[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 188 (Tuesday, November 14, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H5740-H5792]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND 
               RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024


                             General Leave

  Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to 
include extraneous material on H.R. 5894, and that I may include 
tabular material on the same.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Alabama?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 864 and rule 
XVIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of the Whole House 
on the state of the Union for the consideration of the bill, H.R. 5894.
  The Chair appoints the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. DesJarlais) to 
preside over the Committee of the Whole.

                              {time}  1121


                     In the Committee of the Whole

  Accordingly, the House resolved itself into the Committee of the 
Whole House on the state of the Union for the consideration of the bill 
(H.R. 5894) making appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health 
and Human Services, and Education, and related agencies for the fiscal 
year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes, with Mr. 
DesJarlais in the chair.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The CHAIR. Pursuant to the rule, the bill is considered read the 
first time.
  General debate shall be confined to the bill and shall not exceed one 
hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority 
member of the Committee on Appropriations or their respective 
designees.
  The gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Aderholt) and the gentlewoman from 
Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro) each will control 30 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Aderholt).
  Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Chair, I rise in support this morning of H.R. 5894, the FY 2024 
Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and related agencies 
bill.
  This is my first year as chair of this very important subcommittee, 
and I am proud to be able to support programs that touch the lives of 
literally every American in one form or fashion.
  Our Nation remains mired in high inflation, which was only worsened 
by the massive infusion of government spending, both during and 
immediately after the COVID pandemic. I have said on numerous occasions 
that inflation is a tax on every single American. Moreover, it is a tax 
borne disproportionately by low-income Americans.
  We cannot continue to make our constituents pay for our reckless D.C. 
beltway spending. At some point, we must stop the out-of-control 
spending spree that we have seen over the past 2 years. This bill that 
is before the House this morning represents a clear first step toward 
returning to fiscal responsibility while at the same time ensuring that 
funding for critical and high-priority functions are maintained.
  Yes, the bill before us today reflects the challenges in achieving 
deficit reduction solely through reductions in discretionary spending. 
To be honest, a $60 billion cut to social spending programs in this 
bill requires scrutiny and priority setting.
  Over 50 programs are proposed for reduction and another 60 programs 
are eliminated. Most of those that are eliminated are unauthorized or 
they have expired authorizations. Title I grants to States are cut by 
almost 80 percent, or more than $14 billion.
  While title I grants do support school districts everywhere, 
including rural districts and the districts back in Alabama that I 
represent, these funds disproportionately support big city public 
schools, those same public schools that failed to educate the most 
vulnerable children that were entrusted to them by closing their doors 
for almost 2 years during the pandemic.
  It is estimated that over $20 billion in unspent funding still 
remains available from those funds that were provided during the 
pandemic to these schools. Until this funding--over $21 billion--is 
drawn down and used responsibly, the Federal Government should not 
continue to make further investments in these failing schools.
  At the same time, the priorities of this bill are biodefense, 
programs that support rural America, targeted education programs, 
including those for children with special needs and congressional 
oversight responsibilities.
  The bill also maintains support for Pell grants and language to 
ensure borrowers can quickly resume payments of their student loans 
following the recent Supreme Court decision.
  Other programs for certain vulnerable populations, such as Americans 
with disabilities, older Americans, and foster children, are maintained 
at current levels.
  Childcare block grants, which provide vouchers for families to choose 
childcare settings of their choice, are maintained at $8 billion.
  In response to this administration's executive branch overreach, this 
bill prohibits funding for programs focused solely on diversity, 
equity, and inclusion. It eliminates funding for Planned Parenthood and 
other controversial grantees. It also protects religious freedom and 
values by stopping the administration's regulations that would require 
schools to allow biological boys to compete against girls in women's 
sports programs and prohibiting any Federal funding from going toward 
enforcing gender identity politics or social, hormonal, or surgical 
interventions to look like the opposite sex.
  The bill prohibits funding for controversial ideologies like critical 
race theory. These radical views do not belong in public schools. 
Schools should be teaching our children how to think, not what to 
think.
  The bill maintains the longstanding Hyde amendment to ensure that 
taxpayer funds are not used for abortion on demand and that no one is 
forced to participate in an abortion or refer for one under any Federal 
program.
  The bill also makes sure that taxpayer funds are not used to 
circumvent State laws restricting abortion and also ensures that 
Federal research funds are not used on human fetal tissue obtained from 
an elective abortion.
  Furthermore, the bill before us also includes provisions preventing 
this administration from moving forward with job-killing regulations 
that relate to independent contractors, joint employer status, and 
federally forced wage rates for agricultural workers. The 
administration's regulatory agenda is stifling small businesses, which 
should be an incubator for innovation.

[[Page H5741]]

  To protect against man-made pandemics, the bill prohibits any funding 
from going to EcoHealth Alliance, the Wuhan Institute of Virology, or 
any lab located in Russia or China. The bill also prohibits funding 
from being used for any gain-of-function research, which was being used 
on bat coronavirus prior to the COVID pandemic, and it prohibits 
enforcement of the CMS COVID vaccine mandate on healthcare workers.
  In closing, Mr. Chairman, in addition to thanking everybody that has 
had a part in this, I want to say a special thanks to the chair of our 
committee, Chairwoman Granger, and also my fellow subcommittee members 
and their staff. I certainly also thank the Labor, Health and Human 
Services, and Education Subcommittee staff on both the Democrat and the 
Republican side, as we have had to work through this bill over the last 
several months. I just appreciate everyone's hard work and input as we 
have moved forward on this.
  Mr. Chairman, I look forward to the debate today, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I 
congratulate Chairman Aderholt on his first bill as chairman of the 
subcommittee. I thank the minority staff--particularly Stephen 
Steigleder, Philip Tizzani, Laurie Mignone, and Jackie Kilroy--for all 
of their hard work, as well as the majority staff, Susan Ross, Kathryn 
Salmon, James Redstone, Emily Goff, and Laura Stagno. As I have often 
said, they keep our names on the door, so many thanks to all.
  Mr. Chair, I have never seen an appropriations bill quite like this 
one. I have never seen a bill that was this inhumane and which defies 
all the values and ideals of a society which promises to address the 
needs and the challenges of its people.

                              {time}  1130

  In Charles Dickens' ``Great Expectations,'' Pip observes the Pocket 
family children as ``not growing up or being brought up, but were 
tumbling up.'' This bill leaves America's children tumbling up.
  This bill is the largest domestic appropriations bill, and for good 
reason. The programs funded in Labor-HHS-Education ensure that our 
workforce is strong, our families are healthy and safe, and our 
children's future is secure.
  Indeed, last Congress, we passed a Labor-HHS bill that supported 
middle-class working families, lifted up vulnerable Americans, and 
prepared our Nation for future crises, which makes it even more 
disappointing to see where we have ended up in this year's process.
  The majority's 2024 Labor-HHS-Education bill and its 28 percent cut 
of $64 billion bring us back to a level unseen since 2008. It heralds 
their intent to end public education in the United States. This bill 
eliminates present and future job opportunities for young adults, 
seniors, and working families. It jeopardizes maternal, pediatric, and 
public health.
  This bill is shameful, which is presumably the reason why it was 
never marked up or voted on by the full Appropriations Committee.
  As disappointed as I am to see the authority of the Appropriations 
Committee surrendered, sadly, based on where the majority has taken 
this entire process, it is not surprising.
  Mr. Chair, 154 days ago, the House Appropriations Committee held its 
first full committee markup of the 2024 bill. Nine more followed. This 
bill was not one of them.
  Nonetheless, the House majority circumvented the committee process. 
They air-dropped five new poison pill riders into the Labor-HHS bill 
without any bipartisan consultation or vote by the committee.
  We are left to assume that the majority knew this bill had no path 
forward in committee, and they know it has no path forward, period.
  Horace Mann called education ``the great equalizer.'' Perhaps, then, 
it is the majority's aversion to equality that explains why they cut 28 
percent from the Department of Education.
  They will take at least 224,000 teachers out of low-income classrooms 
and eviscerate the programs that help at-risk youth build a bright 
future. This cut would entail a loss of 3,700 teachers in Alabama, 800 
teachers in Idaho, 4,400 teachers in Maryland, 4,300 teachers in 
Tennessee, 6,500 teachers in Michigan, 5,000 teachers in Louisiana, 
8,300 teachers in Georgia, 1,500 teachers in Kansas, 22,300 teachers in 
Texas, and 4,400 teachers in Arizona. Explain that to your 
constituents.
  I am deeply concerned about the impact such a colossal retraction 
from public education funding would have on children across our 
country.
  This bill tells the story of where the majority seeks to take this 
country. Republicans have made it clear they are opposed to public 
education, and they seek to destroy it.
  Quality education will no longer be accessible to working families, 
but it will be accessible, again, to the purview of the rich.
  I must underscore that point. This is no messaging bill. This is 
their Commitment to America. I am taking Republicans at their word, as 
should all American people. This is what they want to do.
  When 161 House Republicans voted earlier this year to eliminate all 
K-12 funding at the Department of Education in the Massie amendment to 
H.R. 5, I was horrified, but that was only the beginning.
  House Republicans are in lockstep behind the most extreme ideologues 
in their party. Just this summer, former Secretary Betsy DeVos penned 
an op-ed calling to eliminate the Department of Education.
  The Heritage Foundation's budget blueprint includes a proposal to 
eliminate the Department of Education.
  Former OMB Director Russ Vought wants massive funding reductions to 
``thwart'' a public education system he sees as ``an existential threat 
to the American Republic.''
  We are witnessing a widespread attack on public education that should 
shock every American family. If left to their own devices, Republicans 
will gleefully take public education to the graveyard.
  How will this bill move us closer toward those ends?
  English language acquisition funding to help 5 million English 
learners nationwide is eliminated, disadvantaging and discriminating 
against students who primarily speak another language and restraining 
their future ability to compete and succeed in the economy.
  Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants, which provide 
professional development opportunities for educators, are completely 
gone.
  Federal work-study is no more for the 660,000 students who need it to 
help finance their postsecondary education. It limits their potential 
earnings and future success in the job market.
  Nearly $1 billion is cut from the supplemental educational 
opportunity grants, which eliminate need-based financial aid for 1.7 
million students nationwide.
  Promise Neighborhoods, social and emotional learning grants, and 
magnet schools are all completely erased, as well.
  The programs that are not completely abolished in this bill are so 
poorly funded as to be completely nonfunctional.
  A $14.7 billion cut from title I, the very foundation of public 
education in America, is patently unthinkable and would remove hundreds 
of thousands of teachers from classrooms, directly harming children in 
every single one of our districts.
  Students nationwide are struggling with rising college costs, and 
this bill provides no relief by freezing the maximum Pell grant for the 
first time in 12 years.
  I believe we all agree that we have a crisis in our Nation's 
classrooms, but rather than address the teacher shortage and fully fund 
our children's future, our Nation's future, the majority's solution is 
to abolish the public classroom altogether. If you cannot afford a 
private education for your children, well, too bad.

  This is the every child left behind act. Regardless of your age or 
stage in life, this bill means you can't count on your country for 
assistance in getting back on your feet.
  Youth job training, adult job training, Job Corps, and senior 
community service employment programs are all eliminated. If you want 
to work and just need help finding the right job or finding a better 
job, this bill has nothing to offer you.

[[Page H5742]]

  They are putting workers who do find jobs at risk by cutting $313 
million for worker protection agencies like the Occupational Safety and 
Health Administration. The 30 percent cut to the Wage and Hour 
Division, the agency that is tasked with enforcing wage law and 
ensuring that our children are not working illegally, will send the 
rights of workers in this country back to a time before World War II.
  This bill hangs working families out to dry. Healthy Start, diaper 
distribution, teen pregnancy prevention, title X family planning--all 
abolished.
  With riders that block access to abortions and reproductive 
healthcare services and force providers to withhold critical 
information about healthcare options, it is clear in this area that the 
majority does not trust women to make their own decisions, and where 
they are taking us is moving down a road to a nationwide abortion ban.
  These provisions amount to the majority simultaneously ensuring 
anyone who may get pregnant will get pregnant, teenagers included, and 
there are no resources or lifelines available to help those children 
and their families.
  People can only hope that they do not get cancer. You will not find 
support from House Republicans. From the National Institutes of Health, 
over $2 billion is cut from the National Cancer Institute, the National 
Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the National Institute 
of Mental Health, and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious 
Diseases.
  Cuts to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are as 
outrageous as they are dangerous. Firearm injury prevention, tobacco 
prevention, and ending the HIV epidemic, which, by the way, was an 
initiative of President Donald Trump, Republicans have decided that 
addressing these problems is not worth a single dollar to the American 
people.
  What should we be doing if not combating the leading causes of death 
in this country? What should we fund if not the health and future of 
America's families? Supporting our children and working families is the 
bare minimum of what the greatest country in the world should do for 
its people, but this bill goes well below the bare minimum.
  This bill steals from our children's future, from our families' 
health, and from Americans' livelihood. It abandons young adults. It 
stifles biomedical innovation. It surrenders to current and future 
public health crises. It hurts women with poison pill riders on 
abortion.
  Mr. Chair, for these reasons, I vehemently oppose this bill, and I 
urge my colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chair, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Carl).
  Mr. CARL. Mr. Chair, I thank Mr. Aderholt for his remarkable work on 
this bill, particularly under the trying circumstances in which we find 
ourselves.
  One area of concern I would like to touch on is the Medicare wage 
index. The wage index is unfair to rural southern States like Alabama.
  Alabama has one of the lowest reimbursement rates in the Nation. Even 
worse, Mobile and Baldwin Counties, which I represent, face a huge 
struggle with the labor market since they are so close to Florida and 
competing with Florida's higher reimbursement rate.
  A small adjustment to this classification for Mobile and Baldwin 
Counties would level the playing field at a time when hiring and 
retaining healthcare workers is at such a critical stage. It would also 
address the massive population growth that we are having in these 
counties and the increasingly older population on the Alabama Gulf 
Coast.
  The reclassification is carefully designed to address this unique 
situation. These carve-outs have been accomplished for decades in 
higher reimbursement States while lowering the reimbursement for States 
that need it the most and that have been ignored. To achieve more fair 
funding in healthcare, especially in a unique situation like Mobile and 
Baldwin Counties, a reclassification is the right thing to do.
  Mr. Chair, I support this bill, and I hope that by working together, 
we can address these critical issues and ensure a brighter future for 
our communities.
  Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I 
rise in support of these remarks from my friend and colleague from 
Alabama (Mr. Carl).
  Hospitals in Alabama and, really, across the Nation are facing 
financial pressure because of healthcare disparities created by a 
specific Medicare regulation called the Medicare area wage index, as 
Mr. Carl just mentioned.
  The wage index system is broken. It is punishing cost-effective 
hospitals in so many rural areas. Despite increases in labor costs, the 
wage index in these States consistently decreases over the years, and 
the decline is projected to continue.
  I thank the gentleman from Alabama for raising this issue here today. 
Although this is primarily under the jurisdiction of the authorizing 
committees, I am proud that this bill includes provisions drawing 
attention to this very important issue.
  I hope that, moving forward, Congress can work to address this long-
broken system, which is continuing to create serious challenges for our 
rural hospitals and their communities.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), the distinguished ranking member of 
the Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and 
Related Agencies.

  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for 
yielding, and I rise in strong opposition to this spending bill.
  In it, House Republicans have reduced funding to the NIH and the 
National Cancer Institute and virtually eliminated funding for medical 
and behavioral research into deadly diseases.
  House Republicans eliminated the CDC's tobacco prevention and control 
programs. I repeat: House Republicans have defunded our most important 
antismoking programs with this bill.
  Deaths will be the reality if these cuts come to fruition. How can 
Republicans still be this beholden to Big Tobacco?
  House Republicans also eliminated the Ending the HIV Epidemic 
initiative despite States like Florida, where we are seeing a 33 
percent spike in new HIV diagnoses.
  With this bill, House Republicans are eliminating Healthy Start, 
whose sole mission is to improve the well-being of expectant mothers or 
those who just gave birth, all to reduce infant mortality.
  On top of that, this extreme MAGA bill eliminates funding for title X 
family planning because their far-right ideology forbids access to 
reproductive health and related preventive health services.
  Of course, House Republicans have eliminated the Teen Pregnancy 
Prevention program in tandem with riders that block access to abortion 
services or reproductive healthcare services.
  At least this bill nakedly reflects the true values of the MAGA House 
Republicans because it will encourage discrimination, promote bigotry, 
trample on women's rights, decimate public education, and push 
minorities further away from equality.

                              {time}  1145

  Of course, it ``protects'' Americans from critical race theory, 
LGBTQI+ communities, and programs that promote diversity and equity.
  This bill should adhere to the agreement that was made in the Fiscal 
Responsibility Act we passed on a bipartisan basis in the spring. 
Slash-and-burn budgeting hurts real people while you take care of your 
corporate co-conspirators.
  I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this terrible spending bill if 
it ever even comes to a vote.
  Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Steube).
  Mr. STEUBE. Mr. Chair, our Nation's foster care system is 
overburdened and limited in its ability to adequately address the 
adversities, challenges, and traumas that children and families often 
confront in some of the most vulnerable times of their lives. This is 
the unfortunate reality--a status quo where good enough is not good 
enough. It is a status quo where children are forgotten and neglected, 
a status quo that leaves children to gather in the

[[Page H5743]]

trauma that introduced them to the foster care system.
  The Administration for Children and Families has emboldened the 
status quo for far too long. Studies show that children placed in 
foster care are significantly more likely to face lifelong struggles 
that include homelessness, sex trafficking, incarceration, and post-
traumatic stress disorder.
  To move past these challenges, we must introduce innovative solutions 
that address the complex needs of children and families involved in the 
foster care system.
  Our foster care system lacks innovation, but that is something that 
we can change. We must educate, support, and empower children in the 
foster care system to reach their full potential.
  To accomplish these goals, our foster care system needs 
interventional, trauma-informed programming molded to the unique 
circumstances of each child in the foster care system.
  I encourage my colleagues to recognize these unique challenges and 
help set foster care youth on a path to success.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Lois Frankel), a member of the Appropriations Committee.
  Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. My, my, my. In the spending bill that 
most affects our social fabric, MAGA Republicans take an ax to women's 
reproductive freedom, public education, and Medicare.
  At a time when costs are too high for working people, Republicans 
underfund childcare and eldercare. Instead of lifting up American 
families, this bill brings us down with culture war garbage.
  It is a ``no'' for me. We can and we must do better.
  Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Nevada (Ms. Lee), a member of the Appropriations Committee.
  Ms. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Chair, I am literally losing my voice, but 
somehow I will find the strength to make my voice heard on this 
dangerous bill.
  I rise today to speak against this bill's completely dated, out-of-
date insistence on stripping women of their fundamental freedoms, not 
to mention the 80 percent cut to title I across this country. This is 
funding for our most at-risk students everywhere, in every community in 
this country. It will eliminate over 200,000 teachers and jeopardize 
the education of 26 million students.
  First, I will take you back to a week ago when Americans all across 
this country from Ohio to Kentucky to Virginia came out in droves to 
reject extremist efforts to strip a woman's right to make decisions 
about her own body.
  Now, Republicans here in Washington are doubling down on that same 
out-of-touch agenda, this time by sneaking partisan policy wins into 
what is supposed to be a bipartisan process for funding our government.
  Conservatives have spent 50 years saying abortion should be left up 
to the States. They finally got their way when the Supreme Court 
overturned Roe v. Wade. Now, even after local communities everywhere 
are demonstrating clearly that they believe in a woman's fundamental 
freedoms, radical House Republicans are doing everything they can to 
make abortion illegal at a national level.
  It is time to wake up, listen to women across this country from the 
coasts to the hills to the deserts who have spoken and will continue to 
say: Hands off our bodies. It is our choice. Let's leave it that way.
  I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.'' This nonsense needs to end.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for her strong voice, 
and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chair, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Ciscomani), a member of our Appropriations 
Committee that has been very helpful on this bill that is before us 
today.
  Mr. CISCOMANI. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of Head Start 
programs across the country.
  As a father of six, I recognize the importance of early learning and 
development for our next generation. As a dad, I want to ensure all 
children have the same opportunities to build a strong foundation for 
their lives.
  That is why I joined my colleague and friend Representative Lawler on 
his amendment, which we will consider later, to increase the amount of 
Head Start funding provided in the FY 2024 Labor, Health and Human 
Services, Education and Related Agencies appropriations bill.
  Further, I introduced my own amendment, which is included in the en 
bloc to underscore the importance of the Head Start program.
  The importance of these programs, both in my district and across the 
country, cannot be understated. When our students and families have 
access to these resources, they are better equipped to put their best 
foot forward each day, both in and out of the classrooms.
  With 22 Head Start programs at almost 500 locations in Arizona, these 
programs are vital to the well-being of families and children 
everywhere. In my district alone, 10 percent of the families with 
children under the age of 5 lives below the poverty level. The tools 
our students need to succeed go far beyond pencils and notebooks in the 
classroom. When we invest in our kids, we are investing in a stronger 
community.
  Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chair, I thank Mr. Ciscomani for his comments. As 
we move forward with this bill, I look forward to working with him, and 
I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from 
Virginia (Ms. McClellan).
  Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Chair, I thank Congresswoman DeLauro for her 
leadership.
  When we invest in our children, we invest in our communities. I 
agree, and that is why I am so perplexed and frankly outraged by the 
draconian cuts in this bill, specifically targeting teachers, students, 
and title I schools that serve vulnerable communities.
  These draconian cuts would force 220,000 teachers from the 
classrooms. In my district, that is nearly 700 title I teachers who 
would lose their jobs.
  I am one of the few mothers of young children in this Congress. I 
have an eighth grader and a third grader. I see every day that at a 
time when our schools are still struggling to address learning 
disruption and a growing achievement gap resulting, in part, from the 
COVID pandemic and the growing mental health crisis, that this bill 
compounds that problem by cutting resources to our schools and cutting 
mental health services that will help to address the crisis that our 
children and the adults that care for them are facing every day.
  For that reason, I urge my colleagues to vote against this extreme 
Labor-HHS appropriation bill.
  Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Rhode 
Island (Mr. Magaziner).
  Mr. MAGAZINER. Mr. Chair, every child deserves access to a high-
quality education, but House Republicans are proposing harmful cuts 
that would close the doors of opportunity for millions of children.
  At a time when we are facing a nationwide teacher shortage, House 
Republicans want to cut title I funding by 80 percent, kicking 220,000 
teachers out of the classroom, including 1,000 teachers in Rhode 
Island.
  House Republicans also propose to cut Head Start funding by $750 
million, putting 50,000 children, including hundreds in Rhode Island, 
out of early childhood education programs and making it harder for 
their parents to go back to work.
  All told, this bill would cut $22.5 billion from the Department of 
Education, and many of my Republican colleagues who are advocating for 
these cuts, who are saying we just can't find the money to pay teachers 
and help kids, had no problem voting for a tax cut program of $1.9 
trillion that went disproportionately to billionaires and big 
corporations. They voted for $750 billion of tax cuts to corporations, 
$150 billion of cuts for multimillion-dollar inheritances, and now when 
it comes to finding even a fraction of that same amount to fund 
teachers and fund children, they are saying they can't find the money.
  Please.
  If you can find trillions of dollars to give to billionaires and big 
corporations, you can sure as heck find money for teachers and 
students.

[[Page H5744]]

  Instead of handouts for those at the top, let's focus on policies 
that will help working people.
  I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill, fight back against 
extremism, and stand up for our kids.
  Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  It is incredulous the scope of this bill and its damage to the 
American people, their healthcare, their education, and their 
opportunity for a job and their future.
  Just quickly, in the Department of Labor: Adult Job Training; Youth 
Job Training; Job Corps; Senior Community Service Employment; the 
Bureau of International Labor Affairs; the Women's Bureau, the Women's 
Bureau that helps women find jobs in nontraditional areas, these are 
all eliminated. They are eliminated.
  Let's go now to the Department of Health and Human Services: Title X 
Family Planning; Healthy Start; Ryan White Ending the HIV Epidemic, 
something that George Bush and Donald Trump wanted to provide funding 
for, eliminated.
  Nursing Workforce Diversity. We have a shortage of nurses today. We 
need to be recruiting and training nurses to be able to take care of 
patients, to be able to administer healthcare.
  I always classify nurses as angels of mercy. They were with me every 
single day when I was in the hospital a number of years ago for a 
period of time. The doctors could look at me, they did great surgery, 
but it was the nurses who looked at me, and they could tell whether it 
was a good day or a bad day, and they were there for comfort and care. 
But, no, we don't want to train and recruit nurses.
  The CDC, Tobacco Prevention and Control--my God, we have gone to such 
an extent to really cut back on addiction and not to make kids addicted 
in our country.

                              {time}  1200

  Firearm Injury and Mortality Prevention. This is research and the 
same kind of research we did with regard to understanding how good 
seatbelts were and how they could save people. This is not taking 
anyone's gun away. This is about public health, but, no, that is 
eliminated.
  Global HIV/AIDS, the CDC's contribution to PEPFAR--launched by George 
Bush--all eliminated. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services, 
Minority AIDS. My God, we are suffering a mental health crisis in this 
country, but, no, the Republicans would eliminate that.
  Preschool Development Grants, Adult Protective Services Formula 
Grants, all eliminated.
  Now, the Department of Education. Effective Instruction State Grants, 
eliminated. Social and Emotional Learning, eliminated. Civics--we find 
today that young people, older people, don't know anything about the 
American government. They don't know who does what at local, State, or 
federal. They don't engage in a dialogue with one another so that you 
can get to some sort of a rapprochement, understand what is being done 
in government. No, Republicans don't want a literate society, so let's 
eliminate civics.
  Magnet Schools Assistance, Promise Neighborhoods, the Federal 
Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants. My God, the kids who need 
financial assistance.
  Federal Work-Study, let me mention that one, because today, working 
families, middle-class families, vulnerable families, are having a 
tough time. They are going paycheck to paycheck. Yeah, you know what? 
They want their kids to go to school to get an education. You know 
what? Their kids are willing to work. They will go to the library. They 
will do those jobs with the Federal Work-Study Program.
  When I talk about Republicans wanting to eliminate public education, 
this is a very good example, because you cut off the opportunity for 
that child to be able to work and to help his parents support him in 
getting an education.
  Who are we and what are we about with this bill?
  I could go on, but what would be the point? That is what this bill is 
about. As I said, it is not a messaging bill. This is where the 
majority wants to take us. They want to eliminate public education in 
this Nation.
  I come from an immigrant family whose parents could dare dream their 
daughter serves in the United States House of Representatives. I can 
hear, day in and day out, my folks who have now passed who said: Get an 
education. Get an education. They sacrificed for that education, and we 
have a majority of this body who wants to take it away.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 
5894--Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education, and Related 
Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024.
  House Republicans had an opportunity to engage in a productive, 
bipartisan appropriations process, but instead are wasting time with 
partisan bills that cut domestic spending to levels well below the 
Fiscal Responsibility Act agreement and endanger critical services for 
the American people.
  As with all the additional appropriation bills that have been up for 
consideration on the House Floor, I strongly oppose the passage of this 
bill for a myriad of reasons.
  The 2024 Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education, and Related 
Agencies Appropriations Act provides $163 billion, which is a 28 
percent cut of $64 billion, and brings us back to a level unseen since 
2008.
  This dangerous and irresponsible legislation would do the following:
  Decimate support for children in K-12 elementary schools and early 
childhood education.
  Abandon college students and low-income workers trying to improve 
their lives through higher education or job training.
  Stifle lifesaving biomedical innovation by cutting funding for cancer 
research, mental health research, and neurological research, and by 
slashing funding for advanced research projects intended to develop new 
cures and therapies.
  Surrender to ongoing public health crises in mental health, opioid 
use, HIV/AIDS, and health disparities.
  Harm women's health by cutting programs that support maternal and 
child health, eliminating programs that provide access to health 
services and contraception, and adding numerous partisan and poison 
pill riders related to abortion and reproductive health.
  This bill is out of regular order. It was never marked up and 
considered in the House Appropriations committee.
  There is no example of this happening in the last 20 years.
  House Republicans are stripping $63.8 billion away from Texas, making 
it harder for Texans to access education, health care, employment, and 
more.
  I think we can all agree children are our future and that we should 
invest to make our future better and brighter.
  As Chair of the Congressional Children's Caucus, I am extremely 
passionate about the wellbeing and education of children.
  Which is why I offered the Jackson Lee Amendment No. 51 as 
incorporated in the En Bloc.
  Despite the horrible provisions throughout the entirety of this 
appropriations bill, the Jackson Lee Amendment No. 51 as incorporated 
into En Bloc Amendment is an important amendment that would increase by 
$2 million the Head Start Act, including Head Start partnerships.
  One of the objectives of the Congressional Children's Caucus is to 
ensure that all the children in this country have an opportunity to 
receive an education, including early childhood development.
  Head Start helps all children succeed, especially vulnerable 
children.
  If we continue to underfund education in the United States, our 
children will suffer, we will dismantle public education, and we will 
be weaker as a nation.
  This legislation would kick teachers out of classrooms.
  The United States is already in a teacher shortage and this bill 
would cut another 22,300 teachers from Texas schools due to cuts from 
Title 1.
  This bill would severely impact teachers and students all over the 
state of Texas, where the Texas Education Agency has already decided to 
unnecessarily takeover Houston ISD.
  Houston ISD is the largest school district in the state, with a 
student population of more than 200,000, according to a breakdown by 
the Texas Tribune.
  A TEA takeover would have a negative impact on each Independent 
School District (ISD) because a board of managers are not elected, and 
they don't have to answer to the constituents in those districts.
  State takeovers in other districts have led to school closures, 
layoffs, and no improvements in test scores.
  The vast majority of school districts that have been taken over by 
state agencies (TEA included) have not improved but declined.

[[Page H5745]]

  TEA has no experience managing a district of 200k-plus scholars and 
we should not suffer as the guinea pigs.
  Texas is behind the national average of how much the state spends per 
student in the classroom.
  More specifically, data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that Texas 
spends $3,000 less than the national average.
  We have to stop the State from intermeddling and overstepping into 
our educational systems--causing further harm and damage to our 
communities.
  This legislation will make cuts to schools and communities that are 
already suffering.
  With the pandemic, burnout and the rise in the cost of living, 
teachers are already struggling, and this bill will only add to that.
  Without the support of our teachers, students will be left behind.
  I also offered the Jackson Lee Amendment No. 24 as incorporated in 
the En Bloc.
  Again, despite the horrible provisions throughout the entirety of 
this bill, the Jackson Lee Amendment No. 24 as incorporated into En 
Bloc Amendment is an important amendment that would increase and 
decrease by $2 million the National Cancer Institute in order to 
research triple negative breast cancer.
  Breast cancer accounts for 12.5 percent of all new annual cancer 
cases worldwide, making it the most common cancer in the world.
  This issue is extremely important, especially for the brave men and 
women in the military, who are up to 20-40 percent more likely to 
develop breast cancer.
  There are few people in this country whose lives have not been 
touched by breast cancer.
  Yet, there are persistent disparities in breast cancer incidence and 
death rates.
  Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the 
United States for Black and Hispanic women.
  Black women are more likely to die from breast cancer than women of 
any other racial or ethnic group.
  Experts believe that it's partially because about 1 in 5 Black women 
is diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, more than any other 
racial or ethnic group.
  Compared with non-Hispanic white women, Black women are less likely 
to receive guideline adherent care and have an approximate 2-fold 
higher mortality incidence, resulting in a disproportionately higher 
risk of death from Triple Negative Breast Cancer.
  Triple Negative Breast Cancer (``TNBC'') is one of many forms of 
breast cancer and accounts for about 15-30 percent of all diagnosed 
invasive breast cancer cases in the United States.
  Due to its aggressive behavior, TNBC grows quickly and is more likely 
to have spread at the time it is found and is more likely to come back 
after treatment than other types of breast cancer.
  TNBC cells do not contain (are ``negative for'') three key receptors 
that medicines typically target in other types of breast cancers; 
therefore, there are limited treatment options that can be used to 
treat the cancer.
  Patients with an early diagnosis can often be treated with 
chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery; however, the limited therapies 
available specifically addressing the management of TNBC has made 
treating this disease a challenge for clinicians.
  Recent innovation in targeted therapies have fueled advances in the 
fight against TNBC.
  Advances in breast cancer screening and treatment over the last few 
decades have reduced the overall breast cancer mortality rate, yet the 
disproportionate impact of TNBC on racial and ethnic minority 
communities raises considerations about the underlying determinants 
driving the disparities.
  It is necessary to promote TNBC education, raise awareness about the 
disease-related disparities, and tackle inequities within the health 
care delivery such as inadequate access to screening, diagnostic 
testing, and care, to improve early detection and survival.
  Providing the NIH with the resources necessary to research TNBC could 
save thousands of lives each year.
  The Jackson Lee Amendment No. 24 would allow for more research so we 
can one day hopefully learn a way to reduce the number of Americans 
affected by breast cancer.
  Additionally, I have introduced H.R. 225, the Triple-Negative Breast 
Cancer Research and Education Act of 2023, which focuses on expanding, 
intensifying, and coordinating programs for the conduct and support of 
research on triple-negative breast cancer, a type of breast cancer that 
is difficult to detect but disproportionately impacts African American 
and Hispanic women.
  While these Jackson Lee Amendments are important, the negatives of 
this appropriations bill vastly outweigh these positive amendments--
which is why H.R. 5894 must be voted down.
  Importantly, this bill is harmful for women's reproductive rights.
  Access to abortion and fertility care is essential to a person's 
freedom, including for service members, to make decisions about their 
health and well-being, and having control over their economic security.
  Anti-abortion policymakers want to take away women's ability to make 
personal decisions about their health and safety.
  We must defend their freedom to control their own bodies, lives, and 
futures.
  The shameful attacks on women's reproductive health rights make it 
crystal clear: anti-abortion lawmakers will take any action to ensure 
people cannot access abortion care.
  Anti-abortion lawmakers are pushing an extreme agenda to take away 
service women's freedom and autonomy, all while trying to claim they 
support women's rights.
  Access to reproductive health care, including abortion and fertility 
care, is critical to our democracy and overall well-being as a free 
nation.
  As policymakers, we must ensure that all Americans can access 
abortion care without barriers.
  We aren't truly free unless we can control our own bodies, lives, and 
futures.
  Our laws and policies should protect our rights, not try to control 
and dehumanize us.
  This bill will undoubtedly have a devastating impact on all 
Americans.
  As we know, the National Institutes of Health has had major progress 
in human health advances, promising medical findings, and research 
insights.
  Yet, significant cuts to NIH make maintaining American research and 
development leadership worldwide more challenging at a time when 
competitor nations are increasing their support for biomedical 
research.
  Funding cuts will delay progress towards new cures, treatments, and 
diagnostics that benefit the nation and drive our biomedical innovation 
economy forward.
  Beyond sustaining American leadership in biomedical research, the NIH 
is a major catalyst for local economies, directly and indirectly 
supporting over 560,000 jobs and producing $96.84 billion in new 
economic activity in FY22, equaling an economic return of $2.64 for 
every $1 in research funding.
  This bill eliminates funding for the Ending the HIV Epidemic 
Initiative within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (-$220 
million), the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (-$165 million), and 
Community Health Centers Program (-$157 million).
  The bill also cuts funding for the Minority HIV/AIDS Fund by 53 
percent (-$32 million).
  We have made significant advances in HIV/AIDS research and it would 
be devastating to cut back on the important work that is being done.
  Rather than cutting billions of dollars for NIH-supported medical 
research occurring in nearly every congressional district across the 
country, the House should build on decades of strong bipartisan support 
and investment that has led to the lifesaving medications and 
treatments Americans rely on every day.
  We must fund the NIH and the Department of Health and Human Services 
in order to research and solve conditions such as Triple Negative 
Breast Cancer, diabetes, and HIV.
  This legislation would also impact Federal Work Study programs and 
Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants making it more difficult than 
it already is for college students to pay for a higher education and 
receive financial aid.
  The elimination of these programs and the flat funding levels of Pell 
Grants for the first time since 2012 would create financial emergencies 
for low-income students.
  Cutting these programs would not only drive-up student borrowing and 
potentially discourage the next generation of students, but it would 
also create a real and immediate financial shortfall for current low-
income students who have rely on these programs to earn their degree.
  This legislation would also take away funding from our elderly 
population.
  Under the current LHHS bill there would be a $250 million dollar 
decrease to the Social Security Administration's customer service 
budget at a time when the agency continues to struggle to deliver 
timely and accurate service. This year saw continued record high hold 
times and wait times for disability claims.
  The bill has a $15 million decrease for Elder Rights Supports, 
funding used to protect older Americans from elder abuse.
  The Senior Community Service Employment Program would be eliminated. 
This program provides the opportunity for tens of thousands of older 
Americans to find work despite pernicious age discrimination.
  This bill negatively impacts every single person in the United States 
from the youngest to the oldest.
  This bill doesn't choose to impact just Republicans or Democrats.
  We will all feel the severity of this bill if it is passed.
  We cannot better the lives of everyday Americans with this terrible 
bill that eliminates much of the progress that has been made in 
education, public health, and the workforce.

[[Page H5746]]

  This reckless underlying legislation would painfully impact the lives 
of millions of Americans by making disastrous cuts to programs that 
workers and families count on every day.
  Instead of investing in America, Republicans would rather focus on 
advancing unpopular and dangerous right-wing priorities.
  The proposal in front of us here today is not a reasonable middle 
ground, nor is it even a starting point for discussion.
  I recognize that we are in the midst of austere budgetary and 
political times, however, we cannot continue to ignore the return on 
investment that advanced developments in health research, employment 
assistance, and education will yield to the American public.
  I urge all my colleagues to oppose this dangerous and shameful bill.
  The CHAIR. All time for general debate has expired.
  Pursuant to the rule, the bill shall be considered for amendment 
under the 5-minute rule.
  An amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of 
Rules Committee Print 118-13, modified by the amendment printed in part 
A of House Report 118-272, shall be considered as adopted in the House 
and in the Committee of the Whole, and the bill, as amended, shall be 
considered as read.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5894

  Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

                                TITLE I

                          DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

                 Employment and Training Administration

                    training and employment services

       For necessary expenses of the Workforce Innovation and 
     Opportunity Act (referred to in this Act as ``WIOA'') and the 
     National Apprenticeship Act, $2,836,808,000, plus 
     reimbursements, shall be available. Of the amounts provided:
       (1) for grants to States for adult employment and training 
     activities and dislocated worker employment and training 
     activities, $1,807,553,000 as follows:
       (A) $712,000,000 for adult employment and training 
     activities, which shall be available for the period October 
     1, 2024 through June 30, 2025; and
       (B) $1,095,553,000 for dislocated worker employment and 
     training activities, of which $235,553,000 shall be available 
     for the period July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025, and of 
     which $860,000,000 shall be available for the period October 
     1, 2024 through June 30, 2025:
       Provided, That the funds available for allotment to 
     outlying areas to carry out subtitle B of title I of the WIOA 
     shall not be subject to the requirements of section 
     127(b)(1)(B)(ii) of such Act:  Provided further, That 
     notwithstanding the requirements of WIOA, outlying areas may 
     submit a single application for a consolidated grant that 
     awards funds that would otherwise be available to such areas 
     to carry out the activities described in subtitle B of title 
     I of the WIOA:  Provided further, That such application shall 
     be submitted to the Secretary of Labor (referred to in this 
     title as ``Secretary''), at such time, in such manner, and 
     containing such information as the Secretary may require:  
     Provided further, That outlying areas awarded a consolidated 
     grant described in the preceding provisos may use the funds 
     for any of the programs and activities authorized under such 
     subtitle B of title I of the WIOA subject to approval of the 
     application and such reporting requirements issued by the 
     Secretary; and
       (2) for national programs, $1,029,255,000 as follows:
       (A) $360,859,0000 for the dislocated workers assistance 
     national reserve, of which $160,859,000 shall be available 
     for the period July 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025, and 
     of which $200,000,000 shall be available for the period 
     October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025:  Provided, That 
     funds provided to carry out section 132(a)(2)(A) of the WIOA 
     may be used to provide assistance to a State for statewide or 
     local use in order to address cases where there have been 
     worker dislocations across multiple sectors or across 
     multiple local areas and such workers remain dislocated; 
     coordinate the State workforce development plan with emerging 
     economic development needs; and train such eligible 
     dislocated workers:  Provided further, That funds provided to 
     carry out sections 168(b) and 169(c) of the WIOA may be used 
     for technical assistance and demonstration projects, 
     respectively, that provide assistance to new entrants in the 
     workforce and incumbent workers:  Provided further, That 
     notwithstanding section 168(b) of the WIOA, of the funds 
     provided under this subparagraph, the Secretary may reserve 
     not more than 10 percent of such funds to provide technical 
     assistance and carry out additional activities related to the 
     transition to the WIOA:  Provided further,  That of the funds 
     provided under this subparagraph, $115,000,000 shall be for 
     training and employment assistance under sections 168(b), 
     169(c) (notwithstanding the 10 percent limitation in such 
     section) and 170 of the WIOA as follows:
       (i) $50,000,000 shall be for workers in the Appalachian 
     region, as defined by 40 U.S.C. 14102(a)(1), workers in the 
     Lower Mississippi, as defined in section 4(2) of the Delta 
     Development Act (Public Law 100-460, 102 Stat. 2246; 7 U.S.C. 
     2009aa(2)), and workers in the region served by the Northern 
     Border Regional Commission, as defined by 40 U.S.C. 15733; 
     and
       (ii) $65,000,000 shall be for the purpose of developing, 
     offering, or improving educational or career training 
     programs at community colleges, defined as public 
     institutions of higher education, as described in section 
     101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and at which the 
     associate's degree is primarily the highest degree awarded, 
     with other eligible institutions of higher education, as 
     defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 
     1965, eligible to participate through consortia, with 
     community colleges as the lead grantee;
       (B) $60,000,000 for Native American programs under section 
     166 of the WIOA, which shall be available for the period July 
     1, 2024 through June 30, 2025;
       (C) $97,396,000 for migrant and seasonal farmworker 
     programs under section 167 of the WIOA, including $90,134,000 
     for formula grants (of which not less than 70 percent shall 
     be for employment and training services), $6,591,000 for 
     migrant and seasonal housing (of which not less than 70 
     percent shall be for permanent housing), and $671,000 for 
     other discretionary purposes, which shall be available for 
     the period April 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025:  Provided, 
     That notwithstanding any other provision of law or related 
     regulation, the Department of Labor shall take no action 
     limiting the number or proportion of eligible participants 
     receiving related assistance services or discouraging 
     grantees from providing such services:  Provided further, 
     That notwithstanding the definition of ``eligible seasonal 
     farmworker'' in section 167(i)(3)(A) of the WIOA relating to 
     an individual being ``low-income'', an individual is eligible 
     for migrant and seasonal farmworker programs under section 
     167 of the WIOA under that definition if, in addition to 
     meeting the requirements of clauses (i) and (ii) of section 
     167(i)(3)(A), such individual is a member of a family with a 
     total family income equal to or less than 150 percent of the 
     poverty line;
       (D) $105,000,000 for YouthBuild activities as described in 
     section 171 of the WIOA, which shall be available for the 
     period April 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025;
       (E) $115,000,000 for ex-offender activities, under the 
     authority of section 169 of the WIOA, which shall be 
     available for the period April 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025: 
      Provided, That of this amount, $30,000,000 shall be for 
     competitive grants to national and regional intermediaries 
     for activities that prepare for employment young adults with 
     criminal legal histories, young adults who have been justice 
     system-involved, or young adults who have dropped out of 
     school or other educational programs, with a priority for 
     projects serving high-crime, high-poverty areas;
       (F) $6,000,000 for the Workforce Data Quality Initiative, 
     under the authority of section 169 of the WIOA, which shall 
     be available for the period July 1, 2024 through June 30, 
     2025; and
       (G) $285,000,000 to expand opportunities through 
     apprenticeships, to be available to the Secretary to carry 
     out activities through grants, cooperative agreements, 
     contracts and other arrangements, with States and other 
     appropriate entities, including equity intermediaries and 
     business and labor industry partner intermediaries, which 
     shall be available for the period July 1, 2024 through June 
     30, 2025.

              federal unemployment benefits and allowances

       For payments during fiscal year 2024 of trade adjustment 
     benefit payments and allowances under part I of subchapter B 
     of chapter 2 of title II of the Trade Act of 1974, and 
     section 246 of that Act; and for training, employment and 
     case management services, allowances for job search and 
     relocation, and related State administrative expenses under 
     part II of subchapter B of chapter 2 of title II of the Trade 
     Act of 1974, and including benefit payments, allowances, 
     training, employment and case management services, and 
     related State administration provided pursuant to section 
     231(a) of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Extension Act of 
     2011, sections 405(a) and 406 of the Trade Preferences 
     Extension Act of 2015, and section 285(a) of the Trade Act of 
     1974, as amended, $30,700,000 together with such amounts as 
     may be necessary to be charged to the subsequent 
     appropriation for payments for any period subsequent to 
     September 15, 2024:  Provided, That notwithstanding section 
     502 of this Act, any part of the appropriation provided under 
     this heading may remain available for obligation beyond the 
     current fiscal year pursuant to the authorities of section 
     245(c) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2317(c)).

     state unemployment insurance and employment service operations

                     (including transfer of funds)

       For authorized administrative expenses, $84,066,000, 
     together with not to exceed $3,921,556,000 which may be 
     expended from the Employment Security Administration Account 
     in the Unemployment Trust Fund (``the Trust Fund''), of 
     which--
       (1) $3,141,635,000 from the Trust Fund is for grants to 
     States for the administration of State unemployment insurance 
     laws as authorized under title III of the Social Security Act 
     (including not less than $382,000,000 to carry out 
     reemployment services and eligibility assessments under 
     section 306 of such Act, any claimants of regular 
     compensation, as defined in such section, including those who 
     are profiled as most likely to exhaust their benefits, may be 
     eligible for such services and assessments:  Provided, That 
     of such amount, $117,000,000 is specified for grants under 
     section 306 of the Social Security Act and is provided to 
     meet the terms of section 251(b)(2)(E)(ii) of the Balanced 
     Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended, 
     and $265,000,000 is additional new budget authority specified 
     for purposes of section 251(b)(2)(E)(i)(V) of such Act; and 
     $9,000,000 for continued support of the Unemployment 
     Insurance Integrity Center of Excellence), the administration 
     of unemployment insurance for Federal employees and for ex-
     service

[[Page H5747]]

     members as authorized under 5 U.S.C. 8501-8523, and the 
     administration of trade readjustment allowances, reemployment 
     trade adjustment assistance, and alternative trade adjustment 
     assistance under the Trade Act of 1974 and under section 
     231(a) of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Extension Act of 
     2011, sections 405(a) and 406 of the Trade Preferences 
     Extension Act of 2015, and section 285(a) of the Trade Act of 
     1974, as amended, and shall be available for obligation by 
     the States through December 31, 2024, except that funds used 
     for automation shall be available for Federal obligation 
     until expended, and for State obligation through September 
     30, 2026, and funds for competitive grants awarded to States 
     for improved operations and to conduct in-person reemployment 
     and eligibility assessments and unemployment insurance 
     improper payment reviews and provide reemployment services 
     and referrals to training, as appropriate, shall be available 
     for Federal obligation through December 31, 2024 (except that 
     funds for outcome payments pursuant to section 306(f)(2) of 
     the Social Security Act shall be available for Federal 
     obligation through March 31, 2025), and for obligation by the 
     States through September 30, 2026, and funds for the 
     Unemployment Insurance Integrity Center of Excellence shall 
     be available for obligation by the State through September 
     30, 2025, and funds used for unemployment insurance workloads 
     experienced through September 30, 2024 shall be available for 
     Federal obligation through December 31, 2024;
       (2) $23,000,000 from the Trust Fund is for national 
     activities necessary to support the administration of the 
     Federal-State unemployment insurance system;
       (3) $658,639,000 from the Trust Fund, together with 
     $21,413,000 from the General Fund of the Treasury, is for 
     grants to States in accordance with section 6 of the Wagner-
     Peyser Act, and shall be available for Federal obligation for 
     the period July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025;
       (4) $25,000,000 from the Trust Fund is for national 
     activities of the Employment Service, including 
     administration of the work opportunity tax credit under 
     section 51 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (including 
     assisting States in adopting or modernizing information 
     technology for use in the processing of certification 
     requests), and the provision of technical assistance and 
     staff training under the Wagner-Peyser Act;
       (5) $73,282,000 from the Trust Fund is for the 
     administration of foreign labor certifications and related 
     activities under the Immigration and Nationality Act and 
     related laws, of which $50,000,000 shall be available for the 
     Federal administration of such activities, and $23,282,000 
     shall be available for grants to States for the 
     administration of such activities; and
       (6) $62,653,000 from the General Fund is to provide 
     workforce information, national electronic tools, and one-
     stop system building under the Wagner-Peyser Act and shall be 
     available for Federal obligation for the period July 1, 2024 
     through June 30, 2025, of which up to $9,800,000 may be used 
     to carry out research and demonstration projects related to 
     testing effective ways to promote greater labor force 
     participation of people with disabilities:  Provided, That 
     the Secretary may transfer amounts made available for 
     research and demonstration projects under this paragraph to 
     the ``Office of Disability Employment Policy'' account for 
     such purposes:
       Provided, That to the extent that the Average Weekly 
     Insured Unemployment (``AWIU'') for fiscal year 2024 is 
     projected by the Department of Labor to exceed 2,365,000, an 
     additional $28,600,000 from the Trust Fund shall be available 
     for obligation for every 100,000 increase in the AWIU level 
     (including a pro rata amount for any increment less than 
     100,000) to carry out title III of the Social Security Act:  
     Provided further, That funds appropriated in this Act that 
     are allotted to a State to carry out activities under title 
     III of the Social Security Act may be used by such State to 
     assist other States in carrying out activities under such 
     title III if the other States include areas that have 
     suffered a major disaster declared by the President under the 
     Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
     Act:  Provided further, That the Secretary may use funds 
     appropriated for grants to States under title III of the 
     Social Security Act to make payments on behalf of States for 
     the use of the National Directory of New Hires under section 
     453(j)(8) of such Act:  Provided further, That the Secretary 
     may use funds appropriated for grants to States under title 
     III of the Social Security Act to make payments on behalf of 
     States to the entity operating the State Information Data 
     Exchange System:  Provided further, That funds appropriated 
     in this Act which are used to establish a national one-stop 
     career center system, or which are used to support the 
     national activities of the Federal-State unemployment 
     insurance, employment service, or immigration programs, may 
     be obligated in contracts, grants, or agreements with States 
     and non-State entities:  Provided further, That States 
     awarded competitive grants for improved operations under 
     title III of the Social Security Act, or awarded grants to 
     support the national activities of the Federal-State 
     unemployment insurance system, may award subgrants to other 
     States and non-State entities under such grants, subject to 
     the conditions applicable to the grants:  Provided further, 
     That funds appropriated under this Act for activities 
     authorized under title III of the Social Security Act and the 
     Wagner-Peyser Act may be used by States to fund integrated 
     Unemployment Insurance and Employment Service automation 
     efforts, notwithstanding cost allocation principles 
     prescribed under the final rule entitled ``Uniform 
     Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit 
     Requirements for Federal Awards'' at part 200 of title 2, 
     Code of Federal Regulations:  Provided further, That the 
     Secretary, at the request of a State participating in a 
     consortium with other States, may reallot funds allotted to 
     such State under title III of the Social Security Act to 
     other States participating in the consortium or to the entity 
     operating the Unemployment Insurance Information Technology 
     Support Center in order to carry out activities that benefit 
     the administration of the unemployment compensation law of 
     the State making the request:  Provided further, That the 
     Secretary may collect fees for the costs associated with 
     additional data collection, analyses, and reporting services 
     relating to the National Agricultural Workers Survey 
     requested by State and local governments, public and private 
     institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations 
     and may utilize such sums, in accordance with the provisions 
     of 29 U.S.C. 9a, for the National Agricultural Workers Survey 
     infrastructure, methodology, and data to meet the information 
     collection and reporting needs of such entities, which shall 
     be credited to this appropriation and shall remain available 
     until September 30, 2025, for such purposes.

        advances to the unemployment trust fund and other funds

       For repayable advances to the Unemployment Trust Fund as 
     authorized by sections 905(d) and 1203 of the Social Security 
     Act, and to the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund as 
     authorized by section 9501(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code 
     of 1986; and for nonrepayable advances to the revolving fund 
     established by section 901(e) of the Social Security Act, to 
     the Unemployment Trust Fund as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 8509, 
     and to the ``Federal Unemployment Benefits and Allowances'' 
     account, such sums as may be necessary, which shall be 
     available for obligation through September 30, 2025.

                         program administration

       For expenses of administering employment and training 
     programs, $108,900,000, together with not to exceed 
     $54,015,000 which may be expended from the Employment 
     Security Administration Account in the Unemployment Trust 
     Fund.

               Employee Benefits Security Administration

                         salaries and expenses

       For necessary expenses for the Employee Benefits Security 
     Administration, $152,880,000, of which up to $3,000,000 shall 
     be made available through September 30, 2025, for the 
     procurement of expert witnesses for enforcement litigation.

                  Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation

               pension benefit guaranty corporation fund

       The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (``Corporation'') 
     is authorized to make such expenditures, including financial 
     assistance authorized by subtitle E of title IV of the 
     Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, within 
     limits of funds and borrowing authority available to the 
     Corporation, and in accord with law, and to make such 
     contracts and commitments without regard to fiscal year 
     limitations, as provided by 31 U.S.C. 9104, as may be 
     necessary in carrying out the program, including associated 
     administrative expenses, through September 30, 2024, for the 
     Corporation:  Provided, That none of the funds available to 
     the Corporation for fiscal year 2024 shall be available for 
     obligations for administrative expenses in excess of 
     $512,900,000:  Provided further, That to the extent that the 
     number of new plan participants in plans terminated by the 
     Corporation exceeds 100,000 in fiscal year 2024, an amount 
     not to exceed an additional $9,200,000 shall be available 
     through September 30, 2028, for obligations for 
     administrative expenses for every 20,000 additional 
     terminated participants:  Provided further, That obligations 
     in excess of the amounts provided for administrative expenses 
     in this paragraph may be incurred and shall be available 
     through September 30, 2028 for obligation for unforeseen and 
     extraordinary pre-termination or termination expenses or 
     extraordinary multiemployer program related expenses after 
     approval by the Office of Management and Budget and 
     notification of the Committees on Appropriations of the House 
     of Representatives and the Senate:  Provided further, That an 
     additional amount shall be available for obligation through 
     September 30, 2028 to the extent the Corporation's costs 
     exceed $250,000 for the provision of credit or identity 
     monitoring to affected individuals upon suffering a security 
     incident or privacy breach, not to exceed an additional $100 
     per affected individual.

                         Wage and Hour Division

                         salaries and expenses

       For necessary expenses for the Wage and Hour Division, 
     including reimbursement to State, Federal, and local agencies 
     and their employees for inspection services rendered, 
     $185,000,000.

                  Office of Labor-Management Standards

                         salaries and expenses

       For necessary expenses for the Office of Labor-Management 
     Standards, $48,515,000.

             Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs

                         salaries and expenses

       For necessary expenses for the Office of Federal Contract 
     Compliance Programs, $83,232,000.

                Office of Workers' Compensation Programs

                         salaries and expenses

       For necessary expenses for the Office of Workers' 
     Compensation Programs, $106,500,000, together with $2,205,000 
     which may be expended from the Special Fund in accordance 
     with sections 39(c), 44(d), and 44(j) of the Longshore and 
     Harbor Workers' Compensation Act.

                            special benefits

                     (including transfer of funds)

       For the payment of compensation, benefits, and expenses 
     (except administrative expenses

[[Page H5748]]

     not otherwise authorized) accruing during the current or any 
     prior fiscal year authorized by 5 U.S.C. 81; continuation of 
     benefits as provided for under the heading ``Civilian War 
     Benefits'' in the Federal Security Agency Appropriation Act, 
     1947; the Employees' Compensation Commission Appropriation 
     Act, 1944; section 5(f) of the War Claims Act (50 U.S.C. App. 
     2012); obligations incurred under the War Hazards 
     Compensation Act (42 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); and 50 percent of 
     the additional compensation and benefits required by section 
     10(h) of the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, 
     $700,000,000, together with such amounts as may be necessary 
     to be charged to the subsequent year appropriation for the 
     payment of compensation and other benefits for any period 
     subsequent to August 15 of the current year, for deposit into 
     and to assume the attributes of the Employees' Compensation 
     Fund established under 5 U.S.C. 8147(a):  Provided, That 
     amounts appropriated may be used under 5 U.S.C. 8104 by the 
     Secretary to reimburse an employer, who is not the employer 
     at the time of injury, for portions of the salary of a re-
     employed, disabled beneficiary:  Provided further, That 
     balances of reimbursements unobligated on September 30, 2023, 
     shall remain available until expended for the payment of 
     compensation, benefits, and expenses:  Provided further, That 
     in addition there shall be transferred to this appropriation 
     from the Postal Service and from any other corporation or 
     instrumentality required under 5 U.S.C. 8147(c) to pay an 
     amount for its fair share of the cost of administration, such 
     sums as the Secretary determines to be the cost of 
     administration for employees of such fair share entities 
     through September 30, 2024:  Provided further, That of those 
     funds transferred to this account from the fair share 
     entities to pay the cost of administration of the Federal 
     Employees' Compensation Act, $83,007,000 shall be made 
     available to the Secretary as follows:
       (1) For enhancement and maintenance of automated data 
     processing systems operations and telecommunications systems, 
     $28,153,000;
       (2) For automated workload processing operations, including 
     document imaging, centralized mail intake, and medical bill 
     processing, $26,526,000;
       (3) For periodic roll disability management and medical 
     review, $26,527,000;
       (4) For program integrity, $1,801,000; and
       (5) The remaining funds shall be paid into the Treasury as 
     miscellaneous receipts:
       Provided further, That the Secretary may require that any 
     person filing a notice of injury or a claim for benefits 
     under 5 U.S.C. 81, or the Longshore and Harbor Workers' 
     Compensation Act, provide as part of such notice and claim, 
     such identifying information (including Social Security 
     account number) as such regulations may prescribe.

               special benefits for disabled coal miners

       For carrying out title IV of the Federal Mine Safety and 
     Health Act of 1977, as amended by Public Law 107-275, 
     $22,890,000, to remain available until expended.
       For making after July 31 of the current fiscal year, 
     benefit payments to individuals under title IV of such Act, 
     for costs incurred in the current fiscal year, such amounts 
     as may be necessary.
       For making benefit payments under title IV for the first 
     quarter of fiscal year 2025, $7,000,000, to remain available 
     until expended.

    administrative expenses, energy employees occupational illness 
                           compensation fund

       For necessary expenses to administer the Energy Employees 
     Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act, $66,532,000, 
     to remain available until expended:  Provided, That the 
     Secretary may require that any person filing a claim for 
     benefits under the Act provide as part of such claim such 
     identifying information (including Social Security account 
     number) as may be prescribed.

                    black lung disability trust fund

                     (including transfer of funds)

       Such sums as may be necessary from the Black Lung 
     Disability Trust Fund (the ``Fund''), to remain available 
     until expended, for payment of all benefits authorized by 
     section 9501(d)(1), (2), (6), and (7) of the Internal Revenue 
     Code of 1986; and repayment of, and payment of interest on 
     advances, as authorized by section 9501(d)(4) of that Act. In 
     addition, the following amounts may be expended from the Fund 
     for fiscal year 2024 for expenses of operation and 
     administration of the Black Lung Benefits program, as 
     authorized by section 9501(d)(5): not to exceed $44,059,000 
     for transfer to the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, 
     ``Salaries and Expenses''; not to exceed $41,178,000 for 
     transfer to Departmental Management, ``Salaries and 
     Expenses''; not to exceed $368,000 for transfer to 
     Departmental Management, ``Office of Inspector General''; and 
     not to exceed $356,000 for payments into miscellaneous 
     receipts for the expenses of the Department of the Treasury.

             Occupational Safety and Health Administration

                         salaries and expenses

       For necessary expenses for the Occupational Safety and 
     Health Administration, $536,922,000, including not to exceed 
     $120,000,000 which shall be the maximum amount available for 
     grants to States under section 23(g) of the Occupational 
     Safety and Health Act (the ``Act''), which grants shall be no 
     less than 50 percent of the costs of State occupational 
     safety and health programs required to be incurred under 
     plans approved by the Secretary under section 18 of the Act; 
     and, in addition, notwithstanding 31 U.S.C. 3302, the 
     Occupational Safety and Health Administration may retain up 
     to $499,000 per fiscal year of training institute course 
     tuition and fees, otherwise authorized by law to be 
     collected, and may utilize such sums for occupational safety 
     and health training and education:  Provided, That 
     notwithstanding 31 U.S.C. 3302, the Secretary is authorized, 
     during the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, to collect 
     and retain fees for services provided to Nationally 
     Recognized Testing Laboratories, and may utilize such sums, 
     in accordance with the provisions of 29 U.S.C. 9a, to 
     administer national and international laboratory recognition 
     programs that ensure the safety of equipment and products 
     used by workers in the workplace:  Provided further, That 
     none of the funds appropriated under this paragraph shall be 
     obligated or expended to prescribe, issue, administer, or 
     enforce any standard, rule, regulation, or order under the 
     Act which is applicable to any person who is engaged in a 
     farming operation which does not maintain a temporary labor 
     camp and employs 10 or fewer employees:  Provided further, 
     That no funds appropriated under this paragraph shall be 
     obligated or expended to administer or enforce any standard, 
     rule, regulation, or order under the Act with respect to any 
     employer of 10 or fewer employees who is included within a 
     category having a Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred 
     (``DART'') occupational injury and illness rate, at the most 
     precise industrial classification code for which such data 
     are published, less than the national average rate as such 
     rates are most recently published by the Secretary, acting 
     through the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in accordance with 
     section 24 of the Act, except--
       (1) to provide, as authorized by the Act, consultation, 
     technical assistance, educational and training services, and 
     to conduct surveys and studies;
       (2) to conduct an inspection or investigation in response 
     to an employee complaint, to issue a citation for violations 
     found during such inspection, and to assess a penalty for 
     violations which are not corrected within a reasonable 
     abatement period and for any willful violations found;
       (3) to take any action authorized by the Act with respect 
     to imminent dangers;
       (4) to take any action authorized by the Act with respect 
     to health hazards;
       (5) to take any action authorized by the Act with respect 
     to a report of an employment accident which is fatal to one 
     or more employees or which results in hospitalization of two 
     or more employees, and to take any action pursuant to such 
     investigation authorized by the Act; and
       (6) to take any action authorized by the Act with respect 
     to complaints of discrimination against employees for 
     exercising rights under the Act:
       Provided further, That the foregoing proviso shall not 
     apply to any person who is engaged in a farming operation 
     which does not maintain a temporary labor camp and employs 10 
     or fewer employees:  Provided further, That not less than 
     $3,500,000 shall be for Voluntary Protection Programs.

                 Mine Safety and Health Administration

                         salaries and expenses

       For necessary expenses for the Mine Safety and Health 
     Administration, $325,052,000, including purchase and bestowal 
     of certificates and trophies in connection with mine rescue 
     and first-aid work, and the hire of passenger motor vehicles, 
     including up to $2,000,000 for mine rescue and recovery 
     activities and not less than $10,537,000 for State assistance 
     grants:  Provided, That notwithstanding 31 U.S.C. 3302, not 
     to exceed $750,000 may be collected by the National Mine 
     Health and Safety Academy for room, board, tuition, and the 
     sale of training materials, otherwise authorized by law to be 
     collected, to be available for mine safety and health 
     education and training activities:  Provided further, That 
     notwithstanding 31 U.S.C. 3302, the Mine Safety and Health 
     Administration is authorized to collect and retain up to 
     $2,499,000 from fees collected for the approval and 
     certification of equipment, materials, and explosives for use 
     in mines, and may utilize such sums for such activities:  
     Provided further, That the Secretary is authorized to accept 
     lands, buildings, equipment, and other contributions from 
     public and private sources and to prosecute projects in 
     cooperation with other agencies, Federal, State, or private:  
     Provided further, That the Mine Safety and Health 
     Administration is authorized to promote health and safety 
     education and training in the mining community through 
     cooperative programs with States, industry, and safety 
     associations:  Provided further, That the Secretary is 
     authorized to recognize the Joseph A. Holmes Safety 
     Association as a principal safety association and, 
     notwithstanding any other provision of law, may provide funds 
     and, with or without reimbursement, personnel, including 
     service of Mine Safety and Health Administration officials as 
     officers in local chapters or in the national organization:  
     Provided further, That any funds available to the Department 
     of Labor may be used, with the approval of the Secretary, to 
     provide for the costs of mine rescue and survival operations 
     in the event of a major disaster.

                       Bureau of Labor Statistics

                         salaries and expenses

       For necessary expenses for the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 
     including advances or reimbursements to State, Federal, and 
     local agencies and their employees for services rendered, 
     $589,952,000, together with not to exceed $68,000,000 which 
     may be expended from the Employment Security Administration 
     account in the Unemployment Trust Fund.

                 Office of Disability Employment Policy

                         salaries and expenses

                     (including transfer of funds)

       For necessary expenses for the Office of Disability 
     Employment Policy to provide leadership, develop policy and 
     initiatives, and award grants furthering the objective of 
     eliminating barriers

[[Page H5749]]

     to the training and employment of people with disabilities, 
     $43,000,000, of which not less than $9,000,000 shall be for 
     research and demonstration projects related to testing 
     effective ways to promote greater labor force participation 
     of people with disabilities:  Provided, That the Secretary 
     may transfer amounts made available under this heading for 
     research and demonstration projects to the ``State 
     Unemployment Insurance and Employment Service Operations'' 
     account for such purposes.

                        Departmental Management

                         salaries and expenses

       For necessary expenses for Departmental Management, 
     including the hire of three passenger motor vehicles, 
     $200,995,000, together with not to exceed $308,000, which may 
     be expended from the Employment Security Administration 
     account in the Unemployment Trust Fund:  Provided, That 
     $6,211,000 shall be used for program evaluation and shall be 
     available for obligation through September 30, 2025:  
     Provided further, That funds available for program evaluation 
     may be used to administer grants for the purpose of 
     evaluation:  Provided further, That grants made for the 
     purpose of evaluation shall be awarded through fair and open 
     competition.

                   veterans' employment and training

       Not to exceed $269,841,000 may be derived from the 
     Employment Security Administration account in the 
     Unemployment Trust Fund to carry out the provisions of 
     chapters 41, 42, and 43 of title 38, United States Code, of 
     which--
       (1) $185,000,000 is for Jobs for Veterans State grants 
     under 38 U.S.C. 4102A(b)(5) to support disabled veterans' 
     outreach program specialists under section 4103A of such 
     title and local veterans' employment representatives under 
     section 4104(b) of such title, and for the expenses described 
     in section 4102A(b)(5)(C), which shall be available for 
     expenditure by the States through September 30, 2026, and not 
     to exceed 3 percent for the necessary Federal expenditures 
     for data systems and contract support to allow for the 
     tracking of participant and performance information:  
     Provided, That, in addition, such funds may be used to 
     support such specialists and representatives in the provision 
     of services to transitioning members of the Armed Forces who 
     have participated in the Transition Assistance Program and 
     have been identified as in need of intensive services, to 
     members of the Armed Forces who are wounded, ill, or injured 
     and receiving treatment in military treatment facilities or 
     warrior transition units, and to the spouses or other family 
     caregivers of such wounded, ill, or injured members;
       (2) $34,379,000 is for carrying out the Transition 
     Assistance Program under 38 U.S.C. 4113 and 10 U.S.C. 1144;
       (3) $47,048,000 is for Federal administration of chapters 
     41, 42, and 43 of title 38, and sections 2021, 2021A and 2023 
     of title 38, United States Code:  Provided, That, up to 
     $500,000 may be used to carry out the Hire VETS Act (division 
     O of Public Law 115-31); and
       (4) $3,414,000 is for the National Veterans' Employment and 
     Training Services Institute under 38 U.S.C. 4109:
       Provided, That the Secretary may reallocate among the 
     appropriations provided under paragraphs (1) through (4) 
     above an amount not to exceed 3 percent of the appropriation 
     from which such reallocation is made.
       In addition, from the General Fund of the Treasury, 
     $65,500,000 is for carrying out programs to assist homeless 
     veterans and veterans at risk of homelessness who are 
     transitioning from certain institutions under sections 2021, 
     2021A, and 2023 of title 38, United States Code:  Provided, 
     That notwithstanding subsections (c)(3) and (d) of section 
     2023, the Secretary may award grants through September 30, 
     2024, to provide services under such section:  Provided 
     further, That services provided under sections 2021 or under 
     2021A may include, in addition to services to homeless 
     veterans described in section 2002(a)(1), services to 
     veterans who were homeless at some point within the 60 days 
     prior to program entry or veterans who are at risk of 
     homelessness within the next 60 days, and that services 
     provided under section 2023 may include, in addition to 
     services to the individuals described in subsection (e) of 
     such section, services to veterans recently released from 
     incarceration who are at risk of homelessness:  Provided 
     further, That notwithstanding paragraph (3) under this 
     heading, funds appropriated in this paragraph may be used for 
     data systems and contract support to allow for the tracking 
     of participant and performance information:  Provided 
     further, That notwithstanding sections 2021(e)(2) and 
     2021A(f)(2) of title 38, United States Code, such funds shall 
     be available for expenditure pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 1553.
       In addition, fees may be assessed and deposited in the HIRE 
     Vets Medallion Award Fund pursuant to section 5(b) of the 
     HIRE Vets Act, and such amounts shall be available to the 
     Secretary to carry out the HIRE Vets Medallion Award Program, 
     as authorized by such Act, and shall remain available until 
     expended:  Provided, That such sums shall be in addition to 
     any other funds available for such purposes, including funds 
     available under paragraph (3) of this heading:  Provided 
     further, That section 2(d) of division O of the Consolidated 
     Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-31; 38 U.S.C. 4100 
     note) shall not apply.

                            it modernization

       For necessary expenses for Department of Labor centralized 
     infrastructure technology investment activities related to 
     support systems and modernization, $27,269,000, which shall 
     be available through September 30, 2025.

                      office of inspector general

       For salaries and expenses of the Office of Inspector 
     General in carrying out the provisions of the Inspector 
     General Act of 1978, $91,187,000, together with not to exceed 
     $5,841,000 which may be expended from the Employment Security 
     Administration account in the Unemployment Trust Fund:  
     Provided, That not more than $2,000,000 of the amount 
     provided under this heading may be available until expended.

                           General Provisions

       Sec. 101.  None of the funds appropriated by this Act for 
     the Job Corps shall be used to pay the salary and bonuses of 
     an individual, either as direct costs or any proration as an 
     indirect cost, at a rate in excess of Executive Level II.

                          (transfer of funds)

       Sec. 102.  Not to exceed 1 percent of any discretionary 
     funds (pursuant to the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit 
     Control Act of 1985) which are appropriated for the current 
     fiscal year for the Department of Labor in this Act may be 
     transferred between a program, project, or activity, but no 
     such program, project, or activity shall be increased by more 
     than 3 percent by any such transfer:  Provided, That the 
     transfer authority granted by this section shall not be used 
     to create any new program or to fund any project or activity 
     for which no funds are provided in this Act:  Provided 
     further, That the Committees on Appropriations of the House 
     of Representatives and the Senate are notified at least 15 
     days in advance of any transfer.
       Sec. 103.  In accordance with Executive Order 13126, none 
     of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available 
     pursuant to this Act shall be obligated or expended for the 
     procurement of goods mined, produced, manufactured, or 
     harvested or services rendered, in whole or in part, by 
     forced or indentured child labor in industries and host 
     countries already identified by the United States Department 
     of Labor prior to enactment of this Act.
       Sec. 104.  Except as otherwise provided in this section, 
     none of the funds made available to the Department of Labor 
     for grants under section 414(c) of the American 
     Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act of 1998 (29 
     U.S.C. 2916a) may be used for any purpose other than 
     competitive grants for training individuals who are older 
     than 16 years of age and are not currently enrolled in school 
     within a local educational agency in the occupations and 
     industries for which employers are using H-1B visas to hire 
     foreign workers, and the related activities necessary to 
     support such training.
       Sec. 105.  None of the funds made available by this Act 
     under the heading ``Employment and Training Administration'' 
     shall be used by a recipient or subrecipient of such funds to 
     pay the salary and bonuses of an individual, either as direct 
     costs or indirect costs, at a rate in excess of Executive 
     Level II. This limitation shall not apply to vendors 
     providing goods and services as defined in Office of 
     Management and Budget Circular A-133. Where States are 
     recipients of such funds, States may establish a lower limit 
     for salaries and bonuses of those receiving salaries and 
     bonuses from subrecipients of such funds, taking into account 
     factors including the relative cost-of-living in the State, 
     the compensation levels for comparable State or local 
     government employees, and the size of the organizations that 
     administer Federal programs involved including Employment and 
     Training Administration programs.

                          (transfer of funds)

       Sec. 106. (a) Notwithstanding section 102, the Secretary 
     may transfer funds made available to the Employment and 
     Training Administration by this Act, either directly or 
     through a set-aside, for technical assistance services to 
     grantees to ``Program Administration'' when it is determined 
     that those services will be more efficiently performed by 
     Federal employees:  Provided, That this section shall not 
     apply to section 171 of the WIOA.
       (b) Notwithstanding section 102, the Secretary may transfer 
     not more than 0.5 percent of each discretionary appropriation 
     made available to the Employment and Training Administration 
     by this Act to ``Program Administration'' in order to carry 
     out program integrity activities relating to any of the 
     programs or activities that are funded under any such 
     discretionary appropriations:  Provided, That funds 
     transferred under this subsection shall be available to the 
     Secretary to carry out program integrity activities directly 
     or through grants, cooperative agreements, contracts and 
     other arrangements with States and other appropriate 
     entities:  Provided further, That funds transferred under the 
     authority provided by this subsection shall be available for 
     obligation through September 30, 2024.

                          (transfer of funds)

       Sec. 107. (a) The Secretary may reserve not more than 0.75 
     percent from each appropriation made available in this Act 
     identified in subsection (b) in order to carry out 
     evaluations of any of the programs or activities that are 
     funded under such accounts. Any funds reserved under this 
     section shall be transferred to ``Departmental Management'' 
     for use by the Office of the Chief Evaluation Officer within 
     the Department of Labor, and shall be available for 
     obligation through September 30, 2024:  Provided, That such 
     funds shall only be available if the Chief Evaluation Officer 
     of the Department of Labor submits a plan to the Committees 
     on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the 
     Senate describing the evaluations to be carried out 15 days 
     in advance of any transfer.
       (b) The accounts referred to in subsection (a) are: 
     ``Training and Employment Services'', ``State Unemployment 
     Insurance and Employment Service Operations'', ``Employee 
     Benefits Security Administration'', ``Office of Workers' 
     Compensation Programs'', ``Wage and Hour Division'', ``Office 
     of Federal Contract Compliance Programs'', ``Office of Labor 
     Management Standards'', ``Occupational Safety and Health

[[Page H5750]]

     Administration'', ``Mine Safety and Health Administration'', 
     ``Office of Disability Employment Policy'', and ``Veterans' 
     Employment and Training''.
       Sec. 108. (a) Section 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 
     1938 (29 U.S.C. 207) shall be applied as if the following 
     text is part of such section:
       ``(s)(1) The provisions of this section shall not apply for 
     a period of 2 years after the occurrence of a major disaster 
     to any employee--
       ``(A) employed to adjust or evaluate claims resulting from 
     or relating to such major disaster, by an employer not 
     engaged, directly or through an affiliate, in underwriting, 
     selling, or marketing property, casualty, or liability 
     insurance policies or contracts;
       ``(B) who receives from such employer on average weekly 
     compensation of not less than $591.00 per week or any minimum 
     weekly amount established by the Secretary, whichever is 
     greater, for the number of weeks such employee is engaged in 
     any of the activities described in subparagraph (C); and
       ``(C) whose duties include any of the following:
       ``(i) interviewing insured individuals, individuals who 
     suffered injuries or other damages or losses arising from or 
     relating to a disaster, witnesses, or physicians;
       ``(ii) inspecting property damage or reviewing factual 
     information to prepare damage estimates;
       ``(iii) evaluating and making recommendations regarding 
     coverage or compensability of claims or determining liability 
     or value aspects of claims;
       ``(iv) negotiating settlements; or
       ``(v) making recommendations regarding litigation.
       ``(2) The exemption in this subsection shall not affect the 
     exemption provided by section 13(a)(1).
       ``(3) For purposes of this subsection--
       ``(A) the term `major disaster' means any disaster or 
     catastrophe declared or designated by any State or Federal 
     agency or department;
       ``(B) the term `employee employed to adjust or evaluate 
     claims resulting from or relating to such major disaster' 
     means an individual who timely secured or secures a license 
     required by applicable law to engage in and perform the 
     activities described in clauses (i) through (v) of paragraph 
     (1)(C) relating to a major disaster, and is employed by an 
     employer that maintains worker compensation insurance 
     coverage or protection for its employees, if required by 
     applicable law, and withholds applicable Federal, State, and 
     local income and payroll taxes from the wages, salaries and 
     any benefits of such employees; and
       ``(C) the term `affiliate' means a company that, by reason 
     of ownership or control of 25 percent or more of the 
     outstanding shares of any class of voting securities of one 
     or more companies, directly or indirectly, controls, is 
     controlled by, or is under common control with, another 
     company.''.
       (b) This section shall be effective on the date of 
     enactment of this Act.
       Sec. 109. (a) Flexibility With Respect to the Crossing of 
     H-2B Nonimmigrants Working in the Seafood Industry.--
       (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), if a petition 
     for H-2B nonimmigrants filed by an employer in the seafood 
     industry is granted, the employer may bring the nonimmigrants 
     described in the petition into the United States at any time 
     during the 120-day period beginning on the start date for 
     which the employer is seeking the services of the 
     nonimmigrants without filing another petition.
       (2) Requirements for crossings after 90th day.--An employer 
     in the seafood industry may not bring H-2B nonimmigrants into 
     the United States after the date that is 90 days after the 
     start date for which the employer is seeking the services of 
     the nonimmigrants unless the employer--
       (A) completes a new assessment of the local labor market 
     by--
       (i) listing job orders in local newspapers on 2 separate 
     Sundays; and
       (ii) posting the job opportunity on the appropriate 
     Department of Labor Electronic Job Registry and at the 
     employer's place of employment; and
       (B) offers the job to an equally or better qualified United 
     States worker who--
       (i) applies for the job; and
       (ii) will be available at the time and place of need.
       (3) Exemption from rules with respect to staggering.--The 
     Secretary of Labor shall not consider an employer in the 
     seafood industry who brings H-2B nonimmigrants into the 
     United States during the 120-day period specified in 
     paragraph (1) to be staggering the date of need in violation 
     of section 655.20(d) of title 20, Code of Federal 
     Regulations, or any other applicable provision of law.
       (b) H-2B Nonimmigrants Defined.--In this section, the term 
     ``H-2B nonimmigrants'' means aliens admitted to the United 
     States pursuant to section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(B) of the 
     Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
     1101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(B)).
       Sec. 110.  The determination of prevailing wage for the 
     purposes of the H-2B program shall be the greater of--(1) the 
     actual wage level paid by the employer to other employees 
     with similar experience and qualifications for such position 
     in the same location; or (2) the prevailing wage level for 
     the occupational classification of the position in the 
     geographic area in which the H-2B nonimmigrant will be 
     employed, based on the best information available at the time 
     of filing the petition. In the determination of prevailing 
     wage for the purposes of the H-2B program, the Secretary 
     shall accept private wage surveys even in instances where 
     Occupational Employment Statistics survey data are available 
     unless the Secretary determines that the methodology and data 
     in the provided survey are not statistically supported.
       Sec. 111.  None of the funds in this Act shall be used to 
     enforce the definition of corresponding employment found in 
     20 CFR 655.5 or the three-fourths guarantee rule definition 
     found in 20 CFR 655.20, or any references thereto. Further, 
     for the purpose of regulating admission of temporary workers 
     under the H-2B program, the definition of temporary need 
     shall be that provided in 8 CFR 214.2(h)(6)(ii)(B).
       Sec. 112.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
     Secretary may furnish through grants, cooperative agreements, 
     contracts, and other arrangements, up to $2,000,000 of excess 
     personal property, at a value determined by the Secretary, to 
     apprenticeship programs for the purpose of training 
     apprentices in those programs.
       Sec. 113. (a) The Act entitled ``An Act to create a 
     Department of Labor'', approved March 4, 1913 (37 Stat. 736, 
     chapter 141) shall be applied as if the following text is 
     part of such Act:

     ``SEC. 12. SECURITY DETAIL.

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary of Labor is authorized to 
     employ law enforcement officers or special agents to--
       ``(1) provide protection for the Secretary of Labor during 
     the workday of the Secretary and during any activity that is 
     preliminary or postliminary to the performance of official 
     duties by the Secretary;
       ``(2) provide protection, incidental to the protection 
     provided to the Secretary, to a member of the immediate 
     family of the Secretary who is participating in an activity 
     or event relating to the official duties of the Secretary;
       ``(3) provide continuous protection to the Secretary 
     (including during periods not described in paragraph (1)) and 
     to the members of the immediate family of the Secretary if 
     there is a unique and articulable threat of physical harm, in 
     accordance with guidelines established by the Secretary; and
       ``(4) provide protection to the Deputy Secretary of Labor 
     or another senior officer representing the Secretary of Labor 
     at a public event if there is a unique and articulable threat 
     of physical harm, in accordance with guidelines established 
     by the Secretary.
       ``(b) Authorities.--The Secretary of Labor may authorize a 
     law enforcement officer or special agent employed under 
     subsection (a), for the purpose of performing the duties 
     authorized under subsection (a), to--
       ``(1) carry firearms;
       ``(2) make arrests without a warrant for any offense 
     against the United States committed in the presence of such 
     officer or special agent;
       ``(3) perform protective intelligence work, including 
     identifying and mitigating potential threats and conducting 
     advance work to review security matters relating to sites and 
     events;
       ``(4) coordinate with local law enforcement agencies; and
       ``(5) initiate criminal and other investigations into 
     potential threats to the security of the Secretary, in 
     coordination with the Inspector General of the Department of 
     Labor.
       ``(c) Compliance With Guidelines.--A law enforcement 
     officer or special agent employed under subsection (a) shall 
     exercise any authority provided under this section in 
     accordance with any--
       ``(1) guidelines issued by the Attorney General; and
       ``(2) guidelines prescribed by the Secretary of Labor.''.
       (b) This section shall be effective on the date of 
     enactment of this Act.
       Sec. 114.  The Secretary is authorized to dispose of or 
     divest, by any means the Secretary determines appropriate, 
     including an agreement or partnership to construct a new Job 
     Corps center, all or a portion of the real property on which 
     the Treasure Island Job Corps Center is situated. Any sale or 
     other disposition, to include any associated construction 
     project, will not be subject to any requirement of any 
     Federal law or regulation relating to the disposition of 
     Federal real property or relating to Federal procurement, 
     including but not limited to subchapter III of chapter 5 of 
     title 40 of the United States Code, subchapter V of chapter 
     119 of title 42 of the United States Code, and chapter 33 of 
     division C of subtitle I of title 41 of the United States 
     Code. The net proceeds of such a sale shall be transferred to 
     the Secretary, which shall be available until expended to 
     carry out the Job Corps Program on Treasure Island.

                              (rescission)

       Sec. 115.  Of the unobligated funds available under section 
     286(s)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
     1356(s)(2)), $206,000,000 are hereby permanently rescinded 
     not later than September 30, 2024.

                              (rescission)

       Sec. 116.  Of the amounts which are made available to 
     ``Employment and Training Administration--Training and 
     Employment Services'' on October 1, 2023 by Public Law 117-
     328, $712,000,000 are hereby rescinded.
       Sec. 117.  No Federal funds may be made available to alter 
     or affect the administration, implementation, or enforcement 
     of the final rule entitled ``Independent Contractor Status 
     Under the Fair Labor Standards Act'' (86 Fed. Reg. 1168) and 
     dated January 7, 2021.
       Sec. 118.  No Federal funds may be made available to 
     administer, implement, or enforce the rule entitled 
     ``Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and 
     Exercising Shareholder Rights'' (87 Fed. Reg. 73822) and 
     dated December 1, 2022.
       Sec. 119.  No Federal funds may be made available to 
     administer, implement, or enforce--
       (1) the final rule entitled ``Adverse Effect Wage Rate 
     Methodology for the Temporary Employment of H-2A 
     Nonimmigrants in Non-Range Occupations in the United States'' 
     (88 Fed. Reg. 12760) and dated February 28, 2023; or

[[Page H5751]]

       (2) section 655.131(b) of title 20, Code of Federal 
     Regulations (relating to joint employer requirements) as 
     amended by the final regulations published by the Department 
     of Labor in the Federal Register on October 12, 2022 (87 Fed. 
     Reg. 61660).
       Sec. 120.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to implement, administer, or promote a program for 
     clean energy apprenticeships or the promotion of 
     apprenticeship opportunities based on a job applicant or 
     potential job applicant's race, color, religion, or sex.
       Sec. 121.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to implement or enforce the proposed rule entitled 
     ``Improving Protections for Workers in Temporary Agricultural 
     Employment in the United States'' published by the Department 
     of Labor in the Federal Register on September 15, 2023 (88 
     Fed. Reg. 63750 et seq.).
       This title may be cited as the ``Department of Labor 
     Appropriations Act, 2024''.

                                TITLE II

                DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

              Health Resources and Services Administration

                          primary health care

       For carrying out titles II and III of the Public Health 
     Service Act (referred to in this Act as the ``PHS Act'') with 
     respect to primary health care and the Native Hawaiian Health 
     Care Act of 1988, $1,858,772,000:  Provided, That no more 
     than $1,000,000 shall be available until expended for 
     carrying out the provisions of section 224(o) of the PHS Act: 
      Provided further, That no more than $120,000,000 shall be 
     available until expended for carrying out subsections (g) 
     through (n) and (q) of section 224 of the PHS Act, and for 
     expenses incurred by the Department of Health and Human 
     Services (referred to in this Act as ``HHS'') pertaining to 
     administrative claims made under such law:  Provided further, 
      That not less than $150,000,000 shall be obligated in fiscal 
     year 2024 for construction and capital improvement costs:  
     Provided further, That the time limitation in section 
     330(e)(3) of the PHS Act shall not apply to funds made 
     available under the preceding proviso.

                            health workforce

       For carrying out titles III, VII, and VIII of the PHS Act 
     with respect to the health workforce, sections 1128E and 1921 
     of the Social Security Act, and the Health Care Quality 
     Improvement Act of 1986, $1,336,348,000:  Provided, That 
     section 751(j)(2) of the PHS Act and the proportional funding 
     amounts in paragraphs (1) through (4) of section 756(f) of 
     the PHS Act shall not apply to funds made available under 
     this heading:  Provided further, That for any program 
     operating under section 751 of the PHS Act on or before 
     January 1, 2009, the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
     (referred to in this title as the ``Secretary'') may 
     hereafter waive any of the requirements contained in sections 
     751(d)(2)(A) and 751(d)(2)(B) of such Act for the full 
     project period of a grant under such section:  Provided 
     further, That section 756(c) of the PHS Act shall apply to 
     paragraphs (1) through (4) of section 756(a) of such Act:  
     Provided further, That no funds shall be available for 
     section 340G-1 of the PHS Act:  Provided further, That fees 
     collected for the disclosure of information under section 
     427(b) of the Health Care Quality Improvement Act of 1986 and 
     sections 1128E(d)(2) and 1921 of the Social Security Act 
     shall be sufficient to recover the full costs of operating 
     the programs authorized by such sections and shall remain 
     available until expended for the National Practitioner Data 
     Bank:  Provided further, That funds transferred to this 
     account to carry out section 846 and subpart 3 of part D of 
     title III of the PHS Act may be used to make prior year 
     adjustments to awards made under such section and subpart:  
     Provided further, That $126,000,000 shall remain available 
     until expended for the purposes of providing primary health 
     services, assigning National Health Service Corps (``NHSC'') 
     participants to expand the delivery of substance use disorder 
     treatment services, notwithstanding the assignment priorities 
     and limitations under sections 333(a)(1)(D), 333(b), and 
     333A(a)(1)(B)(ii) of the PHS Act, and making payments under 
     the NHSC Loan Repayment Program under section 338B of such 
     Act:  Provided further, That, within the amount made 
     available in the previous proviso, $16,000,000 shall remain 
     available until expended for the purposes of making payments 
     under the NHSC Loan Repayment Program under section 338B of 
     the PHS Act to individuals participating in such program who 
     provide primary health services in Indian Health Service 
     facilities, Tribally-Operated 638 Health Programs, and Urban 
     Indian Health Programs (as those terms are defined by the 
     Secretary), notwithstanding the assignment priorities and 
     limitations under section 333(b) of such Act:  Provided 
     further, That for purposes of the previous two provisos, 
     section 331(a)(3)(D) of the PHS Act shall be applied as if 
     the term ``primary health services'' includes clinical 
     substance use disorder treatment services, including those 
     provided by masters level, licensed substance use disorder 
     treatment counselors:  Provided further, That of the funds 
     made available under this heading, $6,000,000 shall be 
     available to make grants to establish, expand, or maintain 
     optional community-based nurse practitioner fellowship 
     programs that are accredited or in the accreditation process, 
     with a preference for those in Federally Qualified Health 
     Centers, for practicing postgraduate nurse practitioners in 
     primary care or behavioral health:  Provided further, That of 
     the funds made available under this heading, $10,000,000 
     shall remain available until expended for activities under 
     section 775 of the PHS Act:  Provided further, That the 
     United States may recover liquidated damages in an amount 
     determined by the formula under section 338E(c)(1) of the PHS 
     Act if an individual either fails to begin or complete the 
     service obligated by a contract under section 775(b) of the 
     PHS Act:  Provided further, That for purposes of section 
     775(c)(1) of the PHS Act, the Secretary may include other 
     mental and behavioral health disciplines as the Secretary 
     deems appropriate:  Provided further, That the Secretary may 
     terminate a contract entered into under section 775 of the 
     PHS Act in the same manner articulated in section 206 of this 
     title for fiscal year 2024 contracts entered into under 
     section 338B of the PHS Act.
       Of the funds made available under this heading, $60,000,000 
     shall remain available until expended for grants to public 
     institutions of higher education to expand or support 
     graduate education for physicians provided by such 
     institutions, including funding for infrastructure 
     development, maintenance, equipment, and minor renovations or 
     alterations:  Provided, That, in awarding such grants, the 
     Secretary shall give priority to public institutions of 
     higher education located in States with a projected primary 
     care provider shortage in 2030, as determined by the 
     Secretary:  Provided further, That grants so awarded are 
     limited to such public institutions of higher education in 
     States in the top quintile of States with a projected primary 
     care provider shortage in 2030, as determined by the 
     Secretary:  Provided further, That the minimum amount of a 
     grant so awarded to such an institution shall be not less 
     than $1,000,000 per year:  Provided further, That such a 
     grant may be awarded for a period not to exceed 5 years:  
     Provided further, That such a grant awarded with respect to a 
     year to such an institution shall be subject to a matching 
     requirement of non-Federal funds in an amount that is not 
     more than 10 percent of the total amount of Federal funds 
     provided in the grant to such institution with respect to 
     such year.

                       maternal and child health

       For carrying out titles III, XI, XII, and XIX of the PHS 
     Act with respect to maternal and child health and title V of 
     the Social Security Act, $991,582,000:  Provided, That 
     notwithstanding sections 502(a)(1) and 502(b)(1) of the 
     Social Security Act, not more than $177,268,000 shall be 
     available for carrying out special projects of regional and 
     national significance pursuant to section 501(a)(2) of such 
     Act and $10,276,000 shall be available for projects described 
     in subparagraphs (A) through (F) of section 501(a)(3) of such 
     Act.

                      ryan white hiv/aids program

       For carrying out title XXVI of the PHS Act with respect to 
     the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program, $2,332,535,000, of which 
     $2,045,630,000 shall remain available to the Secretary 
     through September 30, 2026, for parts A and B of title XXVI 
     of the PHS Act, and of which not less than $900,313,000 shall 
     be for State AIDS Drug Assistance Programs under the 
     authority of section 2616 or 311(c) of such Act.

                             health systems

       For carrying out titles III and XII of the PHS Act with 
     respect to health care systems, and the Stem Cell Therapeutic 
     and Research Act of 2005, $101,009,000, of which $122,000 
     shall be available until expended for facility renovations 
     and other facilities-related expenses of the National 
     Hansen's Disease Program:  Provided, That the second sentence 
     in section 372(a) of the PHS Act and section 372(b)(1)(A) of 
     the PHS Act shall not apply to any contracts awarded by the 
     Secretary of Health and Human Services for the operation of 
     the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network.

                              rural health

       For carrying out titles III and IV of the PHS Act with 
     respect to rural health, section 427(a) of the Federal Coal 
     Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969, and sections 711 and 1820 
     of the Social Security Act, $402,607,000, of which 
     $74,277,000 from general revenues, notwithstanding section 
     1820(j) of the Social Security Act, shall be available for 
     carrying out the Medicare rural hospital flexibility grants 
     program:  Provided, That of the funds made available under 
     this heading for Medicare rural hospital flexibility grants, 
     $25,942,000 shall be available for the Small Rural Hospital 
     Improvement Grant Program for quality improvement and 
     adoption of health information technology, no less than 
     $5,000,000 shall be available to award grants to public or 
     non-profit private entities for the Rural Emergency Hospital 
     Technical Assistance Program, and up to $1,000,000 shall be 
     to carry out section 1820(g)(6) of the Social Security Act, 
     with funds provided for grants under section 1820(g)(6) 
     available for the purchase and implementation of telehealth 
     services and other efforts to improve health care 
     coordination for rural veterans between rural providers and 
     the Department of Veterans Affairs:  Provided further, That 
     notwithstanding section 338J(k) of the PHS Act, $12,500,000 
     shall be available for State Offices of Rural Health:  
     Provided further, That $12,700,000 shall remain available 
     through September 30, 2026, to support the Rural Residency 
     Development Program.

                hrsa-wide activities and program support

       For carrying out title III of the Public Health Service Act 
     and for cross-cutting activities and program support for 
     activities funded in other appropriations included in this 
     Act for the Health Resources and Services Administration, 
     $215,088,000, of which $45,050,000 shall be for expenses 
     necessary for the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth, 
     including grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements for 
     the advancement of telehealth activities:  Provided,  That 
     funds made available under this heading may be used to 
     supplement program support funding provided under the 
     headings ``Primary Health Care'', ``Health Workforce'', 
     ``Maternal and Child Health'', ``Ryan White HIV/AIDS 
     Program'', ``Health Systems'', and ``Rural Health''.

[[Page H5752]]

  


             vaccine injury compensation program trust fund

       For payments from the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program 
     Trust Fund (the ``Trust Fund''), such sums as may be 
     necessary for claims associated with vaccine-related injury 
     or death with respect to vaccines administered after 
     September 30, 1988, pursuant to subtitle 2 of title XXI of 
     the PHS Act, to remain available until expended:  Provided, 
     That for necessary administrative expenses, not to exceed 
     $15,200,000 shall be available from the Trust Fund to the 
     Secretary.

                  covered countermeasures process fund

       For carrying out section 319F-4 of the PHS Act, $7,000,000, 
     to remain available until expended.

               Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

                 immunization and respiratory diseases

       For carrying out titles II, III, XVII, and XXI, and section 
     2821 of the PHS Act, and titles II and IV of the Immigration 
     and Nationality Act, with respect to immunization and 
     respiratory diseases, $326,075,000.

     hiv/aids, viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted diseases, and 
                        tuberculosis prevention

       For carrying out titles II, III, XVII, and XXIII of the PHS 
     Act with respect to HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, sexually 
     transmitted diseases, and tuberculosis prevention, 
     $1,171,056,000.

               emerging and zoonotic infectious diseases

       For carrying out titles II, III, and XVII, and section 2821 
     of the PHS Act, and titles II and IV of the Immigration and 
     Nationality Act, with respect to emerging and zoonotic 
     infectious diseases, $708,772,000:  Provided, That of the 
     amounts made available under this heading, up to $1,000,000 
     shall remain available until expended to pay for the 
     transportation, medical care, treatment, and other related 
     costs of persons quarantined or isolated under Federal or 
     State quarantine law.

            chronic disease prevention and health promotion

       For carrying out titles II, III, XI, XV, XVII, and XIX of 
     the PHS Act with respect to chronic disease prevention and 
     health promotion, $797,569,000:  Provided, That funds made 
     available under this heading may be available for making 
     grants under section 1509 of the PHS Act for not less than 21 
     States, tribes, or tribal organizations:  Provided further, 
     That the proportional funding requirements under section 
     1503(a) of the PHS Act shall not apply to funds made 
     available under this heading.

   birth defects, developmental disabilities, disabilities and health

       For carrying out titles II, III, XI, and XVII of the PHS 
     Act with respect to birth defects, developmental 
     disabilities, disabilities and health, $205,560,000.

                   public health scientific services

       For carrying out titles II, III, and XVII of the PHS Act 
     with respect to health statistics, surveillance, health 
     informatics, and workforce development, $654,497,000.

                          environmental health

       For carrying out titles II, III, and XVII of the PHS Act 
     with respect to environmental health, $130,850,000:  
     Provided, That of the amounts appropriated under this heading 
     up to $2,600,000 may remain available until expended for 
     carrying out the Vessel Sanitation Program, in addition to 
     user fee collections available for such purpose.

                     injury prevention and control

       For carrying out titles II, III, and XVII of the PHS Act 
     with respect to injury prevention and control, $730,779,000.

         national institute for occupational safety and health

       For carrying out titles II, III, and XVII of the PHS Act, 
     sections 101, 102, 103, 201, 202, 203, 301, and 501 of the 
     Federal Mine Safety and Health Act, section 13 of the Mine 
     Improvement and New Emergency Response Act, and sections 20, 
     21, and 22 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, with 
     respect to occupational safety and health, $247,700,000.

       energy employees occupational illness compensation program

       For necessary expenses to administer the Energy Employees 
     Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act, $55,358,000, 
     to remain available until expended:  Provided, That this 
     amount shall be available consistent with the provision 
     regarding administrative expenses in section 151(b) of 
     division B, title I of Public Law 106-554.

                             global health

       For carrying out titles II, III, and XVII of the PHS Act 
     with respect to global health, $370,772,000, of which 
     $100,000,000 shall remain available through September 30, 
     2026, for global public health protection:  Provided, That 
     funds may be used for purchase and insurance of official 
     motor vehicles in foreign countries.

                public health preparedness and response

       For carrying out titles II, III, and XVII of the PHS Act 
     with respect to public health preparedness and response, and 
     for expenses necessary to support activities related to 
     countering potential biological, nuclear, radiological, and 
     chemical threats to civilian populations, $735,000,000:  
     Provided, That the Director of the Centers for Disease 
     Control and Prevention (referred to in this title as ``CDC'') 
     or the Administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and 
     Disease Registry may detail staff without reimbursement to 
     support an activation of the CDC Emergency Operations Center, 
     so long as the Director or Administrator, as applicable, 
     provides a notice to the Committees on Appropriations of the 
     House of Representatives and the Senate within 15 days of the 
     use of this authority, a full report within 30 days after use 
     of this authority which includes the number of staff and 
     funding level broken down by the originating center and 
     number of days detailed, and an update of such report every 
     180 days until staff are no longer on detail without 
     reimbursement to the CDC Emergency Operations Center.

                        buildings and facilities

                     (including transfer of funds)

       For acquisition of real property, equipment, construction, 
     installation, demolition, and renovation of facilities, 
     $40,000,000, which shall remain available until expended:  
     Provided, That funds made available to this account in this 
     or any prior Act that are available for the acquisition of 
     real property or for construction or improvement of 
     facilities shall be available to make improvements on non-
     federally owned property, provided that any improvements that 
     are not adjacent to federally owned property do not exceed 
     $2,500,000, and that the primary benefit of such improvements 
     accrues to CDC:  Provided further, That funds previously set-
     aside by CDC for repair and upgrade of the Lake Lynn 
     Experimental Mine and Laboratory shall be used to acquire a 
     replacement mine safety research facility:  Provided further, 
     That funds made available to this account in this or any 
     prior Act that are available for the acquisition of real 
     property or for construction or improvement of facilities in 
     conjunction with the new replacement mine safety research 
     facility shall be available to make improvements on non-
     federally owned property, provided that any improvements that 
     are not adjacent to federally owned property do not exceed 
     $5,000,000:  Provided further, That in addition, the prior 
     year unobligated balance of any amounts assigned to former 
     employees in accounts of CDC made available for Individual 
     Learning Accounts shall be credited to and merged with the 
     amounts made available under this heading to support the 
     replacement of the mine safety research facility.

                cdc-wide activities and program support

                     (including transfer of funds)

       For carrying out titles II, III, XVII and XIX, and section 
     2821 of the PHS Act and for cross-cutting activities and 
     program support for activities funded in other appropriations 
     included in this Act for the Centers for Disease Control and 
     Prevention, $231,428,000:  Provided, That paragraphs (1) 
     through (3) of subsection (b) of section 2821 of the PHS Act 
     shall not apply to funds appropriated under this heading and 
     in all other accounts of the CDC:  Provided further, That of 
     the amounts made available under this heading, $35,000,000, 
     to remain available until expended, shall be available to the 
     Director of the CDC for deposit in the Infectious Diseases 
     Rapid Response Reserve Fund established by section 231 of 
     division B of Public Law 115-245:  Provided further, That 
     funds appropriated under this heading may be used to support 
     a contract for the operation and maintenance of an aircraft 
     in direct support of activities throughout CDC to ensure the 
     agency is prepared to address public health preparedness 
     emergencies:  Provided further, That employees of CDC or the 
     Public Health Service, both civilian and commissioned 
     officers, detailed to States, municipalities, or other 
     organizations under authority of section 214 of the PHS Act, 
     or in overseas assignments, shall be treated as non-Federal 
     employees for reporting purposes only and shall not be 
     included within any personnel ceiling applicable to the 
     Agency, Service, or HHS during the period of detail or 
     assignment:  Provided further, That CDC may use up to $10,000 
     from amounts appropriated to CDC in this Act for official 
     reception and representation expenses when specifically 
     approved by the Director of CDC:  Provided further, That in 
     addition, such sums as may be derived from authorized user 
     fees, which shall be credited to the appropriation charged 
     with the cost thereof:  Provided further, That with respect 
     to the previous proviso, authorized user fees from the Vessel 
     Sanitation Program and the Respirator Certification Program 
     shall be available through September 30, 2025.

                     National Institutes of Health

                       national cancer institute

       For carrying out section 301 and title IV of the PHS Act 
     with respect to cancer, $7,104,159,000, of which up to 
     $30,000,000 may be used for facilities repairs and 
     improvements at the National Cancer Institute--Frederick 
     Federally Funded Research and Development Center in 
     Frederick, Maryland.

               national heart, lung, and blood institute

       For carrying out section 301 and title IV of the PHS Act 
     with respect to cardiovascular, lung, and blood diseases, and 
     blood and blood products, $3,982,345,000.

         national institute of dental and craniofacial research

       For carrying out section 301 and title IV of the PHS Act 
     with respect to dental and craniofacial diseases, 
     $520,163,000.

    national institute of diabetes and digestive and kidney diseases

       For carrying out section 301 and title IV of the PHS Act 
     with respect to diabetes and digestive and kidney disease, 
     $2,300,721,000.

        national institute of neurological disorders and stroke

       For carrying out section 301 and title IV of the PHS Act 
     with respect to neurological disorders and stroke, 
     $2,588,925,000.

         national institute of allergy and infectious diseases

       For carrying out section 301 and title IV of the PHS Act 
     with respect to allergy and infectious diseases, 
     $5,062,279,000.

[[Page H5753]]

  


             national institute of general medical sciences

       For carrying out section 301 and title IV of the PHS Act 
     with respect to general medical sciences, $3,154,679,000, of 
     which $1,327,482,000 shall be from funds available under 
     section 241 of the PHS Act:  Provided, That not less than 
     $435,956,000 is provided for the Institutional Development 
     Awards program.

  eunice kennedy shriver national institute of child health and human 
                              development

       For carrying out section 301 and title IV of the PHS Act 
     with respect to child health and human development, 
     $1,749,078,000.

                         national eye institute

       For carrying out section 301 and title IV of the PHS Act 
     with respect to eye diseases and visual disorders, 
     $896,549,000.

          national institute of environmental health sciences

       For carrying out section 301 and title IV of the PHS Act 
     with respect to environmental health sciences, $913,979,000.

                      national institute on aging

       For carrying out section 301 and title IV of the PHS Act 
     with respect to aging, $4,407,623,000.

 national institute of arthritis and musculoskeletal and skin diseases

       For carrying out section 301 and title IV of the PHS Act 
     with respect to arthritis and musculoskeletal and skin 
     diseases, $685,465,000.

    national institute on deafness and other communication disorders

       For carrying out section 301 and title IV of the PHS Act 
     with respect to deafness and other communication disorders, 
     $534,333,000.

                 national institute of nursing research

       For carrying out section 301 and title IV of the PHS Act 
     with respect to nursing research, $197,693,000.

           national institute on alcohol abuse and alcoholism

       For carrying out section 301 and title IV of the PHS Act 
     with respect to alcohol abuse and alcoholism, $595,318,000.

                    national institute on drug abuse

       For carrying out section 301 and title IV of the PHS Act 
     with respect to drug abuse, $1,662,695,000.

                  national institute of mental health

       For carrying out section 301 and title IV of the PHS Act 
     with respect to mental health, $2,112,843,000.

                national human genome research institute

       For carrying out section 301 and title IV of the PHS Act 
     with respect to human genome research, $663,200,000.

      national institute of biomedical imaging and bioengineering

       For carrying out section 301 and title IV of the PHS Act 
     with respect to biomedical imaging and bioengineering 
     research, $440,627,000.

        national center for complementary and integrative health

       For carrying out section 301 and title IV of the PHS Act 
     with respect to complementary and integrative health, 
     $170,384,000.

      national institute on minority health and health disparities

       For carrying out section 301 and title IV of the PHS Act 
     with respect to minority health and health disparities 
     research, $524,395,000.

                  john e. fogarty international center

       For carrying out the activities of the John E. Fogarty 
     International Center (described in subpart 2 of part E of 
     title IV of the PHS Act), $95,162,000.

                      national library of medicine

       For carrying out section 301 and title IV of the PHS Act 
     with respect to health information communications, 
     $497,548,000:  Provided, That of the amounts available for 
     improvement of information systems, $4,000,000 shall be 
     available until September 30, 2025:  Provided further, That 
     in fiscal year 2024, the National Library of Medicine may 
     enter into personal services contracts for the provision of 
     services in facilities owned, operated, or constructed under 
     the jurisdiction of the National Institutes of Health 
     (referred to in this title as ``NIH'').

          national center for advancing translational sciences

       For carrying out section 301 and title IV of the PHS Act 
     with respect to translational sciences, $923,323,000:  
     Provided, That not less than $75,000,000 shall be available 
     to implement section 480 of the PHS Act, relating to the 
     Cures Acceleration Network:  Provided further, That at least 
     $629,560,000 is provided to the Clinical and Translational 
     Sciences Awards program.

                         office of the director

       For carrying out the responsibilities of the Office of the 
     Director, NIH, $2,069,459,000:  Provided, That funding shall 
     be available for the purchase of not to exceed 29 passenger 
     motor vehicles for replacement only:  Provided further, That 
     all funds credited to the NIH Management Fund shall remain 
     available for one fiscal year after the fiscal year in which 
     they are deposited:  Provided further, That $722,401,000 
     shall be available for the Common Fund established under 
     section 402A(c)(1) of the PHS Act:  Provided further, That of 
     the funds provided, $10,000 shall be for official reception 
     and representation expenses when specifically approved by the 
     Director of the NIH:  Provided further, That the Office of 
     AIDS Research within the Office of the Director of the NIH 
     may spend up to $8,000,000 to make grants for construction or 
     renovation of facilities as provided for in section 
     2354(a)(5)(B) of the PHS Act:  Provided further, That 
     $80,000,000 shall be used to carry out section 404I of the 
     PHS Act (42 U.S.C. 283k), relating to biomedical and 
     behavioral research facilities:  Provided further, That 
     amounts made available under this heading are also available 
     to establish, operate, and support the Research Policy Board 
     authorized by section 2034(f) of the 21st Century Cures Act.
       In addition to other funds appropriated for the Common Fund 
     established under section 402A(c) of the PHS Act, $12,600,000 
     is appropriated to the Common Fund from the 10-year Pediatric 
     Research Initiative Fund described in section 9008 of the 
     Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 9008), for the 
     purpose of carrying out section 402(b)(7)(B)(ii) of the PHS 
     Act (relating to pediatric research), as authorized in the 
     Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act.

                        buildings and facilities

       For the study of, construction of, demolition of, 
     renovation of, and acquisition of equipment for, facilities 
     of or used by NIH, including the acquisition of real 
     property, $350,000,000, to remain available until expended.

                   nih innovation account, cures act

                     (including transfer of funds)

       For necessary expenses to carry out the purposes described 
     in section 1001(b)(4) of the 21st Century Cures Act, in 
     addition to amounts available for such purposes in the 
     appropriations provided to the NIH in this Act, $407,000,000, 
     to remain available until expended:  Provided, That such 
     amounts are appropriated pursuant to section 1001(b)(3) of 
     such Act, are to be derived from amounts transferred under 
     section 1001(b)(2)(A) of such Act, and may be transferred by 
     the Director of the National Institutes of Health to other 
     accounts of the National Institutes of Health solely for the 
     purposes provided in such Act:  Provided further, That upon a 
     determination by the Director that funds transferred pursuant 
     to the previous proviso are not necessary for the purposes 
     provided, such amounts may be transferred back to the 
     Account:  Provided further, That the transfer authority 
     provided under this heading is in addition to any other 
     transfer authority provided by law.

              advanced research projects agency for health

       For carrying out section 301 and part J of title IV of the 
     PHS Act with respect to advanced research projects for 
     health, $500,000,000.

       Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

                             mental health

       For carrying out titles III, V, and XIX of the PHS Act with 
     respect to mental health, the Protection and Advocacy for 
     Individuals with Mental Illness Act, and the SUPPORT for 
     Patients and Communities Act, $2,706,282,000:  Provided, That 
     of the funds made available under this heading, $93,887,000 
     shall be for the National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative:  
     Provided further, That notwithstanding section 520A(f)(2) of 
     the PHS Act, no funds appropriated for carrying out section 
     520A shall be available for carrying out section 1971 of the 
     PHS Act:  Provided further, That in addition to amounts 
     provided herein, $21,039,000 shall be available under section 
     241 of the PHS Act to carry out subpart I of part B of title 
     XIX of the PHS Act to fund section 1920(b) technical 
     assistance, national data, data collection and evaluation 
     activities, and further that the total available under this 
     Act for section 1920(b) activities shall not exceed 5 percent 
     of the amounts appropriated for subpart I of part B of title 
     XIX:  Provided further, That of the funds made available 
     under this heading for subpart I of part B of title XIX of 
     the PHS Act, at least 5 percent shall be available to support 
     evidence-based crisis systems:  Provided further, That up to 
     10 percent of the amounts made available to carry out the 
     Children's Mental Health Services program may be used to 
     carry out demonstration grants or contracts for early 
     interventions with persons not more than 25 years of age at 
     clinical high risk of developing a first episode of 
     psychosis:  Provided further, That section 520E(b)(2) of the 
     PHS Act shall not apply to funds appropriated in this Act for 
     fiscal year 2024:  Provided further, That $385,000,000 shall 
     be available for grants to communities and community 
     organizations who meet criteria for Certified Community 
     Behavioral Health Clinics pursuant to section 223(a) of 
     Public Law 113-93:  Provided further, That none of the funds 
     provided for section 1911 of the PHS Act shall be subject to 
     section 241 of such Act:  Provided further, That of the funds 
     made available under this heading, $21,420,000 shall be to 
     carry out section 224 of the Protecting Access to Medicare 
     Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-93; 42 U.S.C. 290aa 22 note).

                       substance abuse treatment

       For carrying out titles III and V of the PHS Act with 
     respect to substance abuse treatment and title XIX of such 
     Act with respect to substance abuse treatment and prevention, 
     section 1003 of the 21st Century Cures Act, and the SUPPORT 
     for Patients and Communities Act, $3,980,103,000:  Provided,  
     That $1,583,000,000 shall be for carrying out section 1003 of 
     the 21st Century Cures Act:  Provided further,  That of such 
     amount in the preceding proviso not less than 4 percent shall 
     be made available to Indian Tribes or tribal organizations:  
     Provided further, That of the amount reserved by the previous 
     proviso, the Secretary shall award grants using data that the 
     Secretary determines to be the most objective and reliable 
     measure of drug use and drug-related deaths:  Provided 
     further,  That in addition to amounts provided herein, the 
     following amounts shall be available under section 241 of the 
     PHS Act: (1) $79,200,000 to carry out subpart II of part B of 
     title XIX of the PHS Act to fund section 1935(b) technical 
     assistance, national data, data collection and evaluation 
     activities, and further that the total available under this 
     Act for section 1935(b) activities shall

[[Page H5754]]

     not exceed 5 percent of the amounts appropriated for subpart 
     II of part B of title XIX; and (2) $2,000,000 to evaluate 
     substance abuse treatment programs:  Provided further,  That 
     none of the funds provided for section 1921 of the PHS Act or 
     State Opioid Response Grants shall be subject to section 241 
     of such Act.

                       substance abuse prevention

       For carrying out titles III and V of the PHS Act with 
     respect to substance abuse prevention, $179,602,000.

                health surveillance and program support

       For program support and cross-cutting activities that 
     supplement activities funded under the headings ``Mental 
     Health'', ``Substance Abuse Treatment'', and ``Substance 
     Abuse Prevention'' in carrying out titles III, V, and XIX of 
     the PHS Act and the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals 
     with Mental Illness Act in the Substance Abuse and Mental 
     Health Services Administration, $109,895,000:  Provided, That 
     in addition to amounts provided herein, $31,428,000 shall be 
     available under section 241 of the PHS Act to supplement 
     funds available to carry out national surveys on drug abuse 
     and mental health, to collect and analyze program data, and 
     to conduct public awareness and technical assistance 
     activities:  Provided further, That, in addition, fees may be 
     collected for the costs of publications, data, data 
     tabulations, and data analysis completed under title V of the 
     PHS Act and provided to a public or private entity upon 
     request, which shall be credited to this appropriation and 
     shall remain available until expended for such purposes:  
     Provided further, That amounts made available in this Act for 
     carrying out section 501(o) of the PHS Act shall remain 
     available through September 30, 2025:  Provided further, That 
     funds made available under this heading (other than amounts 
     specified in the first proviso under this heading) may be 
     used to supplement program support funding provided under the 
     headings ``Mental Health'', ``Substance Abuse Treatment'', 
     and ``Substance Abuse Prevention''.

                Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

                     grants to states for medicaid

       For carrying out, except as otherwise provided, titles XI 
     and XIX of the Social Security Act, $406,956,850,000, to 
     remain available until expended.
       In addition, for carrying out such titles after May 31, 
     2024, for the last quarter of fiscal year 2024 for 
     unanticipated costs incurred for the current fiscal year, 
     such sums as may be necessary, to remain available until 
     expended.
       In addition, for carrying out such titles for the first 
     quarter of fiscal year 2025, $245,580,414,000, to remain 
     available until expended.
       Payment under such title XIX may be made for any quarter 
     with respect to a State plan or plan amendment in effect 
     during such quarter, if submitted in or prior to such quarter 
     and approved in that or any subsequent quarter.

                payments to the health care trust funds

       For payment to the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund 
     and the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund, 
     as provided under sections 217(g), 1844, and 1860D-16 of the 
     Social Security Act, sections 103(c) and 111(d) of the Social 
     Security Amendments of 1965, section 278(d)(3) of Public Law 
     97-248, and for administrative expenses incurred pursuant to 
     section 201(g) of the Social Security Act, $476,725,000,000.
       In addition, for making matching payments under section 
     1844 and benefit payments under section 1860D-16 of the 
     Social Security Act that were not anticipated in budget 
     estimates, such sums as may be necessary.

                           program management

       For carrying out, except as otherwise provided, titles XI, 
     XVIII, XIX, and XXI of the Social Security Act, titles XIII 
     and XXVII of the PHS Act, the Clinical Laboratory Improvement 
     Amendments of 1988, and other responsibilities of the Centers 
     for Medicare & Medicaid Services, not to exceed 
     $3,326,690,000 to be transferred from the Federal Hospital 
     Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Supplementary Medical 
     Insurance Trust Fund, as authorized by section 201(g) of the 
     Social Security Act; together with all funds collected in 
     accordance with section 353 of the PHS Act and section 
     1857(e)(2) of the Social Security Act, funds retained by the 
     Secretary pursuant to section 1893(h) of the Social Security 
     Act, and such sums as may be collected from authorized user 
     fees and the sale of data, which shall be credited to this 
     account and remain available until expended:  Provided, That 
     all funds derived in accordance with 31 U.S.C. 9701 from 
     organizations established under title XIII of the PHS Act 
     shall be credited to and available for carrying out the 
     purposes of this appropriation:  Provided further, That the 
     Secretary is directed to collect fees in fiscal year 2024 
     from Medicare Advantage organizations pursuant to section 
     1857(e)(2) of the Social Security Act and from eligible 
     organizations with risk-sharing contracts under section 1876 
     of that Act pursuant to section 1876(k)(4)(D) of that Act:  
     Provided further, That of the amount made available under 
     this heading, $397,334,000 shall remain available until 
     September 30, 2025, and shall be available for the Survey and 
     Certification Program:  Provided further, That amounts 
     available under this heading to support quality improvement 
     organizations (as defined in section 1152 of the Social 
     Security Act) shall not exceed the amount specifically 
     provided for such purpose under this heading in division H of 
     the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115-
     141).

              health care fraud and abuse control account

       In addition to amounts otherwise available for program 
     integrity and program management, $915,000,000, to remain 
     available through September 30, 2025, to be transferred from 
     the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal 
     Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund, as authorized by 
     section 201(g) of the Social Security Act, of which 
     $675,648,000 shall be for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 
     Services program integrity activities, of which $100,145,000 
     shall be for the Department of Health and Human Services 
     Office of Inspector General to carry out fraud and abuse 
     activities authorized by section 1817(k)(3) of such Act, and 
     of which $132,207,000 shall be for the Department of Justice 
     to carry out fraud and abuse activities authorized by section 
     1817(k)(3) of such Act:  Provided, That the report required 
     by section 1817(k)(5) of the Social Security Act for fiscal 
     year 2024 shall include measures of the operational 
     efficiency and impact on fraud, waste, and abuse in the 
     Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP programs for the funds provided 
     by this appropriation:  Provided further, That of the amount 
     provided under this heading, $311,000,000 is provided to meet 
     the terms of section 251(b)(2)(C)(ii) of the Balanced Budget 
     and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended, and 
     $604,000,000 is additional new budget authority specified for 
     purposes of section 251(b)(2)(C)(i)(XI) of such Act for 
     additional health care fraud and abuse control activities:  
     Provided further, That the Secretary shall provide not less 
     than $35,000,000 from amounts made available under this 
     heading and amounts made available for fiscal year 2024 under 
     section 1817(k)(3)(A) of the Social Security Act for the 
     Senior Medicare Patrol program to combat health care fraud 
     and abuse.

                Administration for Children and Families

  payments to states for child support enforcement and family support 
                                programs

       For carrying out, except as otherwise provided, titles I, 
     IV-D, X, XI, XIV, and XVI of the Social Security Act and the 
     Act of July 5, 1960, $3,309,000,000, to remain available 
     until expended; and for such purposes for the first quarter 
     of fiscal year 2025, $1,400,000,000, to remain available 
     until expended.
       For carrying out, after May 31 of the current fiscal year, 
     except as otherwise provided, titles I, IV-D, X, XI, XIV, and 
     XVI of the Social Security Act and the Act of July 5, 1960, 
     for the last 3 months of the current fiscal year for 
     unanticipated costs, incurred for the current fiscal year, 
     such sums as may be necessary.

                   low income home energy assistance

       For making payments under subsections (b) and (d) of 
     section 2602 of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 
     1981 (42 U.S.C. 8621 et seq.), $4,011,000,000:  Provided, 
     That notwithstanding section 2609A(a) of such Act, not more 
     than $9,600,000 may be reserved by the Secretary for 
     technical assistance, training, and monitoring of program 
     activities for compliance with internal controls, policies 
     and procedures, and to supplement funding otherwise available 
     for necessary administrative expenses to carry out such Act, 
     and the Secretary may, in addition to the authorities 
     provided in section 2609A(a)(1), use such funds through 
     contracts with private entities that do not qualify as 
     nonprofit organizations:  Provided further, That all but 
     $900,000,000 of the amount appropriated under this heading 
     shall be allocated as though the total appropriation for such 
     payments for fiscal year 2024 was less than $1,975,000,000:  
     Provided further, That, after applying all applicable 
     provisions of section 2604 of such Act and the previous 
     proviso, each State or territory that would otherwise receive 
     an allocation that is less than 97 percent of the amount that 
     it received under this heading for fiscal year 2023 from 
     amounts appropriated in Public Law 117-328 shall have its 
     allocation increased to that 97 percent level, with the 
     portions of other States' and territories' allocations that 
     would exceed 100 percent of the amounts they respectively 
     received in such fashion for fiscal year 2023 being ratably 
     reduced.

                     refugee and entrant assistance

       For necessary expenses for refugee and entrant assistance 
     activities authorized by section 414 of the Immigration and 
     Nationality Act and section 501 of the Refugee Education 
     Assistance Act of 1980, and for carrying out section 462 of 
     the Homeland Security Act of 2002, section 235 of the William 
     Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization 
     Act of 2008, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 
     (``TVPA''), and the Torture Victims Relief Act of 1998, 
     $2,756,956,000, of which $2,707,201,000 shall remain 
     available through September 30, 2026, for carrying out such 
     sections 414, 501, 462, and 235:  Provided, That amounts 
     available under this heading to carry out the TVPA shall also 
     be available for research and evaluation with respect to 
     activities under such Act:  Provided further, That the 
     contribution of funds requirement under section 
     235(c)(6)(C)(iii) of the William Wilberforce Trafficking 
     Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 shall not 
     apply to funds made available under this heading.

   payments to states for the child care and development block grant

       For carrying out the Child Care and Development Block Grant 
     Act of 1990 (``CCDBG Act''), $8,021,387,000 shall be used to 
     supplement, not supplant State general revenue funds for 
     child care assistance for low-income families:  Provided, 
     That technical assistance under section 658I(a)(3) of such 
     Act may be provided directly, or through the use of 
     contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or interagency 
     agreements:  Provided further, That all funds made available 
     to carry out section 418 of the Social Security Act (42 
     U.S.C. 618), including funds appropriated for that purpose in 
     such section 418 or any other provision of law, shall be 
     subject to the reservation of funds authority in paragraphs 
     (4) and (5) of section 658O(a) of the CCDBG Act:  Provided 
     further, That notwithstanding section

[[Page H5755]]

     658O(a)(2) of such Act, 5 percent of the amount appropriated 
     under this heading for such Act shall be reserved under such 
     section for Indian tribes and tribal organizations with 
     applications approved under section 658O(c) of such Act:  
     Provided further, That of the amounts made available under 
     this heading, the Secretary may reserve up to 0.5 percent for 
     Federal administrative expenses.

                      social services block grant

       For making grants to States pursuant to section 2002 of the 
     Social Security Act, $1,700,000,000:  Provided, That 
     notwithstanding subparagraph (B) of section 404(d)(2) of such 
     Act, the applicable percent specified under such subparagraph 
     for a State to carry out State programs pursuant to title XX-
     A of such Act shall be 10 percent.

                children and families services programs

       For carrying out, except as otherwise provided, the Runaway 
     and Homeless Youth Act, the Head Start Act, the Every Student 
     Succeeds Act, the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, 
     sections 303 and 313 of the Family Violence Prevention and 
     Services Act, the Native American Programs Act of 1974, title 
     II of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption 
     Reform Act of 1978 (adoption opportunities), part B-1 of 
     title IV and sections 429, 473A, 477(i), 1110, 1114A, and 
     1115 of the Social Security Act, and the Community Services 
     Block Grant Act (``CSBG Act''); and for necessary 
     administrative expenses to carry out titles I, IV, V, X, XI, 
     XIV, XVI, and XX-A of the Social Security Act, the Act of 
     July 5, 1960, and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act 
     of 1981, $13,388,077,000, of which $75,000,000, to remain 
     available through September 30, 2025, shall be for grants to 
     States for adoption and legal guardianship incentive 
     payments, as defined by section 473A of the Social Security 
     Act and may be made for adoptions and legal guardianships 
     completed before September 30, 2024:  Provided, That 
     $11,246,820,000 shall be for making payments under the Head 
     Start Act, including for Early Head Start-Child Care 
     Partnerships, and, of which, notwithstanding section 640 of 
     such Act:
       (1) $25,000,000 shall be available for allocation by the 
     Secretary to supplement activities described in paragraphs 
     (7)(B) and (9) of section 641(c) of the Head Start Act under 
     the Designation Renewal System, established under the 
     authority of sections 641(c)(7), 645A(b)(12), and 645A(d) of 
     such Act, and such funds shall not be included in the 
     calculation of ``base grant'' in subsequent fiscal years, as 
     such term is used in section 640(a)(7)(A) of such Act;
       (2) $8,000,000 shall be available for the Tribal Colleges 
     and Universities Head Start Partnership Program consistent 
     with section 648(g) of such Act; and
       (3) up to $40,000,000 shall be available to supplement 
     funding otherwise available for research, evaluation, and 
     Federal administrative costs:
       Provided further, That notwithstanding the income 
     eligibility requirements of subsection (a) and paragraphs (1) 
     and (2) of subsection (d) of section 645 of the Head Start 
     Act, and of the income eligibility criteria and allowances 
     prescribed in regulations under such Act, an Indian tribe 
     that operates a Head Start program may, at its discretion, 
     establish selection criteria, including criteria to 
     prioritize children in families for which a child, a family 
     member, or a member of the same household, is a member of an 
     Indian tribe, to enroll children who would benefit from the 
     Head Start program:  Provided further, That the Secretary may 
     reduce the reservation of funds under section 640(a)(2)(C) of 
     such Act in lieu of reducing the reservation of funds under 
     sections 640(a)(2)(B), 640(a)(2)(D), and 640(a)(2)(E) of such 
     Act:  Provided further, That $804,383,000 shall be for making 
     payments under the CSBG Act:  Provided further, That 
     $34,383,000 shall be for section 680 of the CSBG Act, of 
     which not less than $22,383,000 shall be for section 
     680(a)(2) and not less than $12,000,000 shall be for section 
     680(a)(3)(B) of such Act:  Provided further, That, 
     notwithstanding section 675C(a)(3) of the CSBG Act, to the 
     extent Community Services Block Grant funds are distributed 
     as grant funds by a State to an eligible entity as provided 
     under such Act, and have not been expended by such entity, 
     they shall remain with such entity for carryover into the 
     next fiscal year for expenditure by such entity consistent 
     with program purposes:  Provided further, That the Secretary 
     shall establish procedures regarding the disposition of 
     intangible assets and program income that permit such assets 
     acquired with, and program income derived from, grant funds 
     authorized under section 680 of the CSBG Act to become the 
     sole property of such grantees after a period of not more 
     than 12 years after the end of the grant period for any 
     activity consistent with section 680(a)(2)(A) of the CSBG 
     Act:  Provided further, That intangible assets in the form of 
     loans, equity investments and other debt instruments, and 
     program income may be used by grantees for any eligible 
     purpose consistent with section 680(a)(2)(A) of the CSBG Act: 
      Provided further, That these procedures shall apply to such 
     grant funds made available after November 29, 1999:  Provided 
     further, That funds appropriated for section 680(a)(2) of the 
     CSBG Act shall be available for financing construction and 
     rehabilitation and loans or investments in private business 
     enterprises owned by community development corporations:  
     Provided further, That $240,000,000 shall be for carrying out 
     section 303(a) of the Family Violence Prevention and Services 
     Act, of which $7,000,000 shall be allocated notwithstanding 
     section 303(a)(2) of such Act for carrying out section 309 of 
     such Act:  Provided further, That the percentages specified 
     in section 112(a)(2) of the Child Abuse Prevention and 
     Treatment Act shall not apply to funds appropriated under 
     this heading:  Provided further, That $1,864,000 shall be for 
     a human services case management system for federally 
     declared disasters, to include a comprehensive national case 
     management contract and Federal costs of administering the 
     system:  Provided further, That up to $2,000,000 shall be for 
     improving the Public Assistance Reporting Information System, 
     including grants to States to support data collection for a 
     study of the system's effectiveness.

                   promoting safe and stable families

       For carrying out, except as otherwise provided, section 436 
     of the Social Security Act, $345,000,000 and, for carrying 
     out, except as otherwise provided, section 437 of such Act, 
     $86,515,000:  Provided, That of the funds available to carry 
     out section 437, $59,765,000 shall be allocated consistent 
     with subsections (b) through (d) of such section:  Provided 
     further, That of the funds available to carry out section 
     437, to assist in meeting the requirements described in 
     section 471(e)(4)(C), $20,000,000 shall be for grants to each 
     State, territory, and Indian tribe operating title IV-E plans 
     for developing, enhancing, or evaluating kinship navigator 
     programs, as described in section 427(a)(1) of such Act and 
     $6,750,000, in addition to funds otherwise appropriated in 
     section 476 for such purposes, shall be for the Family First 
     Clearinghouse and to support evaluation and technical 
     assistance relating to the evaluation of child and family 
     services:  Provided further, That section 437(b)(1) shall be 
     applied to amounts in the previous proviso by substituting 
     ``5 percent'' for ``3.3 percent'', and notwithstanding 
     section 436(b)(1), such reserved amounts may be used for 
     identifying, establishing, and disseminating practices to 
     meet the criteria specified in section 471(e)(4)(C):  
     Provided further, That the reservation in section 437(b)(2) 
     and the limitations in section 437(d) shall not apply to 
     funds specified in the second proviso:  Provided further, 
     That the minimum grant award for kinship navigator programs 
     in the case of States and territories shall be $200,000, and, 
     in the case of tribes, shall be $25,000.

                payments for foster care and permanency

       For carrying out, except as otherwise provided, title IV-E 
     of the Social Security Act, $8,594,000,000.
       For carrying out, except as otherwise provided, title IV-E 
     of the Social Security Act, for the first quarter of fiscal 
     year 2025, $3,400,000,000.
       For carrying out, after May 31 of the current fiscal year, 
     except as otherwise provided, section 474 of title IV-E of 
     the Social Security Act, for the last 3 months of the current 
     fiscal year for unanticipated costs, incurred for the current 
     fiscal year, such sums as may be necessary.

                  Administration for Community Living

                 aging and disability services programs

                     (including transfer of funds)

       For carrying out, to the extent not otherwise provided, the 
     Older Americans Act of 1965 (``OAA''), the RAISE Family 
     Caregivers Act, the Supporting Grandparents Raising 
     Grandchildren Act, titles III and XXIX of the PHS Act, 
     sections 1252 and 1253 of the PHS Act, section 119 of the 
     Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008, 
     title XX-B of the Social Security Act, the Developmental 
     Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000, parts 
     2 and 5 of subtitle D of title II of the Help America Vote 
     Act of 2002, the Assistive Technology Act of 1998, titles II 
     and VII (and section 14 with respect to such titles) of the 
     Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and for Department-wide 
     coordination of policy and program activities that assist 
     individuals with disabilities, $2,418,901,000, together with 
     $55,242,000 to be transferred from the Federal Hospital 
     Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Supplementary Medical 
     Insurance Trust Fund to carry out section 4360 of the Omnibus 
     Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990:  Provided, That of amounts 
     made available under this heading to carry out sections 311, 
     331, and 336 of the OAA, up to one percent of such amounts 
     shall be available for developing and implementing evidence-
     based practices for enhancing senior nutrition, including 
     medically-tailored meals:  Provided further, That 
     notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, funds made 
     available under this heading to carry out section 311 of the 
     OAA may be transferred to the Secretary of Agriculture in 
     accordance with such section:  Provided further, That up to 5 
     percent of the funds provided for adult protective services 
     grants under section 2042 of title XX of the Social Security 
     Act may be used to make grants to Tribes and tribal 
     organizations:  Provided further, That $2,000,000 shall be 
     for competitive grants to support alternative financing 
     programs that provide for the purchase of assistive 
     technology devices, such as a low-interest loan fund; an 
     interest buy-down program; a revolving loan fund; a loan 
     guarantee; or an insurance program:  Provided further, That 
     applicants shall provide an assurance that, and information 
     describing the manner in which, the alternative financing 
     program will expand and emphasize consumer choice and 
     control:  Provided further, That State agencies and 
     community-based disability organizations that are directed by 
     and operated for individuals with disabilities shall be 
     eligible to compete:  Provided further, That none of the 
     funds made available under this heading may be used by an 
     eligible system (as defined in section 102 of the Protection 
     and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness Act (42 
     U.S.C. 10802)) to continue to pursue any legal action in a 
     Federal or State court on behalf of an individual or group of 
     individuals with a developmental disability (as defined in 
     section 102(8)(A) of the Developmental Disabilities and 
     Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (20 U.S.C. 
     15002(8)(A)) that is attributable to a mental impairment (or 
     a combination of mental and physical impairments), that has

[[Page H5756]]

     as the requested remedy the closure of State operated 
     intermediate care facilities for people with intellectual or 
     developmental disabilities, unless reasonable public notice 
     of the action has been provided to such individuals (or, in 
     the case of mental incapacitation, the legal guardians who 
     have been specifically awarded authority by the courts to 
     make healthcare and residential decisions on behalf of such 
     individuals) who are affected by such action, within 90 days 
     of instituting such legal action, which informs such 
     individuals (or such legal guardians) of their legal rights 
     and how to exercise such rights consistent with current 
     Federal Rules of Civil Procedure:  Provided further, That the 
     limitations in the immediately preceding proviso shall not 
     apply in the case of an individual who is neither competent 
     to consent nor has a legal guardian, nor shall the proviso 
     apply in the case of individuals who are a ward of the State 
     or subject to public guardianship.

         Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response

                 research, development, and procurement

       For carrying out title III and subtitles A and B of title 
     XXVIII of the PHS Act, with respect to the research, 
     development, storage, production, and procurement of medical 
     countermeasures to counter potential chemical, biological, 
     radiological, and nuclear threats to civilian populations, 
     $3,277,991,000. Of such amount:
       (1) $1,100,000,000 shall be for expenses necessary to 
     support advanced research and development pursuant to section 
     319L of the PHS Act and other administrative expenses of the 
     Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, to 
     remain available through September 30, 2025: Provided, That 
     funds provided under this heading for purposes of acquisition 
     of security countermeasures shall be in addition to any other 
     funds made available for such purposes: Provided further, 
     That products purchased with funds made available under this 
     paragraph may, at the discretion of the Secretary, be 
     deposited in the Strategic National Stockpile pursuant to 
     section 319F-2 of the PHS Act;
       (2) $850,000,000 shall be for expenses necessary for 
     procuring security countermeasures (as defined in section 
     319F-2(c)(1)(B) of the PHS Act), to remain available until 
     expended;
       (3) $1,000,000,000 shall be for expenses necessary to carry 
     out section 319F-2(a) of the PHS Act, to remain available 
     until expended; and
       (4) $327,991,000 shall be for expenses necessary to prepare 
     for or respond to an influenza pandemic, of which 
     $300,000,000 shall remain available until expended for 
     activities including the development and purchase of 
     vaccines, antivirals, necessary medical supplies, 
     diagnostics, and surveillance tools: Provided, That 
     notwithstanding section 496(b) of the PHS Act, funds 
     allocated under this paragraph may be used for the 
     construction or renovation of privately owned facilities for 
     the production of pandemic influenza vaccines and other 
     biologics, if the Secretary finds such construction or 
     renovation necessary to secure sufficient supplies of such 
     vaccines or biologics.

                   operations and emergency response

       For carrying out titles III, XII, and subtitles A and B of 
     title XXVIII of the PHS Act, operations and emergency 
     response activities related to countering potential chemical 
     biological, radiological, and nuclear threats and other 
     public health emergencies, $342,606,000.

                        Office of the Secretary

                    general departmental management

       For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided, for general 
     departmental management, for carrying out titles III, XVII, 
     XXI, and section 229 of the PHS Act, the United States-Mexico 
     Border Health Commission Act, and research studies under 
     section 1110 of the Social Security Act, $402,341,000, 
     together with $58,028,000 from the amounts available under 
     section 241 of the PHS Act to carry out national health or 
     human services research and evaluation activities:  Provided, 
     That of this amount, $28,000,000 shall be for minority AIDS 
     prevention and treatment activities:  Provided further, That 
     of the funds made available under this heading, $40,000,000 
     shall be for making competitive grants which exclusively 
     implement education in sexual risk avoidance (defined as 
     voluntarily refraining from non-marital sexual activity):  
     Provided further, That funding for such competitive grants 
     for sexual risk avoidance shall use medically accurate 
     information referenced to peer-reviewed publications by 
     educational, scientific, governmental, or health 
     organizations; implement an evidence-based approach 
     integrating research findings with practical implementation 
     that aligns with the needs and desired outcomes for the 
     intended audience; and teach the benefits associated with 
     self-regulation, success sequencing for poverty prevention, 
     healthy relationships, goal setting, and resisting sexual 
     coercion, dating violence, and other youth risk behaviors 
     such as underage drinking or illicit drug use without 
     normalizing teen sexual activity:  Provided further, That no 
     more than 10 percent of the funding for such competitive 
     grants for sexual risk avoidance shall be available for 
     technical assistance and administrative costs of such 
     programs:  Provided further, That funds provided in this Act 
     for embryo adoption activities may be used to provide to 
     individuals adopting embryos, through grants and other 
     mechanisms, medical and administrative services deemed 
     necessary for such adoptions:  Provided further, That such 
     services shall be provided consistent with 42 CFR 59.5(a)(4): 
      Provided further, That of the funds made available under 
     this heading, $5,000,000 shall be for carrying out prize 
     competitions sponsored by the Office of the Secretary to 
     accelerate innovation in the prevention, diagnosis, and 
     treatment of kidney diseases (as authorized by section 24 of 
     the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 
     U.S.C. 3719)).

                     medicare hearings and appeals

       For expenses necessary for Medicare hearings and appeals in 
     the Office of the Secretary, $196,000,000, of which 
     $40,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2025, 
     to be transferred in appropriate part from the Federal 
     Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Supplementary 
     Medical Insurance Trust Fund.

  office of the national coordinator for health information technology

       For expenses necessary for the Office of the National 
     Coordinator for Health Information Technology, including 
     grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements for the 
     development and advancement of interoperable health 
     information technology, $56,238,000 shall be from amounts 
     made available under section 241 of the PHS Act.

                      office of inspector general

       For expenses necessary for the Office of Inspector General, 
     including the hire of passenger motor vehicles for 
     investigations, in carrying out the provisions of the 
     Inspector General Act of 1978, $80,000,000:  Provided, That 
     of such amount, necessary sums shall be available for 
     providing protective services to the Secretary and 
     investigating non-payment of child support cases for which 
     non-payment is a Federal offense under 18 U.S.C. 228:  
     Provided further, That of the amount appropriated under this 
     heading, necessary sums shall be available for carrying out 
     activities authorized under section 3022 of the PHS Act (42 
     U.S.C. 300jj-52).

                        office for civil rights

       For expenses necessary for the Office for Civil Rights, 
     $32,000,000.

     retirement pay and medical benefits for commissioned officers

       For retirement pay and medical benefits of Public Health 
     Service Commissioned Officers as authorized by law, for 
     payments under the Retired Serviceman's Family Protection 
     Plan and Survivor Benefit Plan, and for medical care of 
     dependents and retired personnel under the Dependents' 
     Medical Care Act, such amounts as may be required during the 
     current fiscal year.

                           General Provisions

       Sec. 201.  Funds appropriated in this title shall be 
     available for not to exceed $50,000 for official reception 
     and representation expenses when specifically approved by the 
     Secretary.
       Sec. 202.  None of the funds appropriated in this title 
     shall be used to pay the salary of an individual, through a 
     grant or other extramural mechanism, at a rate in excess of 
     Executive Level II:  Provided, That none of the funds 
     appropriated in this title shall be used to prevent the NIH 
     from paying up to 100 percent of the salary of an individual 
     at this rate.
       Sec. 203.  None of the funds appropriated in this Act may 
     be expended pursuant to section 241 of the PHS Act, except 
     for funds specifically provided for in this Act, or for other 
     taps and assessments made by any office located in HHS, prior 
     to the preparation and submission of a report by the 
     Secretary to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives and the Senate detailing the planned uses of 
     such funds.
       Sec. 204.  Notwithstanding section 241(a) of the PHS Act, 
     such portion as the Secretary shall determine, but not more 
     than 2.5 percent, of any amounts appropriated for programs 
     authorized under such Act shall be made available for the 
     evaluation (directly, or by grants or contracts) of the 
     implementation and effectiveness of such programs.

                          (transfer of funds)

       Sec. 205.  Not to exceed 1 percent of any discretionary 
     funds (pursuant to the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit 
     Control Act of 1985) which are appropriated for the current 
     fiscal year for HHS in this Act may be transferred between 
     appropriations, but no such appropriation shall be increased 
     by more than 3 percent by any such transfer:  Provided, That 
     the transfer authority granted by this section shall not be 
     used to create any new program or to fund any project or 
     activity for which no funds are provided in this Act:  
     Provided further, That the Committees on Appropriations of 
     the House of Representatives and the Senate are notified at 
     least 15 days in advance of any transfer.
       Sec. 206.  In lieu of the timeframe specified in section 
     338E(c)(2) of the PHS Act, terminations described in such 
     section may occur up to 60 days after the effective date of a 
     contract awarded in fiscal year 2024 under section 338B of 
     such Act, or at any time if the individual who has been 
     awarded such contract has not received funds due under the 
     contract.
       Sec. 207.  None of the funds appropriated in this Act may 
     be made available to any entity under title X of the PHS Act 
     unless the applicant for the award certifies to the Secretary 
     that it encourages family participation in the decision of 
     minors to seek family planning services and that it provides 
     counseling to minors on how to resist attempts to coerce 
     minors into engaging in sexual activities.
       Sec. 208.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no 
     provider of services under title X of the PHS Act shall be 
     exempt from any State law requiring notification or the 
     reporting of child abuse, child molestation, sexual abuse, 
     rape, or incest.
       Sec. 209.  None of the funds appropriated by this Act 
     (including funds appropriated to any trust fund) may be used 
     to carry out the Medicare Advantage program if the Secretary 
     denies participation in such program to an otherwise eligible 
     entity (including a Provider Sponsored Organization) because 
     the entity informs the Secretary that it will not provide, 
     pay for, provide coverage of, or provide referrals for 
     abortions:  Provided, That the Secretary shall make 
     appropriate prospective adjustments to the capitation payment 
     to such an entity (based on an

[[Page H5757]]

     actuarially sound estimate of the expected costs of providing 
     the service to such entity's enrollees):  Provided further, 
     That nothing in this section shall be construed to change the 
     Medicare program's coverage for such services and a Medicare 
     Advantage organization described in this section shall be 
     responsible for informing enrollees where to obtain 
     information about all Medicare covered services.
       Sec. 210.  None of the funds made available in this title 
     may be used, in whole or in part, to advocate or promote gun 
     control.
       Sec. 211.  The Secretary shall make available through 
     assignment not more than 60 employees of the Public Health 
     Service to assist in child survival activities and to work in 
     AIDS programs through and with funds provided by the Agency 
     for International Development, the United Nations 
     International Children's Emergency Fund or the World Health 
     Organization.
       Sec. 212.  In order for HHS to carry out international 
     health activities, including HIV/AIDS and other infectious 
     disease, chronic and environmental disease, and other health 
     activities abroad during fiscal year 2024:
       (1) The Secretary may exercise authority equivalent to that 
     available to the Secretary of State in section 2(c) of the 
     State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956. The Secretary 
     shall consult with the Secretary of State and relevant Chief 
     of Mission to ensure that the authority provided in this 
     section is exercised in a manner consistent with section 207 
     of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 and other applicable 
     statutes administered by the Department of State.
       (2) The Secretary is authorized to provide such funds by 
     advance or reimbursement to the Secretary of State as may be 
     necessary to pay the costs of acquisition, lease, alteration, 
     renovation, and management of facilities outside of the 
     United States for the use of HHS. The Department of State 
     shall cooperate fully with the Secretary to ensure that HHS 
     has secure, safe, functional facilities that comply with 
     applicable regulation governing location, setback, and other 
     facilities requirements and serve the purposes established by 
     this Act. The Secretary is authorized, in consultation with 
     the Secretary of State, through grant or cooperative 
     agreement, to make available to public or nonprofit private 
     institutions or agencies in participating foreign countries, 
     funds to acquire, lease, alter, or renovate facilities in 
     those countries as necessary to conduct programs of 
     assistance for international health activities, including 
     activities relating to HIV/AIDS and other infectious 
     diseases, chronic and environmental diseases, and other 
     health activities abroad.
       (3) The Secretary is authorized to provide to personnel 
     appointed or assigned by the Secretary to serve abroad, 
     allowances and benefits similar to those provided under 
     chapter 9 of title I of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, and 
     22 U.S.C. 4081 through 4086 and subject to such regulations 
     prescribed by the Secretary. The Secretary is further 
     authorized to provide locality-based comparability payments 
     (stated as a percentage) up to the amount of the locality-
     based comparability payment (stated as a percentage) that 
     would be payable to such personnel under section 5304 of 
     title 5, United States Code if such personnel's official duty 
     station were in the District of Columbia. Leaves of absence 
     for personnel under this subsection shall be on the same 
     basis as that provided under subchapter I of chapter 63 of 
     title 5, United States Code, or section 903 of the Foreign 
     Service Act of 1980, to individuals serving in the Foreign 
     Service.

                          (transfer of funds)

       Sec. 213.  The Director of the NIH, jointly with the 
     Director of the Office of AIDS Research, may transfer up to 3 
     percent among institutes and centers from the total amounts 
     identified by these two Directors as funding for research 
     pertaining to the human immunodeficiency virus:  Provided, 
     That the Committees on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives and the Senate are notified at least 15 days 
     in advance of any transfer.

                          (transfer of funds)

       Sec. 214.  Of the amounts made available in this Act for 
     NIH, the amount for research related to the human 
     immunodeficiency virus, as jointly determined by the Director 
     of NIH and the Director of the Office of AIDS Research, shall 
     be made available to the ``Office of AIDS Research'' account. 
     The Director of the Office of AIDS Research shall transfer 
     from such account amounts necessary to carry out section 
     2353(d)(3) of the PHS Act.
       Sec. 215. (a) Authority.--Notwithstanding any other 
     provision of law, the Director of NIH (``Director'') may use 
     funds authorized under section 402(b)(12) of the PHS Act to 
     enter into transactions (other than contracts, cooperative 
     agreements, or grants) to carry out research identified 
     pursuant to or research and activities described in such 
     section 402(b)(12).
       (b) Peer Review.--In entering into transactions under 
     subsection (a), the Director may utilize such peer review 
     procedures (including consultation with appropriate 
     scientific experts) as the Director determines to be 
     appropriate to obtain assessments of scientific and technical 
     merit. Such procedures shall apply to such transactions in 
     lieu of the peer review and advisory council review 
     procedures that would otherwise be required under sections 
     301(a)(3), 405(b)(1)(B), 405(b)(2), 406(a)(3)(A), 492, and 
     494 of the PHS Act.
       Sec. 216.  Not to exceed $100,000,000 of funds appropriated 
     by this Act to the institutes and centers of the National 
     Institutes of Health may be used for alteration, repair, or 
     improvement of facilities, as necessary for the proper and 
     efficient conduct of the activities authorized herein, at not 
     to exceed $5,000,000 per project.

                          (transfer of funds)

       Sec. 217.  Of the amounts made available for NIH, 1 percent 
     of the amount made available for National Research Service 
     Awards (``NRSA'') shall be made available to the 
     Administrator of the Health Resources and Services 
     Administration to make NRSA awards for research in primary 
     medical care to individuals affiliated with entities who have 
     received grants or contracts under sections 736, 739, or 747 
     of the PHS Act, and 1 percent of the amount made available 
     for NRSA shall be made available to the Director of the 
     Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to make NRSA 
     awards for health service research.
       Sec. 218. (a) The Biomedical Advanced Research and 
     Development Authority (``BARDA'') may enter into a contract, 
     for more than one but no more than 10 program years, for 
     purchase of research services or of security countermeasures, 
     as that term is defined in section 319F-2(c)(1)(B) of the PHS 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 247d-6b(c)(1)(B)), if--
       (1) funds are available and obligated--
       (A) for the full period of the contract or for the first 
     fiscal year in which the contract is in effect; and
       (B) for the estimated costs associated with a necessary 
     termination of the contract; and
       (2) the Secretary determines that a multi-year contract 
     will serve the best interests of the Federal Government by 
     encouraging full and open competition or promoting economy in 
     administration, performance, and operation of BARDA's 
     programs.
       (b) A contract entered into under this section--
       (1) shall include a termination clause as described by 
     subsection (c) of section 3903 of title 41, United States 
     Code; and
       (2) shall be subject to the congressional notice 
     requirement stated in subsection (d) of such section.
       Sec. 219. (a) The Secretary shall publish in the fiscal 
     year 2025 budget justification and on Departmental Web sites 
     information concerning the employment of full-time equivalent 
     Federal employees or contractors for the purposes of 
     implementing, administering, enforcing, or otherwise carrying 
     out the provisions of the ACA, and the amendments made by 
     that Act, in the proposed fiscal year and each fiscal year 
     since the enactment of the ACA.
       (b) With respect to employees or contractors supported by 
     all funds appropriated for purposes of carrying out the ACA 
     (and the amendments made by that Act), the Secretary shall 
     include, at a minimum, the following information:
       (1) For each such fiscal year, the section of such Act 
     under which such funds were appropriated, a statement 
     indicating the program, project, or activity receiving such 
     funds, the Federal operating division or office that 
     administers such program, and the amount of funding received 
     in discretionary or mandatory appropriations.
       (2) For each such fiscal year, the number of full-time 
     equivalent employees or contracted employees assigned to each 
     authorized and funded provision detailed in accordance with 
     paragraph (1).
       (c) In carrying out this section, the Secretary may exclude 
     from the report employees or contractors who--
       (1) are supported through appropriations enacted in laws 
     other than the ACA and work on programs that existed prior to 
     the passage of the ACA;
       (2) spend less than 50 percent of their time on activities 
     funded by or newly authorized in the ACA; or
       (3) work on contracts for which FTE reporting is not a 
     requirement of their contract, such as fixed-price contracts.
       Sec. 220.  The Secretary shall publish, as part of the 
     fiscal year 2025 budget of the President submitted under 
     section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, information 
     that details the uses of all funds used by the Centers for 
     Medicare & Medicaid Services specifically for Health 
     Insurance Exchanges for each fiscal year since the enactment 
     of the ACA and the proposed uses for such funds for fiscal 
     year 2025. Such information shall include, for each such 
     fiscal year, the amount of funds used for each activity 
     specified under the heading ``Health Insurance Exchange 
     Transparency'' in the Explanatory Materials published at 
     https://appropriations.house.gov/sites/
republicans.appropriations.house.gov/files/FY24-LHHS-
Explanatory-Materials.pdf (hereinafter ``Explanatory 
     Materials'').
       Sec. 221.  None of the funds made available by this Act 
     from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund or the Federal 
     Supplemental Medical Insurance Trust Fund, or transferred 
     from other accounts funded by this Act to the ``Centers for 
     Medicare & Medicaid Services--Program Management'' account, 
     may be used for payments under section 1342(b)(1) of Public 
     Law 111-148 (relating to risk corridors).

                          (transfer of funds)

       Sec. 222. (a) Within 45 days of enactment of this Act, the 
     Secretary shall transfer funds appropriated under section 
     4002 of the ACA to the accounts specified, in the amounts 
     specified, and for the activities specified under the heading 
     ``Prevention and Public Health Fund'' in the Explanatory 
     Materials.
       (b) Notwithstanding section 4002(c) of the ACA, the 
     Secretary may not further transfer these amounts.
       (c) Funds transferred for activities authorized under 
     section 2821 of the PHS Act shall be made available without 
     reference to section 2821(b) of such Act.
       Sec. 223.  Effective during the period beginning on 
     November 1, 2015 and ending January 1, 2026, any provision of 
     law that refers (including through cross-reference to another 
     provision of law) to the current recommendations of the 
     United States Preventive Services Task Force with respect to 
     breast cancer screening, mammography, and prevention shall be 
     administered by the Secretary involved as if--

[[Page H5758]]

       (1) such reference to such current recommendations were a 
     reference to the recommendations of such Task Force with 
     respect to breast cancer screening, mammography, and 
     prevention last issued before 2009; and
       (2) such recommendations last issued before 2009 applied to 
     any screening mammography modality under section 1861(jj) of 
     the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(jj)).

                          (transfer of funds)

       Sec. 224.  The NIH Director may transfer funds for opioid 
     addiction, opioid alternatives, stimulant misuse and 
     addiction, pain management, and addiction treatment to other 
     Institutes and Centers of the NIH to be used for the same 
     purpose 15 days after notifying the Committees on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the 
     Senate:  Provided, That the transfer authority provided in 
     the previous proviso is in addition to any other transfer 
     authority provided by law.
       Sec. 225. (a) The Secretary shall provide to the Committees 
     on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the 
     Senate:
       (1) Detailed monthly enrollment figures from the Exchanges 
     established under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care 
     Act of 2010 pertaining to enrollments during the open 
     enrollment period; and
       (2) Notification of any new or competitive grant awards, 
     including supplements, authorized under section 330 of the 
     Public Health Service Act.
       (b) The Committees on Appropriations of the House and 
     Senate must be notified at least 2 business days in advance 
     of any public release of enrollment information or the award 
     of such grants.
       Sec. 226.  The Department of Health and Human Services 
     shall provide the Committees on Appropriations of the House 
     of Representatives and Senate a biannual report 30 days after 
     enactment of this Act on staffing described in the 
     Explanatory Materials.
       Sec. 227.  Funds appropriated in this Act that are 
     available for salaries and expenses of employees of the 
     Department of Health and Human Services shall also be 
     available to pay travel and related expenses of such an 
     employee or of a member of his or her family, when such 
     employee is assigned to duty, in the United States or in a 
     U.S. territory, during a period and in a location that are 
     the subject of a determination of a public health emergency 
     under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act and such 
     travel is necessary to obtain medical care for an illness, 
     injury, or medical condition that cannot be adequately 
     addressed in that location at that time. For purposes of this 
     section, the term ``U.S. territory'' means Guam, the 
     Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, 
     the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, or the Trust Territory of 
     the Pacific Islands.
       Sec. 228.  The Department of Health and Human Services may 
     accept donations from the private sector, nongovernmental 
     organizations, and other groups independent of the Federal 
     Government for the care of unaccompanied alien children (as 
     defined in section 462(g)(2) of the Homeland Security Act of 
     2002 (6 U.S.C. 279(g)(2))) in the care of the Office of 
     Refugee Resettlement of the Administration for Children and 
     Families, including medical goods and services, which may 
     include early childhood developmental screenings, school 
     supplies, toys, clothing, and any other items intended to 
     promote the wellbeing of such children.
       Sec. 229.  In addition to the existing Congressional 
     notification for formal site assessments of potential influx 
     facilities, the Secretary shall notify the Committees on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate 
     at least 15 days before operationalizing an unlicensed 
     facility, and shall (1) specify whether the facility is hard-
     sided or soft-sided, and (2) provide analysis that indicates 
     that, in the absence of the influx facility, the likely 
     outcome is that unaccompanied alien children will remain in 
     the custody of the Department of Homeland Security for longer 
     than 72 hours or that unaccompanied alien children will be 
     otherwise placed in danger. Within 60 days of bringing such a 
     facility online, and monthly thereafter, the Secretary shall 
     provide to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives and the Senate a report detailing the total 
     number of children in care at the facility, the average 
     length of stay and average length of care of children at the 
     facility, and, for any child that has been at the facility 
     for more than 60 days, their length of stay and reason for 
     delay in release.
       Sec. 230.  None of the funds made available in this Act may 
     be used to prevent a United States Senator or Member of the 
     House of Representatives from entering, for the purpose of 
     conducting oversight, any facility in the United States used 
     for the purpose of maintaining custody of, or otherwise 
     housing, unaccompanied alien children (as defined in section 
     462(g)(2) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 
     279(g)(2))), provided that such Senator or Member has 
     coordinated the oversight visit with the Office of Refugee 
     Resettlement not less than two business days in advance to 
     ensure that such visit would not interfere with the 
     operations (including child welfare and child safety 
     operations) of such facility.
       Sec. 231.  Not later than 14 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, and monthly thereafter, the Secretary 
     shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of the House 
     of Representatives and the Senate, and make publicly 
     available online, a report with respect to children who were 
     separated from their parents or legal guardians by the 
     Department of Homeland Security (DHS) (regardless of whether 
     or not such separation was pursuant to an option selected by 
     the children, parents, or guardians), subsequently classified 
     as unaccompanied alien children, and transferred to the care 
     and custody of ORR during the previous month. Each report 
     shall contain the following information:
       (1) the number and ages of children so separated subsequent 
     to apprehension at or between ports of entry, to be reported 
     by sector where separation occurred; and
       (2) the documented cause of separation, as reported by DHS 
     when each child was referred.
       Sec. 232.  Funds appropriated in this Act that are 
     available for salaries and expenses of employees of the 
     Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shall also be 
     available for the primary and secondary schooling of eligible 
     dependents of personnel stationed in a U.S. territory as 
     defined in section 227 of this Act at costs not in excess of 
     those paid for or reimbursed by the Department of Defense.
       Sec. 233.  Section 231 of division B of the Department of 
     Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education 
     Appropriations Act, 2019 and Continuing Appropriations Act, 
     2019 (42 U.S.C. 247d-4a) is amended by striking ``Provided 
     further, That the Committees on Appropriations of the House 
     of Representatives'' and all that follows through ``and all 
     the actual obligations incurred to date:'' and inserting the 
     following: ``Provided further, That the Director shall 
     provide to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives and the Senate, at least 15 days in advance 
     of any transfer or obligation of funds made under the 
     authority provided in this section, (1) a notification on the 
     anticipated uses of funds by program, project, or activity; 
     and (2) a detailed spend plan of anticipated uses of funds, 
     including estimated personnel and administrative costs, 
     disaggregated by program, project, or activity: Provided 
     further, That such spend plans shall be updated to include 
     all applicable obligations to date and unobligated amounts 
     and submitted quarterly to such Committees on Appropriations 
     until such funds are fully expended: Provided further, That 
     the Director shall brief such Committees on Appropriations 
     not later than 15 days after providing such a notification: 
     Provided further, That the Director shall provide to such 
     Committees on a monthly basis a report on all amounts 
     available in the Reserve Fund for the current fiscal year and 
     the preceding two fiscal years, including (1) each individual 
     obligation above $5,000,000; (2) with respect to each such 
     obligation, the notification to which it relates; and (3) the 
     total amount unobligated in the Reserve Fund:''.
       Sec. 234.  Title VIII of division B of the CARES Act 
     (Public Law 116-136) is amended, under the heading 
     ``Department of Health and Human Services-Centers for Disease 
     Control and Prevention-CDC-Wide Activities and Program 
     Support'', by striking ``Provided further, That the Secretary 
     of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the 
     Director of the CDC, shall provide a report to the Committees 
     on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the 
     Senate every 14 days, for one year from the date from any 
     such declaration or determination described in the third 
     proviso of section 231 of division B of Public Law 115-245, 
     that details commitment and obligation information for the 
     Reserve Fund during the prior two weeks, as long as such 
     report would detail obligations in excess of $5,000,000, and 
     upon the request by such Committees:''.

                              (rescission)

       Sec. 235.  Of the unobligated balances in the 
     ``Nonrecurring Expenses Fund'' established in section 223 of 
     division G of Public Law 110-161, $1,000,000,000 are hereby 
     rescinded not later than September 30, 2024: Provided, That 
     from any remaining unobligated balances in such Fund, the 
     Secretary of Health and Human Services may transfer up to 
     $85,000,000 to ``Department of Health and Human Services--
     Centers for Disease Control and Prevention--Buildings and 
     Facilities'' to be merged with and to be available for the 
     same time period as the appropriations to which transferred:  
     Provided further, That, except as otherwise provided in this 
     Act, none of the funds provided by this Act may be obligated 
     for a new program, project, or activity using such Fund for 
     which a notification was not submitted to the Committees on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate 
     prior to the date of enactment of this Act:  Provided 
     further, That the Secretary may obligate funds from such Fund 
     for any program, project, or activity for which a 
     notification was submitted before the date of enactment of 
     this Act:  Provided further, That the Secretary may transfer 
     amounts into such Fund:  Provided further, That any amounts 
     transferred into such Fund are available for the purposes 
     provided by this section or for which a notification was 
     submitted to such Committees on Appropriations before the 
     date of enactment of this Act:  Provided further, That the 
     authority to transfer amounts under this section is in 
     addition to any other transfer authority in law.
       Sec. 236. (a) Not later than March 16, 2023, and every 30 
     days thereafter, the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
     shall submit to the Committee on Appropriations of the House 
     of Representatives and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
     Senate a report with respect to Federal expenditures made 
     pursuant to a covered law. Such report shall include the 
     following (if applicable for the period covered by the 
     report):
       (1) The total amount of funding made available by covered 
     laws (and the amendments made by such laws) that has been 
     obligated to date.
       (2) A list of each financial award funded, in part or in 
     full, by covered laws (and the amendments made by such laws), 
     including the following information for each such award:
       (A) All recipients for which funding has been obligated.
       (B) The amount of funding that has been obligated for each 
     recipient.
       (C) The type of award (such as a grant or loan).

[[Page H5759]]

       (3) The number, job title, and duties of any full time 
     equivalent employees who have been hired using the funding 
     made available by covered laws (and the amendments made by 
     such laws).
       (4) An accounting of such funds that have not yet been 
     obligated.
       (5) The identity of any contractors that have been procured 
     using such funding.
       (6) The total amount of funding awarded under a covered law 
     that was returned to the Treasury and the specific accounts 
     to which such funds were obligated after being so returned.
       (7) The total amount of such funds that have been 
     transferred out of each account established or funded under a 
     covered law, and with respect to such transferred funds, the 
     information specified in paragraphs (1) through (6).
       (b) For purposes of this section, the term ``covered law'' 
     means--
       (1) section 11004 of Public Law 117-169 (commonly referred 
     to as the ``Inflation Reduction Act of 2022'');
       (2) the American Rescue Plan Act (Public Law 117-2) (and 
     the amendments made by such Act); and
       (3)(A) the third paragraph under the heading ``Office of 
     the Secretary--Public Health and Social Services Emergency 
     Fund'' of division B of the CARES Act (Public Law 116-136);
       (B) the second paragraph under the heading ``Office of the 
     Secretary--Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund'' 
     of division B of the Paycheck Protection Program and Health 
     Care Enhancement Act (Public Law 116-139); and
       (C) the third paragraph under the heading ``Office of the 
     Secretary--Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund'' 
     of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental 
     Appropriations Act, 2021 (division M of Public Law 117-260).
       Sec. 237.  None of the funds provided in this Act under the 
     heading ``Department of Health and Human Services--Office of 
     the Secretary--General Departmental Management'' may be used 
     for employee travel.
       Sec. 238.  None of the funds provided in this Act may be 
     used to conduct or support research using human fetal tissue 
     if such tissue is obtained pursuant to an induced abortion.
       Sec. 239. (a) IN GENERAL.--Notwithstanding any other 
     provision of law, none of the funds made available by this 
     Act may be made available either directly, through a State 
     (including through managed care contracts with a State), or 
     through any other means, to a prohibited entity.
       (b) PROHIBITED ENTITY.--The term ``prohibited entity'' 
     means an entity, including its affiliates, subsidiaries, 
     successors, and clinics--
       (1) that, as of the date of enactment of this Act--
       (A) is an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of 
     the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation 
     under section 501(a) of such Code;
       (B) is an essential community provider described in section 
     156.235 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations (as in 
     effect on the date of enactment of this Act), that is 
     primarily engaged in family planning services, reproductive 
     health, and related medical care; and
       (C) performs, or provides any funds to any other entity 
     that performs abortions, other than an abortion performed--
       (i) in the case of a pregnancy that is the result of an act 
     of rape or incest; or
       (ii) in the case where a woman suffers from a physical 
     disorder, physical injury, or physical illness that would, as 
     certified by a physician, place the woman in danger of death 
     unless an abortion is performed, including a life endangering 
     physical condition caused by, or arising from, the pregnancy 
     itself; and
       (2) for which the total amount of Federal grants to such 
     entity, including grants to any affiliates, subsidiaries, or 
     clinics of such entity, under title X of the Public Health 
     Service Act in fiscal year 2016 exceeded $23,000,000.
       (c)(1) END OF PROHIBITION.--The definition in subsection 
     (b) shall cease to apply to an entity if such entity 
     certifies that it, including its affiliates, subsidiaries, 
     successors, and clinics, will not perform, and will not 
     provide any funds to any other entity that performs, an 
     abortion as described in subsection (b)(1)(C).
       (2) REPAYMENT.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services 
     shall seek repayment of any Federal assistance received by 
     any entity that had made a certification described in 
     paragraph (1) and subsequently violated the terms of such 
     certification.
       Sec. 240.  None of the funds in this Act may be used to 
     support, administer, oversee, or issue a grant, contract, or 
     cooperative agreement for the purposes of providing 
     information on, promoting access to, or facilitating an 
     abortion.
       Sec. 241.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no 
     Federal funding may be made available to the EcoHealth 
     Alliance, Inc. located in New York.
       Sec. 242.  None of the funds provided in this Act to the 
     Department of Health and Human Services, or provided under a 
     previous or subsequent appropriations Act to such department, 
     or provided from any account in the Treasury of the United 
     States derived by the collection of fees available to such 
     department, may be used to enforce the rule titled ``Medicare 
     and Medicaid Programs; Omnibus COVID-19 Health Care Staff 
     Vaccination'', which was issued by the Centers for Medicare 
     and Medicaid Services on November 5, 2021, or any 
     substantially similar rule.
       Sec. 243.  None of the funds in this Act may be used to 
     implement, administer, or enforce Executive Order 13988, 
     entitled `Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the 
     Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation,' published by 
     the Executive Office of the President on January 25, 2021 (86 
     Fed. Reg. 7023).
       Sec. 244.  Beginning on the fourth day following the date 
     of enactment of this Act, the aggregate dollar amount 
     appropriated under the heading ``Department of Health and 
     Human Services--Office of the Secretary--General Departmental 
     Management'' shall be reduced by $1,000 for each day on which 
     the Secretary of Health and Human Services fails to submit to 
     the Congress the fiscal year 2023 and 2024 Moyer Report.
       Sec. 245.  None of the funds appropriated under this act 
     may be used to require any project under title X of the PHS 
     Act to refer for abortions:  Provided,  That no provider of 
     services under title X of the PHS Act shall be required to 
     subvert or operate in conflict with any State law limiting 
     referral for abortion/pregnancy counseling.
       Sec. 246.  Title II of the Public Health Service Act (42 
     U.S.C. 202 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 245 
     the following:

     ``SEC. 245A. CIVIL ACTION FOR CERTAIN VIOLATIONS.

       ``(a) In General.--A qualified party may, in a civil 
     action, obtain appropriate relief with regard to a designated 
     violation.
       ``(b) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:
       ``(1) Designated violation.--The term `designated 
     violation' means an actual or threatened violation of--
       ``(A) section 507(d) of division H of the Consolidated 
     Appropriations Act, 2023 (or any subsequent substantially 
     similar provision); or
       ``(B) any funding condition imposed by the Federal 
     Government pursuant to such section 507(d) (or such 
     provision).
       ``(2) Qualified party.--The term `qualified party' means--
       ``(A) the Attorney General of the United States;
       ``(B) any attorney general of a State; or
       ``(C) any person or entity adversely affected by the 
     designated violation without regard to whether such person or 
     entity is a health care provider.
       ``(3) State governmental entity.--The term `State 
     governmental entity' means a State, a local government within 
     a State, and any agency or other governmental unit or 
     subdivision of a State, or of such a local government.
       ``(c) Administrative Remedies Not Required.--An action 
     under this section may be commenced, and relief may be 
     granted, without regard to whether the party commencing the 
     action has sought or exhausted any available administrative 
     remedies.
       ``(d) Defendants.--An action under this section may be 
     maintained against a Federal agency committing a designated 
     violation described in subsection (b)(1)(A) or any recipient 
     or subrecipient of Federal assistance committing a designated 
     violation described in subsection (b)(1)(B), including a 
     State governmental entity.
       ``(e) Nature of Relief.--In an action under this section, 
     the court shall grant--
       ``(1) all appropriate relief, including injunctive relief, 
     declaratory relief, and compensatory damages to prevent the 
     occurrence, continuance, or repetition of the designated 
     violation and to compensate for losses resulting from the 
     designated violation; and
       ``(2) to a prevailing plaintiff, reasonable attorneys' fees 
     and litigation costs.
     Relief in an action under this section may include money 
     damages even if the defendant is a governmental entity.
       ``(f) Abrogation of State Immunity.--No State or 
     governmental official that commits a designated violation 
     shall be immune under the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution 
     of the United States, the Eleventh Amendment to the 
     Constitution of the United States, or any other source of 
     law, from an action under subsection (a).''.
       Sec. 247.  None of the funds in this Act may be used 
     to issue or implement as a final rule the proposed rule 
     entitled ``Nondiscrimination in Health Programs and 
     Activities'' published by the Department of Health and Human 
     Services in the Federal Register on August 4, 2022 (87 Fed. 
     Reg. 47824) (relating to section 1557 of the Affordable Care 
     Act) or any successor or substantially similar rule.
       Sec. 248.  None of the funds in this Act may be used by the 
     Secretary of Health and Human Services to declare a public 
     health emergency pursuant to section 319 of the Public Health 
     Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d) or any related order that would 
     impede, limit, or restrict a citizen's Second Amendment 
     right.
       This title may be cited as the ``Department of Health and 
     Human Services Appropriations Act, 2024''.

                               TITLE III

                        DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

              Office of Elementary and Secondary Education

                    education for the disadvantaged

       For carrying out title I and subpart 2 of part B of title 
     II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
     (referred to in this Act as ``ESEA'') and section 418A of the 
     Higher Education Act of 1965 (referred to in this Act as 
     ``HEA''), $13,055,290,000, of which $2,126,990,000 shall 
     become available on July 1, 2024, and shall remain available 
     through September 30, 2025, and of which $10,841,177,000 
     shall become available on October 1, 2024, and shall remain 
     available through September 30, 2025, for academic year 2024-
     2025:  Provided, That $1,906,901,000 shall be for basic 
     grants under section 1124 of the ESEA:  Provided further, 
     That up to $5,000,000 of these funds shall be available to 
     the Secretary of Education (referred to in this title as 
     ``Secretary'') on October 1, 2023, to obtain annually updated 
     local educational agency-level census poverty data from the 
     Bureau of the Census:  Provided further, That $1,362,301,000 
     shall be for concentration grants

[[Page H5760]]

     under section 1124A of the ESEA:  Provided further, That 
     $4,542,550,000 shall be for targeted grants under section 
     1125 of the ESEA:  Provided further, That $4,542,550,000 
     shall be for education finance incentive grants under section 
     1125A of the ESEA:  Provided further, That $224,000,000 shall 
     be for carrying out subpart 2 of part B of title II:  
     Provided further, That $52,123,000 shall be for carrying out 
     section 418A of the HEA.

                               Impact Aid

       For carrying out programs of financial assistance to 
     federally affected schools authorized by title VII of the 
     ESEA, $1,618,112,000, of which $1,468,242,000 shall be for 
     basic support payments under section 7003(b), $48,316,000 
     shall be for payments for children with disabilities under 
     section 7003(d), $18,406,000 shall be for construction under 
     section 7007(a), $78,313,000 shall be for Federal property 
     payments under section 7002, and $4,835,000, to remain 
     available until expended, shall be for facilities maintenance 
     under section 7008:  Provided, That for purposes of computing 
     the amount of a payment for an eligible local educational 
     agency under section 7003(a) for school year 2023-2024, 
     children enrolled in a school of such agency that would 
     otherwise be eligible for payment under section 7003(a)(1)(B) 
     of such Act, but due to the deployment of both parents or 
     legal guardians, or a parent or legal guardian having sole 
     custody of such children, or due to the death of a military 
     parent or legal guardian while on active duty (so long as 
     such children reside on Federal property as described in 
     section 7003(a)(1)(B)), are no longer eligible under such 
     section, shall be considered as eligible students under such 
     section, provided such students remain in average daily 
     attendance at a school in the same local educational agency 
     they attended prior to their change in eligibility status.

                      School Improvement Programs

       For carrying out school improvement activities authorized 
     by part B of title I, part A of title II, subpart 1 of part A 
     of title IV, part B of title IV, part B of title V, and parts 
     B and C of title VI of the ESEA; the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
     Assistance Act; section 203 of the Educational Technical 
     Assistance Act of 2002; the Compact of Free Association 
     Amendments Act of 2003; and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 
     $4,850,428,000, of which $3,053,673,000 shall become 
     available on July 1, 2024, and remain available through 
     September 30, 2025, and of which $1,681,441,000 shall become 
     available on October 1, 2024, and shall remain available 
     through September 30, 2025, for academic year 2024-2025:  
     Provided, That $1,329,673,000 shall be for part B of title 
     IV:  Provided further, That $45,897,000 shall be for part B 
     of title VI, which may be used for construction, renovation, 
     and modernization of any public elementary school, secondary 
     school, or structure related to a public elementary school or 
     secondary school that serves a predominantly Native Hawaiian 
     student body, and that the 5 percent limitation in section 
     6205(b) of the ESEA on the use of funds for administrative 
     purposes shall apply only to direct administrative costs:  
     Provided further, That $44,953,000 shall be for part C of 
     title VI, which shall be awarded on a competitive basis, and 
     may be used for construction, and that the 5 percent 
     limitation in section 6305 of the ESEA on the use of funds 
     for administrative purposes shall apply only to direct 
     administrative costs:  Provided further, That $24,464,000 
     shall be available to carry out the Supplemental Education 
     Grants program for the Federated States of Micronesia and the 
     Republic of the Marshall Islands:  Provided further, That the 
     Secretary may reserve up to 5 percent of the amount referred 
     to in the previous proviso to provide technical assistance in 
     the implementation of these grants:  Provided further, That 
     $215,000,000 shall be for part B of title V:  Provided 
     further, That $1,380,000,000 shall be available for grants 
     under subpart 1 of part A of title IV:  Provided further, 
     That notwithstanding subsection (a)(3) of section 4103 of 
     such Act, the Secretary may reserve not more than 1 percent 
     under such subsection (a)(3) only for technical assistance.

                            Indian Education

       For expenses necessary to carry out, to the extent not 
     otherwise provided, title VI, part A of the ESEA, 
     $194,746,000, of which $72,000,000 shall be for subpart 2 of 
     part A of title VI and $12,365,000 shall be for subpart 3 of 
     part A of title VI:  Provided, That the 5 percent limitation 
     in sections 6115(d), 6121(e), and 6133(g) of the ESEA on the 
     use of funds for administrative purposes shall apply only to 
     direct administrative costs:  Provided further, That grants 
     awarded under sections 6132 and 6133 of the ESEA with funds 
     provided under this heading may be for a period of up to 5 
     years.

                       Innovation and Improvement

       For carrying out activities authorized by subparts 1, 3, 
     and 4 of part B of title II, and parts C, E, and subparts 1 
     and 4 of part F of title IV of the ESEA, $737,000,000:  
     Provided, That $3,000,000 shall be for subpart 3 of part B of 
     title II and shall be made available without regard to 
     sections 2201 and 2231(b):  Provided further, That 
     $450,000,000 shall be for part C of title IV, and shall be 
     made available without regard to section 4311:  Provided 
     further, That section 4303(d)(3)(A)(i) shall not apply to the 
     funds available for part C of title IV:  Provided further, 
     That of the funds available for part C of title IV, the 
     Secretary shall use not less than $65,000,000 to carry out 
     section 4304, up to $140,000,000, to remain available through 
     March 31, 2025, to carry out section 4305(b), and not more 
     than $16,000,000 to carry out the activities in section 
     4305(a)(3):  Provided further,  That the Secretary shall 
     allow entities receiving grants under section 4303 to use up 
     to 10 percent of such grants for activities described in 
     section 4303(b)(2) and up to 5 percent for the activities 
     described in section 4303(c)(1)(C):  Provided further, That 
     entities receiving grants under section 4304(k) shall not be 
     required to meet the matching requirements described in 
     section 4304(k)(2)(C) and (D) and shall not be required to 
     use such grants to support facilities aid programs that 
     allocate funds on a per-pupil basis:  Provided further, That 
     notwithstanding section 4601(b), $284,000,000 shall be 
     available through December 31, 2024 for subpart 1 of part F 
     of title IV.

                 Safe Schools and Citizenship Education

       For carrying out activities authorized by subparts 2 and 3 
     of part F of title IV of the ESEA, $316,000,000, to remain 
     available through December 31, 2024:  Provided, That 
     $216,000,000 shall be available for section 4631, of which up 
     to $5,000,000, to remain available until expended, shall be 
     for the Project School Emergency Response to Violence 
     (Project SERV) program:  Provided further, That $100,000,000 
     shall be available for section 4625.

                           Special Education

       For carrying out the Individuals with Disabilities 
     Education Act (IDEA) and the Special Olympics Sport and 
     Empowerment Act of 2004, $15,453,264,000, of which 
     $5,870,321,000 shall become available on July 1, 2024, and 
     shall remain available through September 30, 2025, and of 
     which $9,283,383,000 shall become available on October 1, 
     2024, and shall remain available through September 30, 2025, 
     for academic year 2024-2025:  Provided, That the amount for 
     section 611(b)(2) of the IDEA shall be equal to the lesser of 
     the amount available for that activity during fiscal year 
     2023, increased by the amount of inflation as specified in 
     section 619(d)(2)(B) of the IDEA, or the percent change in 
     the funds appropriated under section 611(i) of the IDEA, but 
     not less than the amount for that activity during fiscal year 
     2023:  Provided further, That the Secretary shall, without 
     regard to section 611(d) of the IDEA, distribute to all other 
     States (as that term is defined in section 611(g)(2)), 
     subject to the third proviso, any amount by which a State's 
     allocation under section 611, from funds appropriated under 
     this heading, is reduced under section 612(a)(18)(B), 
     according to the following: 85 percent on the basis of the 
     States' relative populations of children aged 3 through 21 
     who are of the same age as children with disabilities for 
     whom the State ensures the availability of a free appropriate 
     public education under this part, and 15 percent to States on 
     the basis of the States' relative populations of those 
     children who are living in poverty:  Provided further, That 
     the Secretary may not distribute any funds under the previous 
     proviso to any State whose reduction in allocation from funds 
     appropriated under this heading made funds available for such 
     a distribution:  Provided further, That the States shall 
     allocate such funds distributed under the second proviso to 
     local educational agencies in accordance with section 611(f): 
      Provided further, That the amount by which a State's 
     allocation under section 611(d) of the IDEA is reduced under 
     section 612(a)(18)(B) and the amounts distributed to States 
     under the previous provisos in fiscal year 2012 or any 
     subsequent year shall not be considered in calculating the 
     awards under section 611(d) for fiscal year 2013 or for any 
     subsequent fiscal years:  Provided further, That, 
     notwithstanding the provision in section 612(a)(18)(B) 
     regarding the fiscal year in which a State's allocation under 
     section 611(d) is reduced for failure to comply with the 
     requirement of section 612(a)(18)(A), the Secretary may apply 
     the reduction specified in section 612(a)(18)(B) over a 
     period of consecutive fiscal years, not to exceed 5, until 
     the entire reduction is applied:  Provided further, That the 
     Secretary may, in any fiscal year in which a State's 
     allocation under section 611 is reduced in accordance with 
     section 612(a)(18)(B), reduce the amount a State may reserve 
     under section 611(e)(1) by an amount that bears the same 
     relation to the maximum amount described in that paragraph as 
     the reduction under section 612(a)(18)(B) bears to the total 
     allocation the State would have received in that fiscal year 
     under section 611(d) in the absence of the reduction:  
     Provided further, That the Secretary shall either reduce the 
     allocation of funds under section 611 for any fiscal year 
     following the fiscal year for which the State fails to comply 
     with the requirement of section 612(a)(18)(A) as authorized 
     by section 612(a)(18)(B), or seek to recover funds under 
     section 452 of the General Education Provisions Act (20 
     U.S.C. 1234a):  Provided further, That the funds reserved 
     under 611(c) of the IDEA may be used to provide technical 
     assistance to States to improve the capacity of the States to 
     meet the data collection requirements of sections 616 and 618 
     and to administer and carry out other services and activities 
     to improve data collection, coordination, quality, and use 
     under parts B and C of the IDEA:  Provided further, That the 
     Secretary may use funds made available for the State 
     Personnel Development Grants program under part D, subpart 1 
     of IDEA to evaluate program performance under such subpart:  
     Provided further, That States may use funds reserved for 
     other State-level activities under sections 611(e)(2) and 
     619(f) of the IDEA to make subgrants to local educational 
     agencies, institutions of higher education, other public 
     agencies, and private non-profit organizations to carry out 
     activities authorized by those sections:  Provided further, 
     That, notwithstanding section 643(e)(2)(A) of the IDEA, if 5 
     or fewer States apply for grants pursuant to section 643(e) 
     of such Act, the Secretary shall provide a grant to each 
     State in an amount equal to the maximum amount described in 
     section 643(e)(2)(B) of such Act:  Provided further, That if 
     more than 5 States apply for grants pursuant to section 
     643(e) of the IDEA, the Secretary shall award funds to those 
     States on the basis of the States' relative populations of 
     infants and toddlers except that no such State shall receive 
     a grant in excess of the amount described in section

[[Page H5761]]

     643(e)(2)(B) of such Act:  Provided further, That States may 
     use funds allotted under section 643(c) of the IDEA to make 
     subgrants to local educational agencies, institutions of 
     higher education, other public agencies, and private non-
     profit organizations to carry out activities authorized by 
     section 638 of IDEA:  Provided further, That, notwithstanding 
     section 638 of the IDEA, a State may use funds it receives 
     under section 633 of the IDEA to offer continued early 
     intervention services to a child who previously received 
     services under part C of the IDEA from age 3 until the 
     beginning of the school year following the child's third 
     birthday with parental consent and without regard to the 
     procedures in section 635(c) of the IDEA.

                        Rehabilitation Services

       For carrying out, to the extent not otherwise provided, the 
     Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Helen Keller National 
     Center Act, $4,397,033,000, of which $4,253,834,000 shall be 
     for grants for vocational rehabilitation services under title 
     I of the Rehabilitation Act.

           Special Institutions for Persons With Disabilities

                 american printing house for the blind

       For carrying out the Act to Promote the Education of the 
     Blind of March 3, 1879, $43,431,000.

               national technical institute for the deaf

       For the National Technical Institute for the Deaf under 
     titles I and II of the Education of the Deaf Act of 1986, 
     $92,500,000:  Provided, That from the total amount available, 
     the Institute may at its discretion use funds for the 
     endowment program as authorized under section 207 of such 
     Act.

                          gallaudet university

       For the Kendall Demonstration Elementary School, the Model 
     Secondary School for the Deaf, and the partial support of 
     Gallaudet University under titles I and II of the Education 
     of the Deaf Act of 1986, $165,361,000, of which up to 
     $15,000,000, to remain available until expended, shall be for 
     construction, as defined by section 201(2) of such Act:  
     Provided, That from the total amount available, the 
     University may at its discretion use funds for the endowment 
     program as authorized under section 207 of such Act.

                 Career, Technical, and Adult Education

       For carrying out, to the extent not otherwise provided, the 
     Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 
     (``Perkins Act'') and the Adult Education and Family Literacy 
     Act (``AEFLA''), $2,191,436,000, of which $1,400,436,000 
     shall become available on July 1, 2024, and shall remain 
     available through September 30, 2025, and of which 
     $791,000,000 shall become available on October 1, 2024, and 
     shall remain available through September 30, 2025:  Provided, 
     That $25,000,000 shall be available for innovation and 
     modernization grants under such section 114(e) of the Perkins 
     Act:  Provided further, That of the amounts made available 
     for AEFLA, $13,712,000 shall be for national leadership 
     activities under section 242.

                      Student Financial Assistance

       For carrying out subparts 1 and 10 of part A of title IV of 
     the HEA, $22,475,352,000 which shall remain available through 
     September 30, 2025.
       The maximum Pell Grant for which a student shall be 
     eligible during award year 2024-2025 shall be $6,335.

                       Student Aid Administration

       For Federal administrative expenses to carry out part D of 
     title I, and subparts 1, 9, and 10 of part A, and parts B, D, 
     and E of title IV of the HEA, and subpart 1 of part A of 
     title VII of the Public Health Service Act, $1,769,207,000, 
     to remain available through September 30, 2025:  Provided, 
     That for student loan contracts awarded prior to October 1, 
     2017, the Secretary shall allow student loan borrowers who 
     are consolidating Federal student loans to select from any 
     student loan servicer to service their new consolidated 
     student loan:  Provided further, That in order to promote 
     accountability and high-quality service to borrowers, the 
     Secretary shall not award funding for any contract 
     solicitation for a new Federal student loan servicing 
     environment, including the solicitation for the Federal 
     Student Aid (FSA) Next Generation Processing and Servicing 
     Environment, unless such an environment provides for the 
     participation of multiple student loan servicers that 
     contract directly with the Department of Education to manage 
     a unique portfolio of borrower accounts and the full life-
     cycle of loans from disbursement to pay-off with certain 
     limited exceptions, and allocates student loan borrower 
     accounts to eligible student loan servicers based on 
     performance:  Provided further, That the Secretary shall 
     provide quarterly briefings to the Committees on 
     Appropriations and Education and Labor of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committees on Appropriations and 
     Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate on 
     general progress related to solicitations for Federal student 
     loan servicing contracts:  Provided further, That not later 
     than 60 days after enactment of this Act, FSA shall provide 
     to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives and the Senate a detailed spend plan of 
     anticipated uses of funds made available in this account for 
     fiscal year 2024 and provide quarterly updates on this plan 
     (including contracts awarded, change orders, bonuses paid to 
     staff, reorganization costs, and any other activity carried 
     out using amounts provided under this heading for fiscal year 
     2024).

                            Higher Education

       For carrying out, to the extent not otherwise provided, 
     titles III, IV, V, VI, VII, and VIII of the HEA, and section 
     117 of the Perkins Act, $2,767,239,000:  Provided, That 
     notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds made 
     available in this Act to carry out title VI of the HEA may be 
     used to support visits and study in foreign countries by 
     individuals who are participating in advanced foreign 
     language training and international studies in areas that are 
     vital to United States national security and who plan to 
     apply their language skills and knowledge of these countries 
     in the fields of government, the professions, or 
     international development:  Provided further, That of the 
     funds referred to in the preceding proviso up to 1 percent 
     may be used for program evaluation, national outreach, and 
     information dissemination activities:  Provided further, That 
     up to 1.5 percent of the funds made available under chapter 2 
     of subpart 2 of part A of title IV of the HEA may be used for 
     evaluation:  Provided further, That section 313(d) of the HEA 
     shall not apply to an institution of higher education that is 
     eligible to receive funding under section 318 of the HEA:  
     Provided further, That of the funds made available under this 
     Act to carry out part B of title III of the HEA, to 
     supplement amounts otherwise available, not less than 
     $10,000,000 shall be for grants to part B institutions as 
     defined under section 322(2) of the HEA, that are junior or 
     community colleges, as defined in section 312(f) of the HEA:  
     Provided further, That funds in the preceding proviso are in 
     addition to any grant award that any such institution may 
     receive under section 323 of such Act and shall be allocated 
     in accordance with the allotments specified under section 324 
     of such Act.

                           Howard University

       For partial support of Howard University, $301,693,000, of 
     which not less than $3,405,000 shall be for a matching 
     endowment grant pursuant to the Howard University Endowment 
     Act and shall remain available until expended.

         College Housing and Academic Facilities Loans Program

       For Federal administrative expenses to carry out activities 
     related to existing facility loans pursuant to section 121 of 
     the HEA, $321,000.

  Historically Black College and University Capital Financing Program 
                                Account

       For the cost of guaranteed loans, $20,150,000, as 
     authorized pursuant to part D of title III of the HEA, which 
     shall remain available through September 30, 2025:  Provided, 
     That such costs, including the cost of modifying such loans, 
     shall be as defined in section 502 of the Congressional 
     Budget Act of 1974:  Provided further, That these funds are 
     available to subsidize total loan principal, any part of 
     which is to be guaranteed, not to exceed $377,340,824:  
     Provided further, That these funds may be used to support 
     loans to public and private Historically Black Colleges and 
     Universities without regard to the limitations within section 
     344(a) of the HEA.
       In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out the 
     Historically Black College and University Capital Financing 
     Program entered into pursuant to part D of title III of the 
     HEA, $528,000.

                    Institute of Education Sciences

       For necessary expenses for the Institute of Education 
     Sciences as authorized by section 208 of the Department of 
     Education Organization Act and carrying out activities 
     authorized by the National Assessment of Educational Progress 
     Authorization Act, section 208 of the Educational Technical 
     Assistance Act of 2002, and section 664 of the Individuals 
     with Disabilities Education Act, $707,372,000, which shall 
     remain available through September 30, 2025.

                        Departmental Management

                         program administration

       For carrying out, to the extent not otherwise provided, the 
     Department of Education Organization Act, including rental of 
     conference rooms in the District of Columbia and hire of 
     three passenger motor vehicles, $350,000,000:  Provided,  
     That none of the funds provided by this Act may be used to 
     support a number of non-career employees that is above the 
     number of non-career employees as of December 31, 2021.

                        office for civil rights

       For expenses necessary for the Office for Civil Rights, as 
     authorized by section 203 of the Department of Education 
     Organization Act, $105,000,000.

                      office of inspector general

       For expenses necessary for the Office of Inspector General, 
     as authorized by section 212 of the Department of Education 
     Organization Act, $60,000,000, of which $3,000,000 shall be 
     available through September 30, 2025.

                           General Provisions

       Sec. 301.  No funds appropriated in this Act may be used to 
     prevent the implementation of programs of voluntary prayer 
     and meditation in the public schools.

                          (transfer of funds)

       Sec. 302.  Not to exceed 1 percent of any discretionary 
     funds (pursuant to the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit 
     Control Act of 1985) which are appropriated for the 
     Department of Education in this Act may be transferred 
     between appropriations, but no such appropriation shall be 
     increased by more than 3 percent by any such transfer:  
     Provided, That the transfer authority granted by this section 
     shall not be used to create any new program or to fund any 
     project or activity for which no funds are provided in this 
     Act:  Provided further, That the Committees on Appropriations 
     of the House of Representatives and the Senate are notified 
     at least 15 days in advance of any transfer.
       Sec. 303.  Funds appropriated in this Act and consolidated 
     for evaluation purposes under section 8601(c) of the ESEA 
     shall be available from July 1, 2024, through September 30, 
     2025.
       Sec. 304. (a) An institution of higher education that 
     maintains an endowment fund supported with funds appropriated 
     for title III or V of the HEA for fiscal year 2024 may use 
     the income from that fund to award scholarships to

[[Page H5762]]

     students, subject to the limitation in section 
     331(c)(3)(B)(i) of the HEA. The use of such income for such 
     purposes, prior to the enactment of this Act, shall be 
     considered to have been an allowable use of that income, 
     subject to that limitation.
       (b) Subsection (a) shall be in effect until titles III and 
     V of the HEA are reauthorized.
       Sec. 305.  Section 114(f) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1011c(f)) 
     shall be applied by substituting ``2024'' for ``2021''.
       Sec. 306.  Section 458(a)(4) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 
     1087h(a)) shall be applied by substituting ``2024'' for 
     ``2021''.
       Sec. 307.  Funds appropriated in this Act under the heading 
     ``Student Aid Administration'' may be available for payments 
     for student loan servicing to an institution of higher 
     education that services outstanding Federal Perkins Loans 
     under part E of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
     (20 U.S.C. 1087aa et seq.).
       Sec. 308.  The Secretary may reserve not more than 0.5 
     percent from any amount made available in this Act for an HEA 
     program, except for any amounts made available for subpart 1 
     of part A of title IV of the HEA, to carry out rigorous and 
     independent evaluations and to collect and analyze outcome 
     data for any program authorized by the HEA:  Provided, That 
     no funds made available in this Act for the ``Student Aid 
     Administration'' account shall be subject to the reservation 
     under this section:  Provided further, That any funds 
     reserved under this section shall be available through 
     September 30, 2026:  Provided further, That if, under any 
     other provision of law, funds are authorized to be reserved 
     or used for evaluation activities with respect to a program 
     or project, the Secretary may also reserve funds for such 
     program or project for the purposes described in this section 
     so long as the total reservation of funds for such program or 
     project does not exceed any statutory limits on such 
     reservations:  Provided further, That not later than 30 days 
     prior to the initial obligation of funds reserved under this 
     section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on 
     Appropriations of the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives, the Committee on Health, Education, Labor 
     and Pensions of the Senate, and the Committee on Education 
     and Labor of the House of Representatives a plan that 
     identifies the source and amount of funds reserved under this 
     section, the impact on program grantees if funds are withheld 
     for the purposes of this section, and the activities to be 
     carried out with such funds.

                     (including transfer of funds)

       Sec. 309.  Of the amounts appropriated in this Act for 
     ``Institute of Education Sciences'', up to $19,000,000 shall 
     be available for the Secretary of Education (``the 
     Secretary'') to provide support services to the Institute of 
     Education Sciences (including, but not limited to information 
     technology services, lease or procurement of office space, 
     human resource services, financial management services, 
     financial systems support, budget formulation and execution, 
     legal counsel, equal employment opportunity services, 
     physical security, facilities management, acquisition and 
     contract management, grants administration and policy, and 
     enterprise risk management):  Provided, That the Secretary 
     shall calculate the actual amounts obligated and expended for 
     such support services by using a standard Department of 
     Education methodology for allocating the cost of all such 
     support services:  Provided further, That the Secretary may 
     transfer any amounts available for IES support services in 
     excess of actual amounts needed for IES support services, as 
     so calculated, to the ``Program Administration'' account from 
     the ``Institute of Education Sciences'' account:  Provided 
     further, That in order to address any shortfall between 
     amounts available for IES support services and amounts needed 
     for IES support services, as so calculated, the Secretary may 
     transfer necessary amounts to the ``Institute of Education 
     Sciences'' account from the ``Program Administration'' 
     account:  Provided further, That the Committees on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate 
     are notified at least 14 days in advance of any transfer made 
     pursuant to this section.

                              (rescission)

       Sec. 310.  Of the unobligated balances in the ``Department 
     of Education Nonrecurring Expenses Fund'' established in 
     section 313 of division H of Public Law 116-260, $29,000,000 
     are hereby rescinded not later than September 30, 2024:  
     Provided, That from any remaining unobligated balances in 
     such Fund, the Secretary may transfer up to $45,325,000 to 
     ``Howard University'' for completion of the Howard University 
     hospital, to remain available until expended:  Provided 
     further,  That, except as otherwise provided in this Act, 
     none of the funds provided by this Act may be obligated for a 
     new program, project, or activity using such Fund for which a 
     notification was not submitted to the Committees on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate 
     before the date of enactment of this Act:  Provided further, 
     That the Secretary may obligate funds from such Fund for any 
     program, project, or activity for which a notification was 
     submitted before the date of enactment of this Act:  Provided 
     further, That the Secretary may transfer amounts into such 
     Fund:  Provided further, That any amounts transferred into 
     such Fund are available for the purposes provided by this 
     section or for which a notification was submitted to such 
     Committees on Appropriations before the date of enactment of 
     this Act:  Provided further, That the authority to transfer 
     amounts under this section is in addition to any other 
     transfer authority in law.
       Sec. 311. (a) None of the funds made available by this 
     title may be used to issue or implement as final rules the 
     rules proposed by the Department of Education relating to 
     title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 5 U.S.C. 
     1681-1688) and described under the heading 
     ``Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs 
     or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance'' (87 
     Fed. Reg. 41390; published July 12, 2022).
       (b) None of the funds made available by this title may be 
     used to issue or implement--
       (1) as final rules the rules proposed by the Department of 
     Education relating to title IX of the Education Amendments of 
     1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681-1688) and described under the heading 
     ``Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs 
     or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance: Sex-
     Related Eligibility Criteria for Male and Female Athletic 
     Teams'' (88 Fed. Reg. 22860; published April 13, 2023), or
       (2) any rule similar in substance to the proposed rules 
     described in paragraph (1) that relates to eligibility 
     criteria for participation on athletic teams.
       Sec. 312.  None of the funds made available under this Act 
     may be provided to any public institution of higher education 
     that denies to a religious student organization any right, 
     benefit, or privilege that is otherwise afforded to other 
     student organizations at the institution (including full 
     access to the facilities of the institution and official 
     recognition of the organization by the institution) because 
     of the religious beliefs, practices, speech, leadership 
     standards, or standards of conduct of the religious student 
     organization.

                              (rescission)

       Sec. 313.  Of the amounts which are made available to 
     ``Department of Education--Education for the Disadvantaged'' 
     on October 1, 2023 by Public Law 117-328, $8,671,399,000 are 
     hereby rescinded.

                              (rescission)

       Sec. 314.  Of the amounts which are made available to 
     ``Department of Education--School Improvement Programs'' on 
     October 1, 2023 by Public Law 117-328, $1,681,441,000 are 
     hereby rescinded.
       Sec. 315.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to-- 
       (1) implement the waivers and modifications of statutory 
     and regulatory provisions relating to an extension of the 
     suspension of payments on certain loans and waivers of 
     interest on such loans under section 3513 of the CARES Act 
     (20 U.S.C. 1001 note), described by the Department of 
     Education in the Federal Register on October 12, 2022 (87 
     Fed. Reg. 61513 et seq.), and most recently extended in the 
     announcement by the Department of Education on November 22, 
     2022;
       (2) take any substantially similar action; or
       (3) waive any consequences of nonpayment by a borrower in 
     repayment such as delinquency or default.
       Sec. 316.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to--
       (1) implement the modifications of statutory and regulatory 
     provisions relating to debt discharge described by the 
     Department of Education in the Federal Register on October 
     12, 2022 (87 Fed. Reg. 61514), or take any substantially 
     similar action;
       (2) issue a final rule or otherwise implement the proposed 
     rule on ``Improving Income-Driven Repayment for the William 
     D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program'' published by the 
     Department of Education in the Federal Register on January 
     11, 2023 (88 Fed. Reg. 1894 et seq.), or take any 
     substantially similar action; or
       (3) implement, administer, or enforce parts 600, 668, and 
     685 of title 34, Code of Federal Regulations, (relating to 
     borrower defense to repayment), as amended by the final 
     regulations published by the Department of Education in the 
     Federal Register on November 1, 2022 (87 Fed. Reg. 65904 et 
     seq.) or take any substantially similar action.
       Sec. 317.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to provide financial assistance to an educational 
     institution that allows an individual whose sex is male to 
     participate in an athletic program or activity that is 
     designated for women or girls. For the purpose of this 
     section, the term ``sex'' means the reproductive biology and 
     genetics of an individual as determined solely at birth.
       This title may be cited as the ``Department of Education 
     Appropriations Act, 2024''.

                                TITLE IV

                            RELATED AGENCIES

 Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled

                         salaries and expenses

       For expenses necessary for the Committee for Purchase From 
     People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled (referred to in 
     this title as ``the Committee'') established under section 
     8502 of title 41, United States Code, $13,124,000:  Provided, 
     That in order to authorize any central nonprofit agency 
     designated pursuant to section 8503(c) of title 41, United 
     States Code, to perform requirements of the Committee as 
     prescribed under section 51-3.2 of title 41, Code of Federal 
     Regulations, the Committee shall enter into a written 
     agreement with any such central nonprofit agency:  Provided 
     further, That such agreement shall contain such auditing, 
     oversight, and reporting provisions as necessary to implement 
     chapter 85 of title 41, United States Code:  Provided 
     further, That such agreement shall include the elements 
     listed under the heading ``Committee For Purchase From People 
     Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled--Written Agreement 
     Elements'' in the explanatory statement described in section 
     4 of Public Law 114-113 (in the matter preceding division A 
     of that consolidated Act):  Provided further, That any such 
     central nonprofit agency may not charge a fee under section 
     51-3.5 of title 41, Code of Federal Regulations, prior to 
     executing a written agreement with the Committee:  Provided 
     further, That no less than $3,150,000 shall be available for 
     the Office of Inspector General.

[[Page H5763]]

  


             Corporation for National and Community Service

                           operating expenses

       For necessary expenses for the Corporation for National and 
     Community Service (referred to in this title as ``CNCS'') to 
     carry out the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 
     (referred to in this title as ``1973 Act'') and the National 
     and Community Service Act of 1990 (referred to in this title 
     as ``1990 Act''), $593,347,000, notwithstanding sections 
     198B(b)(3), 198S(g), 501(a)(4)(C), and 501(a)(4)(F) of the 
     1990 Act:  Provided, That of the amounts provided under this 
     heading up to 1 percent of program grant funds may be used to 
     defray the costs of conducting grant application reviews, 
     including the use of outside peer reviewers and electronic 
     management of the grants cycle:  Provided further, That for 
     the purposes of carrying out the 1990 Act, satisfying the 
     requirements in section 122(c)(1)(D) may include a 
     determination of need by the local community.

                         salaries and expenses

       For necessary expenses of administration as provided under 
     section 501(a)(5) of the 1990 Act and under section 504(a) of 
     the 1973 Act, including payment of salaries, authorized 
     travel, hire of passenger motor vehicles, the rental of 
     conference rooms in the District of Columbia, the employment 
     of experts and consultants authorized under 5 U.S.C. 3109, 
     and not to exceed $2,500 for official reception and 
     representation expenses, $60,000,000.

                      office of inspector general

       For necessary expenses of the Office of Inspector General 
     in carrying out the Inspector General Act of 1978, 
     $7,595,000.

                       administrative provisions

       Sec. 401.  CNCS shall make any significant changes to 
     program requirements, service delivery or policy only through 
     public notice and comment rulemaking. For fiscal year 2024, 
     during any grant selection process, an officer or employee of 
     CNCS shall not knowingly disclose any covered grant selection 
     information regarding such selection, directly or indirectly, 
     to any person other than an officer or employee of CNCS that 
     is authorized by CNCS to receive such information.
       Sec. 402.  AmeriCorps programs receiving grants under the 
     National Service Trust program shall meet an overall minimum 
     share requirement of 24 percent for the first 3 years that 
     they receive AmeriCorps funding, and thereafter shall meet 
     the overall minimum share requirement as provided in section 
     2521.60 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations, without 
     regard to the operating costs match requirement in section 
     121(e) or the member support Federal share limitations in 
     section 140 of the 1990 Act, and subject to partial waiver 
     consistent with section 2521.70 of title 45, Code of Federal 
     Regulations.
       Sec. 403.  Donations made to CNCS under section 196 of the 
     1990 Act for the purposes of financing programs and 
     operations under titles I and II of the 1973 Act or subtitle 
     B, C, D, or E of title I of the 1990 Act shall be used to 
     supplement and not supplant current programs and operations.
       Sec. 404.  In addition to the requirements in section 
     146(a) of the 1990 Act, use of an educational award for the 
     purpose described in section 148(a)(4) shall be limited to 
     individuals who are veterans as defined under section 101 of 
     the Act.
       Sec. 405.  For the purpose of carrying out section 189D of 
     the 1990 Act--
       (1) entities described in paragraph (a) of such section 
     shall be considered ``qualified entities'' under section 3 of 
     the National Child Protection Act of 1993 (``NCPA'');
       (2) individuals described in such section shall be 
     considered ``volunteers'' under section 3 of NCPA; and
       (3) State Commissions on National and Community Service 
     established pursuant to section 178 of the 1990 Act, are 
     authorized to receive criminal history record information, 
     consistent with Public Law 92-544.
       Sec. 406.  Notwithstanding sections 139(b), 146 and 147 of 
     the 1990 Act, an individual who successfully completes a term 
     of service of not less than 1,200 hours during a period of 
     not more than one year may receive a national service 
     education award having a value of 70 percent of the value of 
     a national service education award determined under section 
     147(a) of the Act.

                              (rescission)

       Sec. 407.  Of the unobligated balances available in the 
     ``National Service Trust'' established in section 102 of the 
     National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993, 
     $243,000,000 are hereby permanently rescinded, except that no 
     amounts may be rescinded from amounts that were previously 
     designated by the Congress as being for an emergency 
     requirement pursuant to a concurrent resolution on the budget 
     or the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 
     1985.

               Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service

                         salaries and expenses

       For expenses necessary for the Federal Mediation and 
     Conciliation Service (``Service'') to carry out the functions 
     vested in it by the Labor-Management Relations Act, 1947, 
     including hire of passenger motor vehicles; for expenses 
     necessary for the Labor-Management Cooperation Act of 1978; 
     and for expenses necessary for the Service to carry out the 
     functions vested in it by the Civil Service Reform Act, 
     $53,705,000:  Provided, That notwithstanding 31 U.S.C. 3302, 
     fees charged, up to full-cost recovery, for special training 
     activities and other conflict resolution services and 
     technical assistance, including those provided to foreign 
     governments and international organizations, and for 
     arbitration services shall be credited to and merged with 
     this account, and shall remain available until expended:  
     Provided further, That fees for arbitration services shall be 
     available only for education, training, and professional 
     development of the agency workforce:  Provided further, That 
     the Director of the Service is authorized to accept and use 
     on behalf of the United States gifts of services and real, 
     personal, or other property in the aid of any projects or 
     functions within the Director's jurisdiction.

            Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission

                         salaries and expenses

       For expenses necessary for the Federal Mine Safety and 
     Health Review Commission, $18,012,000.

                Institute of Museum and Library Services

    office of museum and library services: grants and administration

       For carrying out the Museum and Library Services Act of 
     1996 and the National Museum of African American History and 
     Culture Act, $294,800,000.

            Medicaid and Chip Payment and Access Commission

                         salaries and expenses

       For expenses necessary to carry out section 1900 of the 
     Social Security Act, $9,405,000.

                  Medicare Payment Advisory Commission

                         salaries and expenses

       For expenses necessary to carry out section 1805 of the 
     Social Security Act, $13,824,000, to be transferred to this 
     appropriation from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund 
     and the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund.

                     National Council on Disability

                         salaries and expenses

       For expenses necessary for the National Council on 
     Disability as authorized by title IV of the Rehabilitation 
     Act of 1973, $3,850,000.

                     National Labor Relations Board

                         salaries and expenses

       For expenses necessary for the National Labor Relations 
     Board to carry out the functions vested in it by the Labor-
     Management Relations Act, 1947, and other laws, $200,000,000: 
      Provided, That no part of this appropriation shall be 
     available to organize or assist in organizing agricultural 
     laborers or used in connection with investigations, hearings, 
     directives, or orders concerning bargaining units composed of 
     agricultural laborers as referred to in section 2(3) of the 
     Act of July 5, 1935, and as amended by the Labor-Management 
     Relations Act, 1947, and as defined in section 3(f) of the 
     Act of June 25, 1938, and including in said definition 
     employees engaged in the maintenance and operation of 
     ditches, canals, reservoirs, and waterways when maintained or 
     operated on a mutual, nonprofit basis and at least 95 percent 
     of the water stored or supplied thereby is used for farming 
     purposes.

                       administrative provisions

       Sec. 408.  None of the funds provided by this Act or 
     previous Acts making appropriations for the National Labor 
     Relations Board may be used to issue any new administrative 
     directive or regulation that would provide employees any 
     means of voting through any electronic means in an election 
     to determine a representative for the purposes of collective 
     bargaining.
       Sec. 409.  No Federal funds may be made available to alter 
     or affect the administration, implementation, or enforcement 
     of the final rule entitled ``Joint Employer Status Under the 
     National Labor Relations Act'' (86 Fed. Reg. 11184) and dated 
     February 26, 2020.

                        National Mediation Board

                         salaries and expenses

       For expenses necessary to carry out the provisions of the 
     Railway Labor Act, including emergency boards appointed by 
     the President, $15,113,000.

            Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission

                         salaries and expenses

       For expenses necessary for the Occupational Safety and 
     Health Review Commission, $15,449,000.

                       Railroad Retirement Board

                     dual benefits payments account

       For payment to the Dual Benefits Payments Account, 
     authorized under section 15(d) of the Railroad Retirement Act 
     of 1974, $8,000,000, which shall include amounts becoming 
     available in fiscal year 2024 pursuant to section 
     224(c)(1)(B) of Public Law 98-76; and in addition, an amount, 
     not to exceed 2 percent of the amount provided herein, shall 
     be available proportional to the amount by which the product 
     of recipients and the average benefit received exceeds the 
     amount available for payment of vested dual benefits:  
     Provided, That the total amount provided herein shall be 
     credited in 12 approximately equal amounts on the first day 
     of each month in the fiscal year.

          federal payments to the railroad retirement accounts

       For payment to the accounts established in the Treasury for 
     the payment of benefits under the Railroad Retirement Act for 
     interest earned on unnegotiated checks, $150,000, to remain 
     available through September 30, 2025, which shall be the 
     maximum amount available for payment pursuant to section 417 
     of Public Law 98-76.

                      limitation on administration

       For necessary expenses for the Railroad Retirement Board 
     (``Board'') for administration of the Railroad Retirement Act 
     and the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act, $103,000,000, to 
     be derived in such amounts as determined by the Board from 
     the railroad retirement accounts

[[Page H5764]]

     and from moneys credited to the railroad unemployment 
     insurance administration fund:  Provided, That 
     notwithstanding section 7(b)(9) of the Railroad Retirement 
     Act this limitation may be used to hire attorneys only 
     through the excepted service:  Provided further, That the 
     previous proviso shall not change the status under Federal 
     employment laws of any attorney hired by the Railroad 
     Retirement Board prior to January 1, 2013:  Provided further, 
     That notwithstanding section 7(b)(9) of the Railroad 
     Retirement Act, this limitation may be used to hire students 
     attending qualifying educational institutions or individuals 
     who have recently completed qualifying educational programs 
     using current excepted hiring authorities established by the 
     Office of Personnel Management.

             limitation on the office of inspector general

       For expenses necessary for the Office of Inspector General 
     for audit, investigatory and review activities, as authorized 
     by the Inspector General Act of 1978, not more than 
     $14,000,000, to be derived from the railroad retirement 
     accounts and railroad unemployment insurance account.

                     Social Security Administration

                payments to social security trust funds

       For payment to the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance 
     Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, 
     as provided under sections 201(m) and 1131(b)(2) of the 
     Social Security Act, $10,000,000.

                  supplemental security income program

       For carrying out titles XI and XVI of the Social Security 
     Act, section 401 of Public Law 92-603, section 212 of Public 
     Law 93-66, as amended, and section 405 of Public Law 95-216, 
     including payment to the Social Security trust funds for 
     administrative expenses incurred pursuant to section 
     201(g)(1) of the Social Security Act, $45,455,426,000, to 
     remain available until expended:  Provided, That any portion 
     of the funds provided to a State in the current fiscal year 
     and not obligated by the State during that year shall be 
     returned to the Treasury:  Provided further, That not more 
     than $91,000,000 shall be available for research and 
     demonstrations under sections 1110, 1115, and 1144 of the 
     Social Security Act, and remain available through September 
     30, 2026.
       For making, after June 15 of the current fiscal year, 
     benefit payments to individuals under title XVI of the Social 
     Security Act, for unanticipated costs incurred for the 
     current fiscal year, such sums as may be necessary.
       For making benefit payments under title XVI of the Social 
     Security Act for the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, 
     $21,700,000,0000, to remain available until expended.

                 limitation on administrative expenses

                     (including transfer of funds)

       For necessary expenses, including the hire and purchase of 
     two passenger motor vehicles, and not to exceed $20,000 for 
     official reception and representation expenses, not more than 
     $11,951,978,000 may be expended, as authorized by section 
     201(g)(1) of the Social Security Act, from any one or all of 
     the trust funds referred to in such section:  Provided, That 
     not less than $2,700,000 shall be for the Social Security 
     Advisory Board:  Provided further, That unobligated balances 
     of funds provided under this paragraph at the end of fiscal 
     year 2024 not needed for fiscal year 2024 shall remain 
     available until expended to invest in the Social Security 
     Administration information technology and telecommunications 
     hardware and software infrastructure, including related 
     equipment and non-payroll administrative expenses associated 
     solely with this information technology and 
     telecommunications infrastructure:  Provided further, That 
     the Commissioner of Social Security shall notify the 
     Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives 
     and the Senate prior to making unobligated balances available 
     under the authority in the previous proviso:  Provided 
     further, That reimbursement to the trust funds under this 
     heading for expenditures for official time for employees of 
     the Social Security Administration pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 7131, 
     and for facilities or support services for labor 
     organizations pursuant to policies, regulations, or 
     procedures referred to in section 7135(b) of such title shall 
     be made by the Secretary of the Treasury, with interest, from 
     amounts in the general fund not otherwise appropriated, as 
     soon as possible after such expenditures are made.
        In addition, $1,851,000,000 may be expended, as authorized 
     by section 201(g)(1) of the Social Security Act, from any one 
     or all of the trust funds referred to in such section, to 
     remain available through March 31, 2025, for the costs 
     associated with continuing disability reviews under titles II 
     and XVI of the Social Security Act, including work-related 
     continuing disability reviews to determine whether earnings 
     derived from services demonstrate an individual's ability to 
     engage in substantial gainful activity, for the costs 
     associated with conducting redeterminations of eligibility 
     under title XVI of the Social Security Act, for the costs of 
     co-operative disability investigation units, and for the 
     costs associated with the prosecution of fraud in the 
     programs and operations of the Social Security Administration 
     by Special Assistant United States Attorneys: Provided, That, 
     of such amount, $273,000,000 is provided to meet the terms of 
     section 251(b)(2)(B)(ii)(III) of the Balanced Budget and 
     Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended, and 
     $1,578,000,000 is additional new budget authority specified 
     for purposes of section 251(b)(2)(B)(i)(XI) of such Act:  
     Provided further, That, of the additional new budget 
     authority described in the preceding proviso, $18,000,000 may 
     be transferred to the ``Office of Inspector General'', Social 
     Security Administration, for the costs of jointly operated 
     co-operative disability investigation units:  Provided 
     further, That such transfer authority is in addition to any 
     other transfer authority provided by law:  Provided further, 
     That the Commissioner shall provide to the Congress (at the 
     conclusion of the fiscal year) a report on the obligation and 
     expenditure of these funds, similar to the reports that were 
     required by section 103(d)(2) of Public Law 104-121 for 
     fiscal years 1996 through 2002:  Provided further, That none 
     of the funds described in this paragraph shall be available 
     for transfer or reprogramming except as specified in this 
     paragraph.
       In addition, $150,000,000 to be derived from administration 
     fees in excess of $5.00 per supplementary payment collected 
     pursuant to section 1616(d) of the Social Security Act or 
     section 212(b)(3) of Public Law 93-66, which shall remain 
     available until expended:  Provided, That to the extent that 
     the amounts collected pursuant to such sections in fiscal 
     year 2024 exceed $150,000,000, the amounts shall be available 
     in fiscal year 2025 only to the extent provided in advance in 
     appropriations Acts.
       In addition, up to $1,000,000 to be derived from fees 
     collected pursuant to section 303(c) of the Social Security 
     Protection Act, which shall remain available until expended.

                      office of inspector general

                     (including transfer of funds)

       For expenses necessary for the Office of Inspector General 
     in carrying out the provisions of the Inspector General Act 
     of 1978, $32,000,000, together with not to exceed 
     $82,665,000, to be transferred and expended as authorized by 
     section 201(g)(1) of the Social Security Act from the Federal 
     Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal 
     Disability Insurance Trust Fund:  Provided, That $2,000,000 
     shall remain available until expended for information 
     technology modernization, including related hardware and 
     software infrastructure and equipment, and for administrative 
     expenses directly associated with information technology 
     modernization.
       In addition, an amount not to exceed 3 percent of the total 
     provided in this appropriation may be transferred from the 
     ``Limitation on Administrative Expenses'', Social Security 
     Administration, to be merged with this account, to be 
     available for the time and purposes for which this account is 
     available:  Provided, That notice of such transfers shall be 
     transmitted promptly to the Committees on Appropriations of 
     the House of Representatives and the Senate at least 15 days 
     in advance of any transfer.

                                TITLE V

                           GENERAL PROVISIONS

                          (transfer of funds)

       Sec. 501.  The Secretaries of Labor, Health and Human 
     Services, and Education are authorized to transfer unexpended 
     balances of prior appropriations to accounts corresponding to 
     current appropriations provided in this Act. Such transferred 
     balances shall be used for the same purpose, and for the same 
     periods of time, for which they were originally appropriated.
       Sec. 502.  No part of any appropriation contained in this 
     Act shall remain available for obligation beyond the current 
     fiscal year unless expressly so provided herein.
       Sec. 503. (a) No part of any appropriation contained in 
     this Act or transferred pursuant to section 4002 of Public 
     Law 111-148 shall be used, other than for normal and 
     recognized executive-legislative relationships, for publicity 
     or propaganda purposes, for the preparation, distribution, or 
     use of any kit, pamphlet, booklet, publication, electronic 
     communication, radio, television, or video presentation 
     designed to support or defeat the enactment of legislation 
     before the Congress or any State or local legislature or 
     legislative body, except in presentation to the Congress or 
     any State or local legislature itself, or designed to support 
     or defeat any proposed or pending regulation, administrative 
     action, or order issued by the executive branch of any State 
     or local government, except in presentation to the executive 
     branch of any State or local government itself.
       (b) No part of any appropriation contained in this Act or 
     transferred pursuant to section 4002 of Public Law 111-148 
     shall be used to pay the salary or expenses of any grant or 
     contract recipient, or agent acting for such recipient, 
     related to any activity designed to influence the enactment 
     of legislation, appropriations, regulation, administrative 
     action, or Executive order proposed or pending before the 
     Congress or any State government, State legislature or local 
     legislature or legislative body, other than for normal and 
     recognized executive-legislative relationships or 
     participation by an agency or officer of a State, local or 
     tribal government in policymaking and administrative 
     processes within the executive branch of that government.
       (c) The prohibitions in subsections (a) and (b) shall 
     include any activity to advocate or promote any proposed, 
     pending or future Federal, State or local tax increase, or 
     any proposed, pending, or future requirement or restriction 
     on any legal consumer product, including its sale or 
     marketing, including but not limited to the advocacy or 
     promotion of gun control.
       Sec. 504.  The Secretaries of Labor and Education are 
     authorized to make available not to exceed $28,000 and 
     $20,000, respectively, from funds available for salaries and 
     expenses under titles I and III, respectively, for official 
     reception and representation expenses; the Director of the 
     Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service is authorized to 
     make available for official reception and representation 
     expenses not to exceed $5,000 from the funds available for 
     ``Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, Salaries and 
     Expenses''; and the Chairman of the National Mediation Board 
     is authorized to make available for official reception and 
     representation expenses not to exceed $5,000 from funds 
     available for ``National Mediation Board, Salaries and 
     Expenses''.
       Sec. 505.  When issuing statements, press releases, 
     requests for proposals, bid solicitations

[[Page H5765]]

     and other documents describing projects or programs funded in 
     whole or in part with Federal money, all grantees receiving 
     Federal funds included in this Act, including but not limited 
     to State and local governments and recipients of Federal 
     research grants, shall clearly state--
       (1) the percentage of the total costs of the program or 
     project which will be financed with Federal money;
       (2) the dollar amount of Federal funds for the project or 
     program; and
       (3) percentage and dollar amount of the total costs of the 
     project or program that will be financed by non-governmental 
     sources.
       Sec. 506. (a) None of the funds appropriated in this Act, 
     and none of the funds in any trust fund to which funds are 
     appropriated in this Act, shall be expended for any abortion.
       (b) None of the funds appropriated in this Act, and none of 
     the funds in any trust fund to which funds are appropriated 
     in this Act, shall be expended for health benefits coverage 
     that includes coverage of abortion.
       (c) The term ``health benefits coverage'' means the package 
     of services covered by a managed care provider or 
     organization pursuant to a contract or other arrangement.
       Sec. 507. (a) The limitations established in the preceding 
     section shall not apply to an abortion--
       (1) if the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape or 
     incest; or
       (2) in the case where a woman suffers from a physical 
     disorder, physical injury, or physical illness, including a 
     life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from 
     the pregnancy itself, that would, as certified by a 
     physician, place the woman in danger of death unless an 
     abortion is performed.
       (b) Nothing in the preceding section shall be construed as 
     prohibiting the expenditure by a State, locality, entity, or 
     private person of State, local, or private funds (other than 
     a State's or locality's contribution of Medicaid matching 
     funds).
       (c) Nothing in the preceding section shall be construed as 
     restricting the ability of any managed care provider from 
     offering abortion coverage or the ability of a State or 
     locality to contract separately with such a provider for such 
     coverage with State funds (other than a State's or locality's 
     contribution of Medicaid matching funds).
       (d)(1) None of the funds made available in this Act may be 
     made available to a Federal agency or program, or to a State 
     or local government, if such agency, program, or government 
     subjects any institutional or individual health care entity 
     to discrimination on the basis that the health care entity 
     does not provide, pay for, provide coverage of, or refer for 
     abortions.
       (2) In this subsection, the term ``health care entity'' 
     includes an individual physician or other health care 
     professional, a hospital, a provider-sponsored organization, 
     a health maintenance organization, a health insurance plan, 
     or any other kind of health care facility, organization, or 
     plan.
       Sec. 508. (a) None of the funds made available in this Act 
     may be used for--
       (1) the creation of a human embryo or embryos for research 
     purposes; or
       (2) research in which a human embryo or embryos are 
     destroyed, discarded, or knowingly subjected to risk of 
     injury or death greater than that allowed for research on 
     fetuses in utero under 45 CFR 46.204(b) and section 498(b) of 
     the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 289g(b)).
       (b) For purposes of this section, the term ``human embryo 
     or embryos'' includes any organism, not protected as a human 
     subject under 45 CFR 46 as of the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, that is derived by fertilization, parthenogenesis, 
     cloning, or any other means from one or more human gametes or 
     human diploid cells.
       Sec. 509. (a) None of the funds made available in this Act 
     may be used for any activity that promotes the legalization 
     of any drug or other substance included in schedule I of the 
     schedules of controlled substances established under section 
     202 of the Controlled Substances Act except for normal and 
     recognized executive-congressional communications.
       (b) The limitation in subsection (a) shall not apply when 
     there is significant medical evidence of a therapeutic 
     advantage to the use of such drug or other substance or that 
     federally sponsored clinical trials are being conducted to 
     determine therapeutic advantage.
       Sec. 510.  None of the funds made available in this Act may 
     be used to promulgate or adopt any final standard under 
     section 1173(b) of the Social Security Act providing for, or 
     providing for the assignment of, a unique health identifier 
     for an individual (except in an individual's capacity as an 
     employer or a health care provider), until legislation is 
     enacted specifically approving the standard.
       Sec. 511.  None of the funds made available in this Act may 
     be obligated or expended to enter into or renew a contract 
     with an entity if--
       (1) such entity is otherwise a contractor with the United 
     States and is subject to the requirement in 38 U.S.C. 4212(d) 
     regarding submission of an annual report to the Secretary of 
     Labor concerning employment of certain veterans; and
       (2) such entity has not submitted a report as required by 
     that section for the most recent year for which such 
     requirement was applicable to such entity.
       Sec. 512.  None of the funds made available in this Act may 
     be transferred to any department, agency, or instrumentality 
     of the United States Government, except pursuant to a 
     transfer made by, or transfer authority provided in, this Act 
     or any other appropriation Act.
       Sec. 513.  None of the funds made available by this Act to 
     carry out the Library Services and Technology Act may be made 
     available to any library covered by paragraph (1) of section 
     224(f) of such Act, as amended by the Children's Internet 
     Protection Act, unless such library has made the 
     certifications required by paragraph (4) of such section.
       Sec. 514. (a) None of the funds provided under this Act, or 
     provided under previous appropriations Acts to the agencies 
     funded by this Act that remain available for obligation or 
     expenditure in fiscal year 2024, or provided from any 
     accounts in the Treasury of the United States derived by the 
     collection of fees available to the agencies funded by this 
     Act, shall be available for obligation or expenditure through 
     a reprogramming of funds that--
       (1) creates new programs;
       (2) eliminates a program, project, or activity;
       (3) increases funds or personnel by any means for any 
     project or activity for which funds have been denied or 
     restricted;
       (4) relocates an office or employees;
       (5) reorganizes or renames offices;
       (6) reorganizes programs or activities; or
       (7) contracts out or privatizes any functions or activities 
     presently performed by Federal employees;
     unless the Committees on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives and the Senate are consulted 15 days in 
     advance of such reprogramming or of an announcement of intent 
     relating to such reprogramming, whichever occurs earlier, and 
     are notified in writing 10 days in advance of such 
     reprogramming.
       (b) None of the funds provided under this Act, or provided 
     under previous appropriations Acts to the agencies funded by 
     this Act that remain available for obligation or expenditure 
     in fiscal year 2024, or provided from any accounts in the 
     Treasury of the United States derived by the collection of 
     fees available to the agencies funded by this Act, shall be 
     available for obligation or expenditure through a 
     reprogramming of funds in excess of $500,000 or 10 percent, 
     whichever is less, that--
       (1) augments existing programs, projects (including 
     construction projects), or activities;
       (2) reduces by 10 percent funding for any existing program, 
     project, or activity, or numbers of personnel by 10 percent 
     as approved by Congress; or
       (3) results from any general savings from a reduction in 
     personnel which would result in a change in existing 
     programs, activities, or projects as approved by Congress;
     unless the Committees on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives and the Senate are consulted 15 days in 
     advance of such reprogramming or of an announcement of intent 
     relating to such reprogramming, whichever occurs earlier, and 
     are notified in writing 10 days in advance of such 
     reprogramming.
       Sec. 515. (a) None of the funds made available in this Act 
     may be used to request that a candidate for appointment to a 
     Federal scientific advisory committee disclose the political 
     affiliation or voting history of the candidate or the 
     position that the candidate holds with respect to political 
     issues not directly related to and necessary for the work of 
     the committee involved.
       (b) None of the funds made available in this Act may be 
     used to disseminate information that is deliberately false or 
     misleading.
       Sec. 516.  Within 45 days of enactment of this Act, each 
     department and related agency funded through this Act shall 
     submit an operating plan that details at the program, 
     project, and activity level any funding allocations for 
     fiscal year 2024 that are different than those specified in 
     this Act, the accompanying detailed table in the Explanatory 
     Materials, or the fiscal year 2024 budget request.
       Sec. 517.  The Secretaries of Labor, Health and Human 
     Services, and Education shall each prepare and submit to the 
     Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives 
     and the Senate a report on the number and amount of 
     contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements exceeding 
     $500,000, individually or in total for a particular project, 
     activity, or programmatic initiative, in value and awarded by 
     the Department on a non-competitive basis during each quarter 
     of fiscal year 2024, but not to include grants awarded on a 
     formula basis or directed by law. Such report shall include 
     the name of the contractor or grantee, the amount of funding, 
     the governmental purpose, including a justification for 
     issuing the award on a non-competitive basis. Such report 
     shall be transmitted to the Committees within 30 days after 
     the end of the quarter for which the report is submitted.
       Sec. 518.  None of the funds appropriated in this Act shall 
     be expended or obligated by the Commissioner of Social 
     Security, for purposes of administering Social Security 
     benefit payments under title II of the Social Security Act, 
     to process any claim for credit for a quarter of coverage 
     based on work performed under a social security account 
     number that is not the claimant's number and the performance 
     of such work under such number has formed the basis for a 
     conviction of the claimant of a violation of section 
     208(a)(6) or (7) of the Social Security Act.
       Sec. 519.  None of the funds appropriated by this Act may 
     be used by the Commissioner of Social Security or the Social 
     Security Administration to pay the compensation of employees 
     of the Social Security Administration to administer Social 
     Security benefit payments, under any agreement between the 
     United States and Mexico establishing totalization 
     arrangements between the social security system established 
     by title II of the Social Security Act and the social 
     security system of Mexico, which would not otherwise be 
     payable but for such agreement.
       Sec. 520. (a) None of the funds made available in this Act 
     may be used to maintain or establish a computer network 
     unless such network blocks the viewing, downloading, and 
     exchanging of pornography.
       (b) Nothing in subsection (a) shall limit the use of funds 
     necessary for any Federal, State, tribal, or local law 
     enforcement agency or any other entity carrying out criminal 
     investigations, prosecution, or adjudication activities.

[[Page H5766]]

       Sec. 521.  For purposes of carrying out Executive Order 
     13589, Office of Management and Budget Memorandum M-12-12 
     dated May 11, 2012, and requirements contained in the annual 
     appropriations bills relating to conference attendance and 
     expenditures:
       (1) the operating divisions of HHS shall be considered 
     independent agencies; and
       (2) attendance at and support for scientific conferences 
     shall be tabulated separately from and not included in agency 
     totals.
       Sec. 522.  Federal agencies funded under this Act shall 
     clearly state within the text, audio, or video used for 
     advertising or educational purposes, including emails or 
     Internet postings, that the communication is printed, 
     published, or produced and disseminated at United States 
     taxpayer expense. The funds used by a Federal agency to carry 
     out this requirement shall be derived from amounts made 
     available to the agency for advertising or other 
     communications regarding the programs and activities of the 
     agency.
       Sec. 523. (a) Federal agencies may use Federal 
     discretionary funds that are made available in this Act to 
     carry out up to 10 Performance Partnership Pilots. Such 
     Pilots shall be governed by the provisions of section 526 of 
     division H of Public Law 113-76, except that in carrying out 
     such Pilots section 526 shall be applied by substituting 
     ``Fiscal Year 2024'' for ``Fiscal Year 2014'' in the title of 
     subsection (b) and by substituting ``September 30, 2028'' for 
     ``September 30, 2018'' each place it appears:  Provided, That 
     such pilots shall include communities that have experienced 
     civil unrest.
       (b) In addition, Federal agencies may use Federal 
     discretionary funds that are made available in this Act to 
     participate in Performance Partnership Pilots that are being 
     carried out pursuant to the authority provided by section 526 
     of division H of Public Law 113-76, section 524 of division G 
     of Public Law 113-235, section 525 of division H of Public 
     Law 114-113, section 525 of division H of Public Law 115-31, 
     section 525 of division H of Public Law 115-141, section 524 
     of division A of Public Law 116-94, section 524 of division H 
     of Public Law 116-260, and section 523 of division H of 
     Public Law 117-103.
       (c) Pilot sites selected under authorities in this Act and 
     prior appropriations Acts may be granted by relevant agencies 
     up to an additional 5 years to operate under such 
     authorities.
       Sec. 524.  Not later than 30 days after the end of each 
     calendar quarter, beginning with the first month of fiscal 
     year 2024 the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services 
     and Education and the Social Security Administration shall 
     provide the Committees on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives and Senate a report on the status of balances 
     of appropriations:  Provided, That for balances that are 
     unobligated and uncommitted, committed, and obligated but 
     unexpended, the monthly reports shall separately identify the 
     amounts attributable to each source year of appropriation 
     (beginning with fiscal year 2012, or, to the extent feasible, 
     earlier fiscal years) from which balances were derived.
       Sec. 525.  The Departments of Labor, Health and Human 
     Services, and Education shall provide to the Committees on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate 
     a comprehensive list of any new or competitive grant award 
     notifications, including supplements, issued at the 
     discretion of such Departments not less than 3 full business 
     days before any entity selected to receive a grant award is 
     announced by the Department or its offices (other than 
     emergency response grants at any time of the year or for 
     grant awards made during the last 10 business days of the 
     fiscal year, or if applicable, of the program year).
       Sec. 526.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, 
     no funds appropriated in this Act shall be used to purchase 
     sterile needles or syringes for the hypodermic injection of 
     any illegal drug:  Provided, That such limitation does not 
     apply to the use of funds for elements of a program other 
     than making such purchases if the relevant State or local 
     health department, in consultation with the Centers for 
     Disease Control and Prevention, determines that the State or 
     local jurisdiction, as applicable, is experiencing, or is at 
     risk for, a significant increase in hepatitis infections or 
     an HIV outbreak due to injection drug use, and such program 
     is operating in accordance with State and local law.
       Sec. 527. (a) Each department and related agency funded 
     through this Act shall provide substantive answers to 
     questions submitted for the record by members of any 
     congressional committee within 45 business days after 
     receipt.
       (b) There is rescinded an amount equal to $1,000 for each 
     day of the noncompliance period described in subsection (c) 
     from an account listed in subsection (d).
       (c) The noncompliance period under subsection (b) means the 
     period beginning on the first day following the failure to 
     comply with the deadline described in subsection (a) and 
     ending on the date on which the department or agency becomes 
     compliant.
       (d) Any rescission under subsection (b) shall be from the 
     applicable following account of the noncompliant department 
     or agency:
       (1)``Department of Health and Human Services--Office of the 
     Secretary--General Departmental Management''
       (2) ``Department of Labor--Departmental Management--
     Salaries and Expenses''
       (3) ``Department of Education--Departmental Management--
     Program Administration''
       Sec. 528.  Of amounts deposited in the Child Enrollment 
     Contingency Fund under section 2104(n)(2) of the Social 
     Security Act and the income derived from investment of those 
     funds pursuant to section 2104(n)(2)(C) of that Act, 
     $13,493,000,000 shall not be available for obligation in this 
     fiscal year.
       Sec. 529. (a) This section applies to: (1) the 
     Administration for Children and Families in the Department of 
     Health and Human Services; and (2) the Chief Evaluation 
     Office and the statistical-related cooperative and 
     interagency agreements and contracting activities of the 
     Bureau of Labor Statistics in the Department of Labor.
       (b) Amounts made available under this Act which are either 
     appropriated, allocated, advanced on a reimbursable basis, or 
     transferred to the functions and organizations identified in 
     subsection (a) for research, evaluation, or statistical 
     purposes shall be available for obligation through September 
     30, 2028:  Provided, That when an office referenced in 
     subsection (a) receives research and evaluation funding from 
     multiple appropriations, such offices may use a single 
     Treasury account for such activities, with funding advanced 
     on a reimbursable basis.
       (c) Amounts referenced in subsection (b) that are 
     unexpended at the time of completion of a contract, grant, or 
     cooperative agreement may be deobligated and shall 
     immediately become available and may be reobligated in that 
     fiscal year or the subsequent fiscal year for the research, 
     evaluation, or statistical purposes for which such amounts 
     are available.
       Sec. 530.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to carry out any program, project, or activity that 
     promotes or advances Critical Race Theory or any concept 
     associated with Critical Race Theory.
       Sec. 531.  None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this Act may be made available to implement, 
     administer, apply, enforce, or carry out Executive Order 
     13985 of January 20, 2021 (86 Fed. Reg. 7009, relating to 
     advancing racial equity and support for under-served 
     communities through the Federal Government), Executive Order 
     14035 of June 25, 2021 (86 Fed. Reg. 34593, relating to 
     diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the 
     federal workforce), or Executive Order 14091 of February 16, 
     2023 (88 Fed. Reg. 10825 relating to further advancing racial 
     equity and support for underserved communities through the 
     federal government).
       Sec. 532.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be made available to support, directly or indirectly, the 
     Wuhan Institute of Virology, or any laboratory owned or 
     controlled by the governments of the People's Republic of 
     China, the Republic of Cuba, the Islamic Republic of Iran, 
     The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Russian 
     Federation, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela under the 
     regime of Nicolas Maduro Moros, or any other country 
     determined by the Secretary of State to be a foreign 
     adversary.
       Sec. 533.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used, either directly or indirectly, to conduct or support 
     any gain-of-function research involving a potential pandemic 
     pathogen by any country determined by the Secretary of State 
     to be a foreign adversary including the People's Republic of 
     China, the Republic of Cuba, the Islamic Republic of Iran, 
     The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Russian 
     Federation, or the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela under the 
     regime of Nicolas Maduro Moros.
       Sec. 534.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used for surgical procedures or hormone therapies for the 
     purposes of gender affirming care.
       Sec. 535.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to implement, administer, apply, enforce, or carry 
     out any diversity, equity, and inclusion office, program, or 
     training.
       Sec. 536.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to implement, administer, or enforce Executive Order 
     14076 (Protecting Access to Reproductive Healthcare Services) 
     or Executive Order 14079 (Securing Access to Reproductive and 
     Other Healthcare Services).
       Sec. 537. (a) In general.--Notwithstanding section 7 of 
     title 1, United States Code, section 1738C of title 28, 
     United States Code, or any other provision of law, none of 
     the funds provided by this Act, or previous appropriations 
     Acts, shall be used in whole or in part to take any 
     discriminatory action against a person, wholly or partially, 
     on the basis that such person speaks, or acts, in accordance 
     with a sincerely held religious belief, or moral conviction, 
     that marriage is, or should be recognized as, a union of one 
     man and one woman.
       (b) Discriminatory action defined.--As used in subsection 
     (a), a discriminatory action means any action taken by the 
     Federal Government to--
       (1) alter in any way the Federal tax treatment of, or cause 
     any tax, penalty, or payment to be assessed against, or deny, 
     delay, or revoke an exemption from taxation under section 
     501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 of, any person 
     referred to in subsection (a);
       (2) disallow a deduction for Federal tax purposes of any 
     charitable contribution made to or by such person;
       (3) withhold, reduce the amount or funding for, exclude, 
     terminate, or otherwise make unavailable or deny, any Federal 
     grant, contract, subcontract, cooperative agreement, 
     guarantee, loan, scholarship, license, certification, 
     accreditation, employment, or other similar position or 
     status from or to such person;
       (4) withhold, reduce, exclude, terminate, or otherwise make 
     unavailable or deny, any entitlement or benefit under a 
     Federal benefit program, including admission to, equal 
     treatment in, or eligibility for a degree from an educational 
     program, from or to such person; or
       (5) withhold, reduce, exclude, terminate, or otherwise make 
     unavailable or deny access or an entitlement to Federal 
     property, facilities, educational institutions, speech fora 
     (including traditional, limited, and nonpublic fora), or 
     charitable fundraising campaigns from or to such person.

[[Page H5767]]

       (c) Accreditation; Licensure; Certification.--The Federal 
     Government shall consider accredited, licensed, or certified 
     for purposes of Federal law any person that would be 
     accredited, licensed, or certified, respectively, for such 
     purposes but for a determination against such person wholly 
     or partially on the basis that the person speaks, or acts, in 
     accordance with a sincerely held religious belief or moral 
     conviction described in subsection (a).

                              (rescission)

       Sec. 538.  Of the unobligated balances in the 
     ``Nonrecurring Expenses Fund'' established in section 111(a) 
     of division B of Public Law 116-93, $11,000,000,000 are 
     hereby permanently rescinded.

                              (rescission)

       Sec. 539.  Of the unobligated balances available in Public 
     Law 117-169, $9,774,000,000 available under section 
     10301(1)(A)(iii) as of the date of the enactment of this Act 
     are permanently rescinded.
       Sec. 540.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used by the Secretaries of Labor, Health and Human 
     Services, or Education, the Commissioner of the Social 
     Security Administration, or the head of any other agency 
     funded in this Act to fly or display a flag over a federal 
     facility other than the flag of the United States; the flag 
     of a State, territory, or the District of Columbia; the flag 
     of an Indian Tribal Government; the official flag of a U.S. 
     Department or agency; or the POW/MIA flag.
       Sec. 541. (a) None of the funds appropriated in this Act, 
     and none of the funds in any trust fund to which funds are 
     appropriated in this Act, shall be made available to a 
     hospital or any other entity that administers any 
     postgraduate physician training program, or any other program 
     of training in the health professions, that provides training 
     in the performance of, or assisting in the performance of, 
     induced abortions, or in counseling or referrals for such 
     abortions, if such program--
       (1) provides or requires such training for any participant 
     in such program without the participant first voluntarily 
     electing to opt-in to undergo such training; or
       (2) subjects any participant in such program to 
     discrimination on the basis that the participant does not--
       (A) voluntarily elect to opt-in to undergo such training; 
     or
       (B) perform, assist in the performance of, or provide 
     counseling or referrals for, such abortions.
       (b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit 
     training described in subsection (a) that is not otherwise 
     allowed by law.

                       spending reduction account

       Sec. 542.  This Act may be cited as the ``Departments of 
     Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related 
     Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024''.

  The CHAIR. All points of order against provisions of the bill, as 
amended, are waived.
  No further amendment to the bill, as amended, shall be in order 
except those printed in part B of House Report 118-272, amendments en 
bloc described in section 3 of House Resolution 864, and pro forma 
amendments described in section 4 of House Resolution 864.
  Each further amendment printed in part B of House Report 118-272 may 
be offered only in the order printed in the report, by the Member 
designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall be 
debatable for the time specified in the report equally divided and 
controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to 
amendment except as provided by section 4 of House Resolution 864, and 
shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question.
  It shall be in order at any time for the chair of the Committee on 
Appropriations or her designee to offer amendments en bloc consisting 
of amendments printed in part B of House Report 118-272 not earlier 
disposed of. Amendments en bloc shall be considered as read, shall be 
debatable for 20 minutes equally divided and controlled by the chair 
and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations or their 
respective designees, shall not be subjected to amendment, except as 
provided by section 4 of House Resolution 864, and shall not be subject 
to a demand for division of the question.
  During consideration of the bill for amendment, the chair and ranking 
minority member of the Committee on Appropriations or their respective 
designees may offer up to 10 pro forma amendments each at any point for 
the purpose of debate.


      Amendments En Bloc No. 1 Offered by Mr. Aderholt of Alabama

  Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chair, pursuant to House Resolution 864, I offer 
amendments en bloc.
  The CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendments en bloc.
  Amendments en bloc No. 1 consisting of amendment Nos. 3, 5, 7, 12, 
14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 27, 29, 30, 31, 37, 40, 41, 42, 
43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 56, 57, 59, 60, 64, 65, 66, 
67, 68, 72, 73, 74, 75, 77, 79, and 141, printed in part B of House 
Report 118-272, offered by Mr. Aderholt of Alabama:


         amendment no. 3 offered by ms. sherrill of new jersey

       Page 28, line 21, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $5,000,000)''.
       Page 128, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $5,000,000)''.
       Page 128, line 10, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $5,000,000)''.
       Page 128, line 15, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $5,000,000)''.


           amendment no. 5 offered by mr. harris of maryland

       Page 49, line 5, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $9,500,000)''.
       Page 94, line 14, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(decreased by $10,000,000)''.


           amendment no. 7 offered by ms. caraveo of colorado

       Page 53, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $35,000,000) (increased by $35,000,000)''.


          amendment no. 12 offered by ms. boebert of colorado

       Page 66, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $2,000,000)''.
       Page 94, line 14, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $2,000,000)''.


           amendment no. 14 offered by ms. castor of florida

       Page 56, line 21, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $5,000,000) (increased by $5,000,000)''.


        amendment no. 15 offered by mrs. miller of west virginia

       Page 57, line 7, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $5,000,000)''.
       Page 94, line 14, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(decreased by $5,000,000)''.


            amendment no. 16 offered by mr. pfluger of texas

       Page 57, line 7, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $1,500,000) (increased by $1,500,000)''.


        amendment no. 17 offered by mr. murphy of north carolina

       Page 57, line 17, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $10,000,000) (increased by $10,000,000)''.


         amendment no. 18 offered by ms. sherrill of new jersey

       Page 57, line 17, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $5,000,000)''.
       Page 94, line 14, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $5,000,000)''.


         amendment no. 20 offered by mr. gallagher of wisconsin

       Page 58, line 12, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $5,000,000)''.
       Page 94, line 14, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $5,000,000)''.


        amendment no. 21 offered by mr. gottheimer of new jersey

       Page 58, line 12, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $1,000,000)(reduced by $1,000,000)''.


        amendment no. 23 offered by mr. gottheimer of new jersey

       Page 63, line 14, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $5,000,000)(reduced by $5,000,000)''.


          amendment no. 24 offered by ms. jackson lee of texas

       Page 63, line 14, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $2,000,000) (increased by $2,000,000)''.


        amendment no. 25 offered by mr. murphy of north carolina

       Page 64, line 15, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $1,000,000)''.
       Page 94, line 14, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $1,000,000)''.


          amendment no. 27 offered by ms. perez of washington

       Page 64, line 20, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $5,000,000) (increased by $5,000,000)''.


          amendment no. 29 offered by ms. caraveo of colorado

       Page 65, line 7, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $10,000,000) (increased by $10,000,000)''.


        amendment no. 30 offered by mr. gottheimer of new jersey

       Page 65, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $10,000,000)''.
       Page 94, line 14, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(decreased by $10,000,000)''.


         amendment no. 31 offered by ms. barragan of california

        Page 67, line 15, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''.


           amendment no. 37 offered by mr. steil of wisconsin

       Page 68, line 17, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $19,000,000)''.
       Page 71, line 12, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $18,000,000)''.


           amendment no. 40 offered by ms. balint of vermont

       Page 71, line 12, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $1,953,000) (increased by $1,953,000)''.


          amendment no. 41 offered by mr. molinaro of new york

       Page 71, line 12, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $10,000,000) (reduced by $10,000,000)''.

[[Page H5768]]

  



        amendment no. 42 offered by mr. murphy of north carolina

       Page 71, line 12, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $2,000,000)''.
       Page 94, line 14, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $2,000,000)''.


          amendment no. 43 offered by ms. caraveo of colorado

       Page 71, line 13, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $7,000,000) (increased by $7,000,000)''.


            amendment no. 44 offered by mr. barr of kentucky

       Page 73, line 4, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $8,000,000)''.
       Page 74, line 12, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $8,000,000)''.


        amendment no. 45 offered by mr. gottheimer of new jersey

       Page 73, line 4, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $10,000,000)''.
       Page 94, line 14, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(decreased by $10,000,000)''.


         amendment no. 46 offered by ms. pettersen of colorado

       Page 73, line 4, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $2,000,000)''.
       Page 94, line 14, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $2,000,000)''.


          amendment no. 47 offered by mr. molinaro of new york

       Page 73, line 21, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $2,000,000) (reduced by $2,000,000)''.


           amendment no. 48 offered by mr. steube of florida

       Page 79, line 15, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $2,000,000) (increased by $2,000,000)''.


          amendment no. 49 offered by mrs. ramirez of illinois

       Page 81, line 14, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $10,000,000) (increased by $10,000,000)''.


          amendment no. 50 offered by mr. ciscomani of arizona

       Page 84, line 5, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $750,000,000) (Increased by $750,000,000)''.


          amendment no. 51 offered by ms. jackson lee of texas

       Page 84, line 5, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $2,000,000) (increased by $2,000,000)''.


          amendment no. 52 offered by mr. molinaro of new york

       Page 89, line 21, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $5,000,000) (reduced by $5,000,000)''.


            amendment no. 53 offered by mr. dunn of florida

       Page 93, line 3, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $400,000,000) (increased by $400,000,000)''.


        amendment no. 56 offered by mr. hudson of north carolina

       Page 94, line 14, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $2,000,000)''.
       Page 96, line 22, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $2,000,000)''.


          amendment no. 57 offered by mrs. kiggans of virginia

       Page 96, line 5, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $196,000,000) (increased by $196,000,000)''.


          amendment no. 59 offered by mrs. houchin of indiana

       Page 128, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $1,000,000) (reduced by $1,000,000)''.


          amendment no. 60 offered by mrs. houchin of indiana

       Page 128, line 10, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $1,000,000) (reduced by $1,000,000)''.


         amendment no. 64 offered by mr. david scott of georgia

       Page 132, line 16, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $15,000,000) (increased by $15,000,000)''.


          amendment no. 65 offered by mr. molinaro of new york

       Page 134, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $10,000,000) (increased by $10,000,000)''.


          amendment no. 66 offered by mr. molinaro of new york

       Page 134, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $10,000,000) (increased by $10,000,000)''.


           amendment no. 67 offered by mr. steil of wisconsin

       Page 134, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $5,000,000)''.
       Page 134, line 7, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $5,000,000)''.
       Page 145, line 7, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $5,000,000)''.


          amendment no. 68 offered by mr. mcgarvey of kentucky

       Page 138, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $2,000,000) (reduced by $2,000,000)''.


          amendment no. 72 offered by mr. molinaro of new york

       Page 142, line 4, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $10,000,000) (increased by $10,000,000)''.


           amendment no. 73 offered by ms. moore of wisconsin

       Page 142, line 4, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''.


          amendment no. 74 offered by mrs. ramirez of illinois

       Page 142, line 4, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $10,000,000) (increased by $10,000,000)''.


          amendment no. 75 offered by mrs. ramirez of illinois

       Page 142, line 4, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $10,000,000) (increased by $10,000,000)''.


           amendment no. 77 offered by mr. lawler of new york

       Page 145, line 14, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $105,000,000) (reduced by $105,000,000)''.


        amendment no. 79 offered by mr. gottheimer of new jersey

       Page 167, line 12, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $10,000,000) (reduced by $10,000,000)''.


         amendment no. 141 offered by mr. schweikert of arizona

       Page 66, line 16, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $5,000,000)''.
       Page 94, line 14, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $5,000,000)''.
  The CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 864, the gentleman from 
Alabama (Mr. Aderholt) and the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. 
DeLauro) each will control 10 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Alabama.
  Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Murphy).
  Mr. MURPHY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the bipartisan 
amendments submitted by myself and my friend Congressman Costa which 
would transfer $1 million from the HHS Secretary's general department 
management account to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders 
and Stroke to begin to design the infrastructure for the Pediatric-
Onset Epilepsies Consortium.
  The Consortium would enable cooperative research studies, accelerate 
the development of knowledge about the epilepsies, and rapidly advance 
therapeutic options and their implementation to improve treatments and 
healthcare outcomes.
  As a co-chair of the Congressional Epilepsy Caucus, along with 
Congressman Costa, I am proud to offer this bipartisan amendment to 
support millions of Americans with epilepsy.
  Just to give you a few statistics. More than 3.4 million individuals 
and their families are affected by epilepsy in the U.S. today, with 
nearly 500,000 children having epilepsy in the United States. One in 26 
individuals will be diagnosed with epilepsy during their lifetime.
  As November is Epilepsy Awareness Month, we must continue to build 
awareness around epilepsy, reduce the stigma applied to it, and educate 
the public and physicians on epilepsy disorders.
  I thank Representative Costa for his support and co-leading this 
amendment. This is personal to me, as I have a child who has dealt with 
epilepsy now for close to 16 years and is doing well, but I want other 
individuals from across the country to do well also.
  Mr. Chair, I encourage a ``yes'' vote on the amendment.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the amendments en bloc, and in 
support of the amendment with regard to the CDC ALS registry, which 
increases the funding for the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention's National Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, ALS, Registry.
  I cannot talk about ALS without acknowledging the remarkable Ady 
Barkan, who died earlier this month. ALS is a cruel disease. Ady and 
Brian Wallach, who continues his own battle against ALS, are two of the 
amazing advocates who are changing the face of medical advocacy in this 
country. I support this amendment in their honor.
  The ALS Registry collects and analyzes information about persons with 
ALS in the United States. It advances our understanding of the disease. 
With approximately 30,000 participants, the ALS Registry has provided 
crucial information to guide future research.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support the amendment, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chair, I yield 3 minutes to gentleman from Maryland 
(Mr. Harris), the chair of Subcommittee on Agricultural and also a 
member of our Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services.

[[Page H5769]]

  

  Mr. HARRIS. Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer amendment No. 5 included 
in the en bloc, to increase our investment in the health workforce and 
to decrease spending for the Office of the Secretary of HHS, who has 
driven this historic health workforce shortage.
  In December of 2020, Congress passed the No Surprises Act, which was 
the result of a yearslong effort to ban surprise medical bills in a way 
that both takes the patient out of the middle and sets up a fair 
process for the provider and payer to negotiate the resulting bill.
  Unfortunately, the administration has implemented the policy in such 
a way that has tilted the scales in favor of the big insurance 
companies at every possible turn.
  Historically, Medicare has reimbursed physicians for their services 
at a lower rate than private insurance, which is why many providers 
don't even accept Medicare. In fact, 42 percent of psychiatrists don't 
accept Medicare patients. Most providers rely on private insurance to 
keep their practices open.
  Now, due to the botched implementation of the No Surprises Act, 
private insurance companies are paying the same or less than Medicare, 
which, as we unfortunately predicted, is forcing doctors to close their 
practices and decreases access to patient care.
  Someone told me a long time ago, if you are losing money on every 
patient, you can't make up for it on volume. The fact of the matter is 
that the Secretary is not enforcing the No Surprises Act as written.
  Once an out-of-network bill is generated, we set up a 30-30-30-day 
timeline. The doctor and insurance company have 30 days to agree on a 
payment amount, or else either side can initiate the arbitration 
process. The arbiter has 30 days to determine the appropriate payment, 
and then the insurance company has 30 days to pay the provider.
  This timeline is simply not happening in a majority of cases. On 
average, it takes 236 days for a payment dispute to be resolved and 
paid. A recent survey found that after arbitration, 52 percent of the 
insurance companies aren't making payments at all.
  Unfortunately, the Secretary has implemented this policy poorly and 
without serious enforcement. As a result, doctors are leaving the 
workforce in droves. Forcing doctors to provide care for which they may 
never receive payment is unsustainable.
  Because the Secretary is perpetuating the healthcare workforce 
shortage, this amendment would decrease the Office of the Secretary of 
HHS and increase the top line of the HRSA Health Workforce accounts.
  Mr. Chair, I urge all Members to support this amendment, which would 
penalize the Secretary for driving the health workforce shortage.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Barragan).
  Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of this bipartisan en 
bloc, which includes my amendment to increase funding for the Research 
Endowment Program at the National Institute of Minority Health and 
Health Disparities.
  This program has bipartisan support. Earlier this year, Democrats and 
Republicans called for an increase in funding through a letter I led to 
House Appropriations.
  My colleague Representative Buddy Carter in the House and Senator 
Cassidy in the Senate worked hard in the last Congress to pass my bill, 
the John Lewis NIMHD Research Endowment Revitalization Act. It was 
signed into law, but now we need to increase the funding to this 
program so schools like Charles R. Drew University, Moorehouse School 
of Medicine, and many others, can continue to conduct critical research 
into minority health disparities. Increased funding will support 
existing and new grantees.
  Mr. Chair, I urge support for my amendment so we can fund research to 
reduce health disparities and save lives.
  Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume, 
and I rise to support another amendment in the en bloc.
  This is the Congressman Gottheimer's amendment with regard to safe 
school drinking water. I rise in support of the amendment, and I thank 
the Representative for sponsoring the amendment and allowing this time 
to talk about the importance of safe drinking water at schools.
  Children are more susceptible to lead exposure because their bodies 
are still rapidly developing. Approximately 400,000 schools and 
childcare centers are served by a lead service line or pipes and other 
fixtures.
  Let me be clear. There is no amount of lead that can be tolerated in 
the body. We know what happened in Flint, Michigan. Thousands of 
children were lead poisoned.
  I met most recently with medical staff who was trying to work with 
these children, because of their brain, their slow development, et 
cetera, all as a result of a political decision allowing for the 
contamination of water with lead and lead poisoning so many thousands 
of children in Flint, Michigan.

                              {time}  1215

  That is why clean and safe drinking water at schools is so critically 
important. That is our responsibility. The CDC funding allows health 
departments to develop partnerships with schools, daycare facilities, 
and early childhood education centers to strengthen blood lead testing 
reporting and link lead-exposed children to recommended services. The 
earlier they get their services, the more likely they are to be able to 
grow and thrive.
  Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this en bloc amendment, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chair, pursuant to House Resolution 864, I rise 
in support of the En Bloc Amendment incorporating the Jackson Lee 
Amendments No. 24 and No. 51 to H.R. 5894--Labor, Health and Human 
Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024.
  I thank my colleagues on the Rules Committee for making in order 
Jackson Lee Amendment No. 24 and No. 51 and for including them in the 
bipartisan En Bloc Amendment.
  The Jackson Lee Amendments No. 24 and No. 51 are potentially life 
altering amendments in an unfortunate and distracting appropriations 
bill.
  The Jackson Lee Amendment No. 24 as incorporated into En Bloc 
Amendment is an important amendment that seeks to increase and decrease 
by $2 million the National Cancer Institute in order to research triple 
negative breast cancer.
  Breast cancer accounts for 12.5 percent of all new annual cancer 
cases worldwide, making it the most common cancer in the world.
  This issue is extremely important, especially for the brave men and 
women in the military, who are up to 20 to 40 percent more likely to 
develop breast cancer.
  There are few people in this country whose lives have not been 
touched by breast cancer.
  Yet, there are persistent disparities in breast cancer incidence and 
death rates.
  Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the 
United States for Black and Hispanic women.
  Black women are more likely to die from breast cancer than women of 
any other racial or ethnic group.
  Experts believe that it's partially because about 1 in 5 Black women 
is diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, more than any other 
racial or ethnic group.
  Compared with non-Hispanic white women, Black women are less likely 
to receive guideline adherent care and have an approximate 2-fold 
higher mortality incidence, resulting in a disproportionately higher 
risk of death from Triple Negative Breast Cancer.
  Triple Negative Breast Cancer (``TNBC'') is one of many forms of 
breast cancer and accounts for about 15 to 30 percent of all diagnosed 
invasive breast cancer cases in the United States.
  Due to its aggressive behavior, TNBC grows quickly and is more likely 
to have spread at the time it is found and is more likely to come back 
after treatment than other types of breast cancer.
  TNBC cells do not contain (are ``negative for'') three key receptors 
that medicines typically target in other types of breast cancers; 
therefore, there are limited treatment options that can be used to 
treat the cancer.
  Patients with an early diagnosis can often be treated with 
chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery; however, the limited therapies 
available specifically addressing the management of TNBC has made 
treating this disease a challenge for clinicians.
  Recent innovation in targeted therapies have fueled advances in the 
fight against TNBC.

[[Page H5770]]

  Advances in breast cancer screening and treatment over the last few 
decades have reduced the overall breast cancer mortality rate, yet the 
disproportionate impact of TNBC on racial and ethnic minority 
communities raises considerations about the underlying determinants 
driving the disparities.
  It is necessary to promote TNBC education, raise awareness about the 
disease-related disparities, and tackle inequities within the health 
care delivery such as inadequate access to screening, diagnostic 
testing, and care, to improve early detection and survival.
  The Jackson Lee Amendment No. 24 would allow for more research so we 
can one day hopefully learn a way to reduce the number of Americans 
affected by breast cancer.
  Additionally, I have introduced H.R. 225, the Triple-Negative Breast 
Cancer Research and Education Act of 2023, which focuses on expanding, 
intensifying, and coordinating programs for the conduct and support of 
research on triple-negative breast cancer, a type of breast cancer that 
is difficult to detect but disproportionately impacts African American 
and Hispanic women.
  The Jackson Lee Amendment No. 51 as incorporated into En Bloc 
Amendment is an important amendment that seeks to increase and decrease 
by $2 million the Head Start Act, including Head Start partnerships.
  I think we can all agree children are our future and that we should 
invest to make our future better and brighter.
  As Chair of the Congressional Children's Caucus, I am extremely 
passionate about the wellbeing and education of children.
  One of the objectives of the Congressional Children's Caucus is to 
ensure that all the children in this country have an opportunity to 
receive an education, including early childhood development.
  Head Start helps all children succeed, especially vulnerable 
children.
  If we continue to underfund education in the United States our 
children will suffer, we will dismantle public education, and we will 
be weaker as a nation.
  This legislation would kick teachers out of classrooms.
  The United States is already in a teacher shortage and this bill 
would cut another 22,300 teachers from Texas schools due to cuts from 
Title 1.
  This bill would severely impact teachers and students all over the 
state of Texas, where the Texas Education Agency has already decided to 
unnecessarily takeover Houston ISD.
  Houston ISD is the largest school district in the state, with a 
student population of more than 200,000, according to a breakdown by 
the Texas Tribune.
  A TEA takeover would have a negative impact on each Independent 
School District (ISD) because a board of managers are not elected, and 
they don't have to answer to the constituents in those districts.
  State takeovers in other districts have led to school closures, 
layoffs, and no improvements in test scores.
  The vast majority of school districts that have been taken over by 
state agencies (TEA included) have not improved but declined.
  TEA has no experience managing a district of 200k plus scholars and 
we should not suffer as the guinea pigs.
  Texas is behind the national average of how much the state spends per 
student in the classroom.
  More specifically, data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that Texas 
spends $3,000 less than the national average.
  We have to stop the State from intermeddling and overstepping into 
our educational systems--causing further harm and damage to our 
communities.
  This legislation will make cuts to schools and communities that are 
already suffering.
  With the pandemic, burnout and the rise in the cost of living, 
teachers are already struggling, and this bill will only add to that.
  Without the support of our teachers, students will be left behind.
  I recognize that we are in the midst of austere budgetary and 
political times, however, we cannot continue to ignore the return on 
investment that advanced developments in health research and education 
will yield to the American public.
  For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to support the bipartisan En 
Bloc Amendment incorporating my amendment, the Jackson Lee Amendments 
No. 24 and No. 51.
  While the negatives of this appropriations bill disappointingly 
outweigh my positive amendments, I respectfully ask my colleagues to 
vote in favor of this amendment notwithstanding my strong opposition 
and encouragement to vote down the underlying bill.
  The CHAIR. The question is on the amendments en bloc offered by the 
gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Aderholt).
  The en bloc amendments were agreed to.


           Amendment No. 1 Offered by Mrs. Miller of Illinois

  The CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 1 printed in 
part B of House Report 118-272.
  Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 23, line 8, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $536,922,000)''.

  The CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 864, the gentlewoman from 
Illinois (Mrs. Miller) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Illinois.
  Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of my 
amendment to defund Joe Biden's radical Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration.
  Under Joe Biden, OSHA attempted to fire 84 million Americans if they 
didn't take an experimental vaccine or show their private medical 
documents to their employer.
  The Supreme Court had to step in and tell Joe Biden he did not have 
the authority to force Big Pharma's experimental vaccine on the 
American people.
  It shouldn't take the Supreme Court to stop OSHA from attempting to 
force an experimental vaccine on 84 million Americans.
  I had the opportunity to question the OSHA Assistant Secretary during 
an Education and the Workforce Committee hearing. I asked him if he 
agreed with the court decision and would commit to never attempting to 
force a vaccine mandate again. He refused.
  We must rein in OSHA, which is exactly what this amendment does.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition.
  The CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Connecticut is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to this 
amendment.
  For over 50 years, the mission of the Department of Labor's 
Occupational Safety and Health Administration has been to assure safe 
and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting 
and enforcing standards by providing training, outreach, education, and 
assistance.
  OSHA is responsible for making sure employers provide safe 
workplaces. Since OSHA was created in 1971, the number of workplace 
deaths and the rate of on-the-job injuries has declined by 65 percent--
with a workforce twice as large.
  During that time, OSHA issued lifesaving standards for asbestos, 
lead, carcinogens, chemical exposure, and blood-borne pathogens. Do we 
not want standards for those illnesses and disasters?
  The agency has enforced these standards and provided assistance to 
employers to keep American workers safe on the job.
  Make no mistake, by eliminating all funding for OSHA, this amendment 
results in an unconscionable spike in workplace injury, illness, and 
death.
  In the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics report, there were 2.8 
million nonfatal workplace injuries in 2022. This is up 7\1/2\ percent 
over 2021. In 2021, there were 5,190 workplace fatalities. That is up 
8.9 percent.
  This is a reckless amendment. This says we don't care what kind of 
conditions workers are working in and that we ought to go back to the 
industrial revolution. It should be clear. This is a reckless 
amendment, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, what is reckless is trying to 
force 84 million American workers to take an experimental vaccine. OSHA 
needs to be reined in. It took the Supreme Court's action to stop them.
  Mr. Chairman, I support this amendment to hold the Biden 
administration accountable, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, I oppose the amendment, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  The CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Miller).
  The question was taken; and the Chair announced that the ayes 
appeared to have it.

[[Page H5771]]

  

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
  The CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings on 
the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Illinois will be 
postponed.


          Amendment No. 2 Offered by Mr. Higgins of Louisiana

  The CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 2 printed in 
part B of House Report 118-272.
  Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 26, line 4, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(decreased by $1,000,000)''.
       Page 32, line 23, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $1,000,000)''.

  The CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 864, the gentleman from 
Louisiana (Mr. Higgins) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Louisiana.
  Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Chairman, over the past few months a 
salt mine in my district, Morton Salt's Weeks Island Mine, a salt mine 
that has been in operation for many, many years, has been unrighteously 
targeted by the Mine Safety and Health Administration, MSHA.
  In particular, there is a singular MSHA inspector who appears to have 
a personal vendetta. These concerns have been brought to my attention 
and MSHA's leadership has also been advised. This has been an ongoing 
issue between MSHA and Morton Salt.
  These are justified concerns, yet they have fallen on deaf ears at 
MSHA. MSHA's handling of this matter isn't just about one company or 
one mine, I would say to my colleague across the aisle. It is about the 
integrity of our regulatory institutions and the protection of due 
process rights.
  In this case, the evidence has been brought to me that shows a 
concerning pattern where enforcement actions may have been influenced 
by conflicts of interest and retaliatory motives, specifically 
involving MSHA Inspector Brandon Olivier.
  These allegations are not just troubling, they indicate a potential 
breach of trust. This trust is placed in Congress for the oversight 
role of our regulatory bodies.
  Furthermore, when Morton Salt raised these valid concerns to MSHA's 
district manager, Mr. William O'Dell, their grievances were seemingly 
ignored, contributing to a breakdown in the fair and impartial 
resolution process that should be a cornerstone of our regulatory 
system.
  I am sure my colleagues on both sides of the aisle would agree with 
that general premise. In response to these findings and to ensure 
accountability within MSHA, I am proposing several amendments.
  These are not just punitive measures. They are essential steps toward 
restoring trust and ensuring that such lapses in judgment and 
responsibility do not recur.
  Amendment No. 2 that we are currently discussing will be reducing 
MSHA's salary and expense account and redirecting funds to the 
Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General account.
  Mr. Chair, I rise in favor of amendment No. 2. With the cuts in 
salary that I have offered in amendments 112 and 113, this amendment 
would reduce MSHA's salary and expense account by $1 million and 
reallocate it to the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General, 
which reflects Congress' commitment to accountability, given issues 
that have arisen in the Morton Salt case.
  Congress should demand ethical enforcement from our agencies. 
Failures, as in this case, must have oversight and consequences. This 
reallocation strengthens oversight, enhancing the Inspector General's 
capacity to investigate and ensure fair, unbiased regulatory actions.
  This measure shows Congress' dedication to integrity in Federal 
institutions, ensuring regulatory bodies like MSHA maintain high 
standards of conduct.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition.
  The CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Connecticut is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, this amendment and the prior one are 
indicative of the majority's willingness to put workers' health and 
safety at risk.
  Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment. Public 
servants should be commended and not demonized.
  Our Federal Government needs talented, intelligent, hardworking 
people who are willing to bring their skills to public service.
  Proposing to eliminate the salaries of hardworking public servants is 
petty. It really is beneath the dignity of this body. It is not how we 
should solve differences of opinion on policy.
  For 45 years, the mission of the Department of Labor's Mine Safety 
and Health Administration has been to ensure that miners can return 
home from work every day to their families and their communities safe 
and healthy.
  When MSHA was created in 1977, the fatality rate in the mining 
industry was more than four times greater than the average for all 
industries in the United States. Since then, mining fatalities have 
dropped sharply as MSHA has established and enforced workplace safety 
standards and worked together with all stakeholders to prevent 
fatalities.
  For fiscal year 2024, MSHA is prioritizing additional actions to 
reduce accidents, injuries, and fatalities involving customer and 
contract truck drivers, falls from heights, and lack of use of personal 
protective equipment.
  Taking out the agency's top enforcement official, as this amendment 
seeks to do while MSHA completes this important work, would be reckless 
and irresponsible.
  In addition, it is particularly shameful that this amendment targets 
a nonpolitical Federal employee who is part of our Federal civil 
service.
  Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this vindictive 
amendment, which I believe is small and is petty, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.

                              {time}  1230

  Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Chair, may I inquire how much time I 
have remaining.
  The CHAIR. The gentleman has 1 minute remaining.
  Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Chair, I respect the gentlewoman's 
opposition, but I take exception to the nature of the gentlewoman's 
opposition.
  My amendment specifically addresses the health and safety of the 
American workers within that mine because the health and safety of 
every American family begins with economic security. To have their jobs 
threatened by the targeted and vindictive actions and the abused 
authority of one regulator, and for Congress not to act when this has 
been brought to our attention, would be truly shameful.
  Mr. Chairman, I respectfully submit to the gentlewoman that I am 
using the mechanisms of Congress constitutionally, specifically to 
address the health and welfare of the American citizens whom I serve.
  Mr. Chairman, I urge full support of my amendment, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I oppose the amendment, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman 
from Louisiana (Mr. Higgins).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                  Amendment No. 4 Offered by Mr. Cloud

  The CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 4 printed in 
part B of House Report 118-272.
  Mr. CLOUD. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 45, line 9, strike ``Treasure Island Job Corps 
     Center'' and insert ``Gary Job Corps Center''.
       Page 45, line 20, strike ``Job Corps Program on Treasure 
     Island'' and insert ``Job Corps Program in San Marcos, 
     Texas''.

  The CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 864, the gentleman from Texas 
(Mr. Cloud) and a Member opposed each will control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
  Mr. CLOUD. Mr. Chair, my amendment makes a technical fix to what 
seems to be a copy and paste drafting

[[Page H5772]]

error in the bill, replacing ``Treasure Island Job Corps'' in section 
114 of the bill, which was the language signed into last year's bill, 
to ``Gary Job Corps Center,'' which was supposed to be in this year's 
bill.
  The Gary Job Corps facility in San Marcos, Texas, is one of the 
largest in the country and, as such, has a great deal of excess land. 
This land is located adjacent to the fast-growing San Marcos Regional 
Airport.
  For several years now, the city of San Marcos has been working 
closely with the Gary Job Corps Center and the Department of Labor on 
ways for the city to make better use of that excess land to the benefit 
of its citizens. This area of San Marcos is a key cog in the regional 
growth plan for the city and region, and the use of such additional 
land will ensure that the trend continues as the area brings in more 
and more economic investment.
  This amendment will simply allow the Department of Labor to negotiate 
directly with the city on dispersal of such land at fair market value 
without having to go through the yearlong GSA Federal land dispersal 
process. It replicates an effort that was done last year with the 
Treasure Island facility in California, so there is strong precedent.
  By removing some bureaucratic red tape, the amendment, which has the 
blessing of the Department of Labor, will ensure that San Marcos, 
Texas, continues its efforts to be an economic engine for the region.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of my amendment, 
which provides a small technical fix to this bill.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.
  The CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Connecticut is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. DeLAURO. First of all, Mr. Chair, let me correct the record here. 
The Job Corps provision was not a drafting error.
  I rise in strong opposition to this amendment.
  Treasure Island, a former naval installation island between Oakland 
and San Francisco, was closed in the 1990s and is undergoing a major 
redevelopment.
  Treasure Island Job Corps is one of the best-performing sites in the 
country and serves over 430 students with outdated and crumbling 
buildings. It is located on a sizable piece of land in the middle of 
the island.
  The Department of Labor and Treasure Island Development Authority, 
TIDA, are jointly examining the possibility of selling or exchanging 
land from the Department of Labor to the Treasure Island Development 
Authority to allow for additional housing development on the island in 
exchange for building a brand-new campus for Job Corps within a smaller 
portion of their current site.
  Longstanding language on this matter has been included in 
appropriations bills since 2018. This language waives potential 
barriers to an exchange, allowing the Department to retain the proceeds 
from a sale to rebuild a more compact Job Corps site within its current 
boundaries.
  There is no cost--let me repeat--no cost to the Federal Government. 
For years, Congress has recognized this as a win-win: a new Job Corps 
facility without additional appropriations and badly needed additional 
housing in the area.
  This amendment strikes the reference to Treasure Island in a general 
provision specific to that Job Corps site and inserts the name of a 
different Job Corps site from the author's State of Texas.
  This amendment is silly and nonsensical, and it breaks from years of 
precedent around this language.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the amendment, and 
I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CLOUD. Mr. Chair, I will repeat that Treasure Island Job Corps 
was in last year's bill, and as the majority drafted this year's bill, 
I think we know what needs to be in the bill. Let me also point out 
that President Biden's Department of Labor supports this amendment.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I continue to oppose the amendment, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman 
from Texas (Mr. Cloud).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                 Amendment No. 6 Offered by Mr. Meuser

  The CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 6 printed in 
part B of House Report 118-272.
  Mr. MEUSER. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 49, line 5, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $10,000,000)''.
       Page 66, line 8, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $19,000,000)''.

  The CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 864, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Meuser) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.
  Mr. MEUSER. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment No. 6 to H.R. 
5894.
  My amendment would increase the health workforce account in the 
underlying bill by $10 million. This increase is completely offset by a 
decrease in funding for the National Institute of Nursing Research by 
$19 million. While the National Institute of Nursing Research provides 
funding for important research, the nursing workforce shortage is at a 
critical point, Mr. Chair, and must be addressed immediately.
  The increase in funding for the health workforce account is intended 
to provide additional funding to Nurse Corps programs, which would 
bring the total funding amount for this program to $102 million for 
fiscal year 2024.
  This critical HRSA workforce program provides scholarship and loan 
repayment opportunities for nurses working in either a hospital or a 
community-based setting located in a critical shortage facility. 
Increasing scholarship and loan repayment opportunities will help 
encourage nurses to serve at facilities that are facing nursing 
shortages.
  As we all know, there is a shortage of healthcare professionals 
across our country, especially amongst the nursing workforce. The 
nursing workforce shortage is especially felt in rural communities, 
including those in my district.
  This fact was recently reinforced when I visited the Guthrie Robert 
Packer Hospital in Sayre last month. During this visit, I was able to 
see the great work that the hospital was doing to incorporate new 
technologies to combat some of this nursing shortage.
  Nevertheless, the American people deserve this Congress to support 
such a critical profession, and we must keep in mind that this 
amendment, again, is fully offset and will aid in our efforts to 
resolve the nursing shortage workforce that exists.
  Nurses are the backbone of our hospitals and our healthcare in 
general, Mr. Chair, and, again, we must support this crucial 
profession.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.
  The CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Connecticut is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, the amendment would cut funding for the 
National Institute of Nursing Research by $19 million. I support $10 
million for health workforce training, but I am in total opposition to 
a $19 million cut to the National Institute of Nursing Research.
  The National Institute of Nursing Research supports research that 
develops the scientific basis for nursing practice. For example, the 
NINR is supporting a research initiative to assess changes in 
organizational factors that could mitigate or prevent nurse burnout, 
which we know to be one of the primary causes of a nursing shortage and 
of people leaving the profession.
  NINR also supports initiatives such as the AIM of care initiative to 
address high rates of maternal morbidity and mortality and to prevent 
adverse maternal health outcomes. Again, we know what a serious issue 
this is in our Nation with maternal morbidity and mortality. Women are 
dying. They look at these efforts to try to give us the best 
information and data possible.
  The National Institute of Nursing Research supports training 
opportunities to develop doctorly trained nurse

[[Page H5773]]

scientists at schools of nursing throughout the United States.
  By cutting funding for the National Institute of Nursing Research, 
this amendment would reduce funding for nursing faculty, which would 
result in schools of nursing turning away many qualified applicants. 
Let me just say that, in 2020, over 80,000 qualified applicants were 
not accepted at schools of nursing primarily due to a shortage of 
clinical sites, faculty, and resources.
  This institute is already underfunded and underappreciated, which is 
true of all nursing professions. Maybe that is why HRSA estimates that 
the nursing shortage will grow from 56,000 to 78,000 by 2025.
  More importantly, this amendment demonstrates, once again, that 
overall funding in this bill is grossly insufficient. I support $10 
million for training but not a $19 million cut.
  We need to properly fund health workforce training and the National 
Institute of Nursing Research. We should not be forced to choose 
between nurses and nursing research.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose the amendment, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MEUSER. Mr. Chair, with all due respect to my colleague, this 
amendment was developed and created with the assistance of the nursing 
community from rural hospitals as well as more urban.
  We have in our country a finite level of resources. We cannot 
continue to do things the same way they have always been done. We need 
to properly dedicate resources where they will deliver the most good 
for the most people.
  This bill, by reallocating and having such an offset, will improve, 
enhance, and augment the nursing pipeline for the critical needs and 
value that nurses bring to our hospitals, particularly in rural 
communities.
  We have a win-win. We have a reduction in the excessive spending that 
takes place. This bill brings accountability, and it fortifies the all-
important professional nursing pipeline now and for the next 
generation.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I continue to oppose the amendment, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman 
from Pennsylvania (Mr. Meuser).
  The amendment was agreed to.

                              {time}  1245

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I move to strike the last word.
  The CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Connecticut is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Massachusetts (Ms. Clark), the Democratic whip and former member of the 
Appropriations Committee and of the subcommittee, I might add.
  Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman 
from Connecticut, The Nutmeg State, The Constitution State, for all her 
work and for yielding this time.
  Mr. Chair, a budget is a reflection of our values, and what a low 
value the majority places on women and children in these bills.
  In the 2 minutes allotted to me, 40 Americans will be physically 
abused by a partner, but instead of standing with those survivors, MAGA 
Republicans are defunding the Violence Against Women Act and they are 
taking away survivors' access to legal counsel. Those are the GOP's 
values.
  MAGA ideology is about controlling people--their health, their lives, 
their bodies, and in these bills, they are continuing their march 
toward a national abortion ban, defunding family planning programs, 
banning providers from talking to patients about abortion care, and 
banning medical students from even learning how to provide safe 
abortions. Those are their values.
  Millions of parents sent their kids to school today not knowing if 
they will come home safe. The Republicans' response? Unleash more guns 
onto the streets, including untraceable ghost guns. Those are their 
values.
  In these bills, they are gutting public education and childcare. They 
are even defunding programs for missing and exploited children.
  We see the extreme values of the GOP in these bills. These values are 
not shared by the American people. We are here to serve people. These 
bills work against them.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.


                 Amendment No. 8 Offered by Ms. Boebert

  The CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 8 printed in 
part B of House Report 118-272.
  Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 54, line 14, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $2,000,000)''.
       Page 54, line 20, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $2,000,000)''.
       Page 94, line 14, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $2,000,000)''.

  The CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 864, the gentlewoman from 
Colorado (Ms. Boebert) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Colorado.
  Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer my amendment that will 
transfer funds from government bureaucracy to the Small Rural Hospital 
Improvement Grant Program.
  The rural hospital closure crisis continues to intensify. 
Unfortunately, over 138 rural hospitals have closed since 2010 and over 
450 additional facilities are vulnerable to closure.
  While recent innovations in healthcare, such as the implementation of 
telehealth technology, show promise to rural communities, rural America 
is facing crises that are leading to dwindling access to essential 
care.
  Competitive grant programs like the Small Rural Hospital Improvement 
Grant Program play a large role in ensuring that Americans living in 
rural communities can access quality, cost-effective healthcare.
  This program supports small rural hospitals in meeting value-based 
payment and care goals for their respective organizations through 
purchases of hardware, software, and training.
  While current spending for rural health discretionary programs is 
relatively small in the largest discretionary spending bill, it plays a 
critical role in solidifying the fragile healthcare infrastructure and 
workforce in rural communities.
  Americans, especially in rural communities, continue to struggle with 
affordable coverage, yet Joe Biden has done nothing to actually lower 
costs.
  Let's empower our rural communities to keep providing high-quality 
healthcare and eliminate red tape and useless bureaucracy that is 
standing between doctors and patients. This amendment takes an 
important first step to accomplish both of these goals.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment that will 
transfer funds from the HHS bureaucracy to the Small Rural Hospital 
Improvement Grant Program. Again, I urge colleagues to support this 
amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. Boebert).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                 Amendment No. 9 Offered by Ms. Boebert

  The CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 9 printed in 
part B of House Report 118-272.
  Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 54, line 14, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $2,000,000)''.
       Page 55, line 1, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $2,000,000)''.
       Page 94, line 14, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $2,000,000)''.

  The CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 864, the gentlewoman from 
Colorado (Ms. Boebert) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Colorado.
  Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer my straightforward 
amendment that seeks to provide more resources in the bill for 
telehealth services for veterans in rural areas.
  Colorado's Third Congressional District has over 100,000 veterans who 
call our beautiful State home. I am committed to ensuring that our 
veterans receive the care and respect they have earned for their 
service and sacrifice.

[[Page H5774]]

  That is why I am here today to talk about the importance of 
telehealth for veterans in rural areas. Telehealth is the use of 
technology to deliver healthcare services remotely, such as through 
video, phone, or online platforms.
  Telehealth can help veterans access quality care from the comfort and 
convenience of their homes or nearby locations without having to travel 
long distances or face transportation barriers.
  Telehealth is especially important for veterans who live in rural or 
highly rural areas like many of the veterans in my district.
  According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, there are 2.8 
million rural veterans who are enrolled in and rely on VA healthcare 
systems. However, these veterans often face challenges in accessing 
timely and quality care due to provider shortages, limited facilities, 
and geographical isolation. These challenges can result in poor health 
outcomes, such as higher rates of chronic diseases, mental health 
issues, and, unfortunately, even suicide.
  For instance, rural veterans are more likely to be diagnosed with 
diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart conditions than veterans 
living in more urban areas. Rural veterans are also 65 percent more 
likely to die from suicide than those residing in urban areas.
  These statistics are unacceptable. They are absolutely heartbreaking. 
Our veterans deserve better. They deserve to have access to the best 
care possible regardless of where they live.
  I will continue to advocate for these programs and for the expansion 
of telehealth access for rural veterans. I believe that telehealth is 
not only a matter of convenience, but a matter of necessity. It is a 
matter of honoring our veterans and fulfilling our promises to them.
  Let's pass my amendment so we can increase telehealth services for 
veterans in rural areas.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. Boebert).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                Amendment No. 10 Offered by Ms. Boebert

  The CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 10 printed in 
part B of House Report 118-272.
  Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 54, line 14, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $2,000,000)''.
       Page 55, line 1, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $2,000,000)''.
       Page 94, line 14, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $2,000,000)''.

  The CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 864, the gentlewoman from 
Colorado (Ms. Boebert) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Colorado.
  Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer my amendment that will 
transfer funds from the Federal bureaucracy to the Rural Emergency 
Hospital Technical Assistance Program. Programs like the Rural 
Emergency Hospital Technical Assistance Program play a large role in 
ensuring that Americans living in rural communities can access quality, 
cost-effective healthcare.
  The program works to ensure rural hospitals and the communities they 
serve have the information and resources needed to make informed 
decisions as to whether rural emergency hospitals are the best model of 
care for their communities and facilitate a successful implementation 
of REH requirements for those hospitals converting to this new provider 
type.
  This program provides hospitals and rural communities considering 
this new model assistance across a broad range of issues, including 
financial analysis, workforce or staffing planning, establishment of 
referral relationships and processes, determining REH service lines, 
community health needs, and impact on the community health system 
including emergency medical services.
  I will keep working for responsible healthcare policies that respect 
the dignity of individuals, support rural communities, decrease 
healthcare costs, and restore free market competition to the healthcare 
industry.
  Let's empower our rural communities to keep providing high-quality 
healthcare and eliminate red tape and useless bureaucracy that is 
standing between doctors and patients. This amendment takes an 
important step to accomplish both of these goals.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment that will 
transfer funds to the Rural Emergency Hospital Technical Assistance 
Program, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. Boebert).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                Amendment No. 11 Offered by Ms. Boebert

  The CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 11 printed in 
part B of House Report 118-272.
  Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 54, line 14, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $2,000,000)''.
       Page 55, line 10, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $2,000,000)''.
       Page 94, line 14, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $2,000,000)''.

  The CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 864, the gentlewoman from 
Colorado (Ms. Boebert) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Colorado.
  Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer my amendment that will 
transfer funds from government bureaucracy to the Rural Residency 
Planning and Development Program to support physician workforce 
expansion in rural areas.
  On top of closures, the healthcare workforce shortages continue to 
plague rural communities. Over 75 percent of rural counties are 
designated Health Professional Shortage Areas.
  Programs like the Rural Residency Planning and Development Program 
support the development of new rural residency programs in family 
medicine, internal medicine, and psychiatry to address the physician 
workforce shortages and challenges faced by rural communities.
  Rural residency programs are accredited medical residency training 
programs that train residents in rural settings for greater than 50 
percent of their total time in residency and focus on producing 
physicians who will practice in rural communities.
  This program also contributes jobs to rural economies, provides 
access to a range of medical services, and strengthens communities 
throughout rural America.
  Competitive grant programs, like the Rural Residency Planning and 
Development Program, play a large role in ensuring that Americans 
living in rural communities can access quality, cost-effective 
healthcare.
  Let's support our rural communities instead of handicapping them with 
one-size-fits-all mandates as the Biden administration has done.
  In September, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services proposed 
a rule to mandate increased nursing home staff ratio which will put 
nursing homes, particularly in rural areas, in an impossible dilemma as 
they grapple with how to manage current occupancy levels with the 
insufficient workforce available to meet the requirements.

                              {time}  1300

  Rules like this fail to adequately balance the needs of both patients 
and healthcare staff in rural communities in the face of the current 
staffing shortage gripping our Nation.
  This is why we should focus on giving our rural communities the 
resources and support that they need to provide low-cost, high-quality 
healthcare.
  I urge my colleagues to support my amendment that will transfer funds 
to the Rural Residency Planning and Development Program to support 
physician workforce expansion in rural areas.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Fitzgerald). The question is on the amendment 
offered by the gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. Boebert).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                Amendment No. 13 Offered by Ms. Boebert

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 13 
printed in part B of House Report 118-272.

[[Page H5775]]

  

  Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 94, line 14, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $2,000,000)''.
       Page 96, line 22, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $2,000,000)''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 864, the gentlewoman 
from Colorado (Ms. Boebert) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Colorado.
  Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today to offer my amendment to redirect $2 million in this 
bill to the Office of Inspector General to combat waste, fraud, and 
abuse.
  As a proud member of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, I 
am a firm believer in holding our government accountable to the people 
we serve. Honest, hardworking American citizens should be able to trust 
that their tax dollars are being spent responsibly. To achieve this 
goal, the Office of Inspector General must have the funding they need 
to ensure that the Department of Health and Human Services is using our 
tax dollars efficiently and for their intended purpose.
  Inspectors general across the Federal Government have saved taxpayers 
billions of dollars and exposed numerous instances of criminal 
wrongdoing. According to the most recent report from the HHS on 
healthcare fraud and abuse: ``In FY 2021, investigations conducted by 
HHS's Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) resulted in 504 criminal 
actions against individuals or entities that engaged in crimes related 
to Medicare or Medicaid, and 669 civil actions, which include false 
claims and unjust enrichment lawsuits filed in the Federal district 
court, and civil monetary penalty (CMP) settlements. HHS-OIG also 
excluded 1,689 individuals and entities from participation in Medicare, 
Medicaid, and other Federal healthcare programs. Among these were 
exclusions based on criminal convictions for crimes related to Medicare 
and Medicaid or to other healthcare programs, for beneficiary abuse or 
neglect, and as a result of State healthcare licensure revocations.''
  Mr. Chair, the American people believe the government is corrupt and 
rife with fraud. The only way to address these concerns is to promote 
accountability in the Federal Government and ensure that their tax 
dollars are used responsibly for their intended purpose.
  My commonsense amendment will ensure that the HHS Office of Inspector 
General has the funding and resources they need to keep this agency in 
line. Two million dollars is a small sum to pay to restore faith in our 
institutions and to potentially uncover billions and billions in fraud.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment to promote 
accountability and oversight in the Department of Health and Human 
Services, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. Boebert).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                 Amendment No. 19 Offered by Mr. Mills

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 19 
printed in part B of House Report 118-272.
  Mr. MILLS. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 58, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $158,100,000)''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 864, the gentleman 
from Florida (Mr. Mills) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.
  Mr. MILLS. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  This amendment cuts back spending for the Office of Public Health 
Scientific Services by more than $158 million to return us back to our 
FY19 funding levels. This reins back the irresponsible, ballooned 
spending that we have seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  The House of Representatives has to hold itself accountable to fiscal 
responsibility. We cannot continue to spend money that we do not have, 
entrenching our country into more debt that future generations will be 
unable to pay back.
  Our public health offices, particularly during COVID-19, have proven 
they do not effectively follow scientific method. In fact, I would 
argue that this body only follows political science, not medical 
science. While some of these offices certainly played roles in helping 
to research the effects of COVID, others like the Office of Public 
Health Scientific Services, were ineffective and do not serve their 
purpose.
  We do not need another redundant public health office to advance the 
politicized work of the Federal Government's public health operations. 
Furthermore, as a businessowner, I know the value of industry driving 
policy and not policy driving industry. These cuts encourage increased 
collaboration with the private sector to leverage external resources 
and expertise to support the public health initiatives.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Connecticut is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, this amendment would reduce the Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention Public Health Scientific Services 
account by $158 million.
  Bringing this account to the FY 2019 level, think about what it would 
eliminate: significant advancements in public health, negatively 
impacting the National Center for Health Statistics, laboratory 
science, and public health data modernization efforts.
  I have personal propriety on data modernization. I championed the 
establishment of a public health data modernization initiative in 
fiscal year 2020, just prior to the pandemic, I might add. This massive 
undertaking is moving public health away from the fax machine and into 
the 21st century.
  Think about what happened during the pandemic, with all of the 
laboratories around the country. I think about Connecticut, nearly shut 
down. It couldn't do its work because it didn't have the equipment, the 
modernization, the ability to collect data that makes it incredibly 
important for us to deal with a pandemic or any other disease.
  I might add, this modernization initiative provides funding directly 
to 64 jurisdictions, including States, territories, large cities, and 
Tribes. Eliminating this funding impacts the entire country.
  I suspect that my colleague on the other side of the aisle would 
agree with me that the local jurisdictions of public health need to 
have the capacity to do their job. This funding is critical to 
improving jurisdictions' public health decisionmaking capabilities. 
Some have very highly rated and forward-thinking decisionmaking 
capabilities, and they have what they need, but we have a lot of 
communities with minimal capacity.
  This is really pretty extraordinary. We have people entering records 
by hand. They are writing their records out by hand or using software 
not designed for tracking outbreak data, to being able to publish 
provisional national death data on a weekly basis. Some places have no 
capacity to do this, and they are not reporting the data so that we 
have no idea what is happening.
  We all want to know the scope of a foodborne or infectious disease 
outbreak in our community. I suspect my colleague wants that 
information for himself, his family, and for his constituents. We all 
do. However, that does not happen without the data first identifying 
the cases. Our public health data systems, laboratory resources, and 
the National Center for Health Statistics are already far behind where 
we need them to be, and this amendment would only make matters worse.
  We should have learned a very, very big lesson from the pandemic, 
where our public health infrastructure in many instances crashed 
because of the lack of technology, the lack of data collection, the 
lack of modernizing their ability to collect that data.

[[Page H5776]]

  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MILLS. Mr. Chair, I appreciate the gentlewoman actually stepping 
up. She asked two key questions that I really liked. First off, what 
would it eliminate was one of the questions. Well, what it would 
eliminate is the wasteful and fraudulent spending that has gone to the 
NIH, as well as to those who have actually continued to pursue things 
like gain of function under Fauci, and we saw how that worked out.
  The other thing she also questioned, what should we have learned. 
Well, what we have learned is that we are actually spinning ourselves 
into an economic abyss; the fact that we are actually leading the 
Nation when it comes to continually frivolous spending. I love how only 
in Washington can we call something emergency spending levels but then 
maintain it throughout the period in which we are going to move 
forward.
  We have to acknowledge the fact that in 2019, pre-COVID spending 
levels, if you did a 3\1/2\ percent adjusted rate, that would get us to 
an actual spending cap of $1.477 trillion today, not the $1.586 
trillion, not the $1.786 trillion, and certainly not the $2 trillion 
that the Democrats want to continue to spend.
  The bottom line, Mr. Chair, is this: We are not saying that we will 
not have the necessary spending for our public health sectors and 
others to continue to do their job. What we are saying is that we 
should return our spending levels to pre-COVID, pre-emergency levels 
that would be in sync with what we have always done, at a 3\1/2\ 
percent adjusted rate.

  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I oppose the amendment. I think it is not 
just for the emergency. We need to have a very, very strong public 
health infrastructure.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MILLS. Mr. Chair, in closing, it is very clear that the only 
thing that D.C. continues to do successfully is spend American taxpayer 
funding. We did not do what was necessary to mitigate these risks. 
There was always this 2 weeks to slow the curve. I wish there were 2 
weeks to slow our spending. We need to get back to where we were before 
so that we can get control, start looking at economic growth, start 
looking at what is best and having industry drive the actual policy, 
not policy drive the industry. We need to reduce and limit the 
government's reach into the public sector to ensure that they have what 
they need driven by them, for them.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mills).
  The amendment was agreed to.

                              {time}  1315


                Amendment No. 22 Offered by Mr. Grothman

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 22 
printed in part B of House Report 118-272.
  Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 62, line 3, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 864, the gentleman 
from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin.
  Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of my amendment, which is 
an increase/decrease in prioritized money for the CDC to do a study on 
the effectiveness of vitamin D against COVID-19.
  Vitamin D has long been associated with a healthy immune system, 
particularly when combating viral and respiratory infections. It is 
evident that maintaining adequate vitamin D levels can dramatically 
improve outcomes for patients who are infected with COVID.
  I was incredibly disappointed during the entire COVID scare, when 
over a million Americans died, that the public health establishment did 
very little to encourage people to take vitamin D.
  There are many studies out there--they vary from one to the other--
from Spain, from Harvard, from the University of Chicago. In some, they 
say that the chance of death can be reduced by 60 percent. In others, 
they say for people with adequate vitamin D levels, 2.3 percent pass 
away compared to 25.6 percent. In other words, you are 10 times better 
off with vitamin D.
  In any event, the public health establishment did very little to push 
this. In my heart--I have read a lot of this stuff--I believe we could 
have cut the deaths by over 80 percent had they done it, which is why I 
want to require some sort of study out of the CDC to show this.
  The other thing that should have been done during this COVID thing is 
if you went in for a checkup, you should have had your vitamin D 
checked. That should have been automatic. If you would have had levels, 
say, under 20, your doctor could have said that you are in much worse 
shape now and that you have to take vitamin D right away. They didn't 
do that, I think, because they couldn't make enough money on it and 
because, today, the medical establishment is too money driven.
  Hopefully, if we do a study and something like this comes back, we 
can put our public health establishment a little bit more on the ball. 
I think it was an identical thing to COVID. I think it would reduce the 
number of deaths by over 80 percent.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Connecticut is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, let me just preface my comments by saying we 
are not scientists, and we are not doctors. Maybe some are. We may have 
one or two, but we are not in the business of scientific research or in 
the medical profession, for the most part.
  This amendment calls for the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention to conduct an exploratory study on the topic of a 
supplement, vitamin D deficiencies, and COVID mortality rates.
  To make recommendations, Federal agencies leverage the results of 
multiple randomized control trials that form the same conclusion, which 
builds the scientific evidence for recommendations.
  The National Institutes of Health and academic peers have 
consistently found that there is insufficient evidence for a 
recommendation either for or against the use of vitamin D for the 
prevention or treatment of COVID-19.
  Supplements are not a replacement for preventive measures like a 
vaccination. Studies are being conducted on more effective linkages 
between COVID-19 infection and preventive measures, including 
vaccination and ventilation. The CDC should be receiving additional 
investments for these studies, not being told to conduct a study on 
this supplement.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this amendment, and 
I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Chair, let me point out that there are many 
scientists in different countries who feel overwhelmingly that vitamin 
D would have reduced the number of deaths.
  I believe, sadly, that both our research establishment and medical 
establishment kind of tilt toward something that will be more 
profitable.
  If they would have gotten vitamin D out there in the almost year 
before vaccines were available, I think it would have saved a lot of 
lives, and it would have probably saved lives even after vaccines 
became available.
  It is a mystery to me why the public health establishment does not 
get involved and, quite frankly, encourage people to take vitamin D 
well beyond the normal supplement level. You should probably take four 
or five times the amount of the supplement.
  In any event, it is frustrating it wasn't done. It is frustrating we 
wouldn't check vitamin D levels when the cost to check them is, from 
what I could tell, if you go through a mail order thing, like, 50 bucks 
to check.

  Nevertheless, it wasn't worthwhile for the medical establishment to 
do that. I don't see any harm in doing a

[[Page H5777]]

study, and it could result in a massive benefit.
  Let me also point out that, disproportionately, people of color were 
dying from this disease, and a lot of people feel the reason they were 
dying far in excess of the population as a whole was because people 
with darker skin don't have as much vitamin D. In particular, it would 
have helped people of color.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Norcross).
  Mr. NORCROSS. Mr. Chair, I thank the ranking member for recognizing 
me.
  Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the Republican Labor-HHS 
appropriations bill, which, among other cuts, would slash funding for 
DOL's Wage and Hour Division by nearly 30 percent.
  Among other functions of the Wage and Hour Division, it enforces the 
Davis-Bacon Act, which ensures that workers are fairly compensated. It 
has been around since 1931.
  Davis-Bacon requires that workers on Federal construction projects 
are paid a prevailing wage, which prevents workers from being undercut, 
not being paid the correct amount of money for their work.
  For this reason, at the appropriate time, I will offer a motion to 
recommit this bill back to committee. If the House rules permitted, I 
would have offered the motion with an amendment to increase funding for 
the Wage and Hour Division to improve the full force of Davis-Bacon.
  Mr. Chair, I hope my colleagues will join me in voting for this 
motion to recommit.
  Mr. Chair, I include in the Record the text of my amendment.
       Mr. Norcross moves to recommit the bill H.R. 5894 to the 
     Committee on Appropriations with the following amendment:
       Page 18, line 12, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $155,953,000)''.

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I strongly oppose the amendment, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Chair, I have nothing more to say other than that I 
hope the amendment passes, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman).
  The amendment was agreed to.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Chair understands that amendment No. 26 will 
not be offered.


            Amendment No. 28 Offered by Mr. Good of Virginia

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 28 
printed in part B of House Report 118-272.
  Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 64, line 24, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced b y $10,000,000)''.
       Page 195, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $10,000,000)''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 864, the gentleman 
from Virginia (Mr. Good) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.
  Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Mr. Chair, today, I ask for my colleagues' 
support for my amendment to cut $10 million from this appropriations 
bill and contribute those funds instead toward deficit reduction.
  This particular $10 million is set aside to increase diversity in 
biomedical research.
  The Federal Government has an addiction to growth and expansion. Find 
a problem? Just create a new program and assign a few bureaucrats to 
handle it, and that will somehow allegedly fix the problem.
  Under this administration, you don't have to set aside special money 
to support diversity. President Biden has made it very clear through 
nearly every executive action that he takes that every agency should 
look at every issue through a diversity lens.
  The Biden administration makes everything about race anyway. We 
should not believe they need a few more million in taxpayer dollars 
just to make a difference in this aspect.
  At some point, the Biden administration needs to stop dividing 
everyone based on the way they look and instead focus on actual health 
solutions for all Americans in need.
  Americans are tired of everything being about race. When it comes to 
the future of biomedical research, we want to know that the best of the 
best are researching ways to cure cancer, fight heart disease, and help 
us lead longer and healthier lives. None of those are racial problems. 
They are human problems.
  Throughout our history, American innovation has been at the top of 
the charts for finding breakthrough cures and therapeutics.
  This year, through this bill, we are already set to invest in that 
research, and we can spare the $10 million that focuses on diversity 
and instead spend it on something that helps every American--
contributing to the spending reduction account that would actually 
decrease our deficit.
  Mr. Chair, I hope my colleagues will join me in this simple cost-
saving amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Connecticut is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment.
  Let me tell you a brief story. I arrived at Congress in 1990. At the 
time--and this is on a bipartisan basis, and this had to do with 
women's health--what we discovered at the National Institutes of Health 
was that all the clinical trials on illnesses and diseases in the 
country, all the research, all science, and all of these diseases, the 
clinical trials had included only men--only men.
  I don't think anyone would view that this is rocket science, that 
women are physiologically different than men.
  On a bipartisan basis, the women--Nancy Johnson, Barbara Kennelly, 
Nancy Pelosi, Nita Lowey, and Marge Roukema--banded together and said 
this was crazy.
  Women and minorities need to be included in clinical studies so that 
we do not just extrapolate data from clinical trials for men and apply 
it to women. Women and minorities deserved to be in those trials so 
that we could find out what was the best treatment, what was the best 
cure, and what was the best way to treat their health issues.
  This is an amendment that would cut $10 million to the National 
Institute of General Medical Sciences at the NIH. One of the basic 
missions of NIGMS is to support the next generation of scientists. This 
amendment would reduce support for scientific trainees across every 
stage of their career trajectories, from supporting undergraduate and 
community college students in research experiences, to Ph.D. and 
clinician-scientist training, to postdoctoral training and the 
transition to a first scientific position.
  Eliminating an office of diversity in biomedical research takes us 
backward when we moved forward all those years ago to talk about how 
biomedical research and discovery to cure had to include in the 
scientific endeavor, yes, men but also women and minorities.
  This amendment would limit early stage investigators, who are a 
pipeline to a next generation of researchers for future scientific 
discoveries.
  Mr. Chair, with all deference and respect for my colleague, this 
amendment is shortsighted and counterproductive, and I urge my 
colleagues to oppose the amendment.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, we have made progress today. I am 
glad to hear the gentlewoman from the other side of the aisle 
recognizes there are differences between men and women. We may next 
actually be able to define what a woman is and what a man is. I am glad 
to hear that recognition from my friends on the other side of the 
aisle.
  If President Biden were serious about helping people, he would cut 
our spending. He would renew American energy. He would secure the 
southern border. In fact, there are millions of illegals pouring across 
our border, costing taxpayers $150 billion a year.
  While every issue is not a racial issue, as the administration would 
have you think, and every issue is not a climate issue, as the 
administration

[[Page H5778]]

would have you think, today, every issue is a border issue and a 
spending issue. Yet, President Biden focused on woke initiatives like 
the Justice40 Initiative that promotes equity across the Federal 
Government.

                              {time}  1330

  Certainly today we would not criticize biomedical research. As a 
matter of fact, we recognize the value that it brings to our country, 
and I am thankful for those in the field who are doing their best to 
help all Americans.
  We want the research done by the best researchers for all Americans, 
regardless of what any of them look like.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Good).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes 
appeared to have it.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Virginia 
will be postponed.


            Amendment No. 32 Offered by Mr. Good of Virginia

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 32 
printed in part B of House Report 118-272.
  Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 67, line 15, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $524,395,000)''.
       Page 195, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $524,395,000)''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 864, the gentleman 
from Virginia (Mr. Good) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.
  Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Mr. Chair, today I ask for my colleagues' 
support for my amendment to transfer $524.4 million from the National 
Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities to the spending 
reduction account that would reduce our national debt and our current 
deficit.
  The way we throw around trillions of dollars and billions of dollars, 
I guess $524 million doesn't seem like a lot here in Washington, but to 
average Americans, that is real money.
  Well, this office--formerly created by ObamaCare--brags about being a 
leader in the scientific community's focus on socioeconomics, politics, 
discrimination, of course, culture, and environment in relation to 
health disparities.
  I have heard enough there. Americans don't want politicized science. 
We want scientific science. We don't want health research that divides 
by race. We want health research that unleashes American ingenuity on a 
horrific disease.
  Let's talk about some of the studies that are associated with this 
particular office: A report on how various racial groups have faced 
COVID-19 discrimination; a program to address how--COVID-19 
discriminates, of course. Didn't you know that?
  Another program is a program to address how access to safe spaces--
safe spaces--impacts health, and of course, a program on how climate 
change in and of itself is somehow racist.
  I submit to my colleagues today that any actual scientific health 
innovations that come out of this office could develop in one of the 
other offices or projects that the $43 billion--with a b--NIH budget 
supports.
  We don't need to set aside $524 million to focus on race once again 
and publish more politically charged studies that do nothing to 
contribute to meaningful health outcomes.
  I hope my colleagues will join me to reduce spending, reduce the size 
of government, and support the best possible health research that is 
not done on a racist basis.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Connecticut is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I rise in vehement opposition to this 
amendment. This amendment would eliminate all funding to the National 
Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, which would 
eviscerate funding for research on minority health.
  This is a lack of understanding of scientific discovery or discovery 
to cure. Frankly, it is appalling and disgusting. I will be calling for 
a roll call vote on this amendment. I want to know exactly which 
Members of the House of Representatives want to eliminate funding for 
research on minority health and health disparities.
  The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities 
supports research on diseases and conditions that disproportionately 
affect minority populations--minorities, writ large.
  The United States continues to experience persistent and preventable 
adverse health effects with a disproportionate burden on minority 
communities.
  To take one example, chronic diseases are among the leading causes of 
death in the United States. Some racial or ethnic minority groups 
experience a higher prevalence of multiple chronic conditions. We need 
to continue research on interventions to reduce mortality from multiple 
chronic diseases such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, 
diabetes, sickle cell disease, maternal mortality, obesity, asthma, 
heart disease, cancer, which continues to disproportionately affect 
minority communities.
  The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities also 
supports researchers from backgrounds who are underrepresented in the 
biomedical research workforce.
  I urge my colleagues to think about this amendment and how it lacks 
scientific understanding and the ability to use biomedical research as 
a discovery for a cure.
  Oppose this amendment. I look forward to seeing the results of the 
recorded vote.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Mr. Chair, it continues to be clear that our 
friends on the other side just cannot tolerate or abide by the absence 
of racist initiatives or disparate treatment based on race, but 
Americans are done with the politicization of science, especially after 
the tyrannical government mandates that shut down the economy during 
the coronavirus.
  President Biden promised a few years ago a return to normalcy, but 
his administration has only weaponized the government against the 
American people even more.
  I wish the Biden administration would focus as much on cutting the 
reckless spending, securing our border, and putting Americans first as 
they do on dividing people along racial lines.
  Mr. Chair, I urge adoption of my amendment, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I can't state strongly enough how much I 
oppose this amendment, which thwarts biomedical research to save 
people's lives. That is what is done in this area. That is what the NIH 
does. That is what the National Institute on Minority Health and Health 
Disparities reviews. It is about saving lives. We have no more noble 
cause in this institution than to help to save people's lives, whoever 
they are.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Good).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes 
appeared to have it.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Virginia 
will be postponed.


               Amendment No. 33 Offered by Mr. Rosendale

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 33 
printed in part B of House Report 118-272.
  Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 67, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $95,162,000)''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 864, the gentleman

[[Page H5779]]

from Montana (Mr. Rosendale) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Montana.
  Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Chair, my amendment No. 33 prohibits funding for 
the John E. Fogarty International Center saving approximately $95 
million.
  Our Nation is over $33 trillion in debt, with an expected annual 
deficit this year of nearly $2 trillion. We need to find innovative 
ways to reduce spending. While many would consider this small potatoes, 
we must begin with the most blatant violations of the public trust, and 
that is what we consider this.
  My amendment builds off of President Trump's first budget request, 
which called for eliminating the Fogarty International Center.
  According to their website, the Fogarty International Center is 
dedicated to advancing the mission of the National Institutes of Health 
by supporting and facilitating global health research conducted by the 
U.S.
  However, the center emphasizes a perverted view of ``global health 
equity'' and partners with the World Health Organization.
  The World Health Organization is a corrupt organization that worked 
with the Chinese Communist Party to cover up the origins of the COVID-
19 pandemic. The Fogarty Center should not be working with the World 
Health Organization.
  Moreover, a large amount of the grants funded by the Fogarty 
International Center are counterproductive to our interests.
  One such egregious project that received funds in the Philippines is 
titled: Stigma Reduction and Gender Affirmation to Promote HIV 
Prevention/Testing in Trans Women. That is what your tax dollars are 
being used for. The project is a joint partnership between Brown 
University and the University of the Philippines Manila.
  There are biological women and biological males, as stressed by the 
other side of the aisle in the previous amendment. They have finally 
recognized that. I find it ironic that we are funding projects in the 
name of science that ignores basic biology.
  Funding these woke, ridiculous projects hurt our standing in the 
Philippines and globally.
  Christianity is the dominant faith in the Philippines, making up 
approximately 90 percent of the population. This project is a slap in 
the face to anyone in the Philippines who holds traditional Christian 
beliefs.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Connecticut is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment. This 
amendment would eliminate funding for the Fogarty International Center 
at the National Institutes of Health.
  This amendment is shortsighted. It would undermine our ability to 
prevent and mitigate disease outbreaks around the world.
  The Fogarty International Center has supported research training 
programs which have been vital to fighting emerging infectious diseases 
including Ebola and Zika.
  Now, we dealt with Ebola in 2014, and we dealt with the Zika crisis 
in 2016. I know that the gentleman was not here at that time and really 
didn't experience what was happening both here in the U.S. and also 
internationally. The very fact is that Fogarty helped to train the 
people who were involved with on-the-ground responders to the Ebola and 
to the Zika crisis.
  Moreover, Fogarty supports training programs for scientists in the 
United States and abroad who are engaged in prevention and treatment of 
diseases, such as malaria, dengue fever, and tuberculosis, all of which 
now have affected parts of the United States.
  Fogarty programs have provided research training to 6,000 scientists 
worldwide. It contributes to biomedical innovation. It supports the 
next generation of researchers across the globe.
  In addition, health innovations developed with foreign partners can 
be adapted to help solve health issues in the United States.
  I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.

                              {time}  1345

  Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Chair, if we are going to send funds overseas, 
they should project our values. I agree with the overwhelming majority 
of Americans and Montanans stating this center doesn't project our 
values.
  A grant that received funds through the Fogarty International Center 
in Uganda is titled: ``HIV Self Testing to Empower Prevention Choices 
in Sex Workers.'' If you want to protect men and women from drug abuse 
and sex crimes, my colleagues should begin by helping me and my 
colleagues on this side of the aisle by securing the southern border 
and helping us to locate the approximately 100,000 children who have 
been released into our country and most likely condemned to a life of 
sex slavery.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, in my continued opposition to this amendment, 
I suspect that my colleague is not interested in saving lives in West 
Africa, in Brazil, or in Haiti.
  Once again, with prior amendments that were listed here today, the 
issue of the work of science and research in the pursuit of saving 
lives is what this institution should be about. We are not talking 
about helicopters, roads, bridges, or anything else. Fundamentally, we 
are addressing the issue of using the biomedical research which we have 
scientists engaged and involved in both for the United States and 
internationally. If it happens internationally, it happens in the 
United States. That is our job. There is no higher calling than to save 
lives here and abroad.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Chair, may I inquire as to the time remaining.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Montana has 1\1/2\ minutes 
remaining.
  Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Chair, again, if we are going to invest funds 
overseas and here domestically, we should make sure that it projects 
our values.
  Another grant that received funds through the Fogarty International 
Center in Ukraine, where we have seen billions of dollars squandered, 
was titled: ``Using latent class analysis to understand the role of 
layered stigma on engagement in care among HIV positive women who use 
drugs in Ukraine.''
  They have a battle going on. They have a war in Ukraine. We hear 
about it daily. Yet, the Fogarty International Center is not going to 
try to figure out a way to bring those parties to the table to achieve 
peace. They want to find out about drugs being used by women who 
participate in the sex trade.
  Mr. Chair, again, for this and many reasons, I hope my colleagues can 
support this amendment. We need to protect our values oversees, and the 
Fogarty International Center does not do so.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Montana (Mr. Rosendale).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes 
appeared to have it.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Montana will 
be postponed.


                Amendment No. 34 Offered by Mr. Pfluger

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 34 
printed in part B of House Report 118-272.
  Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 68, line 17, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $3,748,715)''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 864, the gentleman 
from Texas (Mr. Pfluger) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
  Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Chair, I rise today to present an amendment that

[[Page H5780]]

holds the key to accountability and transparency in the aftermath of 
the devastating COVID-19 pandemic.
  The amendment I am proposing to the fiscal year 2024 Labor, Health 
and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill targets a 
critical issue within the National Institutes of Health, NIH, Office of 
the Director. Specifically, it aims to reduce funding by $3,748,715. 
That is an amount equivalent to the grant awarded to EcoHealth 
Alliance, Incorporated, for their research on ``Understanding the Risk 
of Bat Coronavirus Emergence'' at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
  The gravity of the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be overstated. Lives were 
lost, businesses shuttered, and families torn apart. It is a collective 
responsibility to address the origins of this crisis, and my proposed 
amendment aligns with three fundamental principles that I have 
consistently emphasized while being in Congress.
  First, we must uncover the truth of the pandemic's origins. This 
shouldn't be a Republican or Democrat thing. This is an American thing. 
Second, we must hold those involved responsible and accountable. Last, 
we must provide the American people with full transparency.
  After nearly 4 years of investigation, substantial evidence now 
points to the Wuhan Institute of Virology as the source of the COVID-19 
virus. Disturbingly, it has come to light that the Wuhan lab conducted 
this research funded by the United States Government. While the 
Department of Health and Human Services has taken action against the 
institution, it is evident that more must be done.
  The HHS Office of Inspector General released a report in January of 
this year, January of 2023, revealing that the NIH failed to 
effectively monitor or address EcoHealth's compliance with certain 
requirements. Shockingly, the NIH only began investigating the Wuhan 
Institute's role in the pandemic at the outset of the crisis. This lack 
of foresight is unacceptable, especially considering the potential 
consequences of such research.
  Moreover, the investigation brought to light EcoHealth's delayed 
submission of a critical report containing evidence of a virus with 
enhanced growth, a report that should have been reported immediately. 
This is just one instance of the NIH's failure to exercise proper 
oversight.
  In light of these findings, it is imperative that we hold the NIH 
accountable for its shortcomings. The American people deserve an 
assurance that our agencies are performing their duties diligently and 
responsibly, especially when the consequences are as far-reaching as 
the global pandemic was.
  The HHS's report highlights a series of lapses in NIH's monitoring 
and oversight. Given these documented failures, I strongly believe that 
the NIH should face consequences for its role in the mishandling of 
funds and lack of oversight. Our amendment sends a clear message that 
we, as representatives of the American people, will not tolerate 
negligence that results in such catastrophic outcomes.
  In conclusion, let us come together to pass this crucial amendment, 
demonstrating our commitment to accountability, transparency, and the 
well-being of the American people. It is time to act decisively and 
ensure that our agencies fulfill their responsibilities to prevent 
future crises of this magnitude.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the 
amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Connecticut is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment.
  Unfortunately, this amendment is nothing more than a political stunt. 
It would cut funding to the National Institutes of Health's Office of 
the Director as a penalty for a research grant awarded years ago.
  The grant awarded by NIH was subject to rigorous peer review and 
judged by reviewers to be a high priority due to the previous emergence 
of SARS-CoV in a bat population.
  The grant application did not propose research to enhance 
coronaviruses to be more transmissible or virulent in humans. The NIH 
determined that the award did not involve research with enhanced 
potential pandemic pathogens.
  The bat coronavirus sequences under this grant award showed that the 
viruses studied at the Wuhan Institute of Virology under the NIH-funded 
grant were evolutionary, distant from SARS-CoV-2, and could not have 
been the source of SARS-CoV-2.
  Essentially, this is a cut of $3.7 million as a penalty for funding 
research and thereby taking funds away from the NIH as well, which are 
sorely needed.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose the amendment, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Chair, may I inquire as to the time remaining.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Texas has 2 minutes remaining.
  Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Chair, I disagree with my colleague from 
Connecticut. The American people want the NIH to succeed. We need the 
NIH to succeed, but the American people are also saying, show us 
transparency. Tell us what is going on.
  When the government is trusted, then we can actually get results and 
do good things for the American people. This is about trust. In fact, 
$3.7 million, I think that is a small price to pay when it comes to the 
price that Americans paid.
  Yes, I urge this to be a bipartisan amendment, that we have 
transparency. If you are on the side of the American people, who 
deserve better from government agencies, this should be an easy 
amendment.
  Mr. Chair, I urge a ``yes'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Pfluger).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                 Amendment No. 35 Offered by Mr. Mills

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 35 
printed in part B of House Report 118-272.
  Mr. MILLS. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 68, line 17, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $160,384,000)''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 864, the gentleman 
from Florida (Mr. Mills) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.
  Mr. MILLS. Mr. Chair, my amendment is pretty simple. This would cut 
back on the spending for the office of the NIH Director by more than 
$160 million to return us back to the fiscal year 2019 funding level. 
This amendment ensures appropriate accountability for the NIH's recent 
failures while also advancing the urgent need for better fiscal 
responsibility of the House.
  When the Republicans took over the majority, we promised to rein in 
inflation and government spending. We must do more than talk. We must 
start to act.
  The NIH resoundingly failed to do its due diligence to prevent gain-
of-function research at Chinese labs, and this failure was fundamental 
to the existence of the virus that caused the pandemic.
  To date, there has been absolutely no accountability for these 
failures and others, and Congress would be failing its duty to ensure 
accountability by doing nothing and continuing this irresponsible 
funding to the NIH.
  We must stop Fauci's experimental process, start holding 
accountability, get research into finding out exactly what the leading 
cause was, and make sure we have the necessary prevention.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the 
amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Connecticut is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, this amendment would cut funding by $160 
million to the Office of the Director of the National Institutes of 
Health.
  During the time that I had the opportunity, for the 4 years that I 
served as chair of this subcommittee, we increased funding for NIH 
research by $8.4 billion, an increase of 21 percent above the 2019 
level, and I might add, something I am really extremely proud of.
  As chair and with Ranking Member Cole, we agreed on a bipartisan 
basis

[[Page H5781]]

for the increases to the NIH. I, again, feel very, very proud of the 
role that I was able to play with my colleague in providing additional 
funding for lifesaving research at the NIH, including research to 
develop cures or treatments for cancer, Alzheimer's, ALS, diabetes, the 
funding to develop a universal flu vaccine, and the funding to ensure 
that women are represented in clinical trials.
  This amendment would undermine the progress that we made on a 
bipartisan basis over the last 4 years, and I urge my colleagues to 
please oppose this amendment.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MILLS. Mr. Chair, I appreciate the gentlewoman for her 
acknowledgment that we have increased spending by $8.4 billion, of 
which some of that funding led to additional trillions of dollars in 
spending and thousands of lives lost, as we funded things like the gain 
of function under Fauci, which led to the spread of COVID.

                              {time}  1400

  Now, when you talk about the cut of $160 million, the only response 
that I can think of is you are welcome. You are welcome to the American 
people for us saving money and for us actually doing our job to be 
fiscally responsible once again.
  You are welcome that we won't allow continuation of funding for gain 
of function that would lead to another pandemic, as we saw across the 
world. You are welcome that we are actually, in the Republican Party as 
the majority, taking a stand to stop the out-of-control and runaway 
spending that has been irresponsible and driving generations and 
generations into future debt.
  Mr. Chairman, this is pretty simple. Without that funding there 
probably would have been no pandemic. Unless we are going to get 
accountability and do the necessary research, I cannot continue to 
sponsor Fauci and NIH and their efforts to go ahead and spread and lead 
to another COVID.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, I don't know if the gentleman knows this 
but, as another point, I will extol the virtues of Dr. Anthony Fauci 
and his scientific background and experience of what he has done to 
resolve issues of disease and cures in the United States of America and 
overseas.
  Maybe the gentleman doesn't know, Dr. Fauci is no longer at the NIH. 
It is unbelievably stunning to me that we are listening to someone talk 
about how COVID came out of the NIH. What happened to all your other 
theories?
  Mr. Chairman, this is really a conspiracy theory that we are 
generating here. For that reason, and probably for many, many other 
reasons that have no basis in science or in reality, I continue to 
oppose this amendment.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MILLS. Mr. Chairman, I love how our colleagues on the left refer 
to every conspiracy as a conspiracy until it is found to be factual, 
which is 99 percent of the time.
  I am also aware that Mr. Fauci is no longer there and we are very 
thankful for that. His accountability on what he had done with helping 
to fund gain of function, which was actually something that led to 
spreading the Wuhan virus, which was also in partnership with China--
this is something that still needs accountability research and the 
necessary review within Congress.
  I am aware that we are continuing to spend at emergency COVID levels 
and we need to get back to where we were before. This is simple 
mathematics. If emergency-level spending is meant to be only during a 
time of emergency, then why do we continue to make that the new 
benchmark of spending moving forward.
  The whole point is, is that we would bring it back to the pre-COVID 
spending levels, which is what the American people are looking at. They 
are looking for us to stop the irresponsible spending and actually get 
to what the root cause is, which is the U.S. Congress.
  I hate to say it in this way, but the bottom line is that I will not 
continue to fund these types of things.
  Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support me in this, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mills).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes 
appeared to have it.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Florida will 
be postponed.


                Amendment No. 36 Offered by Ms. Boebert

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 36 
printed in part B of House Report 118-272.
  Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I rise as the designee of the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Clyde), and I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 63, line 14, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $710,415,900)''.
       Page 63, line 22, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $398,234,500)''.
       Page 64, line 5, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $52,016,300)''.
       Page 64, line 10, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $230,072,100)''.
       Page 64, line 15, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $258,892,500)''.
       Page 64, line 24, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $315,467,900)''.
       Page 65, line 7, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $174,907,800)''.
       Page 65, line 11, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $89,654,900)''.
       Page 65, line 16, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $91,397,900)''.
       Page 65, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $440,762,300)''.
       Page 65, line 24, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $68,546,500)''.
       Page 66, line 5, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $53,433,000)''.
       Page 66, line 8, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $19,769,300)''.
       Page 66, line 13, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $59,531,800)''.
       Page 66, line 16, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $166,269,500)''.
       Page 66, line 19, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $211,284,300)''.
       Page 66, line 23, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $66,320,000)''.
       Page 67, line 5, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $44,062,700)''.
       Page 67, line 10, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $17,038,400)''.
       Page 67, line 23, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $49,754,800)''.
       Page 68, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $92,332,300)''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 864, the gentlewoman 
from Colorado (Ms. Boebert) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Colorado.
  Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chairman, I rise to urge all of my colleagues to 
support this amendment, which would provide for additional funding 
reductions for NIH.
  If we have learned nothing else from the executive branch's 
involvement and handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, at the very least, 
we learned just how corrupt and money hungry the NIH as an organization 
truly is.
  It has been over 3\1/2\ years since the initial COVID lockdowns and 
the NIH continues to cover up and downplay its gain-of-function 
research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
  Earlier this year, the Inspector General's report found that between 
2014 and 2021, the NIH did not adequately follow its policies with 
respect to three grants totaling about $8 million to the EcoHealth 
Alliance.
  The EcoHealth Alliance had a relationship with the Wuhan Institute of 
Virology in which it subawarded $600,000 to research coronaviruses in 
the years leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  The NIH terminated the EcoHealth grant in April of 2020, then later 
reinstated it, only to suspend it again after setting conditions for 
resumption that EcoHealth claimed it could not meet.
  The NIH permanently terminated the award in August 2022 for 
compliance issues, including the Wuhan Institute of Virology's failure 
to provide NIH with laboratory notebooks related to the funded 
experiments.
  Then again, in May of this year, the NIH reinstated grants to renew 
its ``collaborative research to understand the risk of bat coronavirus 
spillover emergence.'' Seriously?
  In late last year, the NIH issued a new grant to EcoHealth Alliance 
for a project titled: ``Analyzing the Potential for Future Bat 
Coronavirus Emergence in Myanmar, Vietnam, and

[[Page H5782]]

Laos.'' The grant provides EcoHealth Alliance with $653,392 covering a 
period until August 31, 2027.
  Why is an organization that failed to comply with reporting 
requirements continuing to receive more and more American tax dollars?
  Even more disturbing, earlier this year, the acting director of NIH, 
Dr. Tabak, testified before the House Appropriations Committee. I asked 
him whether gain-of-function research was conducted at the Wuhan 
Institute of Virology, and he responded ``no.''
  In an October 20, 2021, letter to then-Oversight and Reform Committee 
Ranking Member James Comer, the NIH admitted to funding gain-of-
function research on bat coronaviruses at the WIV. Ironically, Mr. 
Tabak authored this letter in which he stated that the limited 
experiment tested whether spike proteins from naturally occurring bat 
coronaviruses circulating in China were capable of binding to the human 
ACE2 receptor in a mouse model. This is classic gain of function and 
this is unacceptable.
  Americans deserve to know the truth, especially when their tax 
dollars are funding these dangerous practices.
  As if that were not enough evidence to justify a budget cut, the 
Biden administration has also inappropriately used the NIH as an 
extension of the President's radical, unethical policies. For instance, 
in April of 2021, the NIH reversed restrictions governing Federal-
funded research to allow the use of fetal tissue obtained from elective 
abortions.
  I am grateful the underlying bill includes several guardrails for 
fiscal year 2024, such as prohibiting funding for unethical human 
embryo and aborted fetal tissue research, prohibiting any support to 
the Wuhan Institute of Virology, and prohibiting gain-of-function 
research in an adversarial country. These are good provisions, but they 
are simply not enough.
  I recognize that the underlying bill has reduced the NIH's funding by 
about 12\1/2\ percent, but I strongly believe a larger cut is warranted 
if we want the NIH to realign its priorities with congressional intent.
  Not only would a larger budget cut force the NIH to eliminate 
irresponsible spending and research, but it would also send a strong 
message to the Biden administration that Congress does not approve the 
NIH's actions.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Connecticut is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, I am having trouble listening to a series 
of science deniers here this afternoon. That is really troubling.
  The amendment would cut funding to the National Institutes of Health 
by an additional $3.6 billion.
  The base bill already cuts NIH funding by $2.8 billion below what we 
are talking about in 2023. That is 2.8 and another 3.6. I think there 
was another amendment that took additional money, which means that this 
amendment would bring the overall funding cut to the NIH of $6.4 
billion at the current funding levels.
  That would mean drastic cuts to lifesaving research on cancer, 
Alzheimer's disease, ALS, diabetes, infectious diseases, and the list 
goes on and on and on.
  This amendment would cut funding to the National Cancer Institute by 
an additional $710 million.
  I am a 36-year survivor of ovarian cancer. I had the benefit of 
biomedical research. Why shouldn't other women have the benefit of 
biomedical research to save their lives with ovarian cancer, one of the 
biggest killers of women in the Nation?
  This bill would also cut funding to the National Institute of Child 
Health and Human Development by $175 million.
  It would cut funding to the National Institute on Aging by $441 
million. Let's tell that to all of our elder Americans with the issues 
that they have as they age. Let's cut back that research.
  It would cut funding to the National Institute on Drug Abuse by $166 
million. I continue to hear from my colleagues on the other side of the 
aisle about how upset they are about addiction and drug abuse and the 
increase of that. What are we doing about it? This research addresses 
that issue.

  It would cut funding to the National Institute of Mental Health by 
$200 million. Do we not understand that we had a crisis in mental 
health in this country before the pandemic, and we are in a serious 
crisis with mental health at all ages post-pandemic?
  We want to cut the money for the research for mental health?
  Put simply, this amendment would mean a drastic cut to scientific 
breakthroughs, cures to diseases, and lifesaving treatments.
  Did you know that the United States has been the leader in the world 
in health and advancement. We have the NIH, the CDC, and the FDA. These 
are crown jewels in what health is about in the United States and the 
cures here and abroad. Why would we want to roll back our advancements 
in health, science, and medical achievements?
  This does go backwards. Like I have said in prior amendments, our job 
with these bills is to save lives, not to be engaged in political 
diatribes.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1415

  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. Boebert).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                 Amendment No. 38 Offered by Mr. Harris

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 38 
printed in part B of House Report 118-272.
  Mr. HARRIS. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 70, line 5, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $59,000,000)''.
       Page 92, line 12, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $50,000,000)''.
       Page 93, line 3, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $50,000,000)''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 864, the gentleman 
from Maryland (Mr. Harris) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maryland.
  Mr. HARRIS. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer an amendment to 
increase funding for Project BioShield from $820 million to $870 
million, with the funds coming from taking money from the recurring 
expense fund for buildings and facilities at HHS.
  Mr. Chairman, medical countermeasures are important. We know that the 
chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats are real in 
this world and that there is no natural market incentive for private 
industry to invest in developing countermeasures despite their critical 
importance to national security. That is exactly why Congress 
authorized Project BioShield almost 20 years ago, in 2004, which 
incentivizes industry to invest in these products despite the fact that 
there is no natural market incentive.
  The program provides multiyear funding to support advanced research, 
clinical development, manufacturing, and procurement. BioShield 
responds to national security threats identified by the Department of 
Homeland Security's material threat determination process.
  According to the Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures 
Enterprise, or PHEMCE, their multiyear budget, BARDA's Project 
BioShield would need $1.7 billion in fiscal year 2024 to develop and 
support the candidates in the smallpox, radiological, nuclear, broad-
spectrum antimicrobials, Ebola, and chemical countermeasure portfolios. 
That is in contrast to the $820 million that is in the underlying bill. 
Again, the experts have said we need $1.7 billion.
  Additionally, last year, the House included report language in the 
fiscal year 2023 omnibus that asked BARDA to compile a procurement 
strategy for novel antimicrobials. BARDA then included this objective 
in their 5-year strategic plan, but it was, of course, way underfunded. 
This amendment would allow them to move forward with these activities 
to provide additional funding, which could be used for the procurement 
of new antimicrobials.
  Mr. Chair, I urge all Members to support this amendment, which would 
increase funding for Project BioShield to $870 million, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.

[[Page H5783]]

  

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Connecticut is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, let me say a couple of things because I am a 
strong supporter of BioShield.
  Within the 2023 budget, I might add, there is $850 million. I am for 
emergency preparedness. The gentleman every year puts in requests for 
increases, and we put in increases every year for Project BioShield. 
However, what I am concerned about, which I will address, is the $59 
million cut. I think we should continue to increase money every year 
for Project BioShield, but the amendment cuts funding for the buildings 
and facilities at the NIH by $59 million.
  NIH currently has a backlog of nearly $4 billion in needed repairs, 
and during the 4 years that I served as chair of the subcommittee, we 
increased funding for the NIH buildings and facilities account from 
$200 million in 2019 to $350 million in 2023 to begin to address the 
long-term backlog in a responsible way. This amendment would undermine 
the progress we have made.
  I might add, once again, this was on a bipartisan basis over the last 
4 years that we agreed to the increases in the NIH buildings and 
facilities account as well as the increases in Project BioShield.
  Cutting funding for NIH's buildings and facilities would exacerbate 
the backlog of repairs, potentially affecting NIH's intramural research 
projects if laboratories and facilities are degraded.
  More importantly, this amendment demonstrates, once again, that 
overall funding in this bill is grossly insufficient. That is one of my 
biggest concerns about this bill. We need to properly fund Project 
BioShield and the National Institutes of Health. We should not be 
forced to choose between research facilities and emergency 
preparedness.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HARRIS. Mr. Chair, to pay for this, we take money from the NIH 
buildings and facilities. That is true. However, Mr. Chairman, you know 
that the way CBO works is that we had to take it from that fund because 
we expect that money to be replaced from the nonrecurring expense fund 
at HHS. The CBO won't score it as a savings, but they will score it as 
a savings if you take it from NIH.
  Mr. Chair, I get it. Nobody understands how CBO works. It makes no 
sense. Nevertheless, that money could be backfilled easily because, Mr. 
Chair, that nonrecurring expense fund at HHS is a slush fund with $1.8 
billion in it unspent with moneys each year authorized in the bills to 
be rolled over to the next year, so there is $1.8 billion sitting at 
HHS.
  Mr. Chair, that money would be much better spent on countermeasures.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I continue to oppose the amendment, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HARRIS. Mr. Chair, may I inquire how much time is remaining.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Maryland has 1\1/2\ minutes 
remaining.
  Mr. HARRIS. Mr. Chair, the dangers in the world are immense. China 
and North Korea both, obviously, are nuclear and nonconventional 
weapons threats. We are looking at a war in Israel right now with the 
possibility that Iran could make a dirty bomb. There are nuclear 
threats. We need countermeasures. We need to spend money on 
countermeasures.
  Just as we are spending $880 billion on what I call kinetic defense, 
we need to spend money on nonkinetic defense. One of the things we need 
to do is fund Project BioShield because that is where we develop these 
countermeasures.
  Mr. Chair, I urge adoption of this amendment. It would take $59 
million that HHS would transfer out of a $1.8 billion fund that they 
have unspent and use that money for countermeasures.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Harris).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                 Amendment No. 39 Offered by Mr. Harris

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 39 
printed in part B of House Report 118-272.
  Mr. HARRIS. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 70, line 5, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
     by $119,000,000)''.
       Page 92, line 12, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $100,000,000)''.
       Page 93, line 7, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $100,000,000)''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 864, the gentleman 
from Maryland (Mr. Harris) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maryland.
  Mr. HARRIS. Mr. Chairman, this amendment is similar to the last one. 
It takes money from the NIH buildings and facilities funds, which, 
under authorization of law, can be transferred back from HHS' 
nonrecurring expense fund and transfers $100 million of that to the 
Strategic National Stockpile.
  The Strategic National Stockpile is the only program dedicated to 
having civilian medical countermeasures on hand to respond to chemical, 
biological, radiological, and nuclear threats that may occur on U.S. 
soil.
  From what we are seeing in Israel now to the current Marburg virus 
outbreak in Equatorial Guinea, these threats are real and growing.
  Again, according to the PHEMCE multiyear budget, in fiscal year 2024, 
the stockpile would need $1.96 billion, almost $2 billion, to meet 
current stockpiling needs. Yet, in the bill is less than $1 billion.
  The sharp increase that they feel is necessary--again, these are the 
experts in these countermeasures--is largely due to needed investment 
in the anthrax, Ebola, and smallpox portfolios. When we underfund that 
stockpile, then risky decisions have to be made. A prior annual review 
proposed reducing anthrax vaccine and antibiotic holdings. This 
amendment provides funds that will help meet the goals that have been 
identified by these experts.
  I appreciate the Appropriations Committee including my requested 
report language directing the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and 
Readiness in coordination with the intelligence community to provide 
annual classified threat briefings to Members of Congress.
  Mr. Chairman, I urge all Members to support this amendment, which is 
vital to our national security, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.
  The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Perry). The gentlewoman from Connecticut is 
recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. DeLAURO. As with the prior amendment, Mr. Chair, I support the 
National Strategic Stockpile very strongly, and I might say I strongly 
support it, so I don't oppose it.
  As the chair of the subcommittee in the past, I have increased 
funding on a yearly basis for the stockpile. I know that the gentleman 
has made requests for increases, and we have met those increases with 
regard to the stockpile.
  The question, once again, for me is cutting the buildings and 
facilities at the NIH by $119 million. I will repeat this: NIH has a 
backlog of nearly $4 billion in needed repairs. In the 4 years that I 
served on the subcommittee as chair, we increased the NIH building and 
facilities account from $200 million in 2019 to $350 million in 2023 to 
begin to address the backlog and build up in a responsible way.
  I might add that I am particularly proud that we did this on a 
bipartisan basis, and we have done that over the last 4 years while 
recognizing the gentleman's concerns in this area and responding in a 
positive way to the increases that have been requested.
  Cutting the funding for NIH buildings and facilities exacerbates the 
backlog of repairs. It affects their intramural research projects if 
the laboratory and the facilities are in disrepair.
  More importantly, as I said just a few moments ago, the amendment 
demonstrates that overall funding in this bill is grossly insufficient. 
I know that there are some who want to cut it even further, so we begin 
to deal with robbing Peter to pay Paul here.

[[Page H5784]]

  Nonetheless, we need to properly fund the Strategic National 
Stockpile. That is in our national interest and the interest of the 
National Institutes of Health.
  However, it is my colleagues on the other side of the aisle who are 
always telling me that we have hard choices to make and that we do have 
to make choices--and we do--but we should not be forced to choose 
between research facilities and emergency preparedness.
  Nevertheless, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle believe 
that we should starve the bill and then, for the issues that may be 
critically important, take money from another critically important bill 
or program.
  Let us fund this bill where it should be to meet the needs of the 
National Strategic Stockpile as well as allowing the NIH to be able to 
have laboratories and buildings in good repair so that our scientists 
can perform in an environment that allows them to be more creative, 
more innovative, and do more about the discovery to cure.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1430

  Mr. HARRIS. Mr. Chair, I agree with the gentlewoman from Connecticut 
when she said we need to fund the SNS. That is the bottom line. Mr. 
Chair, you read the Constitution like I read it. National Defense is 
one of the things outlined for Congress in the Constitution.
  We don't have adequate defense stockpiles in the Strategic National 
Stockpile.
  Let's talk smallpox, for example. We had 200 million doses back in 
2018. A lot of those have expired. The bottom line is that anthrax has 
a 30 percent mortality rate. We need a vaccine for every American, 
everyone living in the United States.
  It is that simple, because anthrax, Mr. Chair, is not something you 
have to develop in the Wuhan Institute of Virology. God knows they can 
develop dangerous weaponry. It can be stolen from somewhere and 
duplicated. It doesn't take a First World country to be an anthrax 
threat.
  Now with regard to the buildings at NIH, as I explained before, Mr. 
Chair, there is a $1.8 billion building slush fund over at HHS. They 
have accumulated $1.8 billion in what they call their nonrecurring 
expense fund.
  Mr. Chair, I will remind you, because of Bidenomics and a 5 percent 
interest rate, that is $90 million a year we are paying on interest on 
their slush fund.
  Mr. Chair, what I am proposing is we take the money out of NIH--and I 
will join with the gentlewoman from Connecticut in writing a letter to 
Secretary Becerra asking him to backfill that money from his slush 
fund.
  Enough with slush funds--$22 billion in Commerce, the Commodity 
Credit Corp, in USDA; $1.8 billion slush fund, nonrecurring expense 
fund in HHS.
  Mr. Chair, we can't afford it. We also can't afford to be without a 
Strategic National Stockpile. We need to make sure that we have the 
antimicrobials, that we have the vaccines in there that are necessary 
to protect against the next threat from China, North Korea, Russia, or 
Iran.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense 
amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Harris).
  The amendment was agreed to.


           Amendment No. 54 Offered by Mr. Carter of Georgia

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 54 
printed in part B of House Report 118-272.
  Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 93, line 9, before the semicolon insert the following: 
     ``: Provided, That $15,000,000 of the funds made available 
     under this paragraph shall be used to carry out section 2409 
     of division FF of Public Law 117-328''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 864, the gentleman 
from Georgia (Mr. Carter) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia.
  Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I rise today to speak in support of 
my amendment, which will allow States to build or maintain their own 
medical stockpiles and encourage regional coordination of those 
stockpiles.
  Over the past few years, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed 
vulnerabilities in our Strategic National Stockpile, leading to a 
shortage of critical drugs, vaccines, and medical supplies. We all 
remember the scramble among States and the Federal Government for 
limited supplies of diagnostics, PPE, treatments, and other critical 
medical countermeasures.
  Each State had different priorities and needs: while one needed 
ventilators, another needed masks. In my home State of Georgia, 
healthcare providers and patients struggled to access critical medical 
supplies and personal protective equipment. That is why it is important 
to not only ensure that the Strategic National Stockpile is robust, but 
also to provide ways for States to stockpile treatments and products 
for their specific needs. To be clear, this amendment would supplement, 
not replace, the Federal Strategic National Stockpile.
  This amendment would empower States to build and maintain their own 
medical stockpiles so they can respond quickly to emerging infectious 
diseases in the future. That is why I encourage my colleagues to 
support this amendment before us here today.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the 
amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Connecticut is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, this amendment would direct $15 million from 
the Strategic National Stockpile to allow States to build or maintain 
their own medical stockpile.
  The 2023 appropriation bill authorized a demonstration program for 
State Strategic National Stockpiles but did not include funding. This 
amendment would reduce funding for the Federal Strategic National 
Stockpile to support State efforts. You have one amendment that wants 
to go to $100 million, one who wants to take $15 million away from the 
national stockpile.
  It is important to note that the authorization specifically stated 
that authorized funds were intended to supplement rather than supplant 
the maintenance and use of the Federal Strategic National Stockpile. 
Redirecting SNS funds as this amendment does is in conflict with the 
intended purpose of the law. We are not adding on to, we are taking 
away from and moving someplace else.
  I would suggest that with regard to our public health and our 
national security, that through these efforts what we should do is to 
focus in on dealing with public health infrastructure in the strongest 
possible way, and that means making the investments in data 
modernization and data collection.
  There ought to be the authority to report data that the CDC should 
have to get this information, so we know what is happening in real 
time. We ought to take a look at the State laboratories and look at how 
we are supporting State laboratories, which many crashed, the whole 
infrastructure during COVID, the public health infrastructure nearly 
crashed.
  This amendment is in conflict with the intended purpose of the law. 
Once again, it takes money rather than adding to. It is intended to 
supplement, but what it does is it supplants.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose the amendment, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Chair, in response I would just say that 
this is simply to supplement the National Strategic Stockpiles. It is 
not to replace them. It is not to do anything but give the States the 
opportunity to have their own stockpiles. This is not a cookie-cutter-
type situation that you have here. Different States have different 
needs. We all understand that, and this is what that addresses.
  Mr. Chair, this is a commonsense bill and commonsense amendment, and 
I would ask and encourage my colleagues to vote in favor.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I stand in continued opposition to the 
amendment. It is hard to fathom the logic of supplanting versus 
supplementing. If you are taking money from the stockpile, you are 
taking away the funds

[[Page H5785]]

that are there, but you are not adding funds to what they already have 
so, in fact, you are taking money from the SNS for this other effort 
which is contrary to what the law states.
  I agree different States have different needs, et cetera. That is why 
I think that what you ought to do is to buttress what we are doing in 
State laboratories, dealing with data modernization, to make our public 
health infrastructure as strong as possible. This really takes money 
away from the SNS.
  Mr. Chair, I oppose it, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter).
  The amendment was agreed to.


            Amendment No. 55 Offered by Mr. Good of Virginia

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 55 
printed in part B of House Report 118-272.
  Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 94, line 14, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $28,000,000)''.
       Page 195, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $28,000,000)''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 864, the gentleman 
from Virginia (Mr. Good) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.
  Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Mr. Chair, today, I ask for my colleagues' 
support for my amendment to cut $28 million from this bill and 
contribute that money to paying down our deficit.
  My amendment takes the funds from the allocation to minority AIDS 
prevention. The targeted $28 million is actually a small fraction of 
what Americans pay in research and prevention of AIDS.
  According to HIV.gov, we spent $28 billion--1,000 times this targeted 
amount--on the domestic response to HIV/AIDS this year.
  The government approach to tackling HIV/AIDS encompasses five 
agencies and countless offices within those agencies. Our Housing and 
Urban Development Department, our Justice Department, our Defense 
Department, all of them spent money to combat AIDS last year. In fact, 
there are at least a dozen programs focused on AIDS, and the more you 
look into it, the more it represents the typical, bloated, ineffective 
government spending.
  My amendment targets, again, one-tenth of a percent of those funds 
that are racially focused because, once again, we are dividing people 
and our research based on race, which does nothing to help all 
Americans. Race can be a contributing factor in health outcomes, but 
that doesn't mean it needs special funding.
  If a disease disproportionately impacts a certain group, that will 
come out in the research and that group will benefit more from the 
program. The funds themselves should not be allocated based on race but 
allocated based on need.
  I hope my colleagues will join me in reducing a small amount of 
spending for an issue that our government already spends billions upon.
  If Members are bold enough to cut spending, we can contribute to 
reducing our deficit, and that is an issue that actually helps all 
Americans regardless of race.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the 
amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Connecticut is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this 
amendment. This amendment would cut $28 million from the Department of 
Health and Human Services for the purpose of eliminating the Minority 
HIV/AIDS Prevention Initiative.
  How far my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have come from 
the vision of George Bush and his PEPFAR Initiative. The underlying 
bill already cuts funding for the Minority HIV/AIDS Prevention 
Initiative by more than 50 percent. We have cut it already in this bill 
by 50 percent from its current funding level of $60 million to a 
proposed funding level of only $28 million. That is unacceptable.
  In the explanatory materials the Republican majority posted online to 
accompany the Labor, HHS, Education appropriations bill, the majority 
acknowledges ``the critical role that the Minority AIDS Initiative 
plays in our longstanding efforts to eliminate HIV and address the 
disproportionate disease burden that racial minority communities 
face.'' That is in the explanatory materials, and that is true.

                              {time}  1445

  The minority HIV/AIDS prevention initiative supports HIV prevention, 
as well as treatment in minority communities to help address that 
disparity.
  While we have made significant advances in recent decades against the 
HIV epidemic, it continues to be a crisis in many racial and ethnic 
minority communities. Almost three out of four new HIV diagnoses are 
among racial and ethnic minorities.
  This amendment to eliminate funding for the minority HIV/AIDS 
prevention initiative would take us back to a time when the Federal 
Government turned a blind eye to the spread of HIV, especially in 
minority communities.
  Let me be clear: Not only is this amendment unacceptable, but the 
funding cut of more than 50 percent in the base bill is unacceptable. 
When we go to conference with the Senate, after this House bill goes up 
in flames, I will ensure that these disastrous funding cuts are not 
included in the final bill.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this amendment, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Mr. Chair, I reiterate, there are over a dozen 
agencies that focus on this issue, and this amendment reduces by one-
tenth of 1 percent the amount that is allocated toward AIDS research 
and prevention in our country today. This is the portion which is race 
based, which of course my friends across the aisle cannot tolerate any 
reduction or elimination of any program that is race based because 
their policies seek to divide the country.
  This $28 million may seem like a drop in the bucket of what does need 
to be cut from our Federal spending, but this is a start.
  I urge my colleagues to support ensuring funding allocation that is 
based on need and not based on race and to vote in favor of this 
amendment.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I continue to oppose this amendment. I also 
might add, if you take the base bill which my Republican colleagues 
have come forward with, which is really unacceptable, the base bill 
ends the HIV initiative. These are programs that have been eliminated. 
It eliminates the HIV initiative here.
  This amendment would further cut the opportunity for treating AIDS in 
the minority community. What is going on here that we are not moving 
toward ending the HIV epidemic? We are close to it, which is why we 
dealt with this initiative on a bipartisan basis over the last 4 years.
  This, once again, is my colleagues turning their backs on saving 
people's lives. What more important effort should we be involved in in 
this Congress?
  Mr. Chair, I oppose this amendment, and I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, we have the opportunity today to 
stop treating people differently based on race and to cut our spending 
together in one amendment. I support it, and I urge passage of it.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Good).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes 
appeared to have it.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Virginia 
will be postponed.
  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 58, 
printed in part B of House Report 118-272.


                Amendment No. 61 Offered by Ms. Boebert

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 61 
printed in part B of House Report 118-272.

[[Page H5786]]

  

  Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 132, line 16, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $2,000,000)''.
       Page 132, line 20, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $2,000,000)''.
       Page 145, line 7, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $2,000,000)''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 864, the gentlewoman 
from Colorado (Ms. Boebert) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Colorado.
  Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer my amendment that 
transfers funds from government bureaucracy to charter school grants.
  As a mom raising four boys, I understand that families across this 
country want the best education possible for their children. One size 
does not fit all when it comes to education and our Nation's youth, and 
education matters are best handled at the State, local, and especially 
family levels.
  Charter schools are an important part of the public education 
landscape because they empower parents to choose a high-quality 
educational environment for their child regardless of income or ZIP 
Code. The unique educational experience of attending charter schools 
ensures more children have a chance to achieve the American Dream.
  During the first two full school years of COVID, nearly 240,000 
additional students enrolled in public charter schools. Charter schools 
were the only sector of public education to grow during the COVID 
lockdowns. They also serve our Nation's marginalized children.
  A 2021 analysis of research on charter school effects and competitive 
influence by the National Bureau of Economic Research highlighted 
trends from three decades of research on charter schools. They found 
that charter schools boost student test scores, particularly for Black, 
Hispanic, and low-income students, and that attending charter schools 
increases college enrollment and civic engagement.
  The competitive impact of charter schools on traditional public 
schools suggests a beneficial influence on neighboring schools' student 
achievement.
  The Charter Schools Program is the only program at the Department of 
Education that supports school choice and allows parents to place their 
children in a school that works for their unique needs. Parents know 
how to raise their children better than government bureaucrats and 
teachers' unions.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment that 
transfers funds from the government bureaucracy to charter school 
grants, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Connecticut is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment 
because for me this amendment continues that road that has been laid 
out in this Labor-HHS bill where the majority is moving to really 
eliminate public education in the United States.
  This bill decimates public education by cutting the Department of 
Education by $22.5 billion, 28 percent. It seeks to plus-up one of the 
only education programs that received an increase, the Charter Schools 
Program. They cut everything else in public education but increased the 
charter schools in this bill.
  We have had some spirited discussions about charter schools on the 
Labor-HHS subcommittee, and there are certainly some differences of 
opinion around the role that they should play in our public education 
system and whether they have historically received appropriate 
oversight by the Department of Education.
  The Charter Schools Program provides seed money to open new charter 
schools around the country. We should be in agreement on one point: 
This program has far more money than the Department of Education knows 
what to do with.
  In 2019, months after Secretary DeVos pleaded with our subcommittee 
for a $60 million increase to the Charter Schools Program, the 
Department approached us with warnings that demand for funding was low. 
Sure enough, before the end of the year, the Department was unable to 
use the full appropriation and transferred $12 million to other 
education accounts. That was almost 3 percent of the program's 
appropriation.
  In addition, over the years, our committee discussed issues raised by 
the inspector general, including findings that States have mismanaged 
charter school closures and that the Department failed to provide any 
adequate guidance or oversight on the issue. I know my colleagues on 
the other side of the aisle want oversight, and that is why we need to 
continue our oversight of the Charter Schools Program with respect to 
accountability, transparency, and success. Many open, many close. Many 
take people, and then they disgorge people.
  I support charter schools, but not at the risk of eliminating public 
education in this country, which is one of the issues that is on the 
agenda of the Republican majority in this Labor-HHS bill. This 
amendment provides a wasteful increase that would be better directed at 
restoring some of the underlying bill's disastrous cuts.
  Let's take a look at those cuts that are disastrous in education. 
Let's make sure that we are supporting title I. Let's make sure that we 
are supporting the development of teachers. Let's make sure that we are 
looking at Promise Neighborhoods. Let's make sure that we are dealing 
with the social and emotional learning of our kids instead of plussing-
up a program that has enough money to make it and has not had the kind 
of oversight it needs in order to make sure that it is doing its job.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this amendment, and 
I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I also have an amendment to add funding to 
the IG's account, and this amendment takes no funds from public 
schools. This is simply giving more choice to families throughout our 
Nation.
  Transparency is good, and the argument that we just heard was not so 
good. Parents know how to raise their children better than government 
bureaucrats and politicians. We certainly experienced that during the 
COVID lockdowns. The restrictions that we saw to our children's 
education and the educational experiences that were lost during those 2 
years or more of COVID lockdowns were a travesty.
  I cannot reiterate enough that parents know how to raise their 
children better than politicians, better than bureaucrats, better than 
teachers' unions. We want to strengthen the Charter Schools Program, 
and that is what this amendment does.
  Mr. Chair, I urge adoption of my amendment, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I continue my opposition of this amendment. 
As I understand it, this is an increase for the inspector general. As I 
mentioned a few moments ago, the inspector general has done intensive 
investigation of the charter school movement. They have findings that 
the States mismanaged charter school closures, and the Department 
failed to provide adequate guidance or oversight on this issue.
  Mr. Chair, I oppose this amendment, and I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. Boebert).
  The amendment was agreed to.

                              {time}  1500

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I move to strike the last word.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Connecticut is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. 
Hoyer), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Financial Services 
and General Government.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
  This bill perhaps will pass this House. It certainly will not pass 
the Senate, and it will not see the light of day on the President's 
desk.
  We spend our time here arguing a bill that violates the agreement 
made by

[[Page H5787]]

314 of us in this body, 165 Democrats and 149 Republicans. A majority 
of both parties said that we are going to have a funding level, 
otherwise known in our jargon as a 302(a) number; we will mark to that 
number; the Senate will mark to that number; and we will be able to get 
a bill.
  We have not done that, nor is there any intention to do that because 
compromise is out of the question and confrontation is the order of the 
day.
  I do not rise solely to talk about this Labor-HHS bill. I rise 
because I just came from a rally. It was an American rally on behalf of 
Israel, on behalf of the people of Israel, and in opposition to terror, 
murder, genocide, and the willingness of some to claim the destruction 
of Israel and its people as their objective.
  Yet, what do we do here in the House of Representatives? We sound an 
uncertain trumpet. If Speaker Johnson, who spoke at the rally today in 
support of Israel, would bring that bill to the floor to help fund that 
effort, it would pass with over 400 votes. Yet, it lies slumbering 
somewhere between the House and the Senate, and the Senate won't 
consider it.
  In addition, we are here disagreeing but disagreeing peacefully. 
Unfortunately, the citizens of Ukraine do not have that luxury. They 
stand. They fight for freedom, for democracy, against a Russian 
criminal attack on a free and sovereign nation.
  What do we do? We argue about a bill that is going nowhere, another 
uncertain trumpet of our conviction that the defense of democracy and 
freedom is worthy of our votes.
  Mr. Chair, 400 votes for Israel, over 300 votes for Ukraine, and it 
does not come to the floor.
  How strong a voice does America send to not only our enemies but to 
our allies as to our commitment to democracy, to freedom, and to 
international law? How muddled our voice seems to be on the 
international scene.
  Mr. Chair, I hope you bring those two bills to the floor, not as a 
political deal, not as a tit for tat, but as a statement of America 
that we stand for those who fight for freedom and democracy and a world 
of law.
  Bring those bills to the floor. We have already voted eight or nine 
times on Ukraine, 300 votes every vote, and Israel, over 400 votes.
  Please do that, Mr. Chair. Please do it for our own ideals. Do it for 
the defense of democracy and freedom and survival in Israel and freedom 
and democracy and sovereignty in Ukraine. America ought to do no less.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.


                Amendment No. 62 Offered by Ms. Boebert

  The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Van Drew). It is now in order to consider 
amendment No. 62 printed in part B of House Report 118-272.
  Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       On page 130, line 15, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $2,000,000)''.
       On page 131, line 17, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $2,000,000)''.
       On page 145, line 7, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $2,000,000)''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 864, the gentlewoman 
from Colorado (Ms. Boebert) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Colorado.
  Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer my amendment that 
transfers funds from the Department of Education bureaucracy to support 
the Rural Education Achievement Program, REAP.
  Most of the country's poorest counties are rural and are often 
disconnected from the nonprofits and social service agencies that fill 
the gaps in urban and suburban schools.
  After decades of population loss and divestment by State governments, 
many rural communities are struggling to keep up when it comes to 
educating our children and are being forced to close. When these 
schools close, children are forced to travel additional hours to get to 
school. Closures and consolidations also force teachers, 
administrators, and educators out of their jobs.
  Yet, America has continued to turn a blind eye, leaving our rural 
communities helpless. More than 9.3 million children attend rural 
schools. This makes up nearly one-fifth of public school students 
across the country.
  Rural children had an especially hard time keeping up when Democrats 
shut down our schools for 2 years and required students to learn via 
Zoom. Many of our children in rural communities don't have access to 
the internet, and some don't even have cell phone service. They deserve 
better than this.
  The Rural Education Achievement Program initiatives are designed to 
help rural districts that may lack the personnel and resources to 
compete effectively for competitive Federal grants.
  There are two dedicated programs funded by this account that aim to 
assist rural school districts with improving teaching and learning in 
their schools. The Small, Rural School Achievement Program provides 
funds to rural districts that serve a small number of students. The 
Rural and Low-Income School Program provides funds to rural districts 
that serve concentrations of poor students regardless of the number of 
students served by the district.
  Our children deserve a proper education no matter what their ZIP Code 
is, and it is our duty to build a better future for them.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment that 
transfers funds from the Department of Education bureaucracy to the 
Rural Education Achievement Program.
  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. Boebert).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                Amendment No. 63 Offered By Ms. Boebert

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 63 
printed in part B of House Report 118-272.
  Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       On page 132, line 4, after the first dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $2,000,000)''.
       On page 145, line 7, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $2,000,000)''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 864, the gentlewoman 
from Colorado (Ms. Boebert) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Colorado.
  Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer my amendment on behalf 
of the thousands of Native Americans who deserve a quality education 
that respects their culture, history, and identity. These students face 
unique challenges and opportunities in their communities, and they need 
our support to achieve their full potential.
  The Federal Government has a trust responsibility to provide 
educational services to Tribes and their members as established by 
treaties, statutes, and court decisions. However, for far too long, 
this responsibility has been neglected and underfunded, resulting in 
poor outcomes and inequities for Native students.
  According to the Office of Indian Education, there are 183 bureau-
funded elementary and secondary schools located on 64 reservations in 
23 States, serving approximately 42,000 Native students. These schools 
are often in remote and rural areas with limited access to resources, 
technology, and qualified teachers. Many of these schools are also in 
dire need of repair and renovation, posing health and safety risks to 
students and staff.
  Mr. Chair, I believe that education is the key to empowering 
opportunity and prosperity for all Americans. I also believe that we 
have a moral and legal obligation to honor our commitments to Tribes 
and their members and to respect their sovereignty and self-
determination.
  By redirecting wasteful spending in this bill to Native Americans' 
education, we can make a difference in the lives of Native students and 
in the strength and resilience of Tribal communities.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment to transfer 
funds from the Department of Education bureaucracy to the Indian 
Education account.

[[Page H5788]]

  Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. Boebert).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                 Amendment No. 69 Offered by Mr. Biggs

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 69 
printed in part B of House Report 118-272.
  Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 140, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $9,250,000,000)''.
       Page 195, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $9,250,000,000)''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 864, the gentleman 
from Arizona (Mr. Biggs) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.
  Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of my amendment that would 
cut funding for the student financial assistance account by $9.25 
billion.
  The student financial assistance account is being funded at $22 
billion for fiscal year 2024. This account provides funding for grants, 
loans, and other financial assistance to students who choose to pursue 
higher education, but the Federal Government's subsidization of higher 
education costs for individuals has actually created perverse 
incentives for higher education institutions to raise prices for all 
students and prospective students.
  This is a spiral and cycle that has been going on for decades. A 2017 
study from the Federal Reserve found the average tuition increase 
associated with expansion of student loans is as much as 60 cents per 
dollar.
  Federal student loan subsidies don't help students with the cost of 
higher education. These subsidies actually result in increased costs 
for higher education, tuition, fees, and expenses.
  With the Federal Government bearing the brunt of student loans, 
colleges are guaranteed to get the funding they ask for at the expense 
of the American taxpayer. This is a cycle that only leads to higher 
spending each fiscal year.
  Cutting funding for this program would claw back billions that could 
be diverted to lowering the national debt and the financial burden on 
the taxpayer.
  The Federal Government should not have a place in the monetary 
affairs of its private citizens. That is a matter for private banks, 
colleges, and students.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Connecticut is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this 
amendment. Make no mistake, this amendment will result in fewer 
students receiving Pell grants and will cut the maximum Pell grant 
award for 6.4 million students who use Federal student aid to pay to 
get a college education.
  A cut of $9.25 billion will leave the program with a shortfall of 
$875 million in 2024. Under special scoring rules for the Pell Grant 
Program passed by Congress nearly two decades ago, Congress cannot 
provide less funding than required under current estimates by the 
Congressional Budget Office.

                              {time}  1515

  This cuts a Pell grant to every single Pell recipient. If this 
amendment passes, the Pell grant program would have less funding than 
required to sustain the current maximum award and existing eligibility 
parameters.
  Faced with this reality, House Republicans will have two choices--cut 
the Pell grant maximum award or kick students out of the Pell Grant 
Program.
  At a time when students and families are struggling to cover rising 
college costs, it was already unconscionable that House Republicans 
would eliminate Federal Work-Study for 660,000 students and eliminate 
the Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants for another 1.7 million 
students nationwide. It was already cruel when House Republicans 
offered no relief to rising college costs by freezing the maximum Pell 
grant for the first time in 12 years.
  If this amendment passes, House Republicans will go one step further 
by cutting the maximum Pell grant or kicking students out of the 
program. This is truly a new low.
  Does anyone in this Chamber remember Senator Claiborne Pell? I 
remember him. Claiborne Pell was from Rhode Island to the manner born, 
affluent, but he had a vision. He understood that the sons and 
daughters of working men and women of middle-class families, of 
vulnerable families, had a right to an education just as every rich 
person in this country does, and therefore, he created this program, 
the Pell Grant Program.
  If my colleagues on the other side of the aisle pass this amendment, 
then, in fact, they are on that road that I have said over and over and 
over again is eliminating public education in the United States of 
America, eliminating opportunity for people to succeed in this country.
  Why would you want a legacy or a legend that follows you with that 
kind of effort?
  The United States is the land of opportunity. It should be, 
particularly where it comes to education for our children. It is the 
way to the future.
  I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this misguided amendment, and 
I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Chair, as it stands today, Americans owe over $1.7 
trillion in student loan debt, more than 5 percent of the Nation's 
total $33 trillion debt.
  The annual cost of attendance for students living on campus at a 
public 4-year State institution is 26 grand, or over $104,000 for a 4-
year degree. Out-of-State students pay $27,000, or over $108,000. 
Private nonprofit university students pay 55 grand, or more than 
$225,000.
  Do you know what is a new low? Do you know what is cruel? Do you know 
what is unconscionable? It is sending kids out with worthless degrees 
with debt that they can never sustain.
  It is a new low to oppose something like this because you know what 
is driving this? It is the exponential growth of children and kids who 
are coming up who cannot afford education because your grants, your 
continued giving of taxpayer funding to the universities has actually 
increased the number of people who have to get assistance.
  Why? Because tuition has spiked. It is growing multiples of the 
inflation rate. That is what is cruel. That is what is unconscionable.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. Members are reminded to direct their remarks to the 
Chair.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I yield the balance of my time to the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott), the distinguished ranking member 
of the Education and the Workforce Committee.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the 
amendment and the underlying bill. House Republicans' partisan bill is 
an attack on students, workers, and families.
  For 2024, the bill would cut close to $64 billion, roughly 28 percent 
from the Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and 
Related Agencies. The last time it was this low was in 2008.
  Inequity in America's education system persists. Significant funding 
disparities among neighboring schools continue to rob students of equal 
access to quality education, and this bill cuts title I significantly.
  Moreover, the bill cuts other programs like completely eliminating 
the Federal Work-Study that allows students to work their way through 
college; the Teacher Quality Partnership; the Job Corps, completely 
eliminated.
  There are essential programs that workers in our districts rely on, 
and if this becomes law, those programs would be eliminated. This 
amendment would cut Federal student aid, making it more likely that 
they would have to take out student loans.
  The underlying bill is bad enough. It is the first time in over a 
decade that the Pell grant wouldn't increase.
  Also, our Nation is facing disturbing child labor law violations, and 
House Republicans are slashing the OSHA budget. Despite actively 
negotiating bipartisan reauthorization for the

[[Page H5789]]

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, we are proposing cuts in 
adult and youth job training programs.
  Finally, the bill is an insult to families. It cuts Head Start 
programs so drastically, if this bill were to become law, 50,000 
children would lose access to childcare.
  Mr. Chair, I would ask that we oppose the amendment and the 
underlying bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Chair, what is driving the increased costs of tuition? 
Well, most of that is because the bureaucratization of academia. That 
drives costs higher every year.
  Let's go back to that 2017 study from the Federal Reserve Bank of New 
York. The average tuition increase associated with expansion of student 
loans is 60 cents for every dollar. So when your tuition is going up a 
buck, 60 cents of it is because of expansion of student loan programs.

  The Biden administration's efforts to eliminate student loan debt is 
wrong--wrong because they force everyday Americans to pay for the 
student loans taken out by others and wrong because they doubled down 
on a failed public policy that incentivizes price increases. You 
incentivize tuition to go up. Why would a university ever reduce its 
tuition or its costs? They know that they have the Federal Government 
to backstop every student who wants to go in.
  The way to curb the rise in both college tuition and student debt is 
to get the Federal Government out of the student loan business. The 
result will bring about more fiscally responsible citizens and a more 
fiscally responsible Federal Government. This would make the loan 
market more responsible and cause colleges to rein in their costs and 
reduce tuition so fewer students would need Pell grants or private aid.
  Private lending would also limit taxpayers' exposure to billions of 
dollars in student loan defaults. Did I say billions? I meant to say 
trillions because that is where we sit.
  Now, I want to respond in the time I have left to the cynical 
statement by the previous speaker who was talking about aid to Israel. 
We passed aid to Israel by a 226-196 vote. How did that happen? Mr. 
Chair, 196 of my friends across the aisle did not want to provide aid 
to Israel in that circumstance.
  Mr. Chair, I urge people to adopt this amendment, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Biggs).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes 
appeared to have it.
  Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Arizona will 
be postponed.


                 Amendment No. 70 Offered by Mr. Biggs

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 70 
printed in part B of House Report 118-272.
  Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 140, line 15, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $1,769,207,000)''.
       Page 195, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $1,769,207,000)''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 864, the gentleman 
from Arizona (Mr. Biggs) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.
  Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Chair, I rise to speak in support of my amendment that 
would strike funding for the Student Aid Administration.
  The Student Aid Administration provides funding for the government to 
administer student financial assistance programs, including funding for 
the office responsible for ensuring accountability for higher education 
institutions who receive Federal dollars.
  Unfortunately, under this administration, this regime, the Department 
of Education has developed a pattern of attacking large, higher 
education institutions that have a religious affiliation.
  I will give you two of these today.
  The Department of Education has repeatedly gone after Grand Canyon 
University, the largest private Christian university in the country. 
The Department of Education levied a $37.7 million fine. This is the 
largest fine in the Department's history.
  GCU was a nonprofit from its inception in 1949 until 2004 when they 
partnered with private investors in order to avoid closing.
  In 2018, GCU returned to its nonprofit status and is recognized by 
the IRS, the Higher Learning Commission, the State of Arizona, Arizona 
Private Postsecondary Board, and the NCAA. However, despite all this, 
the Department of Education has refused to acknowledge GCU's nonprofit 
status for purposes of Federal student financial aid.
  By not acknowledging GCU's nonprofit status, the Department of 
Education is able to target GCU and others as ``bad actors due to the 
disproportionate number of Americans who attend those schools and then 
default on Federal student loans.''
  However, GCU provides much higher levels of transparency than are 
legally required, and it is considered a leader in education 
transparency. The Department of Education, for instance, only requires 
universities to provide cost estimates for the first year in college--
for first-year, first-time students, and only for undergraduate 
programs, but GCU goes beyond these requirements by providing cost 
estimates for each year of the program study and for all of its degree 
programs, including the doctoral level.
  Rather than apply what GCU has done, the Department has attacked 
them, making this fine all the more troubling. The Department of 
Education is trying to make the claim that GCU lied to students about 
the cost to attend doctorate programs, but that is inaccurate.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Connecticut is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, this is one more amendment on the road to 
eliminating public education in the United States of America.
  I rise in strong opposition to this amendment. I am shocked by this 
amendment's intent to eliminate all funding to the Department of 
Education's Office of Federal Student Aid. What will this mean for the 
17.5 million students who need to fill out a Free Application for 
Federal Student Aid, the FAFSA? What will this mean for the 6.4 million 
students who rely on Pell grants to pay for college? What will this 
mean for nearly 43 million individuals, one in six adult Americans who 
are working to repay their Federal student loans?
  Make no mistake, this amendment signals an intent to destroy 
postsecondary education in this country. The House Republican Labor, 
HHS, Education bill already follows through on the other side's intent 
to break and dismantle public and postsecondary education for American 
students and families. This amendment just takes that destruction to 
another level.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this amendment, and 
I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Chair, GCU's degree program calculator provides the 
total estimated cost for a 60-credit doctoral program the exact same 
way it does for other degree programs. That is not required under the 
Department of Education, but the Department of Education still goes 
after them.
  GCU in its effort for clear transparency in red print above the 
calculator makes clear both the average number of continuation courses 
and cost for continuation courses that students may need to complete a 
doctoral dissertation.
  The Department of Ed even acknowledges that GCU provides this 
disclosure, but nonetheless, continues to go after them. GCU graduates 
are incurring less debt than the national average due to its affordable 
tuition rates, and still, the Department of Ed goes after them.
  A GAO report found that 91 percent of American colleges have 
misleading information in their financial aid offers, but GCU is the 
only nonprofit university being attacked from the Department of 
Education.

[[Page H5790]]

  At the same time, Liberty University is being threatened with a 
similar $37 million fine by the Department of Education, alleging Clery 
Act violations based on a preliminary report in May of this year.
  Liberty University has fully cooperated with the Department's 
investigation and found the Department made significant errors, 
misstatements, and unsupported conclusions in their findings.
  Why is Liberty University getting threatened with what would be 
another $37 million fine from the Department of Education when they are 
fully cooperating?

                              {time}  1530

  These two big universities are two of the largest Christian 
universities in America. Is that why they are being attacked by this 
Department of Education? It certainly seems to be the case.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Scott), the distinguished ranking member of the Education 
and Workforce Committee.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Chair, we know that the most effective way 
for young people to get into the middle class is with an education. 
Those without an education are going to have challenges. Whatever 
station of life you come from, if you get a good education, you have 
got a good shot at the American Dream.
  When President Johnson signed the Higher Education Act back in 1965, 
he said that essentially any student in any State could apply to any 
college or university and not be turned away because their family is 
poor. This amendment essentially eliminates that powerful promise.
  What is the vision for administering the opportunity to get an 
education? How are you going to get a Pell grant if you don't have 
anywhere to apply? How are you going to administer student loans?
  This just eliminates the opportunity for young people to get the 
education they deserve. I would hope that we would not adopt this 
amendment and, in fact, not even adopt the underlying bill. We need to 
make sure those opportunities are there.
  Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Chair, I ask my friends: Do you support a tax on 
private Christian universities by the Department of Education, the very 
Department that I am trying to defund?
  When you talk about the American Dream, student loan debt is crushing 
graduates, which is why when you look at polling, it indicates very 
clearly that young graduates do not believe they will attain the 
American Dream that their parents had access to. They are coming out 
with crushing student debt at the same time that that same Department 
is trying to crush very fine universities.
  Mr. Chair, I urge adoption of my amendment, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, may I inquire as to how much time is 
remaining?
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Connecticut has 2\1/4\ minutes 
remaining.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, the gentleman wants to cut and wants to 
privatize higher education. He wants to send students to the for-profit 
colleges where there is a raft of information about how they are 
harming college students, and he wants to provide funding for the for-
profit online program management companies, profiteers. That is who 
these folks are. It is everywhere. We know it.
  The data is rife with how they have created terrible situations for 
young people, and even those who are older, by shutting down, leaving 
these people with a bill, about not providing a credential so that 
people can get jobs. They are a menace on our education system.
  The gentleman here, as I understand it, will cut the Department of 
Education's Office of Federal Student Aid in order----
  Mr. BIGGS. Will the gentlewoman yield?
  Ms. DeLAURO. No, I am sorry, I won't.----in order to be able to 
support an online, for-profit industry that is bilking America's 
students and, in many instances, America's veterans. It is really 
pretty incredible the direction that the majority will go in destroying 
public education in this country.
  Mr. Chair, may I inquire as to the time remaining?
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Connecticut has 15 seconds 
remaining.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, with that 15 seconds, I will repeat what I 
said. We are looking at something that is scurrilous, supporting 
institutions that have been putting our students and our veterans at 
great risk.
  Mr. Chair, I oppose this amendment, and I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Biggs).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes 
appeared to have it.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Arizona will 
be postponed.


                 Amendment No. 71 Offered by Mr. Biggs

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 71 
printed in part B of House Report 118-272.
  Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 142, line 4, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $2,767,239,000)''.
       Page 142, line 25, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $10,000,000)''.
       Page 195, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $2,767,239,000)''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 864, the gentleman 
from Arizona (Mr. Biggs) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.
  Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Chair, I am going to respond to the ``scurrilous'' 
comments made in the last statement. Nothing in my amendment addressed 
online, for-profit private colleges, postsecondary. That was a 
deliberate mischaracterization of what I said, because the two 
universities I talked about are both nonprofit universities, recognized 
as postsecondary education institutions.
  GCU is recognized by the IRS as nonprofit, Higher Learning 
Commission, State of Arizona, and the Arizona Private Postsecondary 
Board. Liberty University is equal in their classification.
  To say what was said for 2\1/2\ minutes, to actually misdirect and 
try to misattribute my purpose, was an ascribing of motivations which 
should have been taken down.
  Mr. Chair, I rise now to speak in support of my amendment, which 
would strike funding for the higher education account. It appropriates 
over $2.7 billion. This account provides appropriations for grant 
programs that provide direct taxpayer support to higher education 
institutions.
  The effect of government subsidy and control has been more damaging 
than anyone has yet realized. Coupled with student assistance programs, 
direct government assistance to institutions has led to increased 
education costs and administrative costs.
  Let's think of it. College costs are out of control. Harvard, the 
total cost of attending for 4 years is now around $300 grand. College 
costs have risen to this level because D.C. is heavily subsidizing 
tuition through Federal grants and loans, leaving colleges and 
universities free to increase their prices because they know the 
Federal Government is going to pick up the tab in between.
  In FY 2023, we enacted a level of $2.994 billion, $600 million more 
than fiscal year 2019.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Connecticut is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, just as a point of reference, Grand Canyon is 
online and nonprofit in name only.
  I rise in strong opposition to this amendment. I am shocked by this 
amendment's intent. To eliminate all Federal education funding for 
Historically Black Colleges and Universities,

[[Page H5791]]

HBCUs, and minority-serving institutions, it is staggering, truly 
staggering. $400 million for HBCUs, eliminated. $228 million for 
Hispanic-serving institutions, eliminated. $100 for historically Black 
graduate institutions, eliminated. $52 million for Tribal colleges and 
universities, eliminated. Public education, eliminated.
  This colossal cut also eliminates countless other programs that help 
students access a postsecondary education and receive expanded economic 
opportunities.
  $1.2 trillion for the Federal TRIO program, eliminated. How far we 
have come. I have been on this Appropriations Committee for almost 28 
years and been on the Labor-HHS subcommittee, and I can remember my 
Republican colleague Ralph Regula. Some of my colleagues on the other 
side will remember Ralph. There was no bigger supporter of the TRIO 
program or for the GEAR UP program. He understood the relevance of 
these economic and educational opportunities for youngsters.
  It was not just Ralph Regula. I can go down the line in a bipartisan 
way of individuals who have supported the TRIO program. It is 
eliminated. $388 million for the Federal GEAR UP program, eliminated.
  Once again, the House Republican goal in this bill is crystal clear: 
Destroy postsecondary education opportunity for students and for 
families nationwide. This amendment makes that goal explicit.
  Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this amendment, and 
I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Chair, it is a shame that people make aspersions on 
the floor when they don't know anything about a subject.
  I think of Grand Canyon University and the 35,000 students on campus, 
on a physical plant, in Phoenix, Arizona. I just heard that they are an 
online school. Go tell those people who commute or live in the dorms at 
one of the fastest growing physical plant campuses in the country.
  It is like saying the University of Arizona is an online school, with 
their 35,000 students, because they have an online program where you 
can get a bachelor's degree without ever setting foot on campus, or ASU 
or BYU, or any of the hundreds of other campuses.
  How can you misdirect and try to attack an amendment when you simply 
don't know what is going on with what you are saying? It is astounding. 
It is astounding.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I just had a quick look. At Grand Canyon, 
86,000 students are online, so let's put that aside.
  The essential point of this amendment is what it would do to 
education and educational opportunities. As I mentioned, for the 
historically Black colleges, eliminated; Hispanic-serving institutions, 
eliminated; historically Black graduate institutions, eliminated; 
Tribal colleges--where else do you want to go to revoke education for 
youngsters in this country?
  I go back to an unbelievable man of vision, Claiborne Pell, who said, 
let's make postsecondary education available to all, not just the rich.

                              {time}  1545

  I said it before on this floor. I am the daughter of an immigrant 
family who shared the dream that I would be here someday. The road for 
me was education--tough. My mother worked as a garment worker in the 
old sweatshops in the city of New Haven. My father was an insurance 
agent. They pieced together what they could to give me the best 
education that I could have so I could have success. I am successful. I 
am here and grateful for it.
  All those young people out there who are going to be denied a chance 
to get a college education because somewhere deep inside the psyche of 
the Republican majority now--this hasn't been in the past; there has 
been bipartisan support on these issues--but right now deep in that 
psyche is that we have to rid ourselves of public education.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Chairman, nobody wants to revoke postsecondary 
education. What we want to do is acknowledge what the Federal 
Government has done to distort the cost of education.
  The New York Fed itself has said it is eating it up, and 60 percent 
of every tuition increase is coming because of this aid. We want to get 
it down so it is affordable again. We want nobody leaving college 
crushed by the student debt that they have. That is what is going on 
here.
  The fiscal year 2023 enacted level was $3 billion. That is $600 
million more than just a few years before in 2019. The 2024 number is 
slightly less, but it doesn't do enough to cut spending when we are 
$35.5 trillion in debt.
  Let's talk about what is happening. Universities are discriminating 
against conservative-leaning students. We see that. We had a hearing on 
that just last week. A recent University of North Carolina study found 
that conservative students within the UNC system face distinctive 
challenges when it comes to free speech and expression.
  Nearly 68 percent of conservative students are at least slightly 
concerned about possible social consequences that may come from voicing 
one's true opinion in class. It is a massive problem that higher 
education fosters.
  It is time that we move the Federal Government out of this business 
because they don't have any constitutional authority to be there in the 
first place.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Biggs).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes 
appeared to have it.
  Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Arizona will 
be postponed.


                 Amendment No. 76 Offered by Mr. Biggs

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 76 
printed part B of House Report 118-272.
  Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 144, line 21, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(reduced by $707,372,000)''.
       Page 195, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert 
     ``(increased by $707,372,000)''.

  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 864, the gentleman 
from Arizona (Mr. Biggs) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.
  Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Chairman, I rise to speak in support of my amendment, 
which strikes funding for the Institute of Education Sciences.
  The current funding in the fiscal year 2024 bill is $707 million. The 
institute puts this funding toward programs such as governing boards of 
institutions of higher education, which is interested in the disclosure 
of gender, racial, and ethnic composition of governing boards of higher 
education to promote DEI institutions, which is a pointless use of 
information and resources.
  This institute puts funding toward programs such as cross-sectional 
studies. This is a program launched to provide real-time data about the 
impact of COVID-19 on public K-12 education. The content focuses on how 
COVID-19 is affecting the delivery of education and how schools are 
navigating recovery efforts from that epidemic.
  The Department of Education requested $4 million initially to further 
expand the survey across districts nationally. It is not a mission that 
the American taxpayer needs to fund, and it is a direct waste of our 
budget.
  It is offices such as this that contribute to the rapid wasteful 
spending that has become so commonplace in our country under our 
Federal Government.
  As far as the grant programs under the Institute of Education 
Sciences, they go toward post-COVID-19 research. This is research to 
accelerate pandemic recovery in special education grant programs and 
improve pandemic recovery efforts in education agencies' grant 
programs.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition.

[[Page H5792]]

  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Connecticut is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this 
amendment.
  This amendment highlights the extreme lengths that House Republicans 
will go in order to dismantle public education for students and 
families nationwide.
  The Institute of Education Sciences', IES', mission is to provide 
scientific evidence on which to ground education practice and policy 
and to share this information and make it accessible to educators, 
parents, policymakers, researchers, and the public.
  IES is independent. IES is nonpartisan. They are the statistics 
research and evaluation arm of the U.S. Department of Education.
  What would happen if this amendment is successful? Well, it would 
mean the end of the National Assessment of Educational Progress, NAEP. 
That is the assessment of what students in the United States are able 
to do in various subjects. That has been administered since 1969.
  It would mean the end of regional educational laboratories, which 
provide evidence-based technical assistance to school districts and 
States across the country.
  It would mean the end of new advances in education research and 
development, including exciting initiatives to expand high-risk, high-
reward transformational research.
  This amendment would be the death of our Federal investment in 
education research.
  We just saw a little while ago that we were going to end our 
investment in biomedical research. Now, we are ending our investment in 
educational research. Simply, I cannot accept that outcome.
  Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this amendment, 
and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Chair, under the Institute of Education Sciences, they 
will establish two research networks, the pre-kindergarten through 
grade 12 recovery research network and the community college recovery 
research network to study pandemic events. It is a grant that pertains 
to gender-integrated classrooms to see if boys and girls are better 
equipped to learn together or separately in the classroom.
  The fiscal year 2019 enacted level was over $615 million, but 2024 is 
currently set at over $707 million. That is a $90 million increase in 
just 5 years. This rate of growth is not sustainable.
  This program is part of what we could safely call the educational-
industrial complex. Over the years, our predecessors created a 
constituency and expanded on it every year by giving more money. They 
justify it by putting more mandates and doing more studies that don't 
mean anything. They come back and do it again and again.
  Thus, we are well over $33 trillion in national debt. Our structural 
deficit last year was over $2 trillion. Fiscal year 2024 looks like it 
is going to be about the same, except we are going to be north of $35 
trillion, $36 trillion in national debt. That is crushing.
  Mr. Chair, I take my colleagues back to the New York Fed and its 
study. Of every dollar of tuition that increased, 60 percent of that, 
60 cents of that, goes to the fact that the Federal Government is 
meddling in postsecondary education. That is what is happening here. 
That is the educational-industrial complex.
  In December 2020, the Trump administration nominated Steve Hanke and 
John Yoo, both professors, to the advisory board for the IES. Education 
Secretary Miguel Cardona refused to acknowledge the appointments, 
deliver their credentials, or facilitate statutorily required board 
meetings.
  That is the educational-industrial complex that we are facing today. 
It is crushing. It is crushing our students who want an education.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I continue to oppose this amendment, but I 
want to provide a framework here for a moment.
  I was looking through the various amendments over the last little 
while. Amendment No. 69 from Mr. Biggs slashes the Pell grant funding. 
Amendment No. 70 from Mr. Biggs eliminates funding to give out Pell 
grants and to be able to collect student loans. Amendment No. 71 from 
Mr. Biggs eliminates funds for HBCUs, MSIs, TRIO, GEAR UP, and Tribal 
colleges. Amendment No. 76 from Mr. Biggs eliminates education, 
research, and funding. The most recent one is eliminating the funding 
by the Department of Education for the Institute of Education Sciences.

  There are two others, amendment No. 104 that eliminates the salary of 
the Department of Education Secretary, and amendment No. 92 from Mr. 
Crane that cuts education staff by $38 million.
  This is the litany of this battery of amendments where I make my 
point that the Republican majority is really in the business, within 
this bill, of eliminating public education. These amendments come on 
top of the underlying bill, which makes a 28 percent cut in education.
  Do we think we have a reasonable understanding of where the 
Republican majority wants to go with public education? Let's do it in.
  Mr. Chairman, I say to Mr. Biggs that he has the lion's share of 
taking education and public education to the graveyard. Is that what we 
are to do?
  The greater strength of this institution is its potential to help 
make a difference in people's lives and to provide opportunity. That is 
what we are supposed to do in the United States Congress and in the 
House of Representatives.
  Mr. Chair, this battery of amendments would destroy educational 
opportunity, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Chair, the greatest strength of this body is that we 
represent constituents who send us here knowing that we are constrained 
in protecting their rights because we are limited by what we can and 
cannot do by that great document, the Constitution.
  I stand here willing to learn and find out where in the Constitution 
there is any specific authority for this body to meddle in 
postsecondary educational choices of the American people. That is the 
educational-industrial complex at work, for what we are seeing in the 
arguments against my amendments today.
  I support postsecondary education. I do not support the Federal 
Government meddling in the choices of individuals to get that education 
and how they are going to get it and the institutions that are 
providing it--the harassment that some of those institutions are 
receiving from this administration.
  Mr. Chair, I urge the adoption of my amendment, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Biggs).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes 
appeared to have it.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Arizona will 
be postponed.

                              {time}  1600

  Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise.
  The motion was agreed to.
  Accordingly, the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore (Mr. Van 
Drew) having assumed the chair, Mr. Calvert, Acting Chair of the 
Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, reported that 
that Committee, having had under consideration the bill (H.R. 5894) 
making appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human 
Services, and Education, and related agencies for the fiscal year 
ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes, had come to no 
resolution thereon.

                          ____________________