[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
____________________