[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 162 (Tuesday, October 3, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H4957]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      APPROPRIATIONS FUNDING CUTS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Espaillat) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. ESPAILLAT. Madam Speaker, this week, we have seen the events that 
have gripped this Nation, the potential for a shutdown, the squabble on 
the floor for leadership, extreme MAGA opinions trying to impose their 
points of view on the American people.
  This past year, we have also watched distinctly as climate change-
related natural disasters have hit every region of this country.
  This last week, we saw images from New York City with subways 
flooding, streets flooding, backyards and front yards of houses 
flooding. The inability to sustain consistent and persistent rainfall 
crippled New York City.
  As we saw New York City underwater, just 2 months ago, wildfires 
consumed Maui. Mother Nature is talking to us. Mother Nature is never 
wrong.
  Madam Speaker, this year the Energy and Water Development and Related 
Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 within the appropriations process 
slashes the renewable energy and energy-efficient programs by 14 
percent--get this--and instead funds the Department's fossil 
fuel energy at more than $850 million.

  In the middle of this climate crisis, we take money away from 
renewable energy and we empower fossil fuel energy. We put them on 
steroids. It also underfunds the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers who will 
be able to address the flood and storm damage protection and claws back 
$50 million that would have allowed communities like the one that I 
represent from becoming energy efficient.
  So right in the middle of global warming, right in the middle of 
these disasters that are hurting communities across the Nation, we see 
how funding is cut for renewable energy and for the U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineer.
  The legislative branch bill, as part of the appropriations process, 
harms both those that work in the Capitol and those that secure it. It 
lacks funding to secure the Capitol campus and district offices.
  Not so long ago, we saw how some of our staff members in the 
Commonwealth of Virginia were attacked in their district offices where 
they worked.
  We know that security on the Capitol complex is important not just 
for Members, but for our staff, for visitors, for everyone who makes 
their way here, just as security is also important in our district 
offices. Not enough funding has been given to that area.
  Retention of U.S. Capitol police officers continues to be a major 
problem. After January 6, the Capitol Police is having a difficult time 
recruiting and retaining officers that will protect all of us.
  The legislative branch bill also eliminates diversity, equity, and 
inclusion training. This program has been important to ensure that the 
government continues to look more and more like the rest of the 
country.
  Inclusion means me being at this podium, Madam Speaker. Inclusion 
means you presiding over these proceedings. That is inclusion, to have 
a representative government of the people that make up our people. Yet, 
the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion was eliminated.

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