[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 136 (Friday, July 31, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E713-E714]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2021

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 30, 2020

  Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7617, 
the Defense, Commerce, Justice, Science, Energy and Water Development, 
Financial Services and General Government, Labor, Health and Human 
Services, Education, Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development 
Appropriations Act, for fiscal year 2021, which has included multiple 
of my priorities critical to the communities I represent. These 
provisions fund our nation's most critical programs that support 
individuals, families, and communities throughout their lifespan, from 
Early Head Start to Social Security. We are dedicated to investing in 
programs that provide opportunities so that every person has a better 
chance at a better life--with a good education, a good job, and access 
to affordable healthcare.
  This bill provides modest increases for the National Science 
Foundation and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The 
National Science Foundation is the only agency to fund research across 
all fields of science and engineering, and the most important agency in 
terms of ensuring a diverse pipeline of STEM talent across our nation. 
The National Institute of Standards and Technology is the global leader 
in measurement science and standards, and as such plays a central role 
in U.S. competitiveness across all sectors of our economy. However, it 
is one of most underfunded agencies in our government for what it is 
asked to do and what it is capable of doing for our nation. In 
addition, our nation's progress in industries of the future such as 
artificial intelligence, quantum science, and 5G will simply not be 
possible without increased investments in these two agencies. I truly 
understand the difficult and sometimes delicate trade-offs that my 
Appropriations colleagues had to make in crafting this legislation. 
However, I urge my colleagues across Congress to find a way to invest 
in our nation's future by investing more in our nation's STEM talent.
  Regarding funding for the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration (NASA), I am pleased that the bill rejects the proposed 
cuts to high-priority science projects, including those that will 
provide important climate change measurements, and science, technology, 
engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs. We simply cannot afford to 
cut-off our future--the building of our next generation's skills and 
the development of a 21st century workforce. Overall, the bill sustains 
NASA's multi-mission portfolio at the Fiscal Year 2020 enacted level of 
$22.629 billion, providing level or near-level funding for NASA's 
science, exploration, and space technology accounts, and provides $35 
million increase for aeronautics, which contributes important research 
and development for our nation's civil aviation and air transportation 
system. The bill also sustains funding for critical exploration 
capabilities, including the Space Launch System and Orion crew vehicle. 
Toward that end, I'm pleased that the bill continues to fund the 
development of an exploration upper stage-enabled Space Launch System, 
which will provide greater lift capacity to support our deep space 
exploration activities. In addition, the bill provides important 
flexibility to the agency in selecting a launch vehicle for the high-
priority Europa Clipper science mission; that flexibility could help 
reduce overall mission cost while also seeking to expedite science 
results. It is also worth noting that the bill allows for up to $1 
million from the Safety, Security, and Mission Services account to be 
available to meet mandated payments to the Challenger Center as NASA 
explores alternative means to ensure the ongoing payments.
  With respect to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the bill 
supports the Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST)'s 
important functions of licensing and monitoring the safety of 
commercial space launches and reentries, as well as spaceports, at 
$27.555 million, an increase of $1.515 million (6 percent) from the FY 
2020 enacted appropriation. I am also pleased that the bill sustains 
$192.665 million for the FAA's research, engineering, and development 
programs, which contribute R&D to improve the safety and efficiency of 
the national airspace system and reduce the environmental impact.
  I am supportive of the $5.45 billion provided for the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in this bill, which is 
$828 million above the Administration's short-sighted budget request. 
This includes robust investments in intramural and extramural research 
at NOAA and restoration of funding to proposed cuts to, or eliminations 
of, coastal resilience grants, National Centers for Coastal Ocean 
Science, the National Sea Grant Program, Tsunami Warning System, the 
Air Resources Laboratory, and the NOAA Office of Education. At a time 
when Americans face compound threats of the COVID-19 pandemic on top of 
climate change-fueled intense heat, hurricanes, and other extreme 
weather events, it is imperative that we have accurate and timely 
climate and weather predictions, preparedness, and response. I am 
pleased to see enhanced support for weather research, modeling, and 
forecasting, as well as National Weather Service forecaster staffing 
levels. As our planet continues to warm, sea levels rise, ice sheets 
melt, and other changes occur due to anthropogenic climate change, 
authoritative climate research and information remains more important 
than ever to help our communities address these resulting impacts. I am

[[Page E714]]

also pleased to see restored funding for authoritative reports such as 
the National Climate Assessments and the Regional Integrated Sciences 
and Assessments program to help provide regions with decision making 
support services and tools.
  This bill makes much needed investments at the Department of Energy, 
which supports the world-class facilities and expertise of our national 
laboratories as well as many important activities at our universities 
and in the private sector. DOE also serves as one of our most valuable 
tools in the fight against climate change. Alone, the $12.5 billion 
dedicated to DOE's non-defense research, development, and demonstration 
activities in this bill would amount to a slight cut of 0.2 percent 
compared to FY20 enacted levels. However, the bill also includes $12.4 
billion in additional, critical research infrastructure investments. 
Thus DOE's Office of Science, ARPA-E, and other applied energy programs 
would all receive significant funding increases under this bill, which 
would significantly enhance the development of new clean energy 
technologies and provide valuable support to the U.S. research 
enterprise when such support is desperately needed.
  I also want to speak on important provisions within the Health and 
Human Services funding division. In consideration of our current public 
health crisis, this appropriations bill rebuilds our nation's aging 
public health infrastructure by providing $24.425 billion in emergency 
spending to support state and local public health departments, public 
health laboratories, and global health activities. This investment is 
essential to developing national resilience amid the current pandemic 
caused by the novel coronavirus and from future public health threats. 
We also have included operational and contingency funding to assist 
states with the unanticipated unemployment insurance workloads, as 
millions of individuals have come to rely on such benefits to survive 
the current economic turmoil.
  Among the multiple laudable improvements made in this bill, I am 
specifically encouraged by the inclusion of my report language on 
telehealth training and education for Medicaid beneficiaries. Our 
nation has recognized the potential for telehealth, remote monitoring, 
and digital health technologies to help meet the needs of patients and 
families, especially during this public health emergency. As healthcare 
providers expanding their delivery of virtual care, we must have a 
comprehensive understanding of the training and education needs of 
beneficiaries and caregivers on how to successfully utilize such 
telehealth services and technologies. My language directs the 
Administration of Community Living to work with the Centers for 
Medicare & Medicaid Services and other stakeholders to develop such 
resources that account for age-related differences in our interactions 
with technology.
  With all that is happening across our nation, we must make sure that 
our communities have the mental health services and support their need 
to withstand and recover from these months of turmoil. That is why I am 
proud of the $21 million allocated for the National Suicide Prevention 
Lifeline, which is $2 million more than last year. Additionally, this 
bill includes $758 million for the Community Mental Health Services 
Block Grant, which will provide our states and territories the mental 
health resources that are so needed during these times.
  This bill also includes critical funding for lupus programs, which I 
supported as co-chair of the Congressional Lupus Caucus. the National 
Lupus Patient Registry at the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention is to receive $8.5 million, and the Office of Minority 
Health and their National Lupus Training, Outreach, and Clinical Trial 
Program is to receive $2 million.
  Now, let me turn my attention to the Education funding division. As 
we continue to address the needs of Americans during this pandemic, I 
am happy to see that this bill includes critical funding necessary to 
ensure our young people have access to quality education, whether it be 
at home, in school, or a hybrid model. I am particularly pleased to see 
the subcommittee recommend $28.5 million in funding for the Innovative 
Approaches to Literacy program. This is an increase of $1.5 million 
over the Fiscal year 2020 funding level. The increased funding for this 
program will ensure that schools, libraries, and non-profits can 
continue providing books and other literary materials to families in 
high need communities. As we try to address the stark differences in 
educational opportunity during this pandemic, programs like IAL are 
needed more than ever to ensure underserved students do not fall 
further behind in the areas of literacy and writing.
  This bill also increases funding for Title I schools, Head Start, and 
special education programs, ensuring that the most vulnerable and needy 
get the services they need in the classroom.
  Regarding Higher Education, this bill increases funding to various 
HBCU programs and raises the maximum Pell Grant amount by $150 to 
$6,495. This funding increase will help students keep up with the 
rising cost of higher education.
  Regarding the funding provisions for the Department of Housing and 
Urban Development, I am pleased at the increased investments made to 
affordable housing and homelessness programs. We have dedicated $9.1 
billion for the Office of Community Planning and Development, an 
increase of $1.1 billion above the 2020 enacted level. There is also 
$3.5 billion for Community Development Block Grants, a critical program 
that the President's budget request proposed to eliminate. As co-chair 
of the Congressional Homelessness Caucus, I am very supportive of the 
$3.4 billion for Homeless Assistance Grants, which is $638 million more 
than what was dedicated in fiscal year 2020. Multiple other programs 
have also received funding increases, including $103 million for the 
Education for Homeless Children and Youth program, $140 million for 
Runaway and Homeless Youth program, and $57.5 million for the Homeless 
Veterans Reintegration Program. With the economic upheaval caused by 
this coronavirus, we must be completely dedicated to preventing and 
alleviating homelessness, as that is the only way to lessen the 
difficulties currently experienced by our communities.
  As representatives of Americans from all corners of our country, we 
have a responsibility to protect the livelihood and well-being of our 
families and communities, especially during this public health 
emergency. On behalf of the constituents of the 30th District of Texas, 
I urge my colleagues to support this funding bill for fiscal year 2021.

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