[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 105 (Friday, June 21, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H5011-H5022]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT,
2020
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Vargas). Pursuant to House Resolution
445 and rule XVIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of
the Whole House on the state of the Union for the further consideration
of the bill, H.R. 3055.
Will the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Wild) kindly take the
chair.
{time} 0918
In the Committee of the Whole
Accordingly, the House resolved itself into the Committee of the
Whole House on the state of the Union for the further consideration of
the bill (H.R. 3055) making appropriations for the Departments of
Commerce and Justice, Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year
ending September 30, 2020, and for other purposes, with Ms. Wild
(Acting Chair) in the chair.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The Acting CHAIR. When the Committee of the Whole rose on Thursday,
June 20, 2019, amendment No. 190 printed in House Report 116-119
offered by the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Schrier) had been
disposed of.
Amendment No. 195 Offered by Mr. Raskin
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 195
printed in part B of House Report 116-119.
Mr. RASKIN. Madam Chairwoman, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 368, line 16, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $1,000,000) (reduced by $1,000,000)''.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 445, the gentleman
from Maryland (Mr. Raskin) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maryland.
Mr. RASKIN. Madam Chairwoman, I rise today to offer an amendment to
H.R. 3055, relating to a problem taking place in my district that may
be reflective of what is happening in many other parts of the country.
A fire station on a military installation recently experienced a
devastating fire itself, but now cannot get the funds it needs to
construct a new firehouse.
Madam Chairwoman, the United States spends billions of dollars every
year on military projects, but we need the funds to fix and maintain
the basic buildings and infrastructure that have fallen into disrepair
on military installations across the country.
This situation was brought to my attention by constituents who work
at the Naval District of Washington Fire and Emergency Services station
located at the Naval Support Activity Bethesda installation in
Maryland. NSA Bethesda provides base support
[[Page H5012]]
for 40 tenant commands, including Walter Reed National Military Medical
Center, which the Members of this body know well.
Earlier this year, a fire broke out at NSA Bethesda's station, which
exacerbated already hazardous conditions at the firehouse. It began in
the kitchen, but because the fire alarm never went off, the flames
spread into other rooms, causing extensive damage and rendering the
firehouse basically unfit for occupancy. Fortunately, no one was
injured because no one was there, but had the fire occurred overnight
while everyone was asleep, it would have been a nightmare.
For several years prior to the fire, concerns about the safety of the
firehouse, which was built in 1942, were raised by the people who live
and work there. The complaints ranged from dangerous mold and asbestos,
to roof leaks, electrical problems, and structural instability.
Temporary trailers erected next to the firehouse are also at a
breaking point with air-conditioning units that only work
intermittently, chronic mold, and leaking septic pipes. Yet, the
complaints of the firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs were minimized or
ignored. The firefighters have been told repeatedly that there is
simply no money available to renovate or to build a new fire station.
In response to the hazardous conditions caused by the fire, the Naval
Facilities Engineering Command simply put up some drywall and told the
firefighters that the building was now ready to reoccupy.
The firefighters work 48-hour shifts and sometimes longer. They are
worried about the carcinogens they are being exposed to, not just when
they enter burning buildings, but when they breathe the air inside
their own firehouse. This is happening at the fire station that
responds to emergencies on an installation that is home to Walter Reed
National Military Medical Center, the most prominent military hospital
in America.
The men and women working there serve our military and our Nation's
wounded warriors. Many of the firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics are
themselves former soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, and
coastguardsmen. One of my constituents said: ``I served 4 years in the
Army and was deployed overseas. The conditions in the firehouse are, by
far, the worst conditions I have seen or lived in.'' Another told me
that he lived in better conditions when he was serving in Afghanistan.
This is shocking and unacceptable. The men and women working at the
fire station deserve better. They need funding to build a new, safe,
clean, fire station. In a Defense budget of hundreds of billions of
dollars, we should be able to have money for essential projects like
this one.
I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman
Schultz), my colleague who has been a real leader on this issue and is
the chairwoman of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and
Related Agencies Subcommittee.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chairwoman, I thank the gentleman for
yielding, and I rise in support of this excellent amendment.
The health and safety of our troops in the surrounding communities is
paramount. We need to ensure basic projects, like fire stations, are
funded properly, just as training ranges, barracks, hospitals, and
schools are. I look forward to working with the gentleman in future
budget submissions, and I urge my colleagues to support the amendment.
Mr. RASKIN. Madam Chair, I look forward to working with the
gentlewoman to secure funding for projects like the one in my district.
I urge all of my colleagues to support this amendment, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Raskin).
The amendment was agreed to.
Amendments En Bloc No. 6 Offered by Ms. Wasserman Schultz of Florida
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, pursuant to House Resolution 445,
I offer amendments en bloc.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendments en bloc.
Amendments en bloc No. 6 consisting of amendment Nos. 196, 197, 200,
201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 207, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216,
217, 218, 222, 223, 224, 225, and 227 printed in part B of House Report
116-119, offered by Ms. Wasserman Schultz of Florida:
amendment no. 196 offered by Mrs. LESKO of Arizona
Page 393, line 13, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $3,000,000) (reduced by $3,000,000)''.
amendment no. 197 offered by Mr. McCARTHY of California
Page 400, line 17, after the second dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $39,732,000) (reduced by $39,732,000)''.
amendment no. 200 offered by Mr. LYNCH of Massachusetts
Page 392, line 7, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $1,000,000)''.
Page 396, line 23, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $1,000,000)''.
amendment no. 201 offered by Mr. BARR of Kentucky
Page 392, line 7, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $5,000,000)''.
Page 393, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $5,000,000)''.
amendment no. 202 offered by Mr. WELCH of Vermont
Page 392, line 7, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $1,000,000)''.
Page 392, line 7, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $1,000,000)''.
amendment no. 203 offered by Mr. ALLEN of Georgia
Page 367, line 23, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $37,000,000)''.
Page 367, line 23, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $37,000,000)''.
amendment no. 203 offered by Mr. ALLEN of Georgia
Page 367, line 23, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $37,000,000)''.
Page 367, line 23, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $37,000,000)''.
amendment no. 204 offered by Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia
Page 399, line 23, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $1,000,000)(reduced by $1,000,000)''.
amendment no. 205 offered by Mr. BOST of Illinois
Page 390, line 22, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $1,000,000)(increased by $1,000,000)''.
amendment no. 207 offered by Ms. SEWELL of Alabama
Page 393, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $1)''.
Page 393, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $1)''.
amendment no. 209 offered by Mr. RUIZ of California
Page 392, line 10, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $1,000,000)''.
Page 392, line 10, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $1,000,000)''.
amendment no. 210 offered by Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana
Page 367, line 23, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $1) (increased by $1)''.
amendment no. 211 offered by Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana
Page 369, line 2, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $1) (increased by $1)''.
amendment no. 212 offered by mr. gottheimer of new jersey
Page 396, line 23, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $1,000,000) (reduced by $1,000,000)''.
amendment no. 213 offered by mr. gottheimer of new jersey
Page 392, line 7, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $5,000,000)''.
Page 396, line 23, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $6,500,000)''.
amendment no. 214 offered by mr. steil of wisconsin
Page 392, line 7, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''.
amendment no. 215 offered by ms. blunt rochester of delaware
Page 392, line 10, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $1,000,000)''.
Page 392, line 10, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $1,000,000)''.
amendment no. 216 offered by mr. hill of arkansas
Page 392, line 7, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $1,500,000)''.
Page 396, line 23, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $1,500,000)''.
amendment no. 217 offered by mr. carbajal of california
Page 392, line 7, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $5,000,000)''.
Page 392, line 7, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $5,000,000)''.
amendment no. 218 offered by mr. carbajal of california
Page 392, line 7, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $3,000,000)''.
Page 397, line 18, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $3,500,000)''.
Page 397, line 22, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $3,500,000)''.
amendment no. 222 offered by ms. porter of california
Page 392, line 7, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $1,000,000)''.
Page 397, line 18, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $1,000,000)''.
Page 397, line 22, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $1,000,000)''.
[[Page H5013]]
amendment no. 223 offered by ms. porter of california
Page 392, line 7, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $2,000,000)''.
Page 397, line 18, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $2,000,000)''.
Page 397, line 22, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $2,000,000)''.
amendment no. 224 offered by mr. pappas of new hampshire
Page 395, line 11, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $10,000,000) (increased by $10,000,000)''.
amendment no. 225 offered by mr. kim of new jersey
Page 369, line 2, after the dollar amount insert ``(reduced
by $7,000,000) (increased by $7,000,000)''.
amendment no. 227 offered by ms. houlahan of pennsylvania
Page 392, line 7, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $1,700,000)''.
Page 393, line 13, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $1,700,000)''.
Page 396, line 23, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $1,700,000)''.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 445, the gentlewoman
from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr.
Carter) each will control 10 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chairwoman, the amendments included in
the en bloc were made in order by the rule and have been agreed to by
the ranking member, Judge Carter and I, and I support the amendment and
urge its adoption.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CARTER of Texas. Madam Chairwoman, I rise in support of the en
bloc amendment. Let me thank the chairwoman of my subcommittee, my good
friend from Florida, for her efforts to put this bipartisan amendment
together. It improves and strengthens the bill, and I urge my
colleagues to support it.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chairwoman, I yield 1 minute to the
gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Houlahan), a sponsor of one of the
amendments included in the en bloc.
Ms. HOULAHAN. Madam Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
I rise today in support of my amendment which would increase the
Veterans Health Administration Medical Services account by $1.7 million
in order to increase the minimum amount that must be spent on gender-
specific care for women at the VA with the appropriate offset.
Women represent the fastest growing cohort in our Nation's military,
and in the past 4 years, the number of women veterans using VHA
services has increased by 22 percent. Yet, we are not providing the VA
with the resources it needs to provide quality care for women.
For example, in my community of Coatesville, the VA does not have a
full-time OB-GYN. Women veterans in my community must wait until 1 of
the only 2 days a month that an OB-GYN visits the VA or find their way
to distant Philadelphia for an appointment.
This lack of available gender-specific care is in no way unique to my
community. It is widespread across our country's VA centers. Our women
who have served deserve better from us, and this amendment helps ensure
that we are specifically addressing the unique healthcare needs of
these courageous women.
Mr. CARTER of Texas. Madam Chairwoman, I yield 1 minute to the
gentleman from California (Mr. McCarthy), the minority leader of the
United States House.
Mr. McCARTHY. Madam Chairwoman, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
I rise today in support of my amendment to H.R. 3055, which is
included in the en bloc amendment.
The intent behind my amendment is straightforward. It is to encourage
the VA to complete construction of medical clinics that the Congress
authorized 10 years ago in public law. Unfortunately, veterans in my
district have now patiently waited for the new community-based
outpatient clinic in Bakersfield to be built for more than a decade.
Of the 15 new clinics authorized in 2009, a decade ago, the
Bakersfield clinic is the only facility that has not been built or
opened. That means that thousands of veterans in California's 23rd
Congressional District must continue to depend on a very outdated
clinic. This is unacceptable.
In 2015, our constituents and I were informed that a new VA clinic
was set to be built, only for that to be derailed by the now-failed
California high-speed rail project, condemning the property the new
clinic was supposed to be built on.
{time} 0930
This forced the VA to start all over again, further delaying building
our new clinic.
Now, last October there was this great excitement in the community. I
welcomed it. It was the long-awaited news that the VA announced that it
finally awarded the contract for a new 30,000-square-foot medical
clinic in Bakersfield on Knudsen Drive. This new clinic would be state
of the art, and it would be able to care for the rise in female
veterans and the homeless veterans out there as well. It was the
modernization that we have all been yearning for.
Unfortunately, something happened. The new clinic has been subject to
several, what I would call, dilatory actions. Most of them have been
resolved or dismissed, which only furthers the delay.
Now, you can protest. Here is a dirty little secret we should all
learn: You can have the lease on an outdated clinic, bid for the new
one and lose it, but then you can protest.
Do you get punished for protesting? No.
Do you know what happens? Our government rewards you. Because you go
beyond the lease, they now pay the outdated clinic more money than they
paid before, and, lo and behold, they are the ones protesting because
they didn't win the contract.
That is unacceptable. Our veterans have fought too hard to wait too
long to get this job done. So the VA must move forward and be
consistent with the application of law and regulation.
Let's build this clinic on Knudsen Drive that won the award, and
let's treat our veterans to a new, modern facility that works for those
who really are in need of care, from mental health to a new growth in
women veterans, to, even, veterans who are homeless. Let's show that we
will never forget the acts that they did for us and how they worked so
hard for all of us.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman
from New Jersey (Mr. Gottheimer).
Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Madam Chairwoman, I thank Chairwoman Wasserman
Schultz and Ranking Member Carter for their work on this legislation.
Madam Chair, I rise in support of en bloc package 1, which includes
my amendment to H.R. 3055 to help address critical staffing shortages
at the VA.
Madam Chair, we in Congress have no higher obligation than to care
for our veterans who had our backs, and that starts with making sure
they have the resources they need when they come home.
The number of unfilled positions at the VA has grown steadily, and
currently it is nearly at 49,000 across the entire VA system.
Madam Chair, 49,000 vacancies is a huge problem that we must tackle.
One constituent in my district, an 89-year-old, has been waiting on the
adjudication of his appeal to the VA for more than a year. That is
absurd. When we called the VA to inquire, we were told: ``This is just
how long it takes.''
Madam Chair, the Appropriations Subcommittee on Military
Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies looked closely at
this issue and stated that the committee is concerned that the
significant number of vacancies will lead to longer waits for veterans
going without service.
I agree. We must address this problem and address it quickly. Our
veterans don't have time for longer waits for doctor appointments,
mental health crises, housing assistance, and so much more.
Our veterans deserve better, and I am proud to offer this amendment.
Mr. CARTER of Texas. Madam Chairwoman, I yield 1 minute to the
gentlewoman from Arizona (Mrs. Lesko).
Mrs. LESKO. Madam Chair, I am proud to sponsor an amendment that will
help women veterans. My amendment would ensure that no less than $3
million under the Veterans Health Administration should be directed
toward
[[Page H5014]]
women-only inpatient clinics for mental healthcare.
The current system could force women suffering with PTSD caused by
military sexual trauma to be admitted into a male-dominant ward, which
could further traumatize or revictimize them.
The veteran suicide rate is, sadly, only increasing, and we need to
protect our veterans when they are feeling vulnerable. Women veterans
should not be humiliated, marginalized, traumatized, or victimized to
the point of giving up and believing that suicide is the only way out.
We need to protect them.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CARTER of Texas. Madam Chairwoman, I yield 45 seconds to the
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Allen).
Mr. ALLEN. Madam Chair, I rise to thank the chairwoman and ranking
member for including the Allen-Hice amendment in this en bloc package.
Congressman Hice and I worked together to introduce this bipartisan
amendment to fully fund the President's budget request for construction
of the second project of the cyber instructional facility at Fort
Gordon.
As we all know, cyber is the present and future of modern warfare. In
Georgia 12, the district I have the honor of representing, we are at
the forefront of advanced cyber innovation. In the changing electronic
world in which we live, U.S. Army Cyber Command is an increasingly
significant part of our national security efforts.
U.S. Army Cyber Command is currently transitioning to Ford Gordon,
and this transition requires construction of state-of-the-art
facilities that can accommodate the rapid change of pace required in
cyberspace.
I thank Congressman Hice for joining me in introducing this
amendment, and I urge the passage of this en bloc package.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CARTER of Texas. Madam Chair, I yield 45 seconds to the gentleman
from Georgia (Mr. Hice).
Mr. HICE of Georgia. Madam Chair, I thank my colleague, Mr. Allen,
for his leadership in this.
The U.S. Army's Cyber Center of Excellence is critical for cyberspace
operations, signal and communications networks, and electronic warfare.
The center carries out its important mission by developing mission
doctrine, educational programs, personnel, and facilities solutions. It
is of the utmost importance that we make sure this tradition of
training world-class, highly skilled cyber professionals is kept
intact.
Madam Chair, I urge passage of the Allen-Hice amendment to fully fund
this project, and I urge all my colleagues to do the same.
I thank my neighbor and my friend for yielding the time, and it is an
honor to work with Mr. Allen on this important amendment.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman
from New Jersey (Mr. Gottheimer), who has been a passionate advocate
standing up for members of the Armed Forces as well as the veterans of
this country in his district.
Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Madam Chair, I thank Chairwoman Wasserman Schultz and
Ranking Member Carter for their work on this legislation and
leadership.
Madam Chair, I rise in support of amendments en bloc No. 6, which
includes my amendment to H.R. 3055 to increase our investment in the
Veterans Health Administration for the purpose of hiring more mental
health professionals.
Madam Chair, we in Congress have no higher obligation than to care
for our veterans.
According to the inspector general for the VA, mental health
professionals are the most needed occupation at the VA. Many of those
in the veterans community are suffering from mental health conditions
with so many of them, unfortunately, suffering in silence. Less than
half of all returning veterans in need receive the mental health
treatment that they deserve and need, and that is unacceptable.
We have seen an increased incidence of post-traumatic stress
disorder, traumatic brain injury, and depression from our veterans
coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan. My office has worked with a
number of veterans who are suffering from PTSD to make sure they get
access to the care they have earned.
An average of 20 veterans die by suicide every day. In New Jersey, my
home State, the rate of suicide in the veterans community is almost
double that of the rest of the population. This is shameful.
Madam Chairwoman, surely we can all come together as a body to
support this most pressing and urgent need. My amendment will help do
that, and I am proud to offer it.
Mr. CARTER of Texas. Madam Chairwoman, I yield 1 minute to the
gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Johnson).
Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Chair, I rise in support of my two
amendments that were made part of the en bloc that we are debating.
My first amendment reflects congressional intent for the Army to
prioritize necessary funding for its combat development centers. These
centers throughout the United States play a critical role in ensuring a
capable and ready ground force.
Take, for example, Fort Polk, which is home to the Joint Readiness
Training Center, JRTC, located in Louisiana's Fourth Congressional
District near my home. Fort Polk JRTC provides invaluable training to
prepare for the unique situations and challenges a unit may face while
being deployed.
As we continue to grow our ground forces, investing in the necessary
infrastructure to replace the existing facilities at Fort Polk, such as
the Joint Operations Center, we remember, is paramount. This much-
needed upgrade would allow our troops better training and ensure full
readiness for when our men and women in uniform are called upon to
defend freedom around the world.
My second amendment ensures congressional intent that the Air Force
continues to maintain its revised plan for construction and upgrades to
the Weapons Generation Facility enterprise. Ensuring these critical
upgrades to those facilities is critical to the national security
interests of the U.S., especially given the recent aggressive actions
from our adversary. Deterrence is a requisite to maintaining peace, and
if Congress is going to be serious about preserving our nuclear
infrastructure, these upgrades must be prioritized.
My home State of Louisiana has invested millions of dollars to pave
the way for the Weapons Generation Facility at Barksdale Air Force
Base, home to Global Strike Command. I urge the Air Force to continue
to work with Congress and the Louisiana delegation to support the wide
array of strategic deterrence that we do there at Global Strike.
Madam Chair, in closing, I am proud to represent both these vital
military installations here in Congress. Both are critical to our
national security interests in the United States, and I appreciate the
Appropriations Committee for giving it due attention.
Madam Chair, I urge support of both amendments.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CARTER of Texas. Madam Chair, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the
gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Abraham).
Mr. ABRAHAM. Madam Chair, I rise today in support of the two
amendments included in this en bloc package. The first is to ensure
that the Air Force prioritizes construction of the Weapons Generation
Facility at Barksdale Air Force Base.
The Louisiana congressional delegation and I have continued to push
the Air Force for this project because of its strategic importance to
our Nation's security and nuclear strategy. Millions of Federal dollars
have been invested in projects to prepare for this facility, and last
year, we in Congress prioritized funding for a new gate entrance at
Barksdale.
The Weapons Generation Facility at Barksdale is a national security
imperative. Funding this project cannot wait any longer, and I
encourage the Air Force to prioritize funding for this project.
The second amendment I would like to speak on is to prioritize the
funding of our Army's combat development centers. One of these is the
Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana.
Fort Polk has supported training operations for our Army for decades.
The
[[Page H5015]]
training our soldiers receive at Fort Polk is the best and closest they
will get to combat without actually being deployed. This training is
imperative to readiness and our national security.
We need to do a better job about resourcing the infrastructure needs
of these training centers, and we must prioritize funding for them.
Madam Chair, I want to thank my colleagues for working with
Congressman Johnson and me on these amendments, and I look forward to
seeing them pass.
Mr. CARTER of Texas. Madam Chairwoman, I yield 1 minute to the
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Steil).
Mr. STEIL. Madam Chair, I rise in support of my amendment to ensure
that the VA suicide prevention programs are adequately funded. This
budget-neutral amendment provides $1 million to those programs.
Every day, we lose 22 veterans to suicide. These are American
heroes--fathers, husbands, wives, sons, and daughters--valued members
of our community. We must support our veterans and fight for them as
they fought for us. They will not go through this battle alone.
June is PTSD Awareness Month. We must stand together, Democrats and
Republicans, to ensure that our veterans get the help that they need.
This amendment is about supporting veterans and ensuring that they
have access to mental healthcare resources. Madam Chair, I urge my
colleagues to support this amendment.
Mr. CARTER of Texas. Madam Chair, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the
gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill), who will be batting cleanup.
Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Chair, I thank my good friend from Texas
for yielding me this time.
Madam Chairwoman, my amendment in this en bloc package is very
simple. It transfers $1.5 million from the general administration
account to the homeless assistance programs and suicide prevention
outreach.
According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, 40,000
veterans are homeless in any given night in this great country. In
Arkansas, we have coordinated robust efforts in Little Rock to combat
homelessness, but still 250 veterans can experience homelessness on any
given day.
I have got three veterans on my constituent team. They spend time in
our shelters every month helping vets. Our vets deserve that extra
touch. One of those safe places is St. Francis House, a nonprofit in
Little Rock that has done exceptional work to help our veterans
experiencing homelessness. For over 30 years, they have been providing
transitional housing for homeless veterans.
Our veterans put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms and
safety, and in return, we need to do everything we can to ensure they
get the proper attention and care that they deserve. We must all work
together to continue to move forward, addressing this issue that
plagues too many of our veterans across the country and help those
suffering from the plague of homelessness.
Madam Chair, I urge passage of my amendment.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CARTER of Texas. Madam Chairwoman, may I ask how much time is
remaining.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman has 30 seconds remaining.
{time} 0945
Mr. CARTER of Texas. Madam Chair, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman
from Illinois (Mr. Bost).
Mr. BOST. Madam Chair, I rise today in support of this en bloc
package.
My amendment highlights the positive work done by public universities
and law schools offering pro bono legal services for our Nation's
veterans.
As the ranking member of the Disability Assistance and Memorial
Affairs Subcommittee, I understand that putting together a proper
application for disability benefits can be difficult at times.
In my district, Southern Illinois University Carbondale School of Law
offers assistance to veterans when appealing disability claims. The
program has helped thousands of these heroes and increases the chances
for the veterans receiving positive responses in a timely manner.
I thank the chair and ranking member for including this in the en
bloc package, and I urge its support.
The Acting CHAIR. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my
time.
Mr. LYNCH. Madam Chair, I rise in support of the en bloc which
includes my amendment providing an additional $1 million to the medical
services account, to be directed towards public-private partnerships to
help address veteran suicide prevention; PTSD and TBI treatment; and
substance use disorders.
Madam Chair, taking care of our veterans means taking care of both
their physical and mental well-being. Tragically, we are losing
veterans at a rate of around 20 a day to suicide, many of whom are also
dealing with PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, and/or substance use
disorder.
While the VA is doing tremendous work to reach out to our veterans,
the need is still great so we must use every tool available to help
them. Through this public-private partnership program the VA will work
with research universities, teaching hospitals and other community
entities to reach more of our veterans so they can get the help and
care they need.
I thank the committee for including my amendment in the en bloc and
would urge my colleagues to support it and the underlying bill.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendments en bloc offered
by the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz).
The en bloc amendments were agreed to.
Amendment No. 198 Offered by Mr. Blumenauer
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 198
printed in part B of House Report 116-119.
Mr. BLUMENAUER. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
At the end of division D (before the short title), insert
the following:
Sec. __. None of the funds made available by this Act may
be used to implement, administer, or enforce the policy
limitation in section 3(b) of the Veterans Health
Administration directive 1315 (issued on December 8, 2017),
or any limitation of the same substance.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 445, the gentleman
from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oregon.
Mr. BLUMENAUER. Madam Chair, this has been a very important week in
the evolution of the Federal policy to end the failed policy of
prohibition on cannabis.
Yesterday, the House overwhelmingly approved my amendment that would
prohibit the Department of Justice from interfering with any State-
legal cannabis activities. We had also approved an amendment that
granted the same protections to the Tribes.
This is remarkable progress that we have seen, but it is just an
effort by Congress to catch up to where the rest of the American public
is.
For the last 23 years, American voters have changed the policies that
are outmoded and dangerous. Most recently, we have seen a wave of
activity dealing not just with medical marijuana but dealing with adult
use. The public, by a two-thirds margin, supports this.
And, when we talk about medical marijuana, it is like the Fourth of
July. Ninety percent of the American public believes that we ought to
have access to medical marijuana.
I have been working in this Congress to extend the same opportunities
to our veterans, who, if anything, need medical marijuana more than any
other category of our citizens. We lost 7,000 people to the wars in
Afghanistan and Iraq, but we have lost over 100,000 veterans to
suicides and opioid overdoses.
The VA, I am afraid, has not been as helpful as it should be. They
prescribe opioids for our veterans at a rate 50 percent higher than
others. Our veterans are twice as likely to die from overdose.
I am deeply concerned about that. That is why I have repeatedly
advanced this amendment. Two sessions ago, it passed the House, it
passed the Senate, and it was in the final version of the bill, only to
be stripped out by the Republican leadership.
An illustration of how far we have evolved: The House leadership that
[[Page H5016]]
stripped this provision out was headed by Speaker Boehner, who is now a
spokesperson for the cannabis industry, having described that he has
evolved on this issue and thinks it is a good idea.
We haven't evolved, in this Congress, in providing protections for
the VA. Even though this amendment has passed repeatedly, all of a
sudden, the VA has decided, well, they would be putting their doctors
at risk.
It never came up before. If we had known about it, we could work
around it. And I think we can and should work to fix this.
It is outrageous. And if you talk to people like the Veterans
Cannabis Coalition, or talk to veterans in your own district, they will
tell you that their lives have been transformed by access to medical
cannabis and they don't want highly addictive, dangerous opioids.
We need to do right by them. I am going to, reluctantly, withdraw
this amendment, this amendment that has passed repeatedly on the floor
of the House and is so badly needed.
And I hope that we will be able to work together to fix this little
quirk, to make sure that VA doctors can do what doctors everywhere do
in States where medical cannabis is legal and be able to work with
their patients.
The VA ought to give their patients, our veterans, the same
consideration to have them be able to have these conversations with the
doctors that know them best.
As I say, Madam Chair, I will reluctantly withdraw it, confident that
we can work together to solve it and, ultimately, give our veterans the
access that they deserve and need.
Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time, and I withdraw the
amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The amendment is withdrawn.
Amendment No. 199 Offered by Mr. Walberg
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 199
printed in part B of House Report 116-119.
Mr. WALBERG. Madam Chair, I rise having an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
At the end of division D (before the short title), insert
the following:
Sec. __. None of the funds made available by this Act may
be used by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to implement,
administer, or enforce section 17.3240 of title 38, Code of
Federal Regulations, as proposed in 82 Fed. Reg. 48018
(October 16, 2017) and amended in 83 Fed. Reg. 61137
(November 28, 2018).
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 445, the gentleman
from Michigan (Mr. Walberg) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan.
Mr. WALBERG. Madam Chair, I rise today in support of an important
issue: preserving veterans' choices over their prosthetic services.
While I am prepared to withdraw this amendment--we have had
discussions about that--I would hope that I can continue to work with
the chairwoman as we move to conference on improving the underlaying
report language.
Last year, the VA released a draft proposed rule which would have
significantly curtailed veterans' choices in how they receive their
prosthetic or orthotic care.
While we appreciate the Secretary's efforts to address the concerns
of the veterans, I remain concerned that the proposal does not go far
enough to protect veterans' ability to select high-quality, convenient,
and efficient services from community-based providers of their choice.
This proposal would have upended more than 60 years of successful
partnership between the VA and local prosthetists who contract with the
VA and have long-term relationships with their patients. This long-term
relationship is critical for the unique, patient-centered care needs of
prosthetics services.
I would also like to thank my colleague, Representative Rutherford,
for working on this issue with me.
Madam Chair, I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman
Schultz) to at least assure me that we can continue to work on this
issue together.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman for
yielding.
I appreciate the gentleman from Michigan for bringing attention to
this important issue. We can all agree that we want to let veterans
choose the best prosthetics provider for his or her needs.
As you know, we included report language expressing concern on this
issue, but I do agree that more needs to be done. We want the best care
for our veterans, and we need to find a way forward to determine the
appropriate next steps.
We should work with the authorizers and the VA to thoughtfully work
on this issue to find the best solution for veterans needing artificial
limbs.
I commit to working with the gentleman on this issue. We are not
quite ready to make a decision on the best approach to this as we move
towards conference. I thank the gentleman for his willingness to
withdraw the amendment.
Mr. WALBERG. Madam Chair, based upon that and, also, an understanding
of the chairwoman's willingness to at least look at how we can find an
adequate solution to meet the needs of our servicemembers who have
given their all for our great country, I am willing to continue working
on that.
Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time, and I am willing to
withdraw this amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The amendment is withdrawn.
Amendment No. 206 Offered by Mr. Bost
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 206
printed in part B of House Report 116-119.
Mr. BOST. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
At the end of division D (before the short title), insert
the following:
Sec. __. None of the funds made available by this Act may
be used in contravention of Executive Order 13858.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 445, the gentleman
from Illinois (Mr. Bost) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.
Mr. BOST. Madam Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment in
support of the President's executive order entitled ``Strengthening
Buy-American Preferences for Infrastructure Projects.''
When Federal agencies spend tax dollars, those dollars should be
spent on American-made products. This not only includes items directly
procured by the Federal Government but, also, those funded through
Federal aid programs.
Each year, the Federal Government will spend hundreds of billions of
dollars procuring goods and services. Many billions more will be
provided directly to States to build our Nation's military
infrastructure.
Unfortunately, buy-American preference requirements are not
consistently applied between various agencies. This may result in the
loss of jobs and missing contract opportunities for American businesses
and workers.
To address these potential shortfalls, the President's executive
order directs agency heads to identify opportunities to maximize the
use of American-made products.
I strongly support those efforts. Federal agencies should already be
following this executive order, and my amendment would simply reinforce
the President's efforts.
Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, I claim the time to speak on the
amendment, although I do not oppose the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentlewoman from Florida is
recognized for 5 minutes.
There was no objection.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, I do fully support Strengthening
Buy-American Preferences for Infrastructure Projects. That language is
already included in this legislation, and I appreciate the gentleman
underscoring the importance of our commitment to buy-American policies.
I urge all my colleagues to support this amendment, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
[[Page H5017]]
Mr. BOST. Madam Chair, I appreciate the gentlewoman's support of the
amendment. I also support the cosponsorship from Congressman Dan
Lipinski and his support of these efforts as well.
Madam Chair, with that, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Illinois
will be postponed.
It is now in order to consider amendment No. 208 printed in part B of
House Report 116-119.
Amendment No. 219 Offered by Mr. Cunningham
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 219
printed in part B of House Report 116-119.
Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
At the end of division D (before the short title), insert
the following:
Sec. __. None of the funds made available by this Act may
be used to carry out a new or additional Base Realignment and
Closure (BRAC) Round.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 445, the gentleman
from South Carolina (Mr. Cunningham) and a Member opposed each will
control 5 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from South Carolina.
Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Madam Chair, I rise in support of my bipartisan
amendment which makes clear that no funding made available by this bill
can be used to carry out another wasteful round of base realignment and
closure, or BRAC.
Folks in the Lowcountry still remember the disastrous effects BRAC
had on our economy in the past. Our region lost more than 20,000 jobs,
according to some estimates, after the 1993 BRAC Commission recommended
the closure of the Charleston Naval Shipyard.
My amendment would make sure that the Joint Base Charleston, Parris
Island, Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, and the Beaufort Naval
Hospital do not suffer the same fate.
{time} 1000
Combined, these important national security assets are estimated to
account for nearly $13 billion in economic impact and support 78,000
jobs.
But this amendment isn't just about preserving my district's economy.
It is also about fiscal responsibility. The last BRAC round in 2005
cost taxpayers over $35 billion and is not expected to save even one-
third of that.
This is funding that should have gone to rebuilding our military and
improving its readiness but was, instead, spent devastating military
communities across the country.
This is why I am asking that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle
join me in supporting this amendment, which will ensure that military
communities in the Lowcountry and across the Nation are spared the
effects of another reckless BRAC round.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I claim the time to speak on the
amendment, although I do not oppose it.
The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Schneider). Without objection, the gentlewoman
from Florida is recognized for 5 minutes.
There was no objection.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I rise to point out that DOD has
testified that it has excess facilities and needs a way to deal with
that excess.
Mr. Chair, the underlying bill does not include any funds to initiate
a BRAC round, and I have no objection to the amendment. I appreciate
the gentleman calling attention to the economic impact of BRAC rounds,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chair, in closing, I thank the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Ratcliffe) for joining me in offering this amendment. I also
thank Chairman McGovern and my colleagues on the Rules Committee for
allowing this important amendment to come to the floor for debate.
I ask that my colleagues vote in favor of this amendment to ensure
that our military's limited resources are not wasted on another round
of BRAC.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Cunningham).
The amendment was agreed to.
Amendment No. 220 Offered by Mr. Golden
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 220
printed in part B of House Report 116-119.
Mr. GOLDEN. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 395, line 11, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $5,000,000)''.
Page 397, line 18, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $5,200,000)''.
Page 397, line 22, after the dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $5,200,000)''.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 445, the gentleman
from Maine (Mr. Golden) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maine.
Mr. GOLDEN. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and
I rise to offer my amendment to H.R. 3055. This amendment would
increase by about $5 million the medical facilities account.
I did want to talk about a specific problem. I think that most rural
States and communities understand that when it comes to trying to take
care of our veterans, specifically, those who are struggling with
mental health issues, and perhaps substance use disorder issues as
well, it is an issue of care closer to home and access to care.
When we have a veteran in a State like Maine who is in need of acute
mental healthcare services and needs long-term inpatient mental
healthcare, it has become known in the veterans community in Maine that
that care is only available to veterans, at closest, in Bedford,
Massachusetts, or perhaps as far away as New York or even further in
order to get access to those beds. It is the same when they are in need
of long-term substance use treatment programs.
I have seen time and time again, working with veterans who are in
need of those services, that this is a significant problem. It is a
barrier to care. It keeps people from coming in the door at the VA to
ask for help.
It is not just an issue in rural areas among veterans. The problem is
mirrored in the greater community.
This is not an instance where veterans can go to the community to get
long-term inpatient care because, to begin with, the beds aren't there
in rural America. I think this is an instance where we really need the
VA to step up to try to make sure that every State has a baseline
capability to provide long-term inpatient mental healthcare services
and substance use disorder services to veterans as close to their homes
and their communities as possible.
Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman
Schultz), and I thank her for working with me on this issue and for all
the work that she is doing on the committee.
I also thank the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Fulcher) for joining me on
this. I know Idaho is in the same boat as Maine on this one.
Mr. Chair, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman
from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz).
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, we have recognized that there is a
lack of available overnight bed space for mental health patients at VA
facilities, and this is a huge issue that the VA is facing. In fact, we
did provide an additional $20 million within the medical facilities
account in the base bill as an effort to begin to address this dire
need.
This amendment will add an additional, vital $5 million to expand VA
facilities and provide additional bed
[[Page H5018]]
space for veterans requiring overnight mental healthcare. We can never
do too much to provide mental healthcare for our veterans.
I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. I congratulate the
gentleman on his leadership on this issue.
Mr. GOLDEN. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. FULCHER. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment,
although I do not oppose it.
The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman from Idaho is
recognized for 5 minutes.
There was no objection.
Mr. FULCHER. Mr. Chair, this amendment will invest $5 million into
those much-needed beds at long-term care VA facilities. It is offset by
a reduction for that same amount from the VA IT systems account budget.
Most of Idaho's veterans served in Vietnam, and they are between 65
and 74 years old. While people are living longer today, they also need
more care. And in this case, there are mental healthcare concerns.
Passage of this amendment helps in that regard, giving more bed space
to veterans in need of long-term healthcare. These funds will also
provide options to help Idaho's heroes to remain closer to their
communities. Many studies have found that people tend to respond better
to treatment when they can be closer to their families.
Please note that this does not add to our growing deficit.
I thank my colleague from Maine, Congressman Jared Golden, for
working with me on this bipartisan amendment and for his service to our
country in the United States Marine Corps.
Improving care for our veterans should always be an issue that we can
agree on. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in
supporting this amendment.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GOLDEN. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support the amendment.
I again thank Congressman Fulcher for joining me in this. It is
critically important.
I think he made a great point. With care closer to home, it is about
relationships, and it is about trust when serving a population like
veterans. Also, when talking about things like mental health and
substance use treatment care programs, that kind of familiarity and
trust goes an awfully long way.
I have talked to healthcare professionals who talk about continuity
of care as well. Even in this age, with the internet, when trying to
coordinate continuity of care from New York to Maine, when a veteran
steps outside of that inpatient care, it becomes very difficult. This
would all be solved, I think, or at least be much more efficient, if we
had the ability to take care of our veterans in our home States, like
Maine and Idaho.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Maine (Mr. Golden).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Mr. GOLDEN. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Maine will
be postponed.
Amendment No. 221 Offered by Mr. McAdams
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 221
printed in part B of House Report 116-119.
Mr. McADAMS. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 390, line 22, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $1) (reduced by $1)''.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 445, the gentleman
from Utah (Mr. McAdams) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah.
Mr. McADAMS. Mr. Chair, I rise today to speak on my amendment
encouraging the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve veteran
credit reporting and to implement important financial protections for
our veterans.
I thank the bipartisan cosponsors of this amendment, Representative
Axne from Iowa, Representatives Gonzalez and Stivers from Ohio,
Representative Barr from Kentucky, and Representative Allred from
Texas.
Congress created the Veterans Choice Program to respond to
inexcusable wait time delays for veterans receiving medical care at VA
facilities. The Choice program allowed veterans to access non-VA
medical facilities, providing for faster options in receiving necessary
medical care.
While veterans saw increased access to healthcare, their financial
health took a hit as the VA and third-party providers failed to process
payments in a timely fashion and actually made billing errors,
resulting in negative credit reporting for our veterans even though
those payments were often not the responsibility of the veteran.
My amendment encourages the VA to make good on legislation that was
enacted last year to ensure that these credit reporting errors are
fixed.
This legislation establishes a process in which veterans can dispute
negatively reported credit scores due to VA billing mishaps. It also
requires credit bureaus to remove information related to a veteran's
fully paid or settled medical debt that has been characterized as
delinquent, charged off, or in collection. This program will ensure our
veterans are not financially inhibited because of government error.
The VA was tasked with establishing a database and process to verify
whether a medical debt is related to the billing errors and filing
mishaps within a year of enactment. This 1-year grace period allowed
the VA to establish a program to check medical debts, verify debt
accuracy, and provide a solution for our veterans. However, the VA
missed that 1-year period at the end of last month.
My amendment is simple. It simply instructs the VA to submit to
Congress an implementation plan, including expected timeline and
resource requirements for the VA to come into compliance with the law
and to establish these important protections for our veterans.
Good credit for our veterans is the difference between qualifying for
a home loan or not. It is the difference between investing in their
education, being able to buy a car, or qualifying for a small business
loan.
This important issue cannot wait. Our Nation's veterans should not be
punished because of government billing errors. They deserve better,
which is why I encourage a ``yes'' on my bipartisan amendment.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, as the designee of the gentlewoman
from New York (Mrs. Lowey), I move to strike the last word.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Florida is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I rise to support this amendment. I
agree with my colleague from Utah, and I appreciate him drawing
attention to this important issue.
Veterans' credit scores should not be negatively impacted by untimely
or improper payments by VA to third-party providers. This is an
unconscionable outcome to the irresponsible actions of the VA.
I understand VA is working with the gentleman on this issue, and it
is still in the process of setting up a database that will allow
consumer reporting agencies to verify whether or not a debt furnished
to a consumer reporting agency is actually a veteran's medical debt, as
required by Public Law 115-174, the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief,
and Consumer Protection Act. Unfortunately, due to the complexity of
setting up this database, it will take longer than the 1-year deadline
required by the law.
We must hold the VA accountable for timely payments, and we cannot
accept veterans suffering the financial consequences of VA's improper
or untimely payments.
I do commit to working with the gentleman on this issue as we move
through the process. We need to make sure that when our veterans come
home, they are able to seamlessly transition back to civilian life and
not have obstacles thrown in their path by the VA's own mistakes.
[[Page H5019]]
Mr. Chair, I appreciate the gentleman offering this amendment to
protect our veterans and protect their credit. I urge my colleagues to
support this amendment. I know the ranking member joins me in that
effort.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. McADAMS. Mr. Chair, I encourage Members to support this
bipartisan amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Utah (Mr. McAdams).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Mr. McADAMS. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Utah will be
postponed.
{time} 1015
Amendment No. 226 Offered by Mr. Cunningham
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 226
printed in part B of House Report 116-119.
Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
At the end of division D (before the short title), add the
following:
Sec. __. None of the funds made available by this Act may
be used in contravention of section 101(e)(8) of title 10,
United States Code.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 445, the gentleman
from South Carolina (Mr. Cunningham) and a Member opposed each will
control 5 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from South Carolina.
Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of my amendment, which
would further emphasize our need to ensure our military is prepared for
the ever-growing risk of climate change and rising sea levels. To that
end, my amendment would make sure further DOD construction projects
meet military resilience standards.
I have said time and time again that climate change is our greatest
nonmilitary threat, but climate change also poses a significant threat
to our military's readiness. Nowhere is this clearer than in the
Lowcountry, which is home to some of our Nation's most critical
national security assets. Parris Island, one of only two military bases
that makes enlisted marines and the only military base that makes
female enlisted marines, faces frequent flooding and could be flooded
for over a third of the year by 2050.
Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, the only place in the world where
pilots are trained to fly the F-35B, faces similar flooding risks,
which threaten to disrupt training and fielding of these aircraft.
Just this year, Joint Base Charleston was identified by the Air Force
as one of the top five bases most susceptible to the risks associated
with climate change.
I am offering this amendment because it is imperative that these
important defense assets are prepared, not only because they are
critical to our national security, but also because they are an
indispensable part of our economy in the Lowcountry.
Combined, these important national security assets are estimated to
account for nearly $13 billion in economic impact and support 78,000
jobs in our district.
Mr. Chair, this is an urgent issue that threatens military
installations across this Nation, so I ask that my colleagues join me
in support of my amendment and the readiness of our Armed Forces.
Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms.
Wasserman Schultz).
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
The past year has been particularly devastating to military
installations in multiple States, including my own. There are bases
that experienced hurricanes, tornadoes, and massive coastal and river
flooding.
Over time, gradual sea level changes magnify the impacts of storm
surge and may eventually result in permanent inundation of facilities
and installations.
In my home State of Florida, Tyndall Air Force Base was devastated by
Hurricane Michael.
Building resilient DOD facilities that can sustain the impacts of
damaging storms and flooding is no longer an option but an essential
requirement.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support the amendment. I commend
the gentleman for his leadership on this issue.
Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chair, in closing, I thank the gentlewoman from
Florida for speaking in favor of my amendment and for all of her hard
work in constructing this year's Military Construction and Veterans
Affairs appropriations bill.
This legislation makes significant investments toward ensuring our
men and women in uniform have the facilities they need to keep our
Nation safe and improving services at the VA. I hope my colleagues on
both sides of the aisle join me in supporting my amendment as well as
the underlying bills.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Cunningham).
The amendment was agreed to.
Amendment No. 228 Offered by Mr. Kim
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 228
printed in part B of House Report 116-119.
Mr. KIM. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 371, line 21, after the dollar amount insert
``(reduced by $7,000,000) (increased by $7,000,000)''.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 445, the gentleman
from New Jersey (Mr. Kim) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.
Mr. KIM. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Chair, as the vice chairman of the Readiness Subcommittee of the
House Armed Services Committee, improving road safety at and around our
military facilities is an important part of maintaining and enhancing
military readiness.
Simply put, if our servicemen and -women can't safely drive, they
can't safely train, and that puts our military at a distinct
disadvantage.
We have dozens of military facilities across our country, but I want
to give you one example of how prioritizing road safety will improve
our readiness.
My district, made up of Burlington and Ocean Counties in New Jersey,
is home to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. The joint base is a key
military training facility, but the lack of proper investment in road
safety projects has impeded our military's ability to train.
By building a simple overpass over Route 539, the Army Reserve would
have access to more than hundreds of additional training acres. Because
one-third of Army reservists live within a short drive of under 4 hours
from the joint base, additional training would save us money and give
them more time with their families.
Furthermore, this would allow the Army Reserve to conduct much-needed
training exercises with night vision equipment used in war zones,
training exercises that they simply cannot execute because the roads
aren't safe enough.
This is one example, but it is not the only one.
This is a chance for us to stand with our servicemen and -women, a
chance for us to stand for readiness, and a chance for us to stand for
safety.
Mr. Chair, I urge support for the men and women across our country
who serve and the adoption of this commonsense amendment.
Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms.
Wasserman Schultz).
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
The maintenance of our roads in and around our military installations
is a must for the safety of our servicemembers and their families. It
is also key for the training and readiness of our troops.
[[Page H5020]]
I look forward to working with the gentleman in future budget
submissions to make sure that we can address this important issue and
protect the safety of our troops.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support the amendment.
Mr. KIM. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida for her
words of support here.
This is something that I find all of us are committed to, in terms of
ensuring that our armed services men and women have everything that
they need to be able to do their jobs and be able to have the success
of their missions.
Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida for her support, and
I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Kim).
The amendment was agreed to.
Announcement by the Acting Chair
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, proceedings
will now resume on those amendments printed in part B of House Report
116-119 on which further proceedings were postponed, in the following
order:
Amendment No. 206 by Mr. Bost of Illinois.
Amendment No. 220 by Mr. Golden of Maine.
Amendment No. 221 by Mr. McAdams of Utah.
The Chair will reduce to 2 minutes the time for any electronic vote
after the first vote in this series.
Amendment No. 206 Offered by Mr. Bost
The Acting CHAIR. The unfinished business is the demand for a
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Illinois
(Mr. Bost) on which further proceedings were postponed and on which the
ayes prevailed by voice vote.
The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
The Clerk redesignated the amendment.
Recorded Vote
The Acting CHAIR. A recorded vote has been demanded.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 373,
noes 51, not voting 14, as follows:
[Roll No. 396]
AYES--373
Abraham
Adams
Aderholt
Allen
Allred
Amodei
Arrington
Axne
Bacon
Baird
Balderson
Barragan
Bass
Beatty
Bera
Bergman
Beyer
Bilirakis
Bishop (GA)
Bishop (UT)
Blumenauer
Blunt Rochester
Bonamici
Bost
Boyle, Brendan F.
Brindisi
Brooks (IN)
Brown (MD)
Brownley (CA)
Buchanan
Bucshon
Budd
Burgess
Bustos
Butterfield
Byrne
Carbajal
Carson (IN)
Carter (GA)
Carter (TX)
Cartwright
Case
Casten (IL)
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Chabot
Cheney
Chu, Judy
Cicilline
Cisneros
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Clay
Cleaver
Cohen
Cole
Collins (GA)
Collins (NY)
Comer
Conaway
Connolly
Cook
Cooper
Correa
Costa
Courtney
Cox (CA)
Craig
Crawford
Crist
Crow
Cuellar
Cunningham
Curtis
Davids (KS)
Davis (CA)
Davis, Danny K.
Davis, Rodney
Dean
DeFazio
DeGette
DeLauro
DelBene
Delgado
Demings
DeSaulnier
DesJarlais
Deutch
Diaz-Balart
Dingell
Doggett
Doyle, Michael F.
Duffy
Dunn
Engel
Escobar
Eshoo
Espaillat
Evans
Ferguson
Finkenauer
Fitzpatrick
Fleischmann
Fletcher
Flores
Fortenberry
Foster
Frankel
Fudge
Fulcher
Gabbard
Gaetz
Gallego
Garamendi
Garcia (IL)
Garcia (TX)
Gianforte
Gibbs
Golden
Gomez
Gonzalez (OH)
Gonzalez (TX)
Gottheimer
Granger
Graves (GA)
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Green (TX)
Griffith
Grijalva
Guest
Guthrie
Haaland
Hagedorn
Harder (CA)
Hartzler
Hayes
Heck
Higgins (LA)
Higgins (NY)
Hill (AR)
Hill (CA)
Himes
Holding
Hollingsworth
Horn, Kendra S.
Horsford
Houlahan
Hoyer
Huffman
Huizenga
Hunter
Hurd (TX)
Jackson Lee
Jayapal
Johnson (GA)
Johnson (LA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson (SD)
Johnson (TX)
Joyce (OH)
Joyce (PA)
Kaptur
Katko
Keating
Keller
Kelly (IL)
Kelly (PA)
Kennedy
Khanna
Kildee
Kilmer
Kim
Kind
King (IA)
King (NY)
Kinzinger
Krishnamoorthi
Kuster (NH)
Kustoff (TN)
LaHood
LaMalfa
Lamb
Langevin
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Latta
Lawrence
Lawson (FL)
Lee (CA)
Lee (NV)
Lesko
Levin (CA)
Levin (MI)
Lewis
Lieu, Ted
Lipinski
Loebsack
Lofgren
Long
Lowenthal
Lowey
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Lujan
Luria
Lynch
Malinowski
Maloney, Carolyn B.
Maloney, Sean
Marshall
Massie
Mast
Matsui
McAdams
McBath
McCaul
McCollum
McEachin
McGovern
McHenry
McKinley
McNerney
Meeks
Meng
Meuser
Miller
Mitchell
Moolenaar
Mooney (WV)
Moore
Morelle
Moulton
Mucarsel-Powell
Mullin
Murphy
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Neguse
Newhouse
Norcross
Nunes
O'Halleran
Ocasio-Cortez
Olson
Omar
Palazzo
Pallone
Panetta
Pappas
Pascrell
Payne
Pence
Perlmutter
Perry
Peters
Peterson
Phillips
Pingree
Plaskett
Pocan
Porter
Posey
Pressley
Price (NC)
Quigley
Raskin
Ratcliffe
Reed
Reschenthaler
Rice (NY)
Rice (SC)
Richmond
Roby
Rodgers (WA)
Roe, David P.
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rose (NY)
Rouda
Rouzer
Roybal-Allard
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Rush
Rutherford
Ryan
Sablan
Sanchez
Sarbanes
Scalise
Scanlon
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schneider
Schrader
Schrier
Scott (VA)
Scott, Austin
Scott, David
Sensenbrenner
Serrano
Sewell (AL)
Shalala
Sherman
Sherrill
Shimkus
Simpson
Sires
Slotkin
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (WA)
Smucker
Soto
Spanberger
Spano
Speier
Stanton
Stauber
Stefanik
Steil
Steube
Stevens
Stivers
Suozzi
Takano
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Thompson (PA)
Thornberry
Timmons
Tipton
Titus
Tlaib
Tonko
Torres Small (NM)
Trahan
Trone
Turner
Underwood
Upton
Van Drew
Vargas
Veasey
Vela
Velazquez
Visclosky
Walberg
Walden
Walker
Walorski
Waltz
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watkins
Watson Coleman
Webster (FL)
Welch
Wenstrup
Westerman
Wexton
Wild
Williams
Wilson (FL)
Wilson (SC)
Womack
Woodall
Yarmuth
Yoho
Young
Zeldin
NOES--51
Aguilar
Amash
Armstrong
Babin
Banks
Barr
Biggs
Brady
Brooks (AL)
Buck
Burchett
Calvert
Cline
Cloud
Crenshaw
Davidson (OH)
Duncan
Estes
Foxx (NC)
Gallagher
Gohmert
Gooden
Gosar
Green (TN)
Grothman
Harris
Hern, Kevin
Hice (GA)
Hudson
Jordan
Kelly (MS)
Lamborn
Loudermilk
Marchant
McCarthy
McClintock
Meadows
Norman
Palmer
Riggleman
Rose, John W.
Roy
Schweikert
Smith (MO)
Stewart
Taylor
Torres (CA)
Wagner
Weber (TX)
Wittman
Wright
NOT VOTING--14
Cardenas
Clyburn
Cummings
Emmer
Gonzalez-Colon (PR)
Hastings
Herrera Beutler
Jeffries
Kirkpatrick
Norton
Radewagen
Rooney (FL)
San Nicolas
Swalwell (CA)
{time} 1055
Messrs. MEADOWS, LOUDERMILK, CALVERT, ARMSTRONG, McCARTHY, and HUDSON
changed their vote from ``aye'' to ``no.''
Messrs. GRIFFITH, JOHNSON of Louisiana, Ms. SPEIER, Messrs. PERRY,
BYRNE, and ROSE of New York changed their vote from ``no'' to ``aye.''
So the amendment was agreed to.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Amendment No. 220 Offered by Mr. Golden
The Acting CHAIR. The unfinished business is the demand for a
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Maine (Mr.
Golden) on which further proceedings were postponed and on which the
ayes prevailed by voice vote.
The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
The Clerk redesignated the amendment.
Recorded Vote
The Acting CHAIR. A recorded vote has been demanded.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The Acting CHAIR. This will be a 2-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 418,
noes 6, not voting 14, as follows:
[Roll No. 397]
AYES--418
Abraham
Adams
Aderholt
Aguilar
Allen
Allred
Amash
Amodei
Armstrong
Arrington
Axne
Babin
Bacon
Baird
Balderson
Banks
Barr
Barragan
Bass
Beatty
Bera
Bergman
Beyer
Biggs
Bilirakis
Bishop (GA)
Bishop (UT)
Blumenauer
Blunt Rochester
Bonamici
Bost
Boyle, Brendan F.
Brady
Brindisi
Brooks (AL)
Brooks (IN)
Brown (MD)
Buchanan
Buck
Bucshon
Budd
Burchett
Burgess
Bustos
Butterfield
Byrne
Calvert
Carbajal
Cardenas
Carson (IN)
[[Page H5021]]
Carter (GA)
Carter (TX)
Cartwright
Case
Casten (IL)
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Chabot
Cheney
Chu, Judy
Cicilline
Cisneros
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Clay
Cleaver
Cline
Cloud
Cohen
Cole
Collins (GA)
Collins (NY)
Comer
Conaway
Connolly
Cook
Cooper
Correa
Costa
Courtney
Cox (CA)
Craig
Crawford
Crenshaw
Crist
Crow
Cuellar
Cunningham
Curtis
Davids (KS)
Davis (CA)
Davis, Danny K.
Davis, Rodney
Dean
DeFazio
DeGette
DeLauro
DelBene
Delgado
Demings
DeSaulnier
DesJarlais
Deutch
Diaz-Balart
Dingell
Doggett
Doyle, Michael F.
Duffy
Duncan
Dunn
Engel
Escobar
Eshoo
Espaillat
Estes
Evans
Ferguson
Finkenauer
Fitzpatrick
Fleischmann
Fletcher
Flores
Fortenberry
Foster
Foxx (NC)
Frankel
Fudge
Fulcher
Gabbard
Gaetz
Gallagher
Gallego
Garamendi
Garcia (IL)
Garcia (TX)
Gianforte
Gibbs
Gohmert
Golden
Gomez
Gonzalez (OH)
Gonzalez (TX)
Gooden
Gosar
Gottheimer
Granger
Graves (GA)
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Green (TN)
Green (TX)
Griffith
Grijalva
Grothman
Guthrie
Haaland
Hagedorn
Harder (CA)
Hartzler
Hayes
Heck
Hern, Kevin
Hice (GA)
Higgins (LA)
Higgins (NY)
Hill (AR)
Hill (CA)
Himes
Holding
Hollingsworth
Horn, Kendra S.
Horsford
Houlahan
Hoyer
Hudson
Huffman
Huizenga
Hunter
Hurd (TX)
Jackson Lee
Jayapal
Johnson (GA)
Johnson (LA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson (SD)
Johnson (TX)
Jordan
Joyce (OH)
Joyce (PA)
Kaptur
Katko
Keating
Keller
Kelly (IL)
Kelly (MS)
Kelly (PA)
Kennedy
Khanna
Kildee
Kilmer
Kim
Kind
King (IA)
King (NY)
Kinzinger
Krishnamoorthi
Kuster (NH)
Kustoff (TN)
LaHood
LaMalfa
Lamb
Lamborn
Langevin
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Latta
Lawrence
Lawson (FL)
Lee (CA)
Lesko
Levin (CA)
Levin (MI)
Lewis
Lieu, Ted
Lipinski
Loebsack
Lofgren
Long
Loudermilk
Lowenthal
Lowey
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Lujan
Luria
Lynch
Malinowski
Maloney, Carolyn B.
Maloney, Sean
Marchant
Marshall
Massie
Mast
Matsui
McAdams
McBath
McCarthy
McCaul
McClintock
McCollum
McEachin
McGovern
McHenry
McKinley
McNerney
Meadows
Meeks
Meng
Meuser
Miller
Mitchell
Moolenaar
Mooney (WV)
Moore
Morelle
Moulton
Mucarsel-Powell
Mullin
Murphy
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Neguse
Newhouse
Norcross
Nunes
O'Halleran
Ocasio-Cortez
Olson
Omar
Palazzo
Pallone
Palmer
Panetta
Pappas
Pascrell
Payne
Pence
Perlmutter
Perry
Peters
Peterson
Phillips
Pingree
Pocan
Porter
Posey
Pressley
Price (NC)
Quigley
Raskin
Ratcliffe
Reed
Reschenthaler
Rice (NY)
Rice (SC)
Richmond
Riggleman
Roby
Rodgers (WA)
Roe, David P.
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rose (NY)
Rose, John W.
Rouda
Rouzer
Roy
Roybal-Allard
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Rush
Rutherford
Ryan
Sablan
Sanchez
Sarbanes
Scalise
Scanlon
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schneider
Schrader
Schrier
Schweikert
Scott (VA)
Scott, Austin
Scott, David
Sensenbrenner
Serrano
Sewell (AL)
Shalala
Sherman
Sherrill
Shimkus
Simpson
Sires
Slotkin
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (WA)
Smucker
Soto
Spanberger
Spano
Speier
Stanton
Stauber
Stefanik
Steil
Steube
Stevens
Stewart
Stivers
Suozzi
Takano
Taylor
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Thompson (PA)
Thornberry
Timmons
Tipton
Titus
Tlaib
Tonko
Torres (CA)
Torres Small (NM)
Trahan
Trone
Turner
Underwood
Upton
Van Drew
Vargas
Veasey
Vela
Velazquez
Visclosky
Wagner
Walberg
Walden
Walker
Walorski
Waltz
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watkins
Watson Coleman
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Welch
Wenstrup
Westerman
Wexton
Wild
Williams
Wilson (FL)
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Woodall
Wright
Yarmuth
Yoho
Young
Zeldin
NOES--6
Brownley (CA)
Davidson (OH)
Harris
Lee (NV)
Norman
Plaskett
NOT VOTING--14
Clyburn
Cummings
Emmer
Gonzalez-Colon (PR)
Guest
Hastings
Herrera Beutler
Jeffries
Kirkpatrick
Norton
Radewagen
Rooney (FL)
San Nicolas
Swalwell (CA)
{time} 1059
Mr. RICE of South Carolina changed his vote from ``no'' to ``aye.''
So the amendment was agreed to.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Amendment No. 221 Offered by Mr. McAdams
The Acting CHAIR. The unfinished business is the demand for a
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Utah (Mr.
McAdams) on which further proceedings were postponed and on which the
ayes prevailed by voice vote.
The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
The Clerk redesignated the amendment.
Recorded Vote
The Acting CHAIR. A recorded vote has been demanded.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The Acting CHAIR. This will be a 2-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 420,
noes 3, not voting 15, as follows:
[Roll No. 398]
AYES--420
Abraham
Adams
Aderholt
Aguilar
Allen
Allred
Amash
Amodei
Armstrong
Axne
Babin
Bacon
Baird
Balderson
Banks
Barr
Barragan
Bass
Beatty
Bera
Beyer
Biggs
Bilirakis
Bishop (GA)
Blumenauer
Blunt Rochester
Bonamici
Bost
Boyle, Brendan F.
Brady
Brindisi
Brooks (AL)
Brooks (IN)
Brown (MD)
Brownley (CA)
Buchanan
Buck
Bucshon
Budd
Burchett
Burgess
Bustos
Butterfield
Byrne
Calvert
Carbajal
Cardenas
Carson (IN)
Carter (GA)
Carter (TX)
Cartwright
Case
Casten (IL)
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Chabot
Cheney
Chu, Judy
Cicilline
Cisneros
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Clay
Cleaver
Cline
Cloud
Cohen
Cole
Collins (GA)
Collins (NY)
Comer
Conaway
Connolly
Cook
Cooper
Correa
Costa
Courtney
Cox (CA)
Craig
Crawford
Crist
Crow
Cuellar
Cunningham
Curtis
Davids (KS)
Davis (CA)
Davis, Danny K.
Davis, Rodney
Dean
DeFazio
DeGette
DeLauro
DelBene
Delgado
Demings
DeSaulnier
DesJarlais
Deutch
Diaz-Balart
Dingell
Doggett
Doyle, Michael F.
Duffy
Duncan
Dunn
Engel
Escobar
Eshoo
Espaillat
Estes
Evans
Ferguson
Finkenauer
Fitzpatrick
Fleischmann
Fletcher
Flores
Fortenberry
Foster
Foxx (NC)
Frankel
Fudge
Fulcher
Gabbard
Gaetz
Gallagher
Gallego
Garamendi
Garcia (IL)
Garcia (TX)
Gianforte
Gibbs
Gohmert
Golden
Gomez
Gonzalez (OH)
Gonzalez (TX)
Gooden
Gosar
Gottheimer
Granger
Graves (GA)
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Green (TN)
Green (TX)
Griffith
Grijalva
Grothman
Guest
Guthrie
Haaland
Hagedorn
Harder (CA)
Harris
Hartzler
Hayes
Heck
Hern, Kevin
Hice (GA)
Higgins (LA)
Higgins (NY)
Hill (AR)
Hill (CA)
Himes
Holding
Hollingsworth
Horn, Kendra S.
Horsford
Houlahan
Hoyer
Hudson
Huffman
Huizenga
Hunter
Hurd (TX)
Jackson Lee
Jayapal
Johnson (GA)
Johnson (LA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson (SD)
Johnson (TX)
Jordan
Joyce (OH)
Joyce (PA)
Kaptur
Katko
Keating
Keller
Kelly (IL)
Kelly (MS)
Kelly (PA)
Kennedy
Khanna
Kildee
Kilmer
Kim
Kind
King (IA)
King (NY)
Kinzinger
Krishnamoorthi
Kuster (NH)
Kustoff (TN)
LaHood
LaMalfa
Lamb
Lamborn
Langevin
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Latta
Lawrence
Lawson (FL)
Lee (CA)
Lee (NV)
Lesko
Levin (CA)
Levin (MI)
Lewis
Lieu, Ted
Lipinski
Loebsack
Lofgren
Long
Loudermilk
Lowenthal
Lowey
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Lujan
Luria
Lynch
Malinowski
Maloney, Carolyn B.
Maloney, Sean
Marchant
Marshall
Massie
Mast
Matsui
McAdams
McBath
McCarthy
McCaul
McClintock
McCollum
McEachin
McGovern
McHenry
McKinley
McNerney
Meadows
Meeks
Meng
Meuser
Miller
Mitchell
Moolenaar
Mooney (WV)
Moore
Morelle
Moulton
Mucarsel-Powell
Mullin
Murphy
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Neguse
Newhouse
Norcross
Norman
Nunes
O'Halleran
Ocasio-Cortez
Olson
Omar
Palazzo
Pallone
Palmer
Panetta
Pappas
Pascrell
Payne
Pence
Perlmutter
Perry
Peters
Peterson
Phillips
Pingree
Plaskett
Pocan
Porter
Posey
Pressley
Price (NC)
Quigley
Raskin
Ratcliffe
Reed
Reschenthaler
Rice (NY)
Rice (SC)
Richmond
Riggleman
Roby
Rodgers (WA)
Roe, David P.
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rose (NY)
Rose, John W.
Rouda
Rouzer
Roy
Roybal-Allard
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Rush
Rutherford
Ryan
Sablan
Sanchez
Sarbanes
Scalise
Scanlon
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schneider
Schrader
Schrier
Schweikert
Scott (VA)
Scott, Austin
Scott, David
Sensenbrenner
Serrano
Sewell (AL)
Shalala
Sherman
Sherrill
Shimkus
Simpson
Sires
Slotkin
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (WA)
Smucker
Soto
Spanberger
Spano
Speier
Stanton
Stauber
Stefanik
Steil
[[Page H5022]]
Steube
Stevens
Stewart
Stivers
Suozzi
Takano
Taylor
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Thompson (PA)
Thornberry
Timmons
Tipton
Titus
Tlaib
Tonko
Torres (CA)
Torres Small (NM)
Trahan
Trone
Turner
Underwood
Upton
Van Drew
Vargas
Veasey
Vela
Velazquez
Visclosky
Wagner
Walberg
Walden
Walker
Walorski
Waltz
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watkins
Watson Coleman
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Welch
Wenstrup
Westerman
Wexton
Wild
Williams
Wilson (FL)
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Woodall
Wright
Yarmuth
Yoho
Young
Zeldin
NOES--3
Arrington
Bergman
Davidson (OH)
NOT VOTING--15
Bishop (UT)
Clyburn
Crenshaw
Cummings
Emmer
Gonzalez-Colon (PR)
Hastings
Herrera Beutler
Jeffries
Kirkpatrick
Norton
Radewagen
Rooney (FL)
San Nicolas
Swalwell (CA)
Announcement by the Acting Chair
The Acting CHAIR (during the vote). There is 1 minute remaining.
{time} 1104
So the amendment was agreed to.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Stated for:
Mr. BERGMAN. Mr. Chair, on roll call no. 398, I mistakenly voted
``no'' when I intended to vote ``yes''.
personal explanation
Mrs. KIRKPATRICK. Mr. Chair, I was absent today due to a family
medical emergency. Had I been present, I would have voted: yea on
rollcall No. 396; yea on rollcall No. 397; and yea on rollcall No. 398.
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Chair, I rise as the designee of Chairwoman Lowey of
the Appropriations Committee, and I move that the Committee do now
rise.
The motion was agreed to.
Accordingly, the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore (Ms.
Shalala) having assumed the chair, Mr. Schneider, Acting Chair of the
Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, reported that
that Committee, having had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3055)
making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice,
Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30,
2020, and for other purposes, had come to no resolution thereon.
____________________