[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 107 (Tuesday, June 25, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E833-E834]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN SUPPORT OF THE DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND 
  EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020 (H.R. 2740)

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 25, 2019

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2740, the 
first Fiscal Year 2020 appropriations package that includes funding for 
the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, 
Defense, State, and Energy.
  The Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies 
bill includes $189.9 billion, $11.8 billion over FY19 levels, in 
critical investments in medical research, public health, workforce 
training, and education for the next generation of Americans. Among the 
important provisions in this bill are $41.1 billion for the National 
Institutes of Health (NIH) for lifesaving medical and disease research, 
and $760 million for Community Service Block Grants (CSBG) that will go 
directly to Community Action Agencies to help low-income families rise 
out of poverty. The bill also contains a provision that will enable 
states to develop best practices to identify and treat newborns with a 
Congenital Heart Defect. This is an issue that I have worked on since I 
served in the Minnesota State House, and I am pleased to see its 
inclusion.
  The Defense bill includes $690.2 billion in funding, $15.8 billion 
above FY19 levels, improves our national security, and ensures that our 
servicemen and women will have the equipment and training necessary to 
complete their missions and come home safe. The bill includes a 3.1 
percent military pay raise and funds the Sexual Assault Prevention and 
Response programs for the services at $297 million, a significant 
increase over FY19 levels. As the Vice Chair of the Defense 
Appropriations Subcommittee, I am particularly pleased that the bill 
includes $1.26 billion for defense environmental remediation 
activities, $14.8 million above FY19 levels. This funding will continue 
Department of Defense efforts to remediate contaminated soil, ground 
and drinking water at formerly used and current defense installations. 
This includes $13 million to study and assess the levels of PFOS/PFOA 
contamination at domestic military facilities. The bill also makes a 
$33.4 billion investment in Defense Health Programs, including 
increased funding for medical research that will help save the lives of 
our service members and veterans.
  The State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs bill includes 
$56.4 billion in funding, $2.2 billion above FY19 levels, and is a 
robust investment in global health and nutrition programs, national 
security, and diplomacy. Important provisions in this bill include $2.6 
billion for maternal child health and infectious disease programs, $750 
million for family planning services, and $5.9 billion for PEPFAR to 
combat HIV/AIDS. I am also pleased to see strong levels of funding for 
the Global Food Security Act, a critical piece of U.S. foreign 
assistance in reducing global hunger, improving child nutrition, and 
finally achieving food security around the world.
  The Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies bill includes 
$46.4 billion, an increase of $1.8 billion over FY19, and makes needed 
investments in water infrastructure projects that impact every state in 
our nation. That is why robust funding for the Army Corps of Engineers, 
the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the 
water resources projects in this legislation are so important. My 
district is home to the St. Croix River and the Mississippi River. My 
constituents know that the Mississippi River is a working river, and 
failures in our infrastructure can significantly impact the overall 
economy by hurting our transportation, agriculture, and recreation 
industries.
  Madam Speaker, as the appropriations process moves forward on the 
floor, it is clear that Democrats are making critical investments for 
the people. Democrats will continue to be loud and clear about the 
importance of quality healthcare for all, education for our children 
and grandchildren, investments in infrastructure, and ensuring our 
national security. H.R. 2740 is a down payment on all of these 
important priorities for our constituents.
  I strongly encourage my colleagues to support this legislation.

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