[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 42 (Wednesday, March 9, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H1413-H1415]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EXTENSION OF CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2022
Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 973, I call up
the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 75) making further continuing
appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, and for
other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.
The Clerk read the title of the joint resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 973, the joint
resolution is considered read.
The text of the joint resolution is as follows:
H.J. Res. 75
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, That the
Continuing Appropriations Act, 2022 (division A of Public Law
117-43) is further amended--
(1) by striking the date specified in section 106(3) and
inserting ``March 15, 2022''; and
(2) in section 163, by striking ``$300,000,000'' and
inserting ``$500,000,000''.
SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF TEMPORARY ORDER FOR FENTANYL-RELATED
SUBSTANCES.
Effective as if included in the enactment of the Temporary
Reauthorization and Study of the Emergency Scheduling of
Fentanyl Analogues Act (Public Law 116-114), section 2 of
such Act (as amended by Public Law 117-86) is amended by
striking ``March 11, 2022'' and inserting ``March 15, 2022''.
This joint resolution may be cited as the ``Extension of
Continuing Appropriations Act, 2022''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The joint resolution shall be debatable for
1 hour, equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking
minority member of the Committee on Appropriations or their respective
designees.
The gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro) and the gentlewoman
from Texas (Ms. Granger) each will control 30 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro).
General Leave
Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include
extraneous material on the measure under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Connecticut?
There was no objection.
Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
While we have just passed government funding legislation, we need to
ensure there is sufficient time for the Senate to process the
legislation and for it to be enrolled for the President's signature
without a lapse in appropriations.
This legislation extends government funding to provide that necessary
time, and I urge support.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
This 4-day CR ensures that there is enough time for the omnibus
package to be processed and implemented.
I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, as a senior member of the Committees on
the Judiciary, on Homeland Security, and on the Budget, I rise in
support of the rule governing debate for H.J.R. 75, the ``Extension of
Continuing Appropriations Act,'' which provides funding to continue the
operations of the federal government through March 15, 2022 and avoids
a wasteful and irresponsible shutdown, and also the underlying bill.
The House, led by the Democratic majority, did its job, passing 10 of
the 12 appropriations bills earlier this year but Senate Republicans
failed to hold a single markup of appropriations bills, making it
necessary to pass this Continuing Resolution to avert a shutdown that
would only further damage our economy.
Throughout the 117th Congress, House Democrats have worked to deliver
results for the American people, passing legislation to address each
pillar of the ``For The People'' agenda: lower health care costs,
higher wages by rebuilding America, and cleaning up corruption and
strengthening our Democracy.
And under the leadership of Speaker Pelosi, the House has passed
hundreds of bills, including legislation to crush the COVID-19
pandemic, build our economy back better, lower health care and
prescription drug prices, raise wages, advance economic and retirement
security, end gun violence, act on the climate crisis, protect
Dreamers, and strengthen voting rights.
[[Page H1414]]
For example, in this Congress the House has passed and sent to the
President the following legislation that has been signed into law:
1. H.R. 1799, Paycheck Protection Program Extension Act:
This legislation extended the Paycheck Protection Program application
deadline for two months through May 31, 2021 to help struggling
businesses keep workers employed during COVID-19.
2. H.R. 1276, SAVE LIVES Act;
This law ensured that more veterans, their families, and caregivers
got access to COVID-19 vaccines in a timely manner.
3. S. 937, COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act:
This law addresses the dramatic increase in hate crimes targeting the
AAPI community since the start of the pandemic. This law designates a
point person at the Department of Justice to review hate crimes related
to the COVID-19 pandemic, bolsters state and local governments to
improve their reporting of hate crimes and ensures that hate crime
information is more accessible to Asian American communities.
4. S. 475, Juneteenth National Independence Day Act:
This law established the first federal holiday in 38 years to
formally recognize Juneteenth National Independence Day and commemorate
the end of slavery in the United States.
House Democrats have also worked to advance critical pieces of
legislation, which await action in the Senate:
1. H.R. 1, For The People Act;
This comprehensive legislation would promote government transparency,
strengthen access to the ballot box and make it easier for Americans to
exercise their right to vote, secure election infrastructure, and curb
the influence of dark money in politics.
2. H.R. 5, Equality Act;
The Equality Act would codify consistent anti-discrimination legal
protections for LGBTQ Americans by amending several existing civil
rights laws to include explicit non-discrimination protections in key
areas of life.
3. H.R. 6, Dream and Promise Act:
The Dream and Promise Act would protect Dreamers, Temporary Protected
Status (TPS), and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) status holders from
deportation and provide an opportunity to obtain permanent legal status
that would enable these groups to work legally within the United States
and continue to contribute to their local communities and economy.
4. H.R. 7, Paycheck Fairness Act:
This bill would strengthen labor protections around equal pay by
prohibiting the use of salary history to set compensation, provide more
transparent options for joining class-action lawsuits challenging
systemic discrimination, and require employers to show that gender pay
gaps are job-related and consistent with business need.
5. H.R. 8, Bipartisan Background Checks Act and H.R 1446, the
Enhanced Background Checks Act:
These bills would modernize federal laws around gun sales. The former
would close current loopholes that allow buyers to purchase guns
without a background check in certain venues, while the latter would
prevent gun sales from going through before background checks are
completed.
6. H.R. 1280, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act:
This bill, which House Democrats also passed in the 116th Congress 30
days after the murder of George Floyd, will address racial bias in
policing, ensure accountability for police brutality and misconduct,
and work to change the culture of law enforcement to promote better
relationships with the communities they serve.
7. H.R 3684, INVEST in America Act:
This bill is a comprehensive five-year surface transportation
reauthorization and water infrastructure package that would make long-
overdue repairs to our nation's roads, bridges, rail, and transit. The
bill would also ensure clean, safe drinking water and address our
nation's aging wastewater infrastructure.
8. H.R. 842, Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act:
This bill aims to strengthen labor protections for union workers
through overriding Republican-led ``right to work'' laws, promoting
free and fair union elections, and holding companies that attempt to
restrict union activity accountable.
9. H.J. Res. 17, Removing the Deadline for Ratification of the Equal
Rights Amendment:
This resolution would remove the deadline for ratifying the Equal
Rights Amendment in order to enshrine women's equality in the
Constitution.
10. H.R. 1620, Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act:
This long-overdue legislation to reauthorize the Violence Against
Women Act passed the House with bipartisan support. It would
reauthorize funding to vital grant programs that help prevent
sexual assault, domestic violence, and improve access to resources for
victims and survivors.
11. H.R. 3237, the Emergency Security Supplemental to Respond to 1/6
Appropriations Act:
This bill provides $1.9 billion in funding to secure the U.S. Capitol
Complex and ensure the brave men and women of the U.S. Capitol Police
have the resources they need to do their jobs. The legislation responds
to the direct costs incurred by the National Guard and DC police on
January 6, provides funding to improve the security of windows and
doors in the Capitol complex, and secures funds to improve Capitol
Police training and equipment.
12. H.R. 3005, Legislation to #RemoveHate from the Capitol Building:
This bill would remove statues of those who perpetuated and supported
slavery and segregation in this country, along with statues or busts of
those who served voluntarily in the Confederate States of America, from
public display in the U.S. Capitol.
13. H.R. 1603, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act:
This bipartisan bill would stabilize the agriculture industry's labor
supply by reforming the H-2A guest worker program and creating a
pathway to citizenship for agricultural workers, many of whom worked
through the pandemic.
14. H.R. 51, the Washington, DC Admission Act:
This bill would admit Washington, DC as the 51st state in the Union
and end the injustice in denying nearly 700,000 citizens the right to
be represented fully in Congress. It would also end the unjust practice
of treating District of Columbia residents differently when allocating
government resources or relief.
15. H.R. 3985, ALLIES Act:
This bill would increase the visa cap and expedite the visa process
for Afghan allies who worked alongside American military personnel,
diplomats, development professionals, and partner forces, to help
ensure they make it safely out of harm's way.
16. H.R. 803, Protecting America's Wildness and Public Lands Act:
This comprehensive bill would conserve and protect natural landscapes
across America, designating over 1.5 million acres of public land as
protected wilderness and withdrawing significant amount of public land
from drilling and mining activities to promote a healthier environment.
17. H.R. 2467, the PFAS Action Act:
This bipartisan bill would improve the safety of Americans' drinking
water by requiring the EPA to set a drinking water standard, prevent
the future release of PFAS chemicals into our bodies of water, and
start the process of cleaning up affected communities.
18. H.R. 256, Repeal of the 2002 AUMF Against Iraq:
This bill, which passed with bipartisan support, would repeal the
2002 Authorization of Military Force Against Iraq.
19. H.R. 1230, the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination
Act:
The bipartisan Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act
restores protections for older workers that were weakened in a 2009
Supreme Court ruling that made it harder for older workers to prove
age-based discrimination in the workplace.
20. H.R 2662, the Inspectors-General Independence and Empowerment
Act:
This bill seeks to promote government transparency and accountability
by ensuring the independence of federal inspectors general, allowing
government watchdogs to act freely without fear of political pressure
or threats. It would also protect whistleblowers from threats of
retaliation by making it a violation of House rules for Members to
reveal their identities.
In addition, three Congressional Review Act resolutions have been
signed into law, overturning dangerous rules put in place by the Trump
Administration:
1. S.J. Res. 13, a CRA overturning an EEOC rule to address
discrimination in the workplace;
2. S.J. Res. 14, a CRA addressing dangerous methane emissions; and
3. S.J. Res. 15, a CRA to protect against predatory lenders.
These along with many, many others are among the bills awaiting
Senate action.
Mr. Speaker, our colleagues across the aisle have in both chambers
have been obstructive, dilatory, petulantly uncooperative throughout
the first session of the 117th Congress.
Nowhere was this more apparent than the refusal of the majority of
Republican members in the House voted 175-35 against H.R. 3233,
legislation modeled after the 9/11 Commission establishing a National
Commission to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the United States
Capitol Complex Act.
I strongly support this legislation and urge all Members to join me
in voting for H.J.R. 75, the ``Extension of Continuing Appropriations
Act.''
The SPEAKER pro tempore. All time for debate has expired.
Pursuant to House Resolution 973, the previous question is ordered.
The question is on the engrossment and third reading of the bill.
[[Page H1415]]
The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, and was
read the third time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the passage of the joint
resolution.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that
the ayes appeared to have it.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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