[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 27]
[House]
[Pages 36257-36271]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS, AND RELATED PROGRAMS 
    APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2008 (CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2008)

  Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 893, I call up 
the bill (H.R. 2764) making appropriations for the Department of State, 
foreign operations, and related programs for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 2008, and for other purposes, with a Senate amendment to 
the House amendment to the Senate amendment thereto, and ask for its 
immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will designate the Senate 
amendment.
  The text of the Senate amendment is as follows:

       Senate amendment to House amendment to Senate amendment:
       Page 1431, line 15, of the House engrossed amendments to 
     the Senate amendment to the text of the bill, strike division 
     L and insert:

            DIVISION L--SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS, DEFENSE

                      TITLE I--MILITARY PERSONNEL

                           MILIARY PERSONNEL

                        Military Personnel, Army

       For an additional amount for ``Military Personnel, Army'', 
     $782,500,000.

                        Military Personnel, Navy

       For an additional amount for ``Military Personnel, Navy'', 
     $95,624,000.

                    Military Personnel, Marine Corps

       For an additional amount for ``Military Personnel, Marine 
     Corps'', $56,050,000.

                     Military Personnel, Air Force

       For an additional amount for ``Military Personnel, Air 
     Force'', $138,037,000.

                  TITLE II--OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

                       OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

                    Operation and Maintenance, Army

       For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance, 
     Army'', $35,152,370,000.

                    Operation and Maintenance, Navy

                     (including transfers of funds)

       For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance, 
     Navy'', $3,664,000,000: Provided, That up to $110,000,000 
     shall be transferred to the Coast Guard ``Operating 
     Expenses'' account.

                Operation and Maintenance, Marine Corps

       For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance, 
     Marine Corps'', $3,965,638,000.

                  Operation and Maintenance, Air Force

       For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance, 
     Air Force'', $4,778,000,000.

                Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide

       For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance, 
     Defense-Wide'', $2,116,950,000, of which up to $300,000,000, 
     to remain available until expended, may be used for payments 
     to reimburse Pakistan, Jordan, and other key cooperating 
     nations, for logistical, military, and other support 
     provided, or to be provided, to United States military 
     operations, notwithstanding any other provision of law: 
     Provided, That such payments may be made in such amounts as 
     the Secretary of Defense, with the concurrence of the 
     Secretary of State, and in

[[Page 36258]]

     consultation with the Director of the Office of Management 
     and Budget, may determine, in his discretion, based on 
     documentation determined by the Secretary of Defense to 
     adequately account for the support provided, and such 
     determination is final and conclusive upon the accounting 
     officers of the United States, and 15 days following 
     notification to the appropriate congressional committees: 
     Provided further, That the Secretary of Defense shall provide 
     quarterly reports to the congressional defense committees on 
     the use of funds provided in this paragraph.

                Operation and Maintenance, Army Reserve

       For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance, 
     Army Reserve'', $77,736,000.

                Operation and Maintenance, Navy Reserve

       For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance, 
     Navy Reserve'', $41,657,000.

            Operation and Maintenance, Marine Corps Reserve

       For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance, 
     Marine Corps Reserve'', $46,153,000.

             Operations and Maintenance, Air Force Reserve

       For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance, 
     Air Force Reserve'', $12,133,000.

             Operation and Maintenance, Army National Guard

       For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance, 
     Army National Guard'', $327,000,000.

             Operation and Maintenance, Air National Guard

       For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance, 
     Air National Guard'', $51,634,000.

                           Iraq Freedom Fund

                     (including transfer of funds)

       For an additional amount for ``Iraq Freedom Fund'', 
     $3,747,327,000, to remain available for transfer until 
     September 30, 2009, only to support operations in Iraq or 
     Afghanistan: Provided, That the Secretary of Defense may 
     transfer the funds provided herein to appropriations for 
     military personnel; operation and maintenance; Overseas 
     Humanitarian, Disaster, and Civic Aid; procurement; research, 
     development, test and evaluation; and working capital funds: 
     Provided further, That funds transferred shall be merged with 
     and be available for the same purposes and for the same time 
     period as the appropriation or fund to which transferred: 
     Provided further, That this transfer authority is in addition 
     to any other transfer authority available to the Department 
     of Defense: Provided further, That upon a determination that 
     all or part of the funds transferred from this appropriation 
     are not necessary for the purposes provided herein, such 
     amounts may be transferred back to this appropriation: 
     Provided further, That the Secretary of Defense shall, not 
     fewer than 5 days prior to making transfers from this 
     appropriation, notify the congressional defense committees in 
     writing of the details of any such transfer: Provided 
     further, That the Secretary shall submit a report no later 
     than 30 days after the end of each fiscal quarter to the 
     congressional defense committees summarizing the details of 
     the transfer of funds from this appropriation.

                    Afghanistan Security Forces Fund

                     (including transfer of funds)

       For the ``Afghanistan Security Forces Fund'', 
     $1,350,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2009: 
     Provided, That such funds shall be available to the Secretary 
     of Defense, notwithstanding any other provision of law, for 
     the purpose of allowing the Commander, Office of Security 
     Cooperation-Afghanistan, or the Secretary's designee, to 
     provide assistance, with the concurrence of the Secretary of 
     State, to the security forces of Afghanistan, including the 
     provision of equipment, supplies, services, training, 
     facility and infrastructure repair, renovation, and 
     construction, and funding: Provided further, That the 
     authority to provide assistance under this heading is in 
     addition to any other authority to provide assistance to 
     foreign nations: Provided further, That the Secretary of 
     Defense may transfer such funds to appropriations for 
     military personnel; operation and maintenance; Overseas 
     Humanitarian, Disaster, and Civic Aid; procurement; research, 
     development, test and evaluation; and defense working capital 
     funds to accomplish the purposes provided herein: Provided 
     further, That this transfer authority is in addition to any 
     other transfer authority available to the Department of 
     Defense: Provided further, That upon a determination that all 
     or part of the funds so transferred from this appropriation 
     are not necessary for the purposes provided herein, such 
     amounts may be transferred back to this appropriation: 
     Provided further, That contributions of funds for the 
     purposes provided herein from any person, foreign government, 
     or international organization may be credited to this Fund, 
     and used for such purposes: Provided further, That the 
     Secretary shall notify the congressional defense committees 
     in writing upon the receipt and upon the transfer of any 
     contribution delineating the sources and amounts of the funds 
     received and the specific use of such contributions: Provided 
     further, That the Secretary of Defense shall, not fewer than 
     five days prior to making transfers from this appropriation 
     account, notify the congressional defense committees in 
     writing of the details of any such transfer: Provided 
     further, That the Secretary shall submit a report no later 
     than 30 days after the end of each fiscal quarter to the 
     congressional defense committees summarizing the details of 
     the transfer of funds from this appropriation.

                       Iraq Security Forces Fund

                     (including transfer of funds)

       For the ``Iraq Security Forces Fund'', $1,500,000,000, to 
     remain available until September 30, 2009: Provided, That 
     such funds shall be available to the Secretary of Defense, 
     notwithstanding any other provision of law, for the purpose 
     of allowing the Commander, Multi-National Security Transition 
     Command-Iraq, or the Secretary's designee, to provide 
     assistance, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, 
     to the security forces of Iraq, including the provision of 
     equipment, supplies, services, training, facility and 
     infrastructure repair, renovation, and construction, and 
     funding: Provided further, That the authority to provide 
     assistance under this heading is in addition to any other 
     authority to provide assistance to foreign nations: Provided 
     further, That the Secretary of Defense may transfer such 
     funds to appropriations for military personnel; operation and 
     maintenance; Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster, and Civic Aid; 
     procurement; research, development, test and evaluation; and 
     defense working capital funds to accomplish the purposes 
     provided herein: Provided further, That this transfer 
     authority is in addition to any other transfer authority 
     available to the Department of Defense: Provided further, 
     That upon a determination that all or part of the funds so 
     transferred from this appropriation are not necessary for the 
     purposes provided herein, such amounts may be transferred 
     back to this appropriation: Provided further, That 
     contributions of funds for the purposes provided herein from 
     any person, foreign government, or international organization 
     may be credited to this Fund, and used for such purposes: 
     Provided further, That the Secretary shall notify the 
     congressional defense committees in writing upon the receipt 
     and upon the transfer of any contribution delineating the 
     sources and amounts of the funds received and the specific 
     use of such contributions: Provided further, That the 
     Secretary of Defense shall, not fewer than five days prior to 
     making transfers from this appropriation account, notify the 
     congressional defense committees in writing of the details of 
     any such transfer: Provided further, That the Secretary shall 
     submit a report no later than 30 days after the end of each 
     fiscal quarter to the congressional defense committees 
     summarizing the details of the transfer of funds from this 
     appropriation.

             Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Fund

                     (including transfer of funds)

       For the ``Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Fund'', 
     $4,269,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010: 
     Provided, That such funds shall be available to the Secretary 
     of Defense, notwithstanding any other provision of law, for 
     the purpose of allowing the Director of the Joint Improvised 
     Explosive Device Defeat Organization to investigate, develop 
     and provide equipment, supplies, services, training, 
     facilities, personnel and funds to assist United States 
     forces in the defeat of improvised explosive devices: 
     Provided further, That within 60 days of the enactment of 
     this Act, a plan for the intended management and use of the 
     Fund is provided to the congressional defense committees: 
     Provided further, That the Secretary of Defense shall submit 
     a report not later than 30 days after the end of each fiscal 
     quarter to the congressional defense committees providing 
     assessments of the evolving threats, individual service 
     requirements to counter the threats, the current strategy for 
     predeployment training of members of the Armed Forces on 
     improvised explosive devices, and details on the execution of 
     this Fund: Provided further, That the Secretary of Defense 
     may transfer funds provided herein to appropriations for 
     military personnel; operation and maintenance; procurement; 
     research, development, test and evaluation; and defense 
     working capital funds to accomplish the purpose provided 
     herein: Provided further, That this transfer authority is in 
     addition to any other transfer authority available to the 
     Department of Defense: Provided further, That upon 
     determination that all or part of the funds so transferred 
     from this appropriation are not necessary for the purpose 
     provided herein, such amounts may be transferred back to this 
     appropriation: Provided further, That the Secretary of 
     Defense shall, not fewer than 5 days prior to making 
     transfers from this appropriation, notify the congressional 
     defense committees in writing of the details of any such 
     transfer.

                         TITLE III--PROCUREMENT

                              PROCUREMENT

                       Aircraft Procurement, Army

       For an additional amount for ``Aircraft Procurement, 
     Army'', $943,600,000, to remain available for obligation 
     until September 30, 2010.

        Procurement of Weapons and Tracked Combat Vehicles, Army

       For an additional amount for ``Procurement of Weapons and 
     Tracked Combat Vehicles, Army'', $1,429,445,000, to remain 
     available for obligation until September 30, 2010.

                    Procurement of Ammunition, Army

       For an additional amount for ``Procurement of Ammunition, 
     Army'', $154,000,000, to remain available for obligation 
     until September 30, 2010.

                        Other Procurement, Army

       For an additional amount for ``Other Procurement, Army'', 
     $2,027,800,000, to remain available for obligation until 
     September 30, 2010.

[[Page 36259]]



                       Aircraft Procurement, Navy

       For an additional amount for ``Aircraft Procurement, 
     Navy'', $48,500,000, to remain available for obligation until 
     September 30, 2010.

            Procurement of Ammunition, Navy and Marine Corps

       For an additional amount for ``Procurement of Ammunition, 
     Navy and Marine Corps'', $304,945,000, to remain available 
     for obligation until September 30, 2010.

                        Other Procurement, Navy

       For an additional amount for ``Other Procurement, Navy'', 
     $91,481,000, to remain available for obligation until 
     September 30, 2010.

                       Procurement, Marine Corps

       For an additional amount for ``Procurement, Marine Corps'', 
     $703,250,000, to remain available for obligation until 
     September 30, 2010.

                    Aircraft Procurement, Air Force

       For an additional amount for ``Aircraft Procurement, Air 
     Force'', $51,400,000, to remain available for obligation 
     until September 30, 2010.

                      Other Procurement, Air Force

       For an additional amount for ``Other Procurement, Air 
     Force'', $30,725,000, to remain available for obligation 
     until September 30, 2010.

                       Procurement, Defense-Wide

       For an additional amount for ``Procurement, Defense-Wide'', 
     $274,743,000, to remain available for obligation until 
     September 30, 2010.

                TITLE IV--REVOLVING AND MANAGEMENT FUNDS

                     REVOLVING AND MANAGEMENT FUNDS

                     Defense Working Capital Funds

       For an additional amount of ``Defense Working Capital 
     Funds'', $1,000,000,000, to remain available for obligation 
     until September 30, 2010.

             TITLE V--OTHER DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PROGRAMS

                  OTHER DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PROGRAMS

                         Defense Health Program

       For an additional amount for ``Defense Health Program'', 
     $575,701,000 for Operation and maintenance.

         Drug Interdiction and Counter-Drug Activities, Defense

       For an additional amount for ``Drug Interdiction and 
     Counter-Drug Activities, Defense'', $192,601,000.

                      TITLE VI--GENERAL PROVISIONS

                           GENERAL PROVISIONS

       Sec. 601. Appropriations provided in this division are 
     available for obligation until September 30, 2008, unless 
     otherwise so provided in this division.
       Sec. 602. Notwithstanding any other provision of law or of 
     this division, funds made available in this division are in 
     addition to amounts appropriated or otherwise made available 
     for the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2008.

                          (TRANSFER OF FUNDS)

       Sec. 603. Upon the determination of the Secretary of 
     Defense that such action is necessary in the national 
     interest, the Secretary may transfer between appropriations 
     up to $4,000,000,000 of the funds made available to the 
     Department of Defense in this division: Provided, That the 
     Secretary shall notify the Congress promptly of each transfer 
     made pursuant to the authority in this section: Provided 
     further, That the authority provided in this section is in 
     addition to any other transfer authority available to the 
     Department of Defense.
       Sec. 604. Funds appropriated in this division, or made 
     available by the transfer of funds in or pursuant to this 
     division, for intelligence activities are deemed to be 
     specifically authorized by the Congress for purposes of 
     section 504 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 
     414).
       Sec. 605. None of the funds provided in this division may 
     be used to finance programs or activities denied by Congress 
     in fiscal years 2007 or 2008 appropriations to the Department 
     of Defense or to initiate a procurement or research, 
     development, test and evaluation new start program without 
     prior written notification to the congressional defense 
     committees.
       Sec. 606. (a) Availability of Funds for CERP.--From funds 
     made available in this division to the Department of Defense, 
     not to exceed $500,000,000 may be used, notwithstanding any 
     other provision of law, to fund the Commander's Emergency 
     Response Program, for the purpose of enabling military 
     commanders in Iraq to respond to urgent humanitarian relief 
     and reconstruction requirements within their areas of 
     responsibility by carrying out programs that will immediately 
     assist the Iraqi people, and to fund a similar program to 
     assist the people of Afghanistan.
       (b) Quarterly Reports.--Not later than 15 days after the 
     end of each fiscal year quarter (beginning with the first 
     quarter of fiscal year 2008), the Secretary of Defense shall 
     submit to the congressional defense committees a report 
     regarding the source of funds and the allocation and use of 
     funds during that quarter that were made available pursuant 
     to the authority provided in this section or under any other 
     provision of law for the purposes of the programs under 
     subsection (a).
       Sec. 607. During the current fiscal year, funds available 
     to the Department of Defense for operation and maintenance 
     may be used, notwithstanding any other provision of law, to 
     provide supplies, services, transportation, including airlift 
     and sealift, and other logistical support to coalition forces 
     supporting military and stability operations in Iraq and 
     Afghanistan: Provided, That the Secretary of Defense shall 
     provide quarterly reports to the congressional defense 
     committees regarding support provided under this section.
       Sec. 608. During fiscal year 2008, supervision and 
     administration costs associated with projects carried out 
     with funds appropriated to ``Afghanistan Security Forces 
     Fund'' or ``Iraq Security Forces Fund'' in this division may 
     be obligated at the time a construction contract is awarded: 
     Provided, That for the purpose of this section, supervision 
     and administration costs include all in-house Government 
     costs.
       Sec. 609. (a) Reports on Progress Toward Stability in 
     Iraq.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment 
     of this Act and every 90 days thereafter through the end of 
     fiscal year 2008, the Secretary of Defense shall set forth in 
     a report to Congress a comprehensive set of performance 
     indicators and measures for progress toward military and 
     political stability in Iraq.
       (b) Scope of Reports.--Each report shall include 
     performance standards and goals for security, economic, and 
     security force training objectives in Iraq together with a 
     notional timetable for achieving these goals.
       (c) Specific Elements.--In specific, each report shall 
     require, at a minimum, the following:
       (1) With respect to stability and security in Iraq, the 
     following:
       (A) Key measures of political stability, including the 
     important political milestones that must be achieved over the 
     next several years.
       (B) The primary indicators of a stable security environment 
     in Iraq, such as number of engagements per day, numbers of 
     trained Iraqi forces, and trends relating to numbers and 
     types of ethnic and religious-based hostile encounters.
       (C) An assessment of the estimated strength of the 
     insurgency in Iraq and the extent to which it is composed of 
     non-Iraqi fighters.
       (D) A description of all militias operating in Iraq, 
     including the number, size, equipment strength, military 
     effectiveness, sources of support, legal status, and efforts 
     to disarm or reintegrate each militia.
       (E) Key indicators of economic activity that should be 
     considered the most important for determining the prospects 
     of stability in Iraq, including--
       (i) unemployment levels;
       (ii) electricity, water, and oil production rates; and
       (iii) hunger and poverty levels.
       (F) The criteria the Administration will use to determine 
     when it is safe to begin withdrawing United States forces 
     from Iraq.
       (2) With respect to the training and performance of 
     security forces in Iraq, the following:
       (A) The training provided Iraqi military and other Ministry 
     of Defense forces and the equipment used by such forces.
       (B) Key criteria for assessing the capabilities and 
     readiness of the Iraqi military and other Ministry of Defense 
     forces, goals for achieving certain capability and readiness 
     levels (as well as for recruiting, training, and equipping 
     these forces), and the milestones and notional timetable for 
     achieving these goals.
       (C) The operational readiness status of the Iraqi military 
     forces, including the type, number, size, and organizational 
     structure of Iraqi battalions that are--
       (i) capable of conducting counterinsurgency operations 
     independently;
       (ii) capable of conducting counterinsurgency operations 
     with the support of United States or coalition forces; or
       (iii) not ready to conduct counterinsurgency operations.
       (D) The rates of absenteeism in the Iraqi military forces 
     and the extent to which insurgents have infiltrated such 
     forces.
       (E) The training provided Iraqi police and other Ministry 
     of Interior forces and the equipment used by such forces.
       (F) Key criteria for assessing the capabilities and 
     readiness of the Iraqi police and other Ministry of Interior 
     forces, goals for achieving certain capability and readiness 
     levels (as well as for recruiting, training, and equipping), 
     and the milestones and notional timetable for achieving these 
     goals, including--
       (i) the number of police recruits that have received 
     classroom training and the duration of such instruction;
       (ii) the number of veteran police officers who have 
     received classroom instruction and the duration of such 
     instruction;
       (iii) the number of police candidates screened by the Iraqi 
     Police Screening Service, the number of candidates derived 
     from other entry procedures, and the success rates of those 
     groups of candidates;
       (iv) the number of Iraqi police forces who have received 
     field training by international police trainers and the 
     duration of such instruction; and
       (v) attrition rates and measures of absenteeism and 
     infiltration by insurgents.
       (G) The estimated total number of Iraqi battalions needed 
     for the Iraqi security forces to perform duties now being 
     undertaken by coalition forces, including defending the 
     borders of Iraq and providing adequate levels of law and 
     order throughout Iraq.
       (H) The effectiveness of the Iraqi military and police 
     officer cadres and the chain of command.
       (I) The number of United States and coalition advisors 
     needed to support the Iraqi security forces and associated 
     ministries.
       (J) An assessment, in a classified annex if necessary, of 
     United States military requirements, including planned force 
     rotations, through the end of calendar year 2008.

[[Page 36260]]

       Sec. 610. Each amount appropriated or otherwise made 
     available in this division is designated as an emergency 
     requirement and necessary to meet emergency needs pursuant to 
     subsections (a) and (b) of section 204 of S. Con. Res. 21 
     (110th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for 
     fiscal year 2008.
       Sec. 611. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available by this division may be obligated or expended to 
     provide award fees to any defense contractor for performance 
     that does not meet the requirements of the contract.
       Sec. 612. No funds appropriated or otherwise made available 
     by this division may be used by the Government of the United 
     States to enter into an agreement with the Government of Iraq 
     that would subject members of the Armed Forces of the United 
     States to the jurisdiction of Iraq criminal courts or 
     punishment under Iraq law.
       Sec. 613. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
     Secretary of the Army may reimburse a member for expenses 
     incurred by the member or family member when such expenses 
     are otherwise not reimbursable under law: Provided, That such 
     expenses must have been incurred in good faith as a direct 
     consequence of reasonable preparation for, or execution of, 
     military orders: Provided further, That reimbursement under 
     this section shall be allowed only in situations wherein 
     other authorities are insufficient to remedy a hardship 
     determined by the Secretary, and only when the Secretary 
     determines that reimbursement of the expense is in the best 
     interest of the member and the United States.
       Sec. 614. In this division, the term ``congressional 
     defense committees'' means--
       (1) the Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of 
     the Senate; and
       (2) the Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of 
     the House of Representatives.
       Sec. 615. This division may be cited as the ``Emergency 
     Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, 2008''.


                       Motion Offered by Mr. Obey

  Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 893, I offer a 
motion.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will designate the motion.
  The text of the motion is as follows:

       Mr. Obey moves that the House concur in the Senate 
     amendment to the House amendment to the Senate amendment to 
     H.R. 2764.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 893, the 
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) and the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Lewis) each will control 30 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin.


                             General Leave

  Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 
5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on the pending legislation.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Wisconsin?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 4 minutes.
  Mr. Speaker, before I get to the matter at hand, I would like to, as 
the minority leader did just a moment ago, I would like to take special 
note of the fact that the Appropriations Committee in the House is 
losing a highly valuable member of our staff.
  David Morrison has served the Appropriations Committee and the 
Defense Appropriations Subcommittee with distinction for a number of 
years. I know I have certainly come to rely on him for many things, and 
I know the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr. Murtha, has certainly 
heavily relied on him as well. I hesitate to point out that before he 
served the Appropriations Committee in the House, he had an errant 
career. He spent part of that career at the Office of Management and 
Budget, and he spent another portion of that career in the other body. 
Despite that fact, he has recovered very well, and he has served us 
extremely well in the House. We hate to see him leave, and I think we 
all owe him a round of applause.
  Mr. Speaker, I don't want to take much time. I know people want to 
leave. Let me explain the procedure that is being followed. I have a 
ministerial duty to call up this Senate amendment, even though I intend 
to vote against it.
  As the House I think understands, yesterday the House considered an 
omnibus appropriation bill, and what we did was to consider two 
amendments; one amendment related to the domestic funding for the bill, 
and the other amendment related to funding for Afghanistan and for 
certain force protection items. We sent those two amendments over to 
the Senate, and the Senate has amended the product in one respect. They 
have substituted for the $30 billion that we sent to the Senate for 
Afghanistan and for force protection items, they have substituted $70 
billion, and sent it back to the House.
  I have an obligation to allow the House to work its will on this 
matter, even though I suspect I am going to disagree with the result of 
this action.

                              {time}  1645

  In my view, when we sent legislation over to the Senate 3 weeks ago, 
that legislation provided for $50 billion for the purpose of helping to 
shut down the war by establishing a timeline, by requiring that all 
agencies of the Federal Government adhere to the U.S. Army Manual with 
respect to torture, and would also require that every unit be 
militarily ready to perform its duties. That is still sitting in the 
Senate. In my view, all that we had to do to deal with the so-called 
shortfall that the White House has been talking about is for the 
President to sign that bill with those conditions. The White House has 
blocked that legislation in the Senate, and so we have come to this.
  Members will vote however they choose. I intend to vote ``no,'' but 
this is an individual vote of conscience.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, in the last several days we 
have said all that we perhaps need to say about the omnibus. We have 
discussed every inch of it. We all know about the amendment on the 
Senate side. And, because of that, I am going to give up my 20-minute 
speech.
  I would like to take just a moment nonetheless to ask the Members to 
join me in paying a very special tribute to one of the most beloved and 
respected staffers on Capitol Hill.
  After 3 years as my staff director, Frank Cushing is leaving the 
committee at the end of the year to pursue other opportunities. With 
more than 25 years of Capitol Hill experience, Frank leaves behind a 
record of integrity and service that few can match.
  I got to know Frank in 1995 when he served as my clerk on the House 
VA-HUD subcommittee of appropriations, a position he held until 2003. 
In very little time, I saw that Frank was one of those rare staffers 
who not only loves and respects this institution, but he in turn is 
respected and trusted by Members on both sides of the aisle.
  Prior to his service in the House, Frank held numerous positions in 
the Senate, including staff director, both majority and minority, of 
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and clerk of the 
Interior Appropriations Subcommittee. More than one professional on 
both sides of the aisle have said to me, and I would quote them, ``You 
are fortunate if you have been trained in this business by Frank 
Cushing.''
  Frank, we are going to miss you. We want you to know that, as we 
express our love for you and for Amy, the entire body wishes you well 
and wishes your family Godspeed. Thanks, Frank.
  Mr. Speaker, we are now just 6 days away from the Christmas holidays. 
I know the Members and staff are eager to get home to their families so 
I intend to be very brief in my remarks today.
  The House is considering a yearend omnibus spending package that, I 
must confess, is a much better product than what we considered Monday 
evening. I reluctantly opposed both amendments passed by the House 2 
days ago because they failed to provide for our troops in harm's way in 
Iraq. Fortunately, the Senate has now addressed this oversight. The 
Omnibus returns to the House a much better and complete bill.
  Because this spending package adheres to the President's top line on 
spending, and it contains funding for our men and women in uniform in 
both Iraq and Afghanistan, I intend to support this legislation. And, 
I'm pleased to say that all indications are that the President will 
sign it.
  Before concluding my remarks, I want to thank Chairman Obey and the 
fine committee staff for their tireless efforts this year. Few people 
realize the tremendous amount of work that goes into the appropriations 
process each year.
  The Appropriations Committee is the workhorse committee. Chairman 
Obey and our staff have worked very long hours to produce this 
legislation, and they deserve our gratitude. David, it is time for you 
to go home to Wisconsin and for me to go to California for a few weeks. 
It's time to let the staff catch up on

[[Page 36261]]

some long overdue family time for the holidays.
  Mr. Speaker, I am going to take almost no more time except to 
recognize a couple of my colleagues for unanimous-consent requests.
  I first recognize the gentleman from Florida, my chairman of the 
Appropriations Committee, Bill Young.
  Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the 
amendment to provide funding for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
  These funds should have been provided much earlier this year. They 
are vital if we are to ensure that our troops have the support they 
need until enactment of a full-year supplemental appropriations bill 
for the Global War on Terror.
  As I've said before, engaging in a debate on war policy is a 
legitimate and proper role for the Congress. However, we should never 
put ourselves in the position of threatening funding for our troops in 
the field. They deserve our full, unrestricted support.
  With passage of this amendment, both the Army and the Marine Corps 
will have the funds they need to continue war operations for the first 
half of fiscal year 2008. However, we need to move quickly next year to 
provide full funding for our soldiers and marines, and for all our men 
and women in uniform. Let's not hold them hostage to Congressional 
debates ever again.
  In conclusion, I strongly support this amendment and urge that it be 
adopted by the House. Then we can truly wish all our military a Merry 
Christmas and a Happy New Year.
  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I recognize the gentleman from 
Mississippi (Mr. Wicker) for a unanimous-consent request.
  Mr. WICKER. Mr. Speaker, I too rise in strong support of the 
amendment, thanking my subcommittee chairman, Mr. Edwards, for his kind 
remarks about me 2 days ago and about the staff, expressing regret that 
we couldn't have done the MilCon-VA bill earlier.
  Mr. Speaker, allow me to say a word or two about the Military 
Construction and Veterans Affairs portion of this omnibus bill. When 
the legislation was before the House earlier this week, Chairman 
Edwards was generous in his praise of our majority and minority staff 
members of the subcommittee. I wholeheartedly echo that sentiment. We 
have been blessed with a capable and hard-working staff.
  Chairman Edwards was also kind enough to acknowledge that he and I 
have worked in partnership on this bill from day one. I want to take 
this opportunity to return that salute. Mr. Edwards sought my input 
throughout the process, and I am grateful that together with our 
subcommittee members we have been able to put together a bipartisan 
product that provides historic increases for our veterans, for our 
troops, and for the quality of life of current military families. These 
funds come on top of substantial increases for these accounts during 
the 12 years when Republicans were in the majority.
  I would also gently remind my colleagues that this vital funding has 
been unnecessarily delayed. We could have moved to conference quickly 
on this type of funding--in a bipartisan and unifying way. Instead, 
powers above Mr. Edwards' and my pay grades decided to attach the bill 
to a much more controversial Labor-HHS-Education measure, and there it 
has sat, now some 80 days into the new fiscal year.
  In an attempt to break the logjam, I introduced legislation identical 
in every respect to the Milcon-VA conference agreement, and every 
Republican member of this body co-sponsored that bill. We could have 
had funding in the pipeline for family housing, childcare centers, 
veterans and military construction early on. But the bill was held 
hostage as leverage for an additional $22 billion in completely 
unrelated areas.
  In the end the ploy did not work. Thankfully we are passing an 
omnibus bill at roughly the President's level, and the veterans and 
troops are finally getting a bill. I would simply urge my fellow 
Members to resist these types of maneuvers in the future. Let's not 
hold up Milcon and VA spending in an effort to spend more elsewhere.
  Having made that point as cordially and charitably as I can and in 
the spirit of the Christmas season, I again thank and commend my 
Chairman for allowing me to participate in an excellent bipartisan 
achievement.
  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).
  Ms. LEE. Let me thank the gentleman for his leadership and for 
yielding.
  Here we go again, another payment on a war that should not have been 
fought and an occupation that keeps our young men and women in harm's 
way. By forcing Congress to tie the fate of spending for critical 
domestic programs to Iraq funding, this President held these programs 
hostage just to prop up his failed policy. This is not only shameful, 
it is unacceptable. The American people want our troops and our 
contractors home.
  A recent CNN poll found that 69 percent of respondents favored 
withdrawing all of our troops from Iraq. Nearly half believe that our 
troops should be home in under 1 year.
  The only funds that we should be giving this President today should 
be to protect our troops and our contractors and to bring them home in 
a safe and timely and orderly fashion, in other words, what we tried to 
do several weeks ago, and, that is, fully fund the redeployment of our 
troops and military contractors from Iraq. And we should be using this 
opportunity to shore up vital programs such as our poverty elimination 
efforts, vital HIV/AIDS programs, both domestic and international, and 
providing health care for all, which we tried to do in the 
Appropriations Committee under Chairman Obey but which the President, 
unfortunately, threatened to veto. Now, Congress, this body, once again 
is complicit in the President's games. And these are war games that he 
is playing.
  Why in the world are we going to put another payment down on this war 
that should have ended? Actually, it should have never started. So 
let's vote ``no'' on this. His inflexibility, the President's 
inflexibility, this House, this body's inflexibility has already cost 
America too much in terms of lives, in terms of treasure, in terms of 
our standing in the world, and in terms of our national security.
  Mr. LEWIS of California. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. OBEY. I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Waters).
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker and Members, I would like to commend those 
who have worked so hard for so long to try and right the wrong of our 
occupation in Iraq. I would like to thank the leadership for all the 
attempts that they have made to try and engage people on the opposite 
side of the aisle and those who don't have enough courage to do the 
right thing.
  We find ourselves here at a moment with an omnibus bill that we have 
had to support, and many people have many things in the bill that they 
would like to have back home. I understand that. But in the final 
analysis, we are never going to end this war until we stop feeding this 
war with the taxpayers' dollars after they have told us to bring our 
soldiers home.
  I stand here today in support of our soldiers. I support them coming 
home. Young men and women are dying in Iraq, the victims of IEDs, not 
even knowing how to protect themselves. And they come home, and we have 
to struggle to make sure that they are taken care of, that their health 
care needs are met.
  When are we going to come to our senses? We are fighting a war that 
we never should have been in in the first place. We are fighting a war 
where we were told there were weapons of mass destruction and there 
were none. We are fighting a war where we have contractors who are 
abusing civilians in Iraq. We have contractors who are stealing the 
taxpayers' money in Iraq. And yet we continue to nuance this debacle. 
We continue to say, I didn't understand. I didn't know. Well, let me 
make it perfectly clear.
  There is $70 billion in this bill for Iraq and Afghanistan, and it is 
fungible. We don't know how much of it is going to be spent where. But 
don't go away saying, I didn't understand, I didn't know, that is not 
what I intended to do. There is $70 billion here. If you don't want to 
continue this war, don't vote for this bill.
  Mr. OBEY. I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Moran).
  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. I thank the very distinguished chairman of the 
Appropriations Committee and the very

[[Page 36262]]

distinguished chairman of the Defense appropriations subcommittee. 
Because, over the last 2 years, six times this body has passed 
responsible limits on the conduct of this war. Six times we have tried 
to make sense and pass legislation.
  What we are about to do now is to give the President a blank check to 
continue this war until the end of his term, to continue what has gone 
down in history as the worst foreign policy fiasco in American history. 
Nobody in their right mind can argue that this war was thoughtfully 
planned or responsibly executed, and yet we are going to give him a 
blank check. We will look back on this day and people will ask, why?
  Well, I want to thank Mr. Obey, I want to thank Mr. Murtha, the Out 
of Iraq Caucus, and the majority of my colleagues. We did the right 
thing. History will record that. But this is a very sad day for us. 
When you think that 4,000 young men and women have given up their 
lives, tens of thousands seriously wounded. For what? For a nation that 
will wind up far more loyal to Iran than it will be to the United 
States, to a nation that in fact is allowing young people to roam the 
streets with guns and forcing school girls going to school having to 
wear their veils. A repressive society, what will become a Shiite 
theocracy.
  Sure, there is less violence. But that is because we have ethnically 
cleansed most of Baghdad. There is less violence because the Sunni 
warlords have taken time off from shooting American soldiers to ridding 
themselves of al Qaeda in Iraq because Muqtada al-Sadr has decided to 
take a 6-month hiatus from shooting us. But all of this is going to 
come back. We see no end in sight. This is a very bad day, and we ought 
to vote ``no.'' It is the responsible thing to do.
  Mr. OBEY. I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Lewis).
  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Obey, my 
good friend, for yielding time.
  Mr. Speaker, I know there are a lot of good things in this bill, but 
there is one bad thing. Billions of dollars, more billions of dollars 
to fund the war in Iraq.
  The best present, the best gift we could give to our young men and 
women in the military during this season of peace and goodwill would be 
to bring this madness to an end and bring our young people home, and 
bring them home now. This war was ill-conceived from the beginning. It 
is a war of choice and not a war of necessity. The time is long 
overdue. Now is the time to bring this madness to an end.
  I said it before and I will say it again. In good conscience, I will 
not vote for one dollar or one dime to continue this war. The American 
people are sick and tired of this war and I am tired and sick of this 
war. It is time to give peace a chance.
  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I think that probably no bill that the House will 
consider this year more aptly demonstrates the divided nature of this 
Congress and this government than does the bill that is before us right 
now. People often say there is not a dime's worth of difference between 
the two political parties. My response, at least on this occasion, is 
you are absolutely right. At least with respect to this legislation, 
there is a $40 billion difference between the two parties. Because when 
you take into account what this Congress did in January when it passed 
the continuing resolution in January, and if you take into account the 
money that has been moved from the President's priorities into 
congressional priorities in this bill, you will see that that amounts 
to almost $40 billion. It is not as much as I would like, but it 
certainly is worth the fight.

                              {time}  1700

  So I think there is a very big difference between a Congress run by 
our friends on the other side of the aisle and a Congress run by the 
now-majority Democratic Party.
  But I think there is another significant difference, and that is the 
way the two parties have approached the war in Iraq. We have tried 
every way known to man to bring this war to a conclusion. Mr. Murtha 
has produced out of his subcommittee time and time again language 
trying to produce a policy change, and on each occasion, that language 
has either been vetoed by the President or it has been blocked by the 
President through the use of his friends in the other body.
  So I think it is clear that if the Nation wants a change in direction 
with respect to this war, it has only two options: Number one is to 
elect more progressive voices in the United States Senate; second is to 
elect a President who has a different set of priorities domestically 
and a different vision for America's involvement in the Middle East and 
especially in Iraq.
  This, in my view, is a conscience vote. As it comes down to us at 
this point, we have disposed of all of the domestic issues and we have 
this one remaining issue with respect to Iraq. I would simply say that 
I think we have provided more than enough money for that war.
  I would note that earlier today, just a few moments ago, we had some 
64 Members of this House vote against the alternative minimum tax fix 
because it was not paid for, and it added $50 billion to the debt. I 
would point out that the document before us will add $70 billion to 
that debt. And so I would hope that persons who felt it necessary to 
express their concern about the debt a few moments ago would be willing 
to do so on this occasion as well.
  I would also point out that Mr. Murtha, Mr. McGovern and I have 
offered this Congress a way to avoid adding to that debt because we 
believe that if this war is such a hot idea, then we ought to at least 
pay for it so we don't shovel yet another bill off on our kids.
  It is apparent that this House does not have the will to do that. And 
so not only do I think this is an unnecessary war, it is also an 
unnecessary add-on to the national debt.
  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. OBEY. I yield to the gentleman from California.
  Mr. LEWIS of California. As we are closing this down, I would like to 
join you and use this moment to express my deep appreciation for the 
fine work in our committee of David Morrison. Thank you.
  Mr. OBEY. I thank the gentleman, and I would simply say that I am not 
going to advise anyone how to vote. This is a conscience vote, in my 
view.
  Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that 80 days into the fiscal 
year, the House has passed a budget that remains within the spending 
limits set by the President and contains essential funding for our 
soldiers serving in Iraq. Furthermore, I am glad several projects 
within the Fourth Congressional District are included in the final 
version of the bill. These projects are important to the people within 
my district, and will provide essential funding for new highway 
infrastructures, wastewater treatment facilities, and law enforcement 
upgrades, as well as other important projects. In addition, I am 
pleased at what this bill does not contain; harmful policy riders that 
would have opened the door for American tax dollars to be spent on 
abortions for citizens of foreign nations, and those that would tie the 
hands of our military leaders in Iraq.
  However, I could not support this legislation due to the harm it 
causes to the completion of the border fence, which was authorized by 
Congress in the passage of the Secure Fence Act of 2006. Congress sent 
a clear message that a border fence should be constructed when it 
passed the Secure Fence Act. Specifically, it mandated the construction 
of 700 miles of fence along our southwestern border. Instead of 
building on this legislation, provisions in the omnibus increase 
bureaucratic roadblocks, create new restrictions for the Department of 
Homeland Security (DHS), and repeal important measures that were signed 
into law in the 2006 bill.
  In particular, a provision in the omnibus gives DHS the discretion on 
whether or not to build a fence, essentially eliminating the central 
tenet of the Secure Fence Act, which specifies locations where a fence 
shall be built. I am also deeply concerned that restrictions included 
in the omnibus, such as eliminating the authority of DHS to identify 
additional areas for fencing at the end of 2008 and requiring an 
onerous analysis of each 15 miles of planned fencing, will essentially 
end the project before the fence will be completed.

[[Page 36263]]

  In addition to this harmful language, a provision in the omnibus 
requires that in locations where a border fence will be constructed, 
DHS must abide by excessive consultation and reporting requirements, 
thereby placing further bureaucratic roadblocks in front of an already 
delayed process. This language will require DHS to consult with other 
Federal agencies, State and local governments, Indian tribes, and 
landowners to minimize the impact on the environment, culture, 
commerce, and quality of life near where the fence will be constructed. 
However, while requiring this excessive consultation to be completed, 
this provision gives no guidance as to when the consultation can be 
determined to be completed and construction can begin.
  Americans should not have to sacrifice border security for the 
passage of the fiscal budget. It is my hope that Congress will 
readdress this issue when it reconvenes in January and correct these 
provisions to ensure a border fence will be completed.
  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the Senate 
amendment to the omnibus appropriations bill for an unconditional $70 
billion for the war in Iraq. This amendment gives the President a blank 
check to continue a flawed strategy that has no end in sight. It does 
nothing to bring home our brave men and women of the armed forces 
serving faithfully in Iraq, many of them on their third tour of duty in 
that country, at considerable sacrifice and strain to them and their 
families. Nor does this amendment place any conditions on the Iraqi 
government, which has continually failed to pursue political 
reconciliation. Our intelligence community has publicly concluded that 
the political situation Iraq is getting worse, not better. Moreover, 
the indefinite presence of American forces has sadly contributed to 
Iraq's political stagnation because it has allowed the different 
factions there to postpone making the difficult compromises necessary 
to achieve stability and reconciliation. Meanwhile, our men and women 
of the armed services continue to die every day in Iraq's ongoing civil 
war. A strategy of more of the same is no strategy at all.
  I have and will continue to vote to ensure that our troops in Iraq 
receive the support and equipment that they need. That is why in 
November I voted in support of the House measure to provide our troops 
in Iraq with an additional $50 billion. At the same time, this House 
legislation required the safe and responsible redeployment of our 
troops in Iraq. That legislation aimed to transition the U.S. military 
mission in Iraq. It would redeploy our combat forces out of Iraq by a 
target date of December 15, 2008. The House proposal, modeled after the 
approach recommended by the bipartisan Baker-Hamilton Commission of the 
Iraq Study Group, would focus the remaining forces on the more limited 
missions of training Iraqi security forces, providing logistical and 
intelligence support for Iraqi security forces, and engaging in 
targeted counter-terrorist operations against Al-Qaeda and affiliated 
groups. The House bill also called for a ``comprehensive diplomatic, 
political, and economic strategy that includes sustained engagement 
with Iraq's neighbors and the international community for the purpose 
of working collectively to bring stability to Iraq.''
  Instead of supporting the sensible approach passed by the House, the 
Senate Republicans, taking their cue from the White House, threatened 
to filibuster it. Now these same political elements have collaborated 
in sending us an amendment for more war funding with no accountability 
and no plan to redeploy our combat forces. This irresponsible approach 
will have the effect of prolonging the war, not bringing it to an end.
  While I am opposed to another blank check for war funding in Iraq, I 
support continued military operations and reconstruction activities in 
Afghanistan. Moreover, my opposition to the Senate amendment does not 
extend to the underlying Omnibus, which--while far from perfect--was at 
the end of the day the best that we could do this year.
  Mr. DICKS. Mr. Speaker, the House of Representatives today is faced 
with a regrettable decision on the eve of the adjournment of the first 
session of the 110th Congress. With the appropriations bills that fund 
the routine operations of all of the departments and agencies of the 
Federal Government now approved by both Houses of Congress, we are once 
again being asked to provide additional funding for the ongoing 
military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The House has already 
expressed its view on this question when we voted on November 14th to 
approve $50 billion in supplemental defense funding with three very 
clear and very reasonable conditions: that our troops should be 
properly trained; that our forces will not use torture when conducting 
interrogations of enemy combatants; and, that we should establish a 
goal of redeploying all offensive troops from Iraq by the end of 2008. 
It would have been easy--and appropriate--for the President to sign the 
bill that was approved by a majority of the Members of this House and 
supported by a majority of Americans, rendering the debate we are 
having today unnecessary. The President has remained stubbornly 
determined to continue our involvement in Iraq without clearly defining 
a plan for the eventual re-deployment of our troops, and he has stated 
his intention to veto any legislation that attempts to change the 
course he has set.
  After more than 4\1/2\ years, it is clear that our Nation's 
involvement in Iraq has cost far too much. It has cost the lives of 
nearly 3,900 men and women in our military and it has affected the 
lives of many thousand more who have been seriously wounded--both 
physically and psychologically. It has cost at least $450 billion in 
national debt to date, with hundreds of billions more in future costs 
that will be incurred no matter how quickly we are able to extricate 
ourselves. It has also seriously diminished our military readiness and 
our ability to respond to other national security threats. And finally, 
our initial invasion and our protracted involvement in Iraq has 
diminished our international prestige and made it more difficult for 
the United States to exert leadership and influence around the globe.
  It is against this backdrop that we in Congress have been working 
toward a strategy of timely redeployment of our troops that I believe 
is both militarily appropriate and necessary for encouraging the Iraqi 
government to assume greater control of the security of the Iraqi 
people. It was discouraging to me on our visit to Iraq last month led 
by the Chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, Congressman 
Jack Murtha, that the Iraqi government has clearly not taken advantage 
of the improved security climate, brought about largely by the 
increased numbers of U.S. troops in Iraq during this past year. 
President Maliki and his government have not taken the steps they 
pledged to take in national reconciliation, in the distribution of the 
oil revenues or in several other key benchmarks that were established 
as indicators of progress.
  On the face of it, the provision that has been sent to us by the 
Senate appears to be strictly about providing funds for the military 
operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is true that these funds would 
ensure that the soldiers, marines, sailors and airmen in harm's way are 
protected and continue to have the equipment, the supplies, the fuel, 
and the transportation resources that keeps them fed, repairs their 
equipment, treats their medical needs, and allows them to continue to 
operate. The reality, however, is that these funds will necessarily 
have an impact on our entire military. Because of the immediate need to 
protect troops in wartime conditions, all of the men and women in 
uniform--as well as the civilian workforce of the Defense Department--
are caught in the position of having to curtail important operations 
that underpin the very readiness of our forces, not just for Iraq, but 
for all aspects of our nation's defense.
  The Army is on the leading edge of these impacts with installations 
across the country already having been notified to prepare for 
curtailing operations in the middle of February. The Army can keep 
going that long only by accelerating spending regular operations funds 
intended to last for the entire year, and by reprogramming other funds 
to the maximum allowed in law. If no further action is taken on this 
funding, the Army intends to furlough as many as 100,000 civilian 
employees and a comparable number of contractor personnel. In addition, 
it will sharply reduce travel, training, maintenance and child care and 
other day-to-day activities at installations across the Nation. And we 
know that the Marine Corps is close behind the timing of the Army in 
experiencing these impacts, all of which will exacerbate the level of 
readiness already diminished by our long involvement in Iraq.
  So it is frustrating for me and for many Members of this House to be 
presented with the Hobson's choice that we have before us today: 
whether to impose a terribly chaotic situation on the entire U.S. 
military or whether to approve another substantial increment of funding 
for the Iraq war without any clear and well-articulated strategy for 
the eventual re-deployment of American troops. We are presented with 
this choice by a President who is unwilling to consider any change 
whatsoever in our strategy in Iraq and who has clearly not listened to 
the will of the American people or the views of their representatives 
here in Congress.
  I have reluctantly concluded at this point that a vote to deny these 
funds now could potentially harm the troops in theater and could 
seriously diminish the condition of all of our military forces who 
still face other threats around the globe. Out of a responsibility to 
the

[[Page 36264]]

men and women in uniform, to their families, to the civilian workforce 
in DOD and to our Nation's overall security, I intend to vote in favor 
of this resolution.
  At the same time, it is my intention to continue working with what I 
believe is a growing majority here in Congress and a solid majority in 
the country to advocate for a major change in the direction of our 
policy in Iraq, and for the prompt re-deployment of the U.S. troops 
currently stationed in Iraq.
  Mr. HALL of New York. Mr. Speaker, today this body did something that 
it failed to do last year under the previous majority by passing 
legislation to direct the spending of our Federal Government.
  I am disappointed that the choice of the President and the minority 
to engage in confrontation and obstruction instead of cooperation and 
progress prevented us from more fully meeting America's needs in this 
bill. Despite their intransigence, we were able to pass a bill that 
began to reinvest in critical national priorities that had been 
neglected for too long. Priorities like life saving medical research, 
law enforcement, border and homeland security, K-12 education, college 
aid, needed infrastructure improvements, renewable energy, and energy 
efficiency. In addition to those steps, this bill lived up to the 
commitment of this Congress to keep our promises to America's veterans 
by providing $3.7 billion over the President's request for veterans' 
medical care, claims processing, and facility improvements.
  I indicated when the House considered this legislation earlier this 
week that I believed this is not a perfect bill. However, I believe 
that the spending bill we approved on December 17, 2007, does a 
tremendous amount of good by funding key programs that will make 
America more secure and more prosperous. It makes necessary investments 
in America's future, and that is why I voted for it.
  Unfortunately, the Senate has added funding for the war in Iraq 
without placing a time line for withdrawal. For that reason, I could 
not support the Senate version of the bill and voted against it.
  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this 
legislation. It has been a long process, and this bill is far trom 
perfect, but I enthusiastically support this measure as an important 
first step in a long-overdue effort to provide for the needs of our 
most vulnerable citizens and begin to invest in priority items here at 
home to build a brighter future for America.
  As a member of the House Budget Committee, I believe that budget-
making is about more than just numbers on a ledger or a spreadsheet. 
Budgets reflect our Nation's priorities, and Congress has a solemn duty 
to pass a funding that honors the values of the American people. I have 
worked with the leadership of this new Democratic Congress to reverse 
the misguided budget course of the current administration that has 
neglected America's domestic needs and created massive annual deficits 
and record national debt. I am pleased that the New Direction Congress 
has rejected the President's misguided budget cuts for critical 
American priorities like education, medical research and energy 
independence. This responsible legislation fulfills Congress's 
obligation to govern and charts a better course for the American 
people.
  I especially want to thank the House Democratic Leadership for 
including $600 million for disaster assistance for victims of the 
record drought in North Carolina and throughout the southeastern United 
States. My farmers are hurting, and this disaster assistance will 
provide real relief and some measure of hope for the future. I have 
been proud to lead the fight for this funding, and I want to thank 
Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Hoyer, Majority Whip Clyburn, 
Appropriations Committee Chairman Obey and Agriculture Committee 
Chairman Peterson for their leadership on this priority item.
  Beyond disaster assistance, I support this omnibus appropriations 
bill because it invests in:
  K-12 Education: $767 million above the President's request with 
targeted increases to Title I, Special Education, Teacher Quality 
Grants, After-School Initiatives and Head Start.
  Student Aid: $1.7 billion above the President's request for Pell 
Grants and other student aid.
  Vocational Education: $575 million above the President's request for 
technical training at high schools and community colleges.
  State and Local Law Enforcement: $1.2 billion above the President's 
request to help local communities across the country.
  Homeland Security Grants: $1.8 billion above the President's request, 
recognizing that homeland security begins with hometown security.
  Medical Research: $607 million above the President's request to study 
diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and diabetes.
  Health Care Access: $1 billion above the President's request, making 
targeted increases to efforts like Community Health Centers to provide 
280,000 more uninsured Americans with access to health care and High 
Risk Insurance Pools to help 200,000 more people afford health 
insurance.
  Rural Health Care: $147 million above the President's request to help 
1,200 small rural hospitals.
  Veterans: $3.7 billion more than the President's request for VA 
health care, medical and prosthetic research, medical services for 
injured and ill veterans, and the construction of new VA medical 
facilities.
  Highway Infrastructure: Meets the guaranteed levels set in the 
authorization bill and provides a $1 billion initiative to repair our 
bridges.
  Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency: $486 million above the 
President's request for critical investments in Solar Energy, Wind 
Energy, Biofuels, and Energy Efficiency, with a careful blend of new 
scientific investments and conservation efforts.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, this bill contains funding the President 
requested for ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, to support 
our troops and avoid any risk that Defense Department employees could 
be subject to furlough notices this holiday season. I regret that the 
stubborn opposition of the President and his allies in Congress to 
investing more in America's priorities prevent us from making more 
progress. But I strongly support this compromise legislation, and I 
urge my colleagues to join me in voting for it.
  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, 2 days ago, this body passed an 
omnibus appropriations bill that, while limited in its priority only to 
the most basic domestic needs in this country due to the stubbornness 
of the President and Republicans in the Senate, funded over a half a 
trillion dollars for important programs that will help all Americans. 
Now, however, we are being asked to attach to that bill $70 billion in 
unchecked, unconditional, and unqualified spending for the war in Iraq. 
It is absolutely unacceptable that we continue to provide the President 
with funding without providing explicit requirements that he redeploy 
our troops from Iraq, bolster our diplomatic efforts throughout the 
Middle East, and engage other countries in the region in a political 
solution. For those reasons, I will be voting against this funding.
  Our soldiers have acted with unquestionable bravery and patriotism in 
Afghanistan and Iraq. They have given their time, their devotion, and 
in some cases their lives. And it is time for them to come home. Yet, 
their military accomplishments are not being complemented with 
political or diplomatic accomplishments. The Iraqi government refuses 
to step up to the plate, move toward reconciliation, and unite the 
Iraqi people.
  As we prepare to start a new year, it is expected for people to 
reflect on what has transpired from the past, learn from their mistakes 
and decide how they can improve in the future. This does not hold true 
for the President, who instead is blindly demanding unfettered war 
funds without demonstrating any plans for removing our troops from 
harm's way and turning Iraq over to the Iraqi people. We cannot and 
must not continue on this path.
  Mr. McCAUL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the Committee has spoken and the 
result is positive. I appreciate the words of the Committee in the 
Statement of the managers accompanying the Omnibus Appropriations 
legislation specifically regarding the USAID and hunting conservation 
programs in Africa and around the world.
  The initial problem that came to light earlier this year was language 
that denied USAID funding of recreational, sport, and trophy hunting in 
its assistance programs in Africa. The language in the Statement of the 
Managers to accompany the Omnibus legislation offers out the 
opportunity for the USAID conservation projects to continue and states 
that they need to come before the Committee and explain these important 
conservation programs. I support this effort and commend the Committee 
on this language.
  These USAID projects are very important tools in the effort to 
promote conservation. Tourist hunting in foreign lands has proven to be 
vital and critical to community-based natural resource management 
programs such as the CAMPFIRE Program in Zimbabwe and the LIFE Plus 
Project in Namibia. The CAMPFIRE and the LIFE Plus Projects in Africa 
are just two examples of working conservation programs that involve 
controlled, regulated sport and trophy hunting. These programs 
literally support the entire tribal system in many areas of Africa. 
Without them, literally millions of acres that are properly managed now 
would

[[Page 36265]]

fall prey to poachers and the land would prove to have no economic 
value. Animals in this environment would be killed for food, over- 
hunted and poached. None of us want that result.
  These programs provide conservation and social benefits like growth, 
revenue, poverty reduction, improved livelihoods and empowerment--all 
of which alleviate human suffering.
  The facts are in: in twenty-three African countries that allow 
licensed, regulated hunting, approximately 18,500 hunters generate over 
$200 million annually in remote rural areas. The USAID programs are 
extremely important to the survival of many species worldwide and I 
thank the Appropriations Committee for recognizing the flaw in the 
House Report language and speaking to it appropriately in the Statement 
of the Managers that accompanies the Omnibus legislation.
  Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in great reluctance to support 
final passage of the FY2008 Omnibus Appropriations Act. I am voting in 
favor of this legislation because it rightfully supplies our men and 
women on the battlefields of Afghanistan and Iraq with the resources 
they need to continue their mission, while also supporting the Global 
War on Terror. These brave men and women deserve our support and I will 
never waiver from this responsibility.
  However, despite my vote in favor of this legislation, I remain 
adamantly opposed to the underlying Omnibus legislation that 
effectively guts the Secure Fence Act passed during the 109th Congress. 
Securing the border of the United States is one of the most important 
responsibilities of the federal government. The Republican-led Congress 
last year did the right thing by passing the Secure Fence Act that 
mandated the construction of 854-mile double layered border fence along 
our Southwest border. Unfortunately, one of the few acts actually 
accomplished by this first session of the 110th Congress will be to 
remove that mandate and ensure that our southern border remains one of 
our weakest links in the effort to secure our homeland. Frankly, this 
is unacceptable.
  I will be working with my colleagues during the second session of 
this Congress to address this travesty, however, I will not hold back 
the needed resources from our brave men and women in uniform because of 
this irresponsible move by this Congress. Therefore, I reluctantly 
support this Omnibus package.
  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, when the House considered this 
measure earlier this week, I voted for it even though I was far from 
enthusiastic about doing so.
  Now that it is before us again--because the Senate changed it--I am 
even less enthusiastic about it, but I have reluctantly concluded that 
bad as it is, it needs to be passed. And so I will vote for it again.
  Earlier, I said that one of its worst shortcomings, ironically, was 
that it was too long--rolling into one massive measure provisions from 
no fewer than 11 regular appropriations bills that the House passed 
earlier this year.
  And now it is even longer, because the Senate has added an additional 
$39 billion, all for military activities in Iraq.
  There is no mystery about why that happened. It happened for two 
reasons.
  The first reason is that President Bush has insisted that he will not 
sign the bill unless these funds were added--just as he has insisted he 
will veto it if it provided more funding than he has requested for 
domestic purposes.
  The second reason is that our Republican colleagues, both here and in 
the Senate, have made clear they will support any such veto.
  And the result of the president's stubborn insistence and our 
Republican colleagues stubborn loyalty is that of the nearly $190 
billion the president requested for Iraq and Afghanistan, this bill 
includes $39 billion for Iraq, to be available without conditions or 
significant restrictions.
  This essentially unconditional funding approach is very different 
from the war funding bill I supported and the House passed last month, 
which would have provided targeted funding toward an ``immediate and 
orderly'' redeployment of U.S. troops from Iraq.
  I agree with those who say there are clear signs of progress on the 
security front in Iraq. But when he announced the ``surge'' of 
additional troops to Iraq, President Bush promised us more than 
progress on the security front. We sent more troops to Iraq to provide 
``breathing space'' for the Iraqi government to move toward political 
reconciliation, and that hasn't even begun to happen.
  I think that in the long term, there is no sustainable role for large 
numbers of U.S. troops to remain in Iraq--whether refereeing a civil 
war or waiting for the Iraqi government to decide to act within the 
``breathing space'' our brave troops have provided and our taxpayers 
are paying for at $9 billion per month.
  So I regret that this bill sends the wrong message by including no 
Congressional direction on how the funds for Iraq should be spent.
  At the same time, we all understand that this bill includes no 
``strings'' on Iraq funding because the Senate simply doesn't have the 
votes to pass such a bill and that Republican support for a veto would 
prevent it from becoming law if it should be passed.
  What we need is consensus here at home on a path forward in Iraq.
  I believe consensus can be found around the recommendations of the 
Iraq Study Group, which I introduced as legislation earlier this year, 
including supporting a course of escalating economic development, 
empowerment of local government, the provision of basic services, a 
``surge'' in regional and international diplomatic efforts, and 
lightening the American footprint in Iraq.
  If legislation along those lines had been agreed to, we would not 
find ourselves making the difficult choice presented by this bill now 
before us.
  Only Democrats and Republicans working together can find the best 
path out of Iraq. I will continue to work with colleagues on both sides 
of the aisle on further steps we can take to change our broader Iraq 
policy.
  And today, I will vote for this omnibus bill because despite its 
shortcomings, I will not vote to deny funding for the body armor and 
other supplies our troops require and because in terms of funding for 
domestic programs, it still is a better bill than would have resulted 
if we had simply rubber-stamped the president's budget requests--and it 
includes provisions that will directly benefit Colorado and the nation.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 
2764, which provides, among other things, $500 million for the 
Commanders Emergency Response Program (CERP). Our continued support for 
this program is vital for winning the war on terror and ensuring 
stability in Iraq and Afghanistan. General Petraeus himself recently 
described it as ``a critical tool with which to prosecute the 
counterinsurgency campaign.''
  Our continued support for CERP will be especially important for 
achieving long term success in Iraq. The Iraqi people must be convinced 
that their lives are getting better and that their future is one of 
peace and prosperity, rather than violence and sectarian strife. As 
David Ignatius pointed out this morning in the Washington Post, ``the 
success of the U.S. troop surge seems to be bolstering, ever so 
slightly, the advocates of conciliation and weakening the partisans of 
sectarian war.'' However, ``[t]he recent progress in Iraq has resulted 
from bottom-up efforts to build trust, neighborhood by neighborhood.'' 
CERP has proven to be one of the key tools in this effort.
  CERP allows our military commanders and civil affairs officers on the 
ground in Iraq and Afghanistan to respond to urgent humanitarian relief 
and reconstruction requirements within their areas of responsibility by 
carrying out programs that will immediately assist the indigenous 
population. The funding is allocated to brigade commanders to support a 
wide variety of small-scale relief and reconstruction projects, 
including reconstruction of water and sanitation facilities, school 
repair, restoring power stations, lines and generators, providing 
humanitarian relief, renovating cultural centers, museums and 
libraries, and repairing telecommunications infrastructure.
  Most importantly, CERP grants can be dispensed quickly and applied 
directly to local needs, rather than slowed down by the bureaucratic 
process in Washington and watered down by foreign contractors and 
subcontractors. As Secretary Gates recently explained in his testimony 
before Congress, ``. . .by building trust and confidence in Coalition 
forces, these CERP projects increase the flow of intelligence to 
commanders in the field and help turn local Iraqis and Afghans against 
insurgents and terrorists.''
  CERP could also serve to be a key component in helping to normalize 
the more than 2 million internally displaced Iraqis and provide a 
stable environment for the more than 2 million externally displaced in 
neighboring countries to return home.
  The Iraqi Red Crescent Organization (IRCO), for example, has recently 
proposed a one-year plan to normalize up to 600,000 internally 
displaced residents of Baghdad into 120 self sustaining neighborhood 
units. The IRCO Neighborhood Reconstruction Program (NRP) could help 
provide unemployed IDPs with the opportunity to construct and service 
approximately 100,000 homes, 440 schools, 132 mobile health clinics, 60 
water treatment plants, and 44 electrical generators. With the 
financial support of CERP and the Government of Iraq, this program 
would be coordinated through IRCO's existing 44 offices in

[[Page 36266]]

Baghdad and, within a year, these formerly displaced people would have 
the opportunity live in homes with electricity and water, within 
neighborhoods that have access to nearby healthcare, schools, and jobs.
  We have an obligation to continue funding CERP so that the Iraqi and 
Afghan people can build peaceful and prosperous societies for 
themselves. The sooner this occurs, the quicker our troops can come 
home.
  Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Committee on 
Appropriations for addressing language contained in the House State, 
Foreign Operations Committee Report regarding funding of recreational, 
sport and trophy hunting in its assistance programs in Africa. The 
language included in the Manager's Statement accompanying the Omnibus 
Appropriations Legislation offers USAID the opportunity to come before 
the Committee and explain the need for these important conservation 
programs to continue. I support this effort and commend the Committee 
on this language.
  I urge USAID to take advantage of this opportunity to come before the 
Committee and explain the benefits of these valuable projects as 
directed by the Manager's Statement. Conservation projects have made 
great contributions to wildlife management and have a great story to 
tell. The CAMPFIRE and the LIFE Plus Projects in Africa are just two 
examples of successful conservation programs involving controlled, 
regulated sport and trophy hunting that economically supports tribal 
systems in many areas of Africa. Without programs like these, millions 
of acres of properly managed conservation areas would fall prey to 
poachers, eliminating the economic value these lands provide.
  Additionally, tourist hunting has proven to be a valuable tool for 
conserving wildlife and habitat for particularly threatened species 
such as the African elephant, white and black rhino, leopard, markhor, 
argali and others. Licensed, regulated tourist hunting provides tens of 
millions of dollars for the operating budgets of foreign wildlife 
departments, significantly reduces poaching, and creates incentives for 
local inhabitants to perpetuate biodiversity on hundreds of millions of 
acres where it is needed beyond the borders of protected areas. Without 
these programs, animals in this environment would be killed for food, 
over-hunted, and poached, placing the continued survival of these 
species in serious jeopardy.
  The facts are that in the twenty-three African countries that allow 
licensed, regulated hunting, approximately 18,500 hunters generate over 
$200 million annually in remote rural areas. These conservation 
programs are extremely important to African tribal culture, not to 
mention the survival of the many animal species they protect worldwide. 
While I cannot support the overall bill, I thank the Appropriations 
Committee for recognizing this flaw in the Committee Report on H.R. 
2764 and speaking to it appropriately in the Omnibus Legislation's 
accompanying Manager's Statement.
  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, for many years, our government has been 
involved in the funding of several successful conservation programs 
that are supported by recreational, sport and trophy hunting programs 
in Africa. The Committee wisely spoke to these important programs in 
the Statement of the Managers which accompanies the Omnibus 
Appropriations legislation. I support the language and welcome the 
USAID coming before the Appropriations Committee and detailing these 
important conservation projects.
  Initially, the language in the State Foreign Operations Report denied 
USAID funding of recreational, sport and trophy hunting in its 
assistance programs in Africa. Again, the language in the Statement of 
the Managers to accompany the Omnibus legislation offers out the 
opportunity for the USAID conservation projects to continue and further 
states that they need to come before the Committee and explain these 
important conservation programs. I support this effort and commend the 
Committee on this language.
  Tourist hunting in foreign lands has proven to be vital and critical 
to community-based natural resource management programs such as the 
CAMPFIRE Program in Zimbabwe and the LIFE Plus Project in Namibia.
  These programs provide conservation and social benefits like growth, 
revenue, poverty reduction, improved livelihoods and empowerment--all 
of which alleviate human suffering. Isn't that what we are trying to 
accomplish with these programs? Closer to home, National Geographic 
News reported in March of 2007 that ``trophy hunting is of key 
importance to conservation in Africa by creating [financial] incentives 
to promote and retain wildlife as a land use over vast areas...''
  As I previously mentioned, the CAMPFIRE and the LIFE Plus Projects in 
Africa are just two examples of working conservation programs that 
involve controlled, regulated sport and trophy hunting. These programs 
literally support the entire tribal system in many areas of Africa. The 
programs which are funded with matching funds from groups like the 
World Wildlife Fund and the Dallas Safari Club supply money for 
drinking water wells and schools for the local population. Without 
these programs, literally millions of acres that are properly managed 
now would fall prey to poachers and the land would prove to have no 
economic value. Animals in this environment would be killed for food, 
over-hunted and poached. These programs provide conservation and social 
benefits like growth, revenue, poverty reduction, improved livelihoods 
and empowerment--all of which alleviate human suffering.
  The USAID conservation programs are extremely important to the 
survival of many species worldwide and I thank the Appropriations 
Committee for recognizing that the language in the Foreign Operations 
House Report needed to be revised and I thank the Committee for 
speaking to it appropriately in the Statement of the Managers that 
accompanies the Omnibus legislation.
  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that the Congress and the 
President have come together to find common ground on the fiscal year 
2008 budget. It is often said that politics is the art of compromise, 
and the bill we are considering today--H.R. 2764--represents a 
compromise position that allows the Congressional majority to advance 
some of its priorities while adhering to the President's overall 
budgetary constraints.
  H.R. 2764 funds a number of programs that are important to the 
American people, including investments in education, life-saving 
medical research, law enforcement, border security, veterans' health 
care, and energy independence initiatives.
  H.R. 2764 is especially good for rural America. The bill rejects deep 
cuts that were proposed by the President in rural health care, housing, 
economic development, Internet access, and law enforcement programs. At 
the same time, the bill nearly doubles funds available for renewable 
energy loans and grants in rural areas, commits significant resources 
to fix aging bridges, and adds $1 million to the President's request 
for rural drinking water and waste water infrastructure projects. 
Additionally, the measure slashes funding for the Administration's 
efforts to create a National Animal Identification Program, reducing it 
by $23 million.
  H.R. 2764 also extends through December 31, 2007, most of the 
agricultural disaster assistance programs included as part of the 
emergency supplemental spending bill signed into law earlier this year. 
These programs allow many American farmers to recoup some losses 
associated with drought and other natural disasters in 2005, 2006, or 
in the first two months of 2007. Between February and December of this 
year, Missouri farmers have seen their fair share of damaging weather 
events. I am pleased that Congress is extending disaster programs that 
may be beneficial to qualifying Show-Me State producers.
  The measure also funds U.S. military efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq. 
And, while I would have preferred to send the President war funding 
legislation that sets a goal of redeploying most American troops from 
Iraq by next Christmas, H.R. 2764 will provide our service men and 
women with the resources they need to do their jobs while serving in 
harm's way and will alleviate any need by the Administration to 
reallocate funds from domestic military operations.
  H.R. 2764 represents a compromise bill that is in the best interest 
of our Nation. I am pleased to support its passage and urge the 
President to sign it into law.
  Mr. BOREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank my colleagues on the 
Committee on Appropriations for language in the Manager's Statement 
accompanying the Omnibus Appropriations bill, regarding USAID and 
hunting conservation programs in Africa and around the world. This 
language provides an opportunity for these USAID conservation projects 
to continue and asks them to come before the Committee and explain how 
these important conservation programs have seen success in Africa and 
around the world. I support this effort and commend the Committee on 
this language.
  Earlier this year, language to deny funding for USAID assistance 
programs in Africa utilizing recreational, sport and trophy hunting was 
included in the House State, Foreign Operations Appropriations 
Committee Report. I opposed this language as tourist hunting has proven 
to be a valuable tool for the conservation of wildlife and habitat. 
These programs have proven to be particularly useful in the survival of 
African elephants, white and black rhinos, leopards, markhor, argali, 
and other

[[Page 36267]]

threatened and endangered species. To block this revenue would do 
nothing for the conservation of species and would simply be one step 
further in a campaign to ban hunting.
  I welcome the opportunity for USAID to come before the Committee and 
explain these valuable and beneficial projects as the language directs. 
USAID and their conservation projects will have their opportunity to 
tell their conservation story and how revenue brought in by these 
hunters benefits the local native communities, encouraging them to 
conserve and manage wildlife populations responsibly. The CAMPFIRE and 
the LIFE Plus Projects in Africa are just two examples of working 
conservation programs that involve controlled, regulated sport and 
trophy hunting. These programs literally support the entire tribal 
system in many areas of Africa. Without them, millions of acres that 
are properly managed now would fall prey to poachers and the land would 
prove to have no economic value. Animals in this environment would be 
killed for food, over-hunted and poached. None of us want that result.
  Licensed, regulated tourist hunting provides tens of millions of 
dollars for the operating budgets of foreign wildlife departments, 
significantly reduces poaching, and creates incentives for local 
inhabitants to perpetuate biodiversity on hundreds of millions of acres 
where it is needed beyond the borders of protected areas. In twenty-
three African countries that allow licensed, regulated hunting, 
approximately 18,500 hunters generate over $200 million annually in 
remote rural areas. The USAID programs are extremely important to the 
survival of many species worldwide and I thank the Appropriations 
Committee for recognizing the flaw in the House Report language and 
speaking to it appropriately in the Statement of the Managers that 
accompanies the Omnibus legislation.
  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the 
FY08 Consolidated Appropriations Legislation. Although this bill does 
not accomplish everything that we had wanted for the next fiscal year, 
the bill will provide critical funding to many programs that for too 
long have been underfunded.
  Among many other important provisions, this legislation will provide 
$607 million above the President's request for medical research of 
diseases including Alzheimer's, cancer, Parkinson's and diabetes. It 
will make investments in education including K through 12, Pell Grants, 
and vocational education. It will help make communities across the 
country safer by providing $1.2 billion above the President's request 
for state and local law enforcement. Lastly, it will provide critical 
homeland security funding at $1.8 billion above the President's 
request.
  I want to note several other items in this bill that are of 
particular interest to me and many of my constituents.
  The bill provides $108 million for the health needs of World Trade 
Center responders, residents, students, and others exposed to the 
toxins of Ground Zero, to be administered by the National Institute for 
Occupational Safety and Health. The legislation also requests that the 
Administration prepare a plan for a comprehensive program for health 
screenings, analysis, and medical treatment for the entire exposed 
community. I want to sincerely thank Chairman Obey and his incredibly 
able staff for their continued dedication to the heroes of 9/11.
  I commend the Appropriations Committee for including enough baseline 
funding to continue the invaluable Survey of Income and Program 
Participation (SIPP) in FY 2008, despite the Bush Administration's 
initial desire to eliminate the survey. The SIPP provides the most 
comprehensive data on the economic well-being of American families, and 
I am glad that the Committee understood its importance.
  The legislation before us will provide $75 million to help Afghan 
women and girls including funding for the Afghan Independent Human 
Rights Commission which does essential work in Afghanistan to combat 
human rights abuses. Additionally, the bill provides more than 
$147,000,000 for processing the backlog of DNA evidence kits as 
provided by the Debbie Smith Act, legislation I first introduced in 
2001.
  I want to thank Chairman Obey and the Appropriations Committee for 
its work under very difficult conditions, and I urge my colleagues to 
support this legislation.
  Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2764, the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008. While this is a vastly 
different package than the 11 stand-alone appropriations bills that the 
House passed earlier this year, it is a package that for the first time 
in over eight years focuses on the priorities of the American people.
  Without a doubt the budgetary process is never easy. This year, 
however, the process has been exacerbated by the fact that this 
Administration has been unwilling to come to the negotiating table to 
hammer out the details of this legislation, instead barking orders at 
Congress--the people's representatives--from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. 
Furthermore, this process has been held up by the inability of the 
Senate to pass these bills as stand-alone measures. As a result, 
Congress has no choice but to consolidate the remaining appropriations 
bills in order to complete our budget work.
  Like many of my colleagues, I had hoped that this Administration 
would have worked with Congress to find a compromise that would have 
reflected the domestic needs of our country and the priorities of our 
working families. Unfortunately, the budget proposal the Administration 
sent to Congress earlier this year proposed cuts to many important 
domestic programs including: Medical research grants at NIH; Grants for 
low-income schools; Vocational education programs in high schools and 
community colleges; Homeland Security Grants for police, firefighters 
and medical personnel; Renewable energy programs; and Community Health 
Centers.
  Yet after proposing cuts to these vital programs, the President had 
the nerve to request another blank check for the war in Iraq.
  The truth of the matter is our troops have the funding they need. 
Congress passed and the President signed a Defense Appropriations bill 
last month that contained more than $450 billion in funding for the 
military. Moreover, the House passed an Iraq supplemental last month 
that would provide $50 billion worth of funding for the war efforts in 
Iraq and Afghanistan. Unfortunately, that bill has been blocked by 
Republicans in the Senate because it contains important provisions that 
would require the President to begin to plan for the withdrawal of 
American troops from Iraq.
  I would note that recently, the Congressional Budget Office has 
reported that costs related to the Iraq war could reach $2.4 trillion 
over the next decade, even if the number of troops is cut by half. 
Furthermore, we have seen more than a billion dollars gone unaccounted 
for in Iraq due to fraud and misuse on the part of contractors and poor 
accounting by our own government.
  By threatening to veto any spending bill that does not give him a 
blank check in Iraq, it is the President who is playing politics--
playing politics with our service men and women and their families, and 
playing politics with critically important domestic programs.
  The bill before us today is significantly better than what the 
President sent us at the beginning of this year. It does, as I 
mentioned earlier, focus on the priorities of the American people. For 
example, the bill invests in:
  Medical Research: $607 million above the President's request to study 
diseases like Alzheimer's, cancer, Parkinson's and diabetes.
  Healthcare Access: $1 billion above the President's request, making 
targeted increases to programs like Community Health Centers to provide 
280,000 more underinsured Americans with access to healthcare and High 
Risk Insurance Pools to help 200,000 more people afford health 
insurance.
  Rural Healthcare: $147 million above the President's request to help 
1,200 small, rural hospitals.
  K-12 Education: $767 million above the President's request with 
targeted increases to Title 1, Special Education, Teacher Quality 
Grants, After School Programs, and Head Start.
  Student Aid: $1.7 billion above the President's request for Pell 
Grants and other student aid programs.
  Vocational Education: $575 million above the President's request for 
technical training at high schools and community colleges.
  State and Local Law Enforcement: $1.2 billion above the President's 
request, to help local communities across the country.
  Homeland Security Grants: 41.8 billion above the President's request, 
recognizing that fighting terror must be a top priority.
  Highway Infrastructure: Meets the guaranteed levels set in the 
authorization bill and provides a $1 billion initiative for our 
bridges.
  Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency: $486 million above the 
President's request for important investments in Solar Energy, Wind 
Energy, Biofuels, and Energy Efficiency, with a careful blend of new 
scientific investments and conservation efforts.
  Chairman David Obey deserves our thanks for plowing through what many 
of us would consider unworkable circumstances and producing a bill that 
puts the American people first.
  Now, it is unfortunate that Senate Republicans have chosen to give 
the President the blank check he requested in terms of war funding. I 
cannot, however, in good conscience, hold the rest of the federal 
government--and the above investments--hostage

[[Page 36268]]

to Iraq funding. Instead, I will continue to work with my colleagues in 
the coming year to bring an end the President's failed Iraq policy.
  Mr. Speaker, it is the duty of Congress to pass spending legislation 
each year, and it is a duty we take very seriously. I would like to 
take just a moment to remind President Bush that Congress is a co-equal 
branch of government. Our founding fathers intended that no one branch 
should set the course for our country, and in fact compromise has long 
been one of the hallmarks of our government. It is time that the 
Administration recognizes that a seat at the negotiating table can 
accomplish much more than the wave of the veto pen.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the House 
amendment to H.R. 2764 to highlight the key elements of division J, the 
Department of State, foreign operations, export financing, and related 
programs appropriations act of fiscal year 2008.
  This amendment reflects a bipartisan, bicameral process. We worked 
tirelessly with ranking member Wolf, Senator Leahy, and Senator Gregg 
to create a product that addresses our strategic priorities and our 
national security interests, as well as increases assistance for 
programs that promote development, reduce poverty, meet humanitarian 
needs and respond to global health crises.
  Despite our bipartisanship, the President's intransigence forced us 
to make difficult cuts to worthy programs. His unwillingness to 
compromise with Congress, while spending $12 billion a month in Iraq, 
is both fiscally and morally irresponsible. We have worked to limit the 
damage of this President's misplaced priorities, and I appreciate 
Chairman Obey and Speaker Pelosi's commitment to robust foreign 
assistance.
  Division J includes over $5.3 billion for State Department operations 
in the United States and abroad, and exceeds the President's request 
for worldwide security protection to ensure that our diplomats and 
development workers remain safe and secure. It also provides $501 
million for educational and cultural exchanges, and $366 million for 
public diplomacy.


   Promoting National Security Through Support for Strategic Partners

  The bill also provides $7.5 billion in economic and military 
assistance for our strategic partners throughout the world, including 
Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Philippines, and 
Indonesia among other countries. It fully meets the President's request 
of $2.4 billion for Israel and $1.715 billion for Egypt, excluding the 
0.81% across-the-board cut required to reach agreement with the 
President, and provides assistance to Jordan, including debt relief 
critical to its economic revitalization.


  Addressing Global Health and Humanitarian Crises and Promoting Peace

  Combating global health threats--including tuberculosis, avian flu, 
HIV/AIDS, and malaria--is a security imperative as well as a moral 
responsibility. We are leading the fight against HIV/AIDS and other 
global health emergencies--providing $6.5 billion, $796 million above 
the President's request and $1.4 billion over fiscal year 2007, to 
address these critical needs. Within the total provided for global 
health, $5 billion is for HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care 
efforts internationally, $544 million above the President's request. We 
have also included, government-wide, $841 million for the Global Fund 
to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria.
  I must express my great disappointment that President Bush was 
willing to veto this entire vital bill because it would have allowed 
the U.S. to send contraceptives to poor men and women around the world. 
The President's dogmatic adherence to an illogical position diminishes 
our influence around the world and thwarts one of the most effective 
strategies for stemming the spread of HIV/AIDS and reducing unintended 
pregnancies and abortions. This is a fight we cannot win if our policy 
continues to put ideology ahead of proven results, and I will continue 
fighting to restore common sense to our international family planning 
initiatives.
  I am pleased that we were able to provide significant funding to 
promote peace and address humanitarian crises throughout the world. 
Without the across-the-board cut, we would have provided the full 
request for the Peace Corps to support 7,749 volunteers in 67 posts 
serving in 73 countries.
  The bill includes over $1 billion to help displaced people around the 
world, especially the growing number of Iraqi refugees. Additionally, 
over $430 million is provided to avert famines, provide life-saving 
assistance during natural disasters, and assist internally displaced 
persons in Iraq, Darfur and elsewhere.
  Since declaring the atrocities in Darfur, Sudan, genocide in July, 
2003, this committee has appropriated over a billion dollars to support 
the African Union peacekeeping mission and to provide emergency 
assistance. We are hopeful that the long-overdue United Nations mission 
will finally be able to bring stability to this region, and allow the 
Darfuri people to rebuild their lives. To that end, this bill provides 
over $550 million to support the UN peacekeeping mission in Darfur. We 
have made a strong commitment to international peacekeeping activities, 
and this bill includes $1.6906 billion for ongoing operations in 
Liberia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Ethiopia/
Eritrea, Haiti, Timor-Leste, Lebanon, and Kosovo.
  I am also pleased that we were able to provide additional funding to 
meet our commitment to provide critical security sector assistance for 
Liberia.


               Investing in Development Around the World

  The bill also increases funding for development programs managed by 
the U.S. Agency for International Development. These resources will 
expand our basic education, safe water and environment programs.
  Access to basic education has been one of my top priorities for many 
years because it not only improves an individual's chances for a 
better, more productive life, it creates a more tolerant and informed 
citizenry. We have provided a total of $694 million for basic education 
programs in this bill, including $189 million targeted to help 
developing countries with national education plans meet the 
international goal of quality education for all children by 2012.
  This bill also provides $510 million for clean energy and 
biodiversity programs worldwide. This includes funding for the Global 
Environment Facility and international conservation programs that work 
with developing nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, preserve 
national parks, and protect wildlife.
  There is also $1.544 billion for the Millennium Challenge Account in 
this bill. While this funding level is lower than that provided by the 
House, it is $344 million above the Senate level, and it will allow the 
MCC to undertake all its planned compacts and threshold programs 
through fiscal year 2008.


                  Responding to Developing Situations

  This bill responds to a number of evolving diplomatic needs 
throughout the world. In addition to providing the strong annual aid 
package to Israel, we must ensure that our assistance to the 
Palestinians supports the current movement toward negotiating a 
peaceful two-state solution between the two parties.
  In addition to language on assistance to the Palestinians that has 
been carried in the Foreign Operations bill for many years, we have 
included additional accounting conditions on part of any funding 
provided as cash transfer to the Palestinian Authority. It also ensures 
that no funding goes to Hamas or to salaries of Palestinian Authority 
personnel located in Gaza. It is essential that we track every dollar 
of any cash transfer, and before funding is obligated or expended, I 
expect the Department of State to take the following steps:
  (1) Representatives of the government of the United States and the 
Palestinian Authority will develop a list of mutually-agreed 
disbursements. Emphasis will be on funding projects in the West Bank 
that quickly demonstrate quality of life benefits for the population.
  (2) The Palestinian Authority may not obligate or expend any funds on 
items not mutually-agreed upon and will repay any funds which are used 
in any way not mutually agreed by the United States and the Palestinian 
Authority.
  (3) The Secretary of State shall certify that none of the funds will 
be used to support violence or terrorism. All contractors will be 
investigated through the same United States embassy process that is 
used to vet implementers of United States-administered assistance 
programs.
  (4) The Palestinian Authority will establish a separate account to 
hold funds received in the cash transfer. Authorized United States 
officials will have complete and unfettered access to the records of 
this account.
  (5) The Department of State will report bi-weekly to the Committees 
on Appropriations on all expenditures, disbursements and balances 
associated with the cash transfer assistance to the Palestinian 
Authority.
  (6) The Secretary of State shall report to the Committees on 
Appropriations, in classified form if appropriate, on how much funding 
the Arab states are providing to the Palestinian Authority, and steps 
the Palestinian Authority is taking to end incitement.
  I look forward to working with the State Department to ensure that 
these funds are fully accountable and used to support President Abbas 
and Prime Minister Fayyad as they work to end corruption and bring 
needed services to the Palestinian people in the West Bank.
  Also related to peace in the Middle East, I remain gravely concerned 
about the smuggling operation from Egypt to Gaza, and funds

[[Page 36269]]

in this bill for Egypt are conditioned on steps taken to detect and 
destroy these tunnels.
  The developing situation in Pakistan, which continues to be an 
important ally of the United States, also demands action in this bill. 
I appreciate the recent steps towards restoring the constitution and 
advancing democracy and human rights. However, the actions of the past 
few months warranted measures in this bill to end cash transfers and 
condition military assistance on continued progress on political 
reforms. We remain steadfast in our support of the Pakistani people, 
and this assistance package maintains the robust development and 
security assistance that is central to reducing poverty, increasing 
stability, and fighting AI Qaeda, the Taliban, and other terrorist 
groups.
  Because our efforts to combat narcotics in Colombia have been 
ineffective for some time, this bill restructures assistance for 
Colombia. We have shifted greater resources to the development and 
interdiction programs. We have also increased funding for rule of law 
and justice efforts in order to strengthen the Government of Colombia's 
ability to combat and demobilize their criminal paramilitary 
organizations that fuel the drug war. It is time for the Colombians to 
take ownership over their eradication and military assistance programs, 
and restructuring of our assistance package reflects that position.


                    Advancing Our Priorities at Home

  In addition to the many steps we have taken in this bill to advance 
international stability and security here at home, this bill also 
addresses many of our most important domestic priorities from education 
funding to worker training to biomedical research to public health 
activities.
  It provides relief for families that desperately need child care and 
afterschool programs; for first responders in need of training and 
equipment that will help keep our communities safe; for teachers 
anxious to receive classroom training or professional development; for 
students who won't be able to attend college without an increase in the 
maximum Pell Grant; and for the elderly who depend on LlHEAP to help 
pay for the rising cost of home heating oil.
  Initiatives funded in this bill literally make a life-or-death 
difference in the lives of countless individuals and families who are 
struggling to make ends meet. While we could have done much more with 
the cooperation of the President, the work that we have accomplished 
together in this final product will help make America more secure and 
will improve the lives of millions throughout the world.
  In closing, I would like to thank our staff for their tireless work, 
and their many sleepless nights as they put together this final 
product. Nisha Desai, and her new baby Safya, Craig Higgins, Michele 
Sumilas, Steve Marchese, Lucy Heenan, Celia Alvarado, and our minority 
staff Christine Kojac, Rob Blair and Molly Miller. Lastly, I would like 
to thank Cherith Norman, as she prepares the leave the State 
Department, for her years of outstanding work with this Committee.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support 
of Department of Homeland Security FY 2008 Appropriations Bill which is 
part of the larger omnibus spending package, Amendment to the Senate 
amendment to H.R. 2764. Specifically, I want to note that the Democrats 
have done a better job at funding key homeland security programs, but 
as always, more needs to be done.
  As the first Democratic chairman of the Committee on Homeland 
Security, I am happy to note that the appropriated dollars will go a 
long way to implementing the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission 
which are codified in a bill I had the distinct honor of developing and 
steering toward passage--the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 
Commission Act of 2007, P.L. 110-53. I am also glad that the fiscal 
year 2008 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security are 
fairly consistent with my eight-point plan--the ``Real Deal on Homeland 
Security.'' This 8-point plan is what I have used to develop key 
legislative and oversight initiatives aimed at ensuring that ours is a 
Nation that can flourish free from fear. In particular, the fiscal year 
2008 appropriations reflect the Real Deal in the following way:


 1. Improving the Functionality, Governance, and Accountability of the 
                    Department of Homeland Security

  The Department of Homeland Security FY 2008 appropriations bill 
provides $28.49 million for the Chief Procurement Officer which is 
$11.5 million above the enacted fiscal year 2007 level. This increase 
funding can help the office attract and retain experienced staff to 
manage procurements. The bill also provides a $108.7 million for the 
Office of Inspector General at the Department of Homeland Security, $6 
million above the enacted fiscal year 2007 level. It is also notable 
that the bill's Joint Explanatory Statement makes clear that Congress 
favors contracts awarded by full and open competition. The bill also 
acknowledges the operation of the Small Business Act and therefore does 
not adversely affect the award of contracts to small, minority and 
disadvantaged businesses. In addition, the bill requires the Inspector 
General to review contracts awarded by means other than full and open 
competition to determine compliance with the law. Finally, I am very 
pleased that the bill provides no funding for MAX-HR but rather 
provides $10 million for the Department of Homeland Security to address 
the issues revealed in the 2006 Federal Human Capital Survey. The bill 
further requires the Secretary to submit an expenditure plan for the 
$10 million prior to the obligation of the funds.
  However, I must point out that the Committee on Homeland Security was 
disappointed with the decision not to fund the relocation of the 
headquarters for the Department of Homeland Security at the St. 
Elizabeths site in Washington, DC.


         2. Enhancing Security for All Modes of Transportation

  I applaud the bill which provides over $4.5 billion to enhance 
aviation security. That funding makes the bill consistent with meeting 
aviation security mandates in P.L. 110-53. For example, the bill fully 
funds the Aviation Security Capitol Fund at $250 million. Furthermore, 
this bill provides $15 million for a pilot program to screen 100 
percent of airport workers.
  Although the bill does not provide sufficient resources to implement 
the authorization levels in P.L. 110-53, the Appropriations Committee 
has provided the foundation to reach that goal. For example, the bill 
provides $400 million in Public Transportation and Railroad Security 
Grants. This includes not less than $25 million for Amtrak, $11.5 
million over the road bus security grants, and $16 million for trucking 
security grants. This is in contrast to the authorized amount in P.L. 
110-53 which called for $650 million for public transit, $300 million 
for rail, and $150 million for Amtrak.
  I also support the bill's provision of $523.5 million for information 
technology and intelligence for transportation security and the 
increased funding for Red Teams at $6.26 million--a 50 percent increase 
over the enacted level of fiscal year 2007. Finally, the bill provides 
$46 million for surface transportation security, an increase from the 
$41.4 million enacted in fiscal year 2007. Of the proposed amount for 
fiscal year 2008, $24.5 million is for staffing and operations, $22.1 
million is for inspectors and canines, and another $30 million is 
provided for security training program, transportation risk assessment, 
and the development of regulation for name-based immigration screening 
for public transportation and rail workers.


    3. Response, Resilience, and Recovery in the Wake of a National 
                              Catastrophe

  I am pleased that key programs to assist first responders and State, 
local, and tribal governments have been funded above the President's 
request. Specifically, the State Homeland Security Grant Program which 
provides grants to first responders in all 50 States and U.S. 
Territories to help them prevent, prepare for, and respond to an act of 
terrorism or other emergency is funded at $950 million. The Urban Area 
Security Initiative, which addresses the unique planning, operations, 
equipment, training, and exercise needs of high-threat, high-density 
urban areas, is funded at $820 million--a $50 million increase in 
funding over FY 2007 levels.
  The bill also provides $41 million for the Metropolitan Medical 
Response System, MMRS; $300 million for Emergency Management 
Performance Grant, EMPG, program; $560 million for FIRE grants; $190 
million for the SAFER Act program; and $32.5 million for the Urban 
Search and Rescue System, USAR, a $7.5 million increase over the 
enacted level in fiscal year 2007.
  I also support the bill for directing FEMA to assist communities by 
ensuring disaster preparedness and response education materials are 
developed and distributed to children. The bill also supports the 
Office of the Disabilities Coordinator and directs the Department of 
Homeland Security's Inspector General to investigate FEMA's policies 
and processes regarding formaldehyde in trailers purchased by the 
agency to house disaster victims in the office created by the Post-
Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006.
  I will note, however, that it is unfortunate that the splintered 
oversight jurisdiction of the Department of Homeland Security has 
resulted in the inclusion of section 541 of the bill which states that 
``none of the funds provided by this or previous appropriations Acts 
shall be used to fund any position designated as a Principal Federal 
Official, PFO, for any Robert

[[Page 36270]]

T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act declared 
disasters or emergencies.'' I am very concerned that this language 
micromanages Federal emergency response through the appropriation 
process, interferes with the writing of the National Response Framework 
which aims to clarify the role of the PFO and does not recognize the 
situations where the appointment of PFO would be necessary, public 
health emergencies, cyber attacks, etc. Simply stated, this language 
unnecessarily reopens a policy question that was settled in the Post-
Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006.


  4. Shielding the Nation's Critical Infrastructure from Foreign and 
                           Domestic Terrorism

  I commend the $50 million appropriated for chemical security. The 
bill also includes preemption language that supports States that have 
stronger law as it relates to the security of chemical facilities. In 
addition, the bill directs the Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure 
Protection to provide semi-annual briefings to the Appropriations 
Committee on implementing the National Infrastructure Protection Plan. 
I, too, look forward to being included in such briefing. The bill also 
provides $10 million for the Office of Bombing Prevention, a 
legislative initiative from the Committee on Homeland Security, H.R. 
4749, with the requirement that the office will develop a national 
strategy on bombing prevention.


  5. Securing the Homeland and Preserving Civil Liberties in Times of 
                                Terror 

  I believe strongly that civil liberties guaranteed under the U.S. 
Constitution need not be compromised to make the Nation more secure. 
One particular area of concern was the Department of Homeland 
Security's attempt to skirt congressional oversight by developing and 
implementing a spy satellite program. After I demanded answers about 
the program's reach, the Department modified its spy satellite plans. 
Going forward, the Committees on Homeland Security, Budget, and 
Appropriations should closely examine the Department's authority to 
ensure transparency and accountability.


     6. Connecting the Dots: Intelligence Information Sharing and 
                           Interoperability 

  I am very pleased that the bill includes $50 million to fund the 
Interoperability Emergency Communications Grant Program which was 
enacted in P.L. 110-53 and provides for improved emergency 
communications capabilities for first responders. Also, the bill 
includes $35.7 million for the Office of Emergency Communications, an 
$18.7 million increase over the enacted fiscal year 2007. The office, 
which was established in April 2007, pursuant to the Post-Katrina 
Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006, is the focal point within the 
Federal Government to improve national interoperable communication 
capabilities.


          7. Implementing Commonsense Border and Port Security

  I believe that border and port security must reflect the Nation's 
commitment to facilitating the flow of commerce and demanding 
accountability from our Government. That is why we cannot allow fear to 
drive the discussion of building fences that may wind up disrupting 
commerce or poor governmental planning that leads to Government waste. 
I commend the appropriator's for providing $2 million reimbursement to 
the Defense Acquisition University for a review of Secure Border 
Initiative procurement; $60 million for reimbursement of State and 
local law enforcement agencies in U.S.-Mexico border communities; and 
$225 million for the extension of the Western Hemisphere Travel 
Initiative. We must remember that border security is fundamentally a 
Federal responsibility and that we should not pass unfunded mandates to 
State and local governments that will be burdened by bad public policy.
  I am especially pleased that the appropriations bill provides $475 
million for U.S.-VISIT along with report language that makes clear that 
at least $13 million is to be used to develop an exit system. The 
provision also requires a schedule for implementing the exit program. 
Under my chairmanship, the Committee on Homeland Security has held 
several hearings examining the exit aspect of the US-VISIT. In fact, on 
September 5, 2007, I called on Secretary Chertoff to implement the US-
VISIT air exit by the end of the calendar year 2008. Simply put, it is 
folly to speak of security if we rely on a process that tells us who 
comes into the country but cannot verify if or when individuals leave 
the country.
  Other commonsense border security measures in the fiscal year 2008 
appropriations bill include the language that amend current law by 
requiring consultation with the Secretaries of Agriculture and 
Interior, States, local land owners, and tribes; authorizing programs 
to study the modernization of ports-of-entry. I also commend the bill's 
inclusion of $36 million for the implementation of the Electronic 
Travel Authorization program--a provision that I promoted in P.L. 110-
53. One particular area that reflects sound policy is language that 
provides ``law enforcement officer'', LEO, status and retirement 
benefits to Customs and Border Protection officers in order to enhance 
recruitment and retention. I was pleased to advocate the LEO status 
during the Committee of Homeland Security's consideration of H.R. 1684, 
the ``Department of Homeland Security Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2008.'' We must do all that we can to retain our trained staff who are 
the eyes and ears along this Nation's vast borders.
  I also note that the bill prohibits the use of funds for the 
planning, testing, piloting, or development of a national ID card and 
directs CBP to brief the Appropriations committees no later than Jan. 
31, 2008 on how it is using the Workload Staffing Model to allocated 
staffing resources.
  With regard to port security, I commend the appropriators for 
requiring improved oversight of the Deepwater Program which is funded 
at $783 million. Under my chairmanship, the Committee on Homeland 
Security has closely examined and demanded accountability over 
Deepwater, particularly in H.R. 2830, the U.S. Coast Guard 
Reauthorization Act and the SAFE Port Act, P.L. 109-347. Other notable 
funding is the $2 million for LNG and dangerous cargo suitability 
assessments; the $3.1 million to develop and finalize SAFE Port Act 
rulemakings; and the $60 million for Interagency Operational Centers 
for Port Security, a requirement from the SAFE Port Act; and $400 
million for port security grants.
  I note that the appropriation's bill requires the Transportation 
Security Administration, TSA and Coast Guard to work closely with 
terminal operators, local port police, and other law enforcement 
agencies to develop the operational procedures to ensure the effective 
implementation of the Transportation Worker Identification Card, TWIC 
program. I am concerned, however, that while the bill directs TSA to 
work with the appropriate officials of Florida and other port 
authorities to resolve differences between TWIC and the State's 
transportation facility access control programs, the requirement maybe 
interpreted as indicating that the Federal TWIC program does not pre-
empt the Florida program. This is very troubling and counterproductive.
  Finally, the bill appropriates $13 million for the CBP's Global Trade 
Exchange, GTX. CBP recently announced the Request for Quotations for 
the Global Trade Exchange 1 despite significant criticism from industry 
concerning the lack of transparency with this new initiative. I am 
concerned that the Department has not fully developed this initiative 
and that it is premature to fund it until the Department has provided 
the Committee of Homeland Security and industry with a more in-depth 
analysis of this new pilot.


 8. Inspiring Minds and Developing Technology--The Future of Homeland 
                                Security

  I am very concerned about the emerging threats of a chemical, 
biological, nuclear, and radiological attack. As chairman of the 
Committee on Homeland Security, I will continue to conduct oversight 
into this area to ensure that there is improved coordination between 
the Departments of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services and 
State, local, and Tribal governments. I recognize that the 
appropriation's bill does not provide a large amount of funding for 
pandemic flu due to the fact that the Department of Health and Human 
Services has $1.2 billion in unobligated funds from fiscal year 2007.
  I am pleased that the bill provides $116.5 million to the Office of 
Health Affairs and includes a provision that would allow agricultural 
inspectors to stay at CBP and the Transportation Security Lab to recoup 
fees for testing. With regard to the threat of a cyber security attack, 
the bill provides $125 million for the Chief Information Officer to 
improve information technology security at the Department of Homeland 
Security--a much needed act.
  I am also glad that the appropriators support the development of 
technology and the future minds in the field homeland security. For 
example, the bill provides that the Science and Technology Directorate 
will be appropriated at $830 million and funds the Third Generation Bio 
Watch at $5.8 million. The bill also provides $325 million for research 
and development. With regard to university programs, the bill provides 
$49.3 million for fiscal year 2008. This amount includes $4 million for 
the Transportation Security Center of Excellence. While that is far shy 
of the $18 million authorized in P.L. 110-53, the Committee on Homeland 
Security remains optimistic that appropriators will support the Centers 
of Excellence as they are the training grounds for future homeland 
security experts.
  The $455 million appropriated to the Domestic Nuclear Detection 
Office, DNDO, and $90 million for the Radiation Portal Monitor program 
is critical to tracking loose nuclear

[[Page 36271]]

weapons. However, I am very concerned, like the appropriators, that 
there has not yet been certification by the DHS Secretary of Advanced 
Spectroscopic Portal, ASP, radiation monitors. We must push out the 
boundaries of technology if we are going to have 21st century security.
  In closing, I would like to thank the appropriators for funding the 
vital programs that are critical to securing the Nation. As chairman of 
the authorizing committee, I will vigilantly monitor the Department of 
Homeland Security to ensure that it is drawing on the diverse talents 
of its experts to ensure that it is providing the American people 
security, accountability, and freedom from fear.
  Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 893, the 
previous question is ordered.
  The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Wisconsin 
(Mr. Obey).
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the ayes appeared to have it.
  Mr. OBEY. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Evidently a quorum is not present.
  The Sergeant at Arms will notify absent Members.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 272, 
nays 142, not voting 18, as follows:

                            [Roll No. 1186]

                               YEAS--272

     Aderholt
     Akin
     Alexander
     Altmire
     Bachmann
     Bachus
     Baird
     Baker
     Barrett (SC)
     Barrow
     Bartlett (MD)
     Barton (TX)
     Bean
     Berkley
     Berman
     Berry
     Biggert
     Bilbray
     Bilirakis
     Bishop (GA)
     Bishop (UT)
     Blackburn
     Blunt
     Boehner
     Bonner
     Bono
     Boozman
     Boren
     Boucher
     Boustany
     Boyd (FL)
     Boyda (KS)
     Brady (TX)
     Broun (GA)
     Brown (SC)
     Brown, Corrine
     Brown-Waite, Ginny
     Buchanan
     Burgess
     Burton (IN)
     Buyer
     Calvert
     Camp (MI)
     Campbell (CA)
     Cannon
     Cantor
     Capito
     Carney
     Carter
     Castle
     Chabot
     Chandler
     Clyburn
     Coble
     Cole (OK)
     Conaway
     Cooper
     Costa
     Cramer
     Crenshaw
     Cuellar
     Culberson
     Davis (AL)
     Davis (CA)
     Davis (KY)
     Davis, David
     Davis, Lincoln
     Davis, Tom
     Deal (GA)
     Dent
     Diaz-Balart, L.
     Diaz-Balart, M.
     Dicks
     Dingell
     Donnelly
     Doolittle
     Drake
     Dreier
     Edwards
     Ehlers
     Ellsworth
     Emanuel
     Emerson
     English (PA)
     Etheridge
     Everett
     Fallin
     Feeney
     Ferguson
     Flake
     Forbes
     Fortenberry
     Fossella
     Foxx
     Franks (AZ)
     Frelinghuysen
     Gallegly
     Garrett (NJ)
     Gerlach
     Giffords
     Gillibrand
     Gingrey
     Gohmert
     Gonzalez
     Goode
     Goodlatte
     Gordon
     Granger
     Graves
     Green, Gene
     Hall (TX)
     Hastings (WA)
     Hayes
     Heller
     Hensarling
     Herger
     Herseth Sandlin
     Hill
     Hinojosa
     Hobson
     Hoekstra
     Holden
     Hoyer
     Hulshof
     Hunter
     Inglis (SC)
     Issa
     Johnson (IL)
     Johnson, Sam
     Jones (NC)
     Jordan
     Kanjorski
     Keller
     Kildee
     Kind
     King (IA)
     King (NY)
     Kingston
     Kirk
     Kline (MN)
     Knollenberg
     Kuhl (NY)
     LaHood
     Lamborn
     Lampson
     Larsen (WA)
     Latham
     LaTourette
     Latta
     Levin
     Lewis (CA)
     Lewis (KY)
     Linder
     LoBiondo
     Lucas
     Lungren, Daniel E.
     Lynch
     Mack
     Mahoney (FL)
     Manzullo
     Marchant
     Marshall
     Matheson
     McCarthy (CA)
     McCaul (TX)
     McCotter
     McCrery
     McHenry
     McHugh
     McIntyre
     McKeon
     McMorris Rodgers
     Melancon
     Mica
     Miller (FL)
     Miller (MI)
     Mitchell
     Mollohan
     Moore (KS)
     Moran (KS)
     Murphy, Tim
     Murtha
     Musgrave
     Myrick
     Neugebauer
     Nunes
     Pearce
     Pence
     Peterson (MN)
     Peterson (PA)
     Petri
     Pickering
     Pitts
     Platts
     Poe
     Pomeroy
     Porter
     Price (GA)
     Pryce (OH)
     Putnam
     Radanovich
     Ramstad
     Regula
     Rehberg
     Reichert
     Renzi
     Reyes
     Reynolds
     Rodriguez
     Rogers (AL)
     Rogers (KY)
     Rogers (MI)
     Rohrabacher
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Roskam
     Ross
     Royce
     Ruppersberger
     Rush
     Ryan (WI)
     Salazar
     Sali
     Saxton
     Schmidt
     Schwartz
     Scott (GA)
     Sensenbrenner
     Sessions
     Sestak
     Shadegg
     Shays
     Shimkus
     Shuler
     Shuster
     Simpson
     Skelton
     Smith (NE)
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (TX)
     Snyder
     Souder
     Space
     Spratt
     Stearns
     Sullivan
     Tancredo
     Tanner
     Taylor
     Terry
     Thornberry
     Tiahrt
     Tiberi
     Turner
     Udall (CO)
     Upton
     Visclosky
     Walberg
     Walden (OR)
     Walsh (NY)
     Walz (MN)
     Wamp
     Weldon (FL)
     Westmoreland
     Whitfield (KY)
     Wicker
     Wilson (NM)
     Wilson (OH)
     Wilson (SC)
     Wittman (VA)
     Wolf
     Young (AK)
     Young (FL)

                               NAYS--142

     Abercrombie
     Ackerman
     Allen
     Andrews
     Arcuri
     Baca
     Baldwin
     Becerra
     Bishop (NY)
     Blumenauer
     Boswell
     Brady (PA)
     Braley (IA)
     Butterfield
     Capps
     Capuano
     Cardoza
     Carnahan
     Castor
     Clarke
     Clay
     Cleaver
     Cohen
     Conyers
     Costello
     Courtney
     Crowley
     Cummings
     Davis (IL)
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     Delahunt
     DeLauro
     Doggett
     Doyle
     Duncan
     Ellison
     Engel
     Eshoo
     Farr
     Fattah
     Filner
     Frank (MA)
     Green, Al
     Grijalva
     Gutierrez
     Hall (NY)
     Hare
     Harman
     Higgins
     Hinchey
     Hirono
     Hodes
     Holt
     Honda
     Inslee
     Israel
     Jackson (IL)
     Jackson-Lee (TX)
     Johnson (GA)
     Jones (OH)
     Kagen
     Kaptur
     Kennedy
     Kilpatrick
     Klein (FL)
     Langevin
     Lantos
     Larson (CT)
     Lee
     Lewis (GA)
     Lipinski
     Loebsack
     Lofgren, Zoe
     Lowey
     Maloney (NY)
     Matsui
     McCarthy (NY)
     McCollum (MN)
     McDermott
     McGovern
     McNerney
     Meek (FL)
     Meeks (NY)
     Michaud
     Miller (NC)
     Miller, George
     Moore (WI)
     Moran (VA)
     Murphy (CT)
     Murphy, Patrick
     Nadler
     Napolitano
     Neal (MA)
     Oberstar
     Obey
     Olver
     Pallone
     Pascrell
     Payne
     Perlmutter
     Price (NC)
     Rahall
     Rangel
     Richardson
     Rothman
     Roybal-Allard
     Ryan (OH)
     Sanchez, Linda T.
     Sanchez, Loretta
     Sarbanes
     Schakowsky
     Schiff
     Scott (VA)
     Serrano
     Shea-Porter
     Sherman
     Sires
     Slaughter
     Smith (WA)
     Solis
     Stark
     Stupak
     Sutton
     Tauscher
     Thompson (MS)
     Tierney
     Towns
     Tsongas
     Udall (NM)
     Van Hollen
     Velazquez
     Wasserman Schultz
     Waters
     Watson
     Watt
     Waxman
     Weiner
     Welch (VT)
     Wu
     Wynn
     Yarmuth

                             NOT VOTING--18

     Cubin
     Gilchrest
     Hastings (FL)
     Hooley
     Jefferson
     Jindal
     Johnson, E. B.
     Kucinich
     Markey
     McNulty
     Miller, Gary
     Ortiz
     Pastor
     Paul
     Thompson (CA)
     Weller
     Wexler
     Woolsey

                              {time}  1726

  Mr. WYNN, Mr. BECERRA, Ms. DeLAURO and Ms. ESHOO changed their vote 
from ``yea'' to ``nay.''
  Mr. DOOLITTLE changed his vote from ``nay'' to ``yea.''
  So the motion was agreed to.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________