[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 167 (Tuesday, October 22, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5951-S5952]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          LEGISLATIVE SESSION

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I move to proceed to legislative 
session.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on agreeing to the motion.
  The motion was agreed to.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I understand we are waiting for another 
Senator, and when he arrives, of course, I will yield.


                               H.R. 3055

  Mr. President, I was just talking with the distinguished senior 
Senator from Alabama a couple of minutes ago. I know he has spoken, and 
we have begun consideration of a bill containing the fiscal year 2020 
Commerce, Justice, Science, Agriculture, Interior, Transportation, 
Housing and Urban Development.
  I mention this because all four of these bills are the product of 
hard work and bipartisan cooperation by each of the subcommittees. They 
were reported from the Appropriations Committee unanimously. Every 
single Republican, every single Democrat voted for it. It makes 
critical investments in affordable housing and infrastructure, rural 
development, our farming communities, small businesses, science, and 
our environment. They are good bills, and I am glad to have them before 
the Senate.
  I want to thank the chairs and ranking members of the subcommittees 
and their staff for the good work: Senators Hoeven and Merkley, 
Senators Murkowski and Udall, Senators Collins and Reed, and Senators 
Moran and Shaheen. They all worked so closely together. They show, 
despite the difficult atmosphere we often operate in, the 
Appropriations Committee can still put partisan disputes aside and make 
strong investments in the priorities of our American people.
  The Agriculture bill continues the significant progress made by this 
committee and in the 2018 farm bill to deliver real wins for farmers, 
families, and rural communities throughout Vermont and across the 
country. The bill rejects the disastrous cuts the Trump administration 
proposed for on-farm conservation, rural development, and rural energy 
programs and, instead, makes important investments in farming 
communities.
  It is disappointing that this bill supports the administration's ill-
advised relocation of USDA research agencies. I have spoken out about 
this relocation effort and remain concerned about the loss of expertise 
and focus such a move precipitates at USDA.
  I am pleased this bill further invests in the viability of our 
cornerstone Vermont industries, including dairy, maple, and organics.
  It significantly increases funding for innovation in the dairy 
sector, funding that will directly benefit dairy producers in Vermont 
and across the country as they meet the challenges of a changing 
marketplace. The bill also takes important steps to preserve the

[[Page S5952]]

integrity of the organic dairy market, increasing funding for key 
organic programs and directing USDA to finally implement rules that 
will level the playing field for small-scale producers.
  The Agriculture bill also once again includes funding to support the 
farm to school program. This nationwide program has given children and 
schools across the country the tools to craft farm-fresh, healthy, and 
delicious meals that students enjoy, while teaching children about 
healthy eating habits.
  The Interior bill makes significant necessary investments in clean 
water, clean air, stewardship of our public lands. I am particularly 
pleased it has critical funding through the Environmental Protection 
Agency that will support work on water quality, habitat and fishery 
restoration, and invasive species in Lake Champlain. The bill also 
increases funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund that will 
support efforts in Vermont and across the country.
  For States like mine that have seen communities impacted by PFAS 
contamination, the bill includes additional funding for remediation.
  The Transportation, Housing and Urban Development bill continues 
critical support for infrastructure programs like BUILD. Vermont and 
States across the country rely heavily on these Federal programs.
  It also invests in our Nation's rail systems that I hope will help 
extend and maintain rail service within my State of Vermont.
  I am also pleased that this bill continues support for a development 
partnership between the University of Vermont and the University of 
Mississippi to research unmanned aircraft systems. The bill also 
protects important investments in affordable housing and community 
development.
  The bill again rejects the administration's request to eliminate 
programs that support our communities, including HOME, Community 
Development Block Grant Program, NeighborWorks, and the Rural Capacity 
Building Program.
  The Commerce, Justice, Science bill makes critical investments in 
economic development programs. It also invests $7.6 billion for the 
2020 census, the results of which determine how we distribute $900 
billion in Federal spending every year. It also ensures appropriate 
representation in Congress. This once-a-decade investment is critical.
  I am grateful that this bill has increased support for the lifesaving 
Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program, which earlier this year was 
given a permanent authorization by a unanimous vote in the Senate. It 
also supports important programs to provide support to crime victims, 
help to exonerate the wrongfully convicted, and to reduce recidivism.
  So there are four good, bipartisan measures. I urge all Senators to 
support it. We have only 4 short weeks before the continuing resolution 
we are operating under expires. We need to do our work, and we need to 
do it quickly, so we can enact all 12 appropriations bills into law. 
These four bills are a good start.
  Mr. President, I see our distinguished leader, a man we always rely 
on, on the floor, so I yield to Senator Durbin.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Illinois.

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