
     Lewis (GA)
     Lewis (MN)
     Lipinski
     LoBiondo
     Loebsack
     Long
     Loudermilk
     Love
     Lowenthal
     Lowey
     Lucas
     Luetkemeyer
     Lujan Grisham, M.
     Lujan, Ben Ray
     Lynch
     MacArthur
     Maloney, Carolyn B.
     Marchant
     Marino
     Marshall
     Mast
     Matsui
     McCarthy
     McCaul
     McCollum
     McEachin
     McGovern
     McHenry
     McKinley
     McMorris Rodgers
     McNerney
     McSally
     Meadows
     Meeks
     Meng
     Messer
     Mitchell
     Moolenaar
     Mooney (WV)
     Moore
     Moulton
     Mullin
     Murphy (FL)
     Nadler
     Napolitano
     Neal
     Newhouse
     Noem
     Norcross
     Nunes
     O'Halleran
     O'Rourke
     Olson
     Palazzo
     Pallone
     Palmer
     Panetta
     Pascrell
     Paulsen
     Perlmutter
     Peters
     Peterson
     Pingree
     Pocan
     Poe (TX)
     Poliquin
     Polis
     Posey
     Quigley
     Raskin
     Ratcliffe
     Reed
     Reichert
     Rice (NY)
     Roby
     Roe (TN)
     Rogers (AL)
     Rogers (KY)
     Rohrabacher
     Rokita
     Rooney, Francis
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Rosen
     Roskam
     Ross
     Rothfus
     Roybal-Allard
     Royce (CA)
     Ruiz
     Ruppersberger
     Rush
     Russell
     Rutherford
     Ryan (OH)
     Sanchez
     Sarbanes
     Scalise
     Schiff
     Schneider
     Schrader
     Schweikert
     Scott (VA)
     Scott, Austin
     Scott, David
     Serrano
     Sessions
     Sewell (AL)
     Shea-Porter
     Sherman
     Shuster
     Simpson
     Sinema
     Sires
     Smith (MO)
     Smith (NE)
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (TX)
     Smith (WA)
     Smucker
     Soto
     Stefanik
     Stewart
     Stivers
     Suozzi
     Swalwell (CA)
     Takano
     Tenney
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Thompson (PA)
     Thornberry
     Tipton
     Titus
     Tonko
     Torres
     Trott
     Tsongas
     Turner
     Upton
     Valadao
     Vargas
     Veasey
     Vela
     Velazquez
     Visclosky
     Wagner
     Walberg
     Walden
     Walorski
     Walters, Mimi
     Waters, Maxine
     Watson Coleman
     Weber (TX)
     Webster (FL)
     Welch
     Wenstrup
     Westerman
     Williams
     Wilson (FL)
     Wilson (SC)
     Wittman
     Womack
     Woodall
     Yarmuth
     Yoder
     Yoho
     Young (AK)
     Young (IA)
     Zeldin

                                NAYS--20

     Amash
     Barton
     Biggs
     Brooks (AL)
     Buck
     Davidson
     Duncan (SC)
     Duncan (TN)
     Garrett
     Harris
     Hollingsworth
     Labrador
     Lieu, Ted
     Massie
     McClintock
     Perry
     Schakowsky
     Sensenbrenner
     Shimkus
     Walker

                             NOT VOTING--31

     Adams
     Blackburn
     Butterfield
     Cleaver
     Ellison
     Eshoo
     Gohmert
     Gottheimer
     Hice, Jody B.
     Holding
     Jenkins (WV)
     Jones
     Lofgren
     Maloney, Sean
     Nolan
     Norman
     Payne
     Pearce

[[Page H8245]]


     Pelosi
     Pittenger
     Price (NC)
     Renacci
     Rice (SC)
     Richmond
     Rooney, Thomas J.
     Rouzer
     Sanford
     Speier
     Taylor
     Walz
     Wasserman Schultz

                          ____________________