Transcripts For CSPAN U.S. House Debates Gang Violence And 2018 Spending Bills 20170913

The chair the committee will be in order. For what purpose does the gentleman from oklahoma seek recognition . The committee will come to order. For what purpose does the gentleman from oklahoma seek recognition . Mr. Cole mr. Chairman, i ask unanimous consent to withdraw my request for recorded vote on amendment number 175 printed in ouse report 115297 to the end question hair put the de novo. The chair without objection. The clerk will redesignate the amendment. The clerk amendment number 175, printed in house report number 115297, offered by mr. Murphy of pennsylvania. The chair if there is no objection, the request for recorded vote is withdrawn. Antichair will put the question the chair without objection. The clerk will redesignate the amendment. The clerk amendment number de novo. The question is on agreeing to the amendment. So many as are in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. The ayes have it. The amendment is agreed to. For what purpose does the gentleman from oklahoma seek recognition . Ask ole mr. Chairman, i unanimous consent to withdraw my request for recorded vote on amendment number 176 printed in house report ask 115297, to thd that the chair put the question de novo. The chair the clerk will redesignate the amendment. The clerk amendment number 176, brinted in printed in house report number 115297, offered by mr. Murphy of pennsylvania. The chair is there objection to the request . Hearing no objection, the request for recorded vote is withdrawn antichair will put the question de novo. The question is on agreeing to the amendment. So many as are in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. The ayes have it. The amendment is agreed to. The the chair the committee will be in order. For what purpose does the gentleman from georgia seek recognition . Will chairman, pursuant to section 3 of h. Res. 504 and as the designee of chairman frelinghuysen, i rise to offer en bloc number 5 as part of the consideration of division d of har 3354. The list of amendments including in the en bloc is at the desk. And has been agreed to by both sides. The chair the clerk will designate the amendments en bloc. The clerk en bloc number five of amendment number 194, 1 the 7, 202, 2 o 9, 2010, 214, 215, 16, of amendment numb 194, 1 the 7, 202, 2 o 9, 2010, 214, 215, 16, 217219, 220, 224 are printed in house report number 115297 offered by mr. Graves of georgia. The chair pursuant to House Resolution 504 the gentleman from georgia, mr. Graves, and the gentleman from illinois, mr. Quigley, will each control 10 minutes of the the chair recognizes the gentleman from georgia. Mr. Graves thank you, mr. Chairman. From the beginning here let me thank the Ranking Member, mr. Quigley, for his good work over the last several months as we worked together as a team to try to come up a product that everyone would be pleased with and also mrs. Lowey, the Ranking Member, as well. But i have to give considered as read to the our leadership. They have decided to go big this year. They have had faith in chairman frelinghuysen and our Committee Members just to get the job done. By the end of this week this house will be the first republican worked together as a majority since 2004 to pass all 12 Appropriations Bills on time. This bill is certainly true to its name and also true to our principles. We make america safe by funding ur military and securing our borders. Borders. Were making america prosperous by restoring financial freedoms to all americans can earn a living and achieve their own dreams. Now ill Say Something obvious, mr. Chairman. Americans entrusted our party with the white house and both houses of congress in this last election. Take a look at this package. These are policies that we have been elected to pass. This is the u. S. House saying we hear you and were with you and were going to get the job done. So i want to thank chairman frelinghuysen and the subcommittee chairs all have worked hard over the last several months and their big ttee staff for going and getting this package to the floor as we finish it up here this evening. Its also important to thank my subcommittee and their personal staff as well. I big and getting this want to thank many hours of work, the weekends, late nights, and holidays that have brought us to this moment. I want to thank our clerk, deana, and mary beth, and brad who is in our Financial Service office. And until a few days ago we had the great opportunity took her away from us, kelly hitchcock, who has been in our office as wefment my personal office, we have john, jason, and sam who have worked very diligent, mr. Chairman, to bring us to this point on this evening. With that i reserve the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentleman from illinois is recognized. Mr. Quigley thank you, mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, i rise in support of this amendment. I apreesh yacht the chairmans inclusion of amendments from democratic members. Im particularly pleased to see amendments increasing funds for Small Business programs that support investments directly into our communities. Specifically this amendment boosts funding by a total of 20 million for Entrepreneurial Development grants. In addition, this package preserves, provides increased funding for the tax for the Elderly Program at the i. R. S. Ensuring that more elderly taxpayers receive efficient and quality tax assistance. It also boosts funding for the Community Development Financial Institution fund for native communities programs. Another especially affected and much needed program in this bill is the high intensity Drug Trafficking act. This amendment provides an additional 15 million to the amount provided in the underlying bill. The Drug Free Communities Program also critically important benefits from a funding increase. These are federal investments that matter and i support them all. I would be remiss, however, if i did not point out that some of block ied upon in this give me pause due to the irresponsible low funding level. It is not possible to find payfors that will not cause damage elsewhere in the bill. I look forward to working with my colleagues to find a way to increase the total Resources Available for this bill as we move forward in the process. Mr. Chairman, i reserve. The chair the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from georgia. Mr. Graves mr. Chairman, at this time id like to recognize mr. Denham from california who has worked hard on this amendment as well and has a portion he would like to discussion. The chair how much time . The gentleman from california is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Denham thank you, mr. Chairman. I rise in support of this en bloc package which includes my amendments to the Financial Services division of this bill. Mr. Chair, my amendment supports of efficient implementation the federal assets and transfer act. This is the act that i authored that was signed into law last year that simply puts in place a board to manage, to liquidate, to identify unneeded and vacant properties. There is an opportunity we have today to sell of the federal off the things that we dont need. Properties that have been sitting vacant for years. Properties that are costing us millions and millions and billions across the country. There is an opportunity for us sell these off and bring in the much needed revenue to Start Building roads, bridges, and put towards our infrastructure package, but also to get them redeveloped, rebuilding sell these off and bring in the communities, and putting people back to work. What we need right now is to get this board put into place. And congressional leadership will make recommendations to the president on their board. We need the senate to confirm the chairperson of the board. Finally, we need an executive director and staff to help vet these high Value Properties and push the reluctant agencies that dont want to get rid of these properties to actually liquidate the things they dont need. It is time to put this board in place. This en bloc amendment will help us to do so. This will help us build infrastructure across the country and sell off the things we dont need. I yield back. The chair the gentleman from georgia reserves. The gentleman from illinois. Mr. Graves mr. Chairman, i yield one mr. Higgins i yield one minute to the gentleman from illinois, mr. Schneider. Is chair the gentleman recognized for one is recognized for one minute. Mr. Schneider i rise today in support of my amendment included in this en bloc package. This amendment would increase business the Small Administration Business Administration Entrepreneurial Development programs by 4 million. With the increased intended to support entrepreneur shoop education. Our entrepreneurs and Small Business owners form the foundation of the american economy. Entrepreneurs win spired ideas benefit from the Educational Resources and information to help them convert those ideas businesses. Entrepreneurship education within the s. B. A. Provides resources such as growth assistance, Financial Literacy education, and basic information for aspiring entrepreneurs. We in congress have a responsibility to ensure that americans young and old with the entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to succeed have access to lessons and businesse entrepreneurship education within the resources that will help them succeed. This amendment will help our Small Businesses to prosper and ultimately create jobs. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment to continue to ensure the United States remains the best place in the world to start and grow a business. Back. The chair the gentleman from illinois reserves. The gentleman from georgia. Mr. Graves i reserve. The chair the gentleman from illinois. Back. To the r. Chairman, i gentleman from connecticut, mr. Court nifment the chair the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Courtney mr. Speaker, i rise in support of the en bloc amendment which contains an amendment offered by myself and congressman john larsen from connecticut which directs that funding at the department of the treasury shall be used to develop a revenue procedure related to a deduction for casualty losses for homes suffering from crumbling foundations in north central, eastern connecticut, and westery massachusetts. Related to a pie right type ree material which cropped up a quarry used for aggregate in concrete foundations and is sweeping the area thousands of homes are affected by t myself and mr. Larsen are actively working with treasury secretary mnuchin for this purpose. Yield the balance of my time. I thank my colleague for being stellar in this and leading the fight. And joining the connecticut General Assembly in that effort. I thank congressman courtney for his diligence in this effort. I thank the chairman as well. The chair the gentleman from illinois reserves. The gentleman from georgia. Mr. Graves id like to recognize the gentleman from tennessee who has been leading against opioid and drug abuse. The chair the gentleman is recognized for two minutes. Must cussoff i rise today mr. Custoff i rise today in support of this en bloc package. After many conversation was Law Enforcement throughout my district, it is Crystal Clear scourge is one of the top concerns right now if not the top concern. Mr. Chairman, i know my colleagues are having similar discussions in their districts so they understand just how serious the issues becoming for the American People. Our Drug Task Force in the eighth Congressional District of tennessee desperately needs these funds. As we have seen a spike in trafficking of narcotics across interstate 40 in west tennessee. The spread of Illegal Drugs in west tennessee and across the nation leads to higher crime rates which means our local, state, and federal Law Enforcement are being stretched incredibly thin. But we must think of the resource needed to battle the drug addiction epidemic such as the opioid crisis. We should be proactive now because prevention is the best longterm solution. Our Law Enforcement are working tirelessly, but they simply do not have the proper resources to effectively combat Drug Trafficking. We must do more to support our Law Enforcement in this fight and i believe that increasing program is a really good program is a really good first step. No doubt, officers at the local, state, and federal level have expressed support for this amendment. And i urge my colleagues to support these en bloc amendments. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I yield back the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman from georgia reserves. The gentleman from illinois. Mr. Many quigley i yield one minute to the gentlelady from hawaii, miss gab amplt the chair the gentlelady veg. Ms. Gabbard i rise today in support of this package and an amendment that includes additional funding for the native american cdfi assistance program. The cdfi funds native Initiative Programs seeks to level the economic Playing Field by providing awards to organizations that make Credit Capital and other essential Financial Services available to underserved and impoverished native communities. In the past this program has provided funding to organizations like one that provides Financial Training and loans to Charter Schools and Community Centers in hawaii to help make them creditworthy. Also provides funding to the council for native hawaiian advancement which provides access to capital for People Living in native hawaiian communities to help them purchase affordable homes, start new businesses, and help drive commerce. We must build upon this progress in native communities and increase the funding for the cdfi funds native initiative to build businesses, create jobs, empower these communities, and spur economic growth. Please support this amendment. The chair the gentleman from illinois reserves. The gentleman from georgia. Mr. Graves reserve. The chair the gentleman from illinois is recognized. Mr. Quigley i yield back. The chair the gentleman yields back. The gentleman from georgia. Mr. Graves mr. Chairman, i yield back. The chair the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The question is on the amendments en bloc offered by the gentleman from georgia. So many as are in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. The ayes have it. The en bloc amendments are agreed to. Its now in order to consider amendment number 190 printed in house report 115297. For what purpose does the gentleman from illinois seek recognition . Mr. Roskam i have an amendment at the desk. The chair the clerk will designate the amendment. The clerk amendment number 190, printed in house report number 115297, offered by mr. Roskam of illinois. The chair pursuant to House Resolution 504, the the gentleman from illinois, mr. Roskam, and a member posed, will each control five minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from illinois. Mr. Roskam i rise today in support of amendment 190 which would help prevent companies from weaponizing the Iranian Regime and help stop the flow of troops and armaments to assads murderous regime this. Amendment would prohibit the office of foreign assets control from authorizing the sale of aircraft to iran. Western companies are in the process of selling planes to iran air and other Iranian Airlines with deep ties to hostile actors. They have a long history of illicitly transporting militants, weapons and explosives on commercial aircraft to terror groups and rogue regimes. Irans Islamic Revolutionary guard corps and the ministry of defense used commercial aircraft to directly support irans campaign of terror around the middle east. Now, in recent years, both before the Iran Nuclear Deal and after, Iranian Airlines have served as a lifeline to the assad regime, transporting weapons and troops to the embattled dictator. Iran air was designated by the u. S. Treasury for such activity. Numerous Iranian Airlines remain sanctioned. Last year in speaking on the floor with the same amendments, i had on display this map beside me exhibiting the route of an iran air flight in the middle of the night from an irgc hub to wartorn damascus. This midnight flight was unscheduled and flew on a routine iranian arms supply path to syria. Hundreds of these flights are documented, showing a sophisticated Iranian Armed supply system using commercial jets. On display now is even more compelling evidence of iran airs nefarious activity. These recently taken photos display iranbacked afghani militia men flying iran air to syria, and you can see these e same militia men holding ak47s and prepping heavy artillery. They are reported to be part of assad fighting for the regime. Who are them to syria responsible for the deaths of half a Million People, mr. Chairman. Until iran cease using commercial aircraft to support terrorists and war criminals, western companies ought not to be allowed to sell Iranian Airliners more aircraft they can use to fuel assads brutal war. I reserve the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman eserves. Does any member seek time in opposition . Mr. Blumenauer i seek time in opposition. The chair the gentleman is recognized 25. Mr. Blumenauer ill yield myself 2 1 2 minutes. The chair youre recognized. Mr. Blumenauer mr. Speaker, i rise in opposition to my friends amendment, somebody i enjoy working with and respect but with all due respect i think hes wrong. Theres no denying the fact there are some bad people in iran who do bad things. And we have a complicated relationship that were trying to deal with. But first of all, there are already other countries who are involved with this. Airbus just had a contract. What the gentleman is talking about would deny the opportunity for boeing to be able to have these sales going forward, costing americans up to 100,000 jobs and keep billions of dollars out of the United States economy. Mr. Speaker, part of this is people are deeply concerned about the agreement that we made with iran dealing with Nuclear Weapons which i would note iran to this point has actually dialed down some of the work in terms of halted enrichment beyond 3. 67 , limited the size of its uranium stockpile, filled in the core of a Nuclear Reactor with cement and provides an opportunity for us to do in thing where many areas this region that we have common interest but are doing a dance. What concern i have is that the United States has mismanaged its relationship with iran. How would we feel if somebody had moved to overturn our popular elected government as did with iran in 1953 or we sided with Saddam Hussein in the brutal war against iran when they were openly using chemical weapons . There are things here that have made this a difficult relationship, but the majority of iranians, ironically, still like americans. Unlike Donald Trumps imagine near muslims dancing in the street imaginary muslims dancing in the streets during 9 11. In tehran, there were candlelight vigils supporting the United States. It has more of a democracy than what we have in saudi arabia and egypt. Now, i agree we got challenges dealing with them. But at a time we should be strengthening ties with the former through diplomacy, trade and job creation, we should be able to try and have the management of this complicated relations rather than penalizing American Companies for no good purpose. Say, again, pleased . The chair the gentleman consumed his 2 1 2 minutes. Do you reserve . Mr. Blumenauer i reserve. The chair the gentleman from illinois is recognized. Mr. Roskam mr. Chairman, can i inquire how much time there is . The chair each side has 2 1 2 minutes remaining. Mr. Roskam id like to yield a minute to the gentleman from kentucky, mr. Barr, the chairman of the subcommittee on Monetary Policy and trade of the Financial Services committee. The chair the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Barr mr. Speaker, i rise in strong support of mr. Friend from illinois from my friend from illinois, his amendment, who has shown great leadership on this issue, prohibiting the office of foreign asset control from using funds to issue a will allowing u. S. Made aircraft to be sold to iran and also prohibiting ofac from using u. S. Financial institutions to finance the purchase of military fungible aircraft to iran. As the chairman of the subcommittee over treasury implementation of sanctions, its unacceptable to expose the u. S. Financial system to the worlds leading state sponsor of terrorism and jurisdiction of primary Money Laundering concern. At a hearing in april, the committee on Financial Services heard testimony that iran airs role in the syrian conflict continues and that same day the public received reports of a chemical weapons attack killing dozens of syrian civilians. What we know there is significant evidence suggesting iran air flights are now being used to transport personnel and materiel supporting the irgc in efforts to assist the assad regime and hezbollah. I applaud the gentlemans amendment. I support it, and we should not be assisting the worlds leading state sponsor of terrorism with commercial aircraft. I yield back. The chair the gentleman from illinois reserves. The gentleman from oregon. Mr. Blumenauer i reserve. The chair the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from illinois. Mr. Roskam mr. Chairman, i will be the last speaker so if the gentleman wants to proceed then ill close. The chair the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from oregon. Mr. Blumenauer thank you. I want to be clear. I understand deep concerns about things that iranians are doing that i personally disagree with. The syrian conflict is a horrific tragedy, but we have problems with russians in syria. We have problems with turkey in syria. Were involved with a situation in the middle east that is horrific and its going to require all our best efforts. With all due respect, we have a number of things were trying to achieve in this regard. I think being able to maintain our commitments under the agreement with the jcpoa is important. That Iranian Nuclear agreement has held and is one of the few bright spots in that region. Second, we are punishing an american company, but as i mentioned, airbus just executed a contract. There are other parts of the world that have moved forward. One of the reasons that we were able to get alignment was there are different agreements in terms of what people want to do with france, great britain, germany, russia. We have struck an agreement with those allied powers working with us to make it more difficult for iran to be a nuclear state. We have an opportunity for us to not penalize American Companies. We have an opportunity for us to try and make diplomacy work which has been undercut by many of the things were seeing from the administration, trying to dial back the capacity of the state department, dial back the soft power that even the military says that we need to do. We have a number of areas where there are sponsors of terror. Pakistan is involved with all sorts of things in the in this region and, of course, they have been key in helping korea, north korea become a nuclear state. A ont think we should paint picture here that is too simplistic. We ought to acknowledge the fact that this is complex, that there are problems, but deal with a country where the majority of people like americans, where they have kept their nuclear commitments, where other countries are going to step in and fill the gap and that we ought not to penalize american industry or undercut diplomatic efforts. Thank you. The chair the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from illinois is recognized. Mr. Roskam thank you, mr. Chairman. My friend from oregon acknowledges that there are bad people doing bad things in iran. Well, lets not help them. Lets not be complicit. And as the candlelight vigils, none of the mullahs, none of the leadership were involved in candlelight vigils for the United States. These are the people that are chanting and provoking death to america. This does no violence to those who are supporters of the jcpoa. They like it. This has no impact on it whatsoever. And furthermore, it doesnt put American Companies at any other disadvantage that other companies have. So in other words, the two big players here are airbus and boeing, neither of whom, if we are successful with this amendment, would be able to sell into that marketplace. Why . Because airbus has the same level of technology. They get caught up in the same net we do. We have to ask the question, do we step back and say, wow, its complicated and overwhelming and lets do nothing . No. Lets lean in. Lets make a decision. Lets be articulate, and lets say we are choosing not to be complicit with what we know is outrage and that is the use of commercial aircraft to support supporting the Worlds Largest state sponsor of terror. This is fairly intuitive. The house has come together on these issues in the past. I urge its passage, and i yield back the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman yields back. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from illinois. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes have it and the amendment is agreed to. Its now in order to consider amendment number 191 printed in house report 115297. For what purpose does the gentleman from illinois seek recognition . Mr. Roskam mr. Chairman, i have an amendment at the desk. The chair the clerk will designate the amendment. The clerk amendment number 191 printed in house report 115297 offered by mr. Roskam of illinois. The chair pursuant to House Resolution 504, the gentleman from illinois, mr. Roskam, and a member opposed, will each control five minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from illinois. Mr. Roskam thank you, mr. Chairman. This amendment is similar to the previous amendment debated. Specifically, it would prohibit the office of foreign assets control from authorizing u. S. Financial institutions. Thats the distinction. From financing aircraft and sales to iran. Same reasons. Its all the same facts. Fairly straightforward and i reserve the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman reserves. For what purpose does the gentleman from illinois seek recognition . Mr. Chairman, i rise in opposition to the amendment. The chair the gentleman is recognized for five minutes. Mr. Chairman, riders have no place on the appropriation bill. The substantive amendment should be debated as a standalone piece of legislation and under the Proper Committee of jurisdiction. Mr. Quigley unfortunately, the fiscal 2018 Financial Services appropriation bill before us today is already loaded full of policy riders that dont belong on spending bills. Furthermore, this amendment would block the ability of boeing to complete the 30 billion worth of Aircraft Sales to iran, resulting in the loss of u. S. Jobs. It would put the u. S. In breach of jcpoa. Mr. Chairman, i yield back. The chair the gentleman yields back. The gentleman from illinois. Mr. Roskam mr. Chairman, i yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from colorado, mr. Lamborn, a member of the Armed Services committee. The chair the gentleman is recognized for a minute and a half. Mr. Lamborn thank you for your leadership, representative roskam. I rise in support of this amendment. This amendment prohibits funds from being used to issue a license relating to the sale of commercial passenger aircraft to the Islamic Republic of iran. The jcpoa allowed for the sale of commercial aircraft to iran air but its an Iranian Airline that the Treasury Department designated in 2013 for providing Material Support and services to the iranian Republic National national guard. What changed in those three years from that designation to the signing of the jcpoa . Congress has yet to see a report of Good Behavior on the part of the iranians. The ayatollahs continue to call america the big satan. The sales of these aircraft must be stopped so long as the iranians continue to be the leading state sponsor of terrorism. I thank representative roskam for his leadership on this issue and hope it passes with unanimous support. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I yield back the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman yields back. The gentleman from illinois. The gentleman from illinois across the hall has already yielded back his team mr. Roskam i yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from new york, mr. Zeldin. The chair the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Zeldin thank you, mr. Chairman. I rise in support of this amendment which im proud to cosponsor with my colleagues, mr. Roskam and mr. Lamborn. The he u. S. Entered into jcpoa we empowdered iran to advance its bad activities. Iran air was sanctioned in 2011 for using commercial flights to transport missile and rocket components to syria. Syrian war is far from over. We cannot allow iran to establish a permanent presence in syria. This amendment would block taxpayer funds from supporting regime that has killed too many people. I strongly support the passage of this amendment. Im concerned as i hear opposition to this amendment where were talking about the need to protect american jobs where the connection is being made to those american jobs being used to support terrorism abroad. Thats a stretch. I would encourage my colleagues on the other side of the aisle if they are concerned about protecting american jobs, that were pursuing american jobs to help our great country. Not supporting the bad activities of a regime that is developing Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles in violation of u. N. Security council resolutions. Calling israel the little satan and america the great satan. Overthrowing foreign governments. The largest state sponsor of terrorism. I say that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle should be sharing our concern and supporting this a i thank mr. Roskam for his leader shfment i yield back. The chair the gentleman yields back. The gentleman from illinois. Mr. Roskam thank you, mr. Chairman. To close as for the argument about ideological riders, look, this is the article 1 branch. Its the prerogative of the house of representatives and the long to speak and decide how money is to be spent. As to the notion that this accusation this preaches the jcpoa, as much of a critic as i am of this deal, this doesnt breach it. Its in compliance with t the notion of jobs is an interesting one and it creates a moral quandrifment until, mr. Speaker, you balance out these two things, jobs versus lives, is that really a question here . And arent lives more important than jobs . And isnt tan interesting thing that the several members of the Washington State delegation where boeing in particular is headquartered have actively written to the leadership of the boeing company saying dont do this, essentially. Dont put our employees in the moral quandry of having to move forward on this. Then finally, mr. Speaker, how would we be feeling if the inate were happening in 1938 the question nd was, are we going to loan money to some commercial operation that can be used by the regime in hamburg, germany, for example. We would be scandalized by t we need to recognize with a sense of clarity where were in history. We ought not be complicit with this. This house can make a great deal of difference in the future of this the question was, are we fight. I urge the passage of this amendment. The adoption of it. I yield back the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from illinois. So many as are in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes have t the amendment is agreed to. It is now in order to consider amendment number 192 printed in ouse report 115297. For what purpose does the gentleman from alabama seek recognition . I have an amendment at the desk. The chair the clerk will designate the amendment. The clerk amendment number 192, printed in house report number 1152 the 7, offered by mr. Palmer of alabama. The chair pursuant to House Resolution 504, the gentleman from alabama, mr. Palmer, and a member opposed, will each control five minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from alabama. Mr. Palmer thank you, mr. Chairman. My amendment would prohibit funds from being used to implement the district of columbias Reproductive Health nondiscrimination Amendment Act of 2014. This law prevents religious and prolife Advocacy Organization from making Employment Decisions consistent with their institutional mission. The First Amendment states in part that Congress Shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. Without my amendment, some employers in the district of columbia would be forced to embrace the beliefs of the 13 members of the d. C. Council. D. C. Allows abortions until the moment of birth. But a number of organizations in d. C. , such as march for life, americans united for life, and susan b. Anthony list, exists solely to protect the sanctity of life. The constitution provides them the right to exercise those beliefs just like it does those oppose it. Thats why when the district passed this act, former mayor gray described it as legally problematic. The bill raises serious concerns under the constitution and under the religious freedom restoration afpblgt my amendment would restore religious freedom to employers inside the district of columbia. Those who want to have an abortion do not have to work for those that oppose them. They have the life and lisht to pursue their own interest with another employer. I reserve the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman reserves. Does any member seek recognition opposition to the amendment . For what purpose does the gentlelady from the district of columbia rise . Ms. Norton i rise in strong opposition to this amendment. The chair the gentlelady is recognized for five minutes. Ms. Norton i yield myself such time as i may consume. The chair the gentlelady is recognized. Opposition to ms. Norton this amendment prohibits the district of columbia from spending its local funds to carry out a local antidiscrimination law. The Reproductive Health nondiscrimination act. Unlike the d. C. Counsel, which passed this law, no member of this congress was elected to legislate on local d. C. Matters or is accountable to the voters of the district of columbia. This amendment gives employers license to discriminate against employees, their spouses, their degrentsd based on their private dependents, based on their private actually protected reproductive decisions. This amendment permits employers to fire a woman for having an abortion due to rape or decline to hire a woman for using in vitro fertilization. Or to fire a man for using condoms. Or to reduce the salary of a parent for buying Birth Control for his or her child. Claim,y to the sponsors the d. C. Law does not require employers, does not require employers, claim, the to provide Insurance Coverage for Reproductive Health decisions. Importantly, the law states expressly here this language, this section shall not be construed to require an employer to provide Insurance Coverage to a reproductive related to a eproductive health decision. The d. C. Law is valid under both the u. S. Constitution and the religious freedom restoration act. Indeed, the law has been in effect for more than two years. It is now law. And there appears to have been no lawsuits challenging it. Under the u. S. Constitution, laws may limit religious exercise if they are neutral. Generally applicable, and rationally related to a legitimate governmental interest. Under the religious freedom restoration act, laws may substantially burden religious exercise only if they further a compelling governmental interest in the least restrictive means. The d. C. Law meets all of these requirements. That is why it has never been challenged. The d. C. Law also protects religious liberty. The constitutions narrow ministerial exception allows religious organizations to make Employment Decisions for ministers and ministerial employees for any reason whatsoever. D. C. Law permits religious and political organizations to make Employment Decisions based on religious and political views. Under the d. C. Law, employers employees must be willing to carry out an employers missions and directives. So i urge members to vote no on this amendment in order to protect employees Reproductive Health decisions, workplace equality, and d. C. s own right to selfgovernment. I reserve the balance of my time. The chair the gentlelady reserves. The gentleman from alabama. Mr. Palmer id like to yield to the gentleman from arizona, mr. Biggs, one minute. The chair the gentleman from arizona is recognized for one minute. Mr. Biggs thank you, mr. Speaker. Thank you, mr. Palmer, for sponsoring this amendment which i support wholeheartedly. I support mr. Palmers amendment to prohibit funding for implementation of the district of columbias reproductive nondiscrimination act which passed the d. C. Council in 2014. This law pliments the ability of employers, including prolife organizations to avoid hire applicants whose personal beliefs are contrary to their missions. Today congress can begin to right this wrong. Think about the real effect of this law. Organizations like march for life, americans united for life, susan b. Anthony list, or Family Research council, among others Whose Mission is to advocate for the sanctity of life could be forced to hire individuals who disagree with those very principles. In the 2012 days kase the u. S. Supreme Court Unanimously affirmed the right of religious organizations to hire employees that support the mission of the organization for which they will be advocating. We cannot allow 13 d. C. Council members to circumvent that decision and strip employers of this constitutional rights. The United States constitution explicitly grants congress the power to exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever over the district of columbia. I believe we have a to ensure the d. C. Council, is not, is not infringing on the religious liberties of prolife organizations. I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment. I yield back. The chair the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from alabama reserves. The gentlelady from the d. C. Dfpblgt ms. Norton may inquire how much time i have . The chair the gentlelady has two minutes remaining. Ms. Norton im pleased to yield one minute to the gentlewoman from colorado, one of the leaders of the right to privacy in this congress. The chair the gentlelady is recognized for one minute. Ms. Degette thank you very much. I rise in strong opposition to this amendment. The gentleman from alabama talks about the First Amendment rights of employers, but clearly this , atute by the d. C. Government it comprises all of the constitutional rights. What im concerned about here is discrimination against employees for making their own Reproductive Health decisions. Apparently that doesnt matter to the people on the other side of the aisle. The right of people to take irth control, to have in vitro fertilization, or even to have an abortion. The d. C. Council decided that was an important right and hats why they passed this legislation. And this is why we should preserve it today. There is absolutely no reason why we should take the rights of selfgovernance away from d. C. There is absolutely no reason why we should take the rights of women and families to exercise their legal Constitutional Health care decisions. I thus strongly oppose this amendment and urge a no vote. The chair the gentlelady from district of columbia reserves. Mr. Palmer in spite of numerous requests, with all due respect from colorado dy antidistinguished member from the district of columbia, in spite of numerous requests, no exemptions were included in the Reproductive Health nondiscrimination act for either moral or religious objections. I think my colleague from colorado just pointed that out. That they intended no exceptions. It has no religious exedges and the legislative history suggests it may have been passed specifically to tearget faithbased employers. Target faithbased employers. Nobody should be forced to take other. Ion one way or the or be able to hire them. By leaving this in place, it exposes potential lawsuits. I would like to point out that in regard to congress authority over other. Or this issue, article 1, section 8, clause 17 of the constitution states Congress Shall have power to exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever over the district. I take exception my colleagues point that as acceptable to infringe on the religious liberties of certain people who actually believe in protecting life. The constitution does not provide for only a Certain Group to practice their religion, but everyone has a right to practice his or her religion. No government interest can overcome that constitutional right. I reserve the balance of my time. E chair the gentleman reserves. The gentlelady from the district of columbia. Ms. Norton reserves. The gentlelady from the district of columbia. Ms. Norton how much time do i have remaining . He chair the gentlelady has one minute. Ms. Norton i dont know what the district of columbia can do to satisfy the idea one longley driven ideologically members on the other side. We protected our religious liberty. There have been absolutely no challenges. They have ignored the plain wording on abortion. And above all, they have ignored their own ground work principle of local control. Yells a majority that local control for everybody except the residents of the district of columbia. We have defeated this amendment before. We will defeat this amendment again. If not in this house, in the other house i assure you. It is law, it is going to remain law. I yield back the balance of my time. The chair the gentlelady yields back. For what purpose does the gentleman from illinois seek recognition i rise as the designee of the Ranking Member lowey to strike the last word. The chair the gentleman is recognized for five minutes. Yells ocal mr. Quigley the wouldbe candidate for the district of Columbia City council but the issues remain far more important. This amendment would once again overreach by prohibiting funds for d. C. Reproductive health, nondiscrimination act of 2014. That law prohibits discrimination based on Reproductive Health decisions. The Reproductive Health nondiscrimination act protects workers in d. C. From Workplace Discrimination if the employer disagrees with the employees use of contraception. In vitro fertilization and even perhaps a medically necessary abortion. The law prohibits employers from making Employment Decisions based on Reproductive Health decisions of employees, their spouses and children. Without this the employers getting an woman abortion due to rape, buying Birth Control for their child and declining hire to a woman who uses in vitro fertilization. D. C. Is protecting workers if the supervisors dont agree with their most personal decisions. This amendment would strip that. D. C. Passed a statutory clarification that no employer was required to provide Insurance Coverage related to Reproductive Health decisions. During the congressional review period, the republicancontrolled house passed a resolution disapproving this bill but the Republicancontrolled Senate did not. The congress had time to act on this issue and it failed to do so. D. C. Residents should not be subject to endless efforts to overturn their laws. People should be judged at work based on their performance, not on their personal, private Reproductive Health care decisions. Thats why d. C. Passed this law. And to my friends across the aisle, i understand you see this as a constitutional challenge, but with all due respect, your antifederalist and federalists when its convenient and not just because its d. C. It has to do more with issues you dont agree with. Youre very much for states rights and local control unless it has something to do with issues like gun violence or a womans right to choose. This is inconsistent and frankly with all due respect somewhat hypocritical. I urge a no vote on this amendment and i yield back. The chair the gentleman yields back. The gentleman from alabama has ne minute remaining. I yield 20 seconds to my colleague from georgia, mr. Graves. Mr. Graves i want to thank the gentleman from alabama, mr. Palmer, for his fierce support and defense of our First Amendment rights and religious freedoms and faithbased and prolife organizations should be free to serve accordingly to their deeply held beliefs. So the vote on this amendment today is one in which you should be voting yes for the First Amendment and yes for religious freedom. With that ill yield back. Mr. Palmer mr. Chairman, i want to remind people what former mayor wrote in his letter, religious organizations, religiously driven forprofit entities and organizations may have strong First Amendment to challenge e laws applicability to them. The Supreme Court made it clear this was a unanimous decision that organizations are free to hire people who are likeminded, who support their views. This in regard to federalism, the constitution gives congress the right to legislate over the district of columbia. I urge my colleagues to vote yes for this amendment and i the bag balance and i yield the balance of the time. The chair the gentlemans time has expired. The question son the amendment by the gentleman from alabama. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. The ayes have it. Ms. Norton i ask for the yeas and nays. The chair pursuant to clause 6 of rule 18, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from alabama will be postponed. Its now in order to consider amendment number 193 printed in ouse report 115297. Its now in order to consider amendment number 195 printed in house report 115297. For what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition . Mr. Speaker, i have an amendment at the desk. The chair the clerk will designate the amendment. Is the gentleman a designee of the gentleman from florida . Mr. Gohmert yes, i am. The chair the clerk will designate the amendment. The clerk amendment number 195 printed in house report 115297 offered by mr. Gohmert of texas. The chair pursuant to House Resolution 504, the gentleman from texas, mr. Gohmert, and a member opposed, will each control five minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from texas. Mr. Gohmert thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise to offer an amendment to h. R. 3354, originally this was offered by my friend from florida, mr. Posey, whos currently helping his constituents recover from hurricane irma. So i rise on behalf of mr. Posey. This amendment would strike the i. R. S. s Operations Support account by 165,300 and transfer that amount to the spending reduction account. The effect would be to eliminate the salary of i. R. S. Commissioner koskinen, john koskinen, his salary, in fact, and would finally begin a tiny amount of accountability that american taxpayers have deserved for quite some time. Not only did commissioner koskinen fail to hold the i. R. S. Accountable for wrongfully targeting groups based on their legal political beliefs, but he obstructed the congressional investigation into the scandal. When congress requested the testimony of lois lerner, who was head of the exempt Organization Division at the i. R. S. , she took the fifth amendment and refused to cooperate. Well, instead of providing these records as required, mr. Koskinen chose to, in his words, quote, recycle, unquote, the lerner email record. By recycle mr. Koskinen meant, obviously by his actions, destroy evidence that was part of a congressional investigation which was in direct conflict with his duties as a Public Servant and in particular as head of the Internal Revenue service. After obstructing a congressional investigation, mr. Koskinen then lied about it nder oath on several occasions before congress. In other words, he repeatedly perjured p ousley himself in front of congress. In 2014, mr. Koskinen testified in a ways and Means Committee hearing, when the targeting investigation started, every email had been preserved and othing was lost. At that very same hearing, mr. Koskinen said that the backup files no longer existed. He then went on to say that the i. R. S. Had, quote, gone to Great Lengths to spend a significant amount of money trying to make sure that there were emails that required that has not been produced, unquote. That, as we found out was a blatant lie. Mr. Koskinen and his staff had gone to no lengths to get these emails. They had done nothing. In fact, treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration said that the i. R. S. , under koskinen, his direction simply did not look for the emails at all. Later, more than a thousand emails were recovered from backup tapes that the i. R. S. Had attempted to destroy knowing they were being sought by congress. A year later on june 20, 2015, mr. Koskinen again falsely stified, also known as personaluring himself, that all of the perjuring himself, that all were destroyed and tried to destroy the backup tapes as well and that was well after the investigation had started and the emails were being sought. Koskinens dishonesty and obstructionist actions were not limited to congressional business. His actions directly affected american taxpayers. Under his tenure, the i. R. S. Customer service for the 2015 filing system was nothing short of abysmal. Taxpayers were forced to wait hours to speak to an i. R. S. Agent even after Congress Gave him more money that he hadded before for that that he had had before under his assistance but it was squandered in other ways. The Terrible Customer Service was a direct result of mr. Koskinens i. R. S. Directing funds meant for Taxpayer Services toward other priorities. At his confirmation hearing, commissioner koskinen promised he would be transparent. That was a lie. This mans salary should be reduced, and i reserve the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman reserves. For what purpose does the gentleman from illinois seek recognition . Mr. Quigley mr. Chairman, i rise in opposition. The chair the gentleman is recognized for five minutes. Mr. Quigley i yield myself such time as i may consume. The chair the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Quigley mr. Chairman, this amendment is intended to cut the pay of the i. R. S. Commissioner to zero. Hes nothing more than a gratuitous, partisan cheap shot, an amendment offered last year that failed. I am null, i am sure there are plenty of people out there that think that members of congress should be paid nothing or have their salary reduced to next to nothing because they disagree with them or they dont like their actions. I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment and reserve the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from texas has 15 seconds remaining. Mr. Gohmert in conclusion, mr. Speaker, i hope and literally pray that at some point well put politics aside and when somebody lies from congress well join together to say not before congress, there will be consequences. I yield back. The chair the gentleman yields back. The gentleman from illinois. Mr. Quigley mr. Chairman, there have been extraordinary attacks on the i. R. S. Commissioner in a wide variety of range. An amendment similar to this failed last year which meant there were republicans who opposed it as well as democrats, and there were attempts to offer impeachment on this matter and those were he partisan efforts in a nonconstructive way, and this is just one more element toward that end and its unnecessary and i encourage my colleagues to vote no and i yield back. The chair the gentleman yields back. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from texas. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. The ayes appear to have it. Mr. Quigley mr. Chairman, i ask for a recorded vote. The chair pursuant to clause 6 of rule 18, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from texas will be postponed. Its now in order to consider amendment number 196 printed in house report 115297. For what purpose does the gentlelady from the district of columbia seek recognize snigs ms. Norton mr. Chairman, i have an amendment at the desk. The chair the clerk will designate the amendment. The clerk amendment number 196 printed in house report 115297 offered by ms. Norton of the district of columbia. The chair pursuant to House Resolution 504, the gentlelady from the district of columbia, ms. Norton, and a member opposed, will each control five minutes. The chair recognizes the gentlelady from the district of columbia. Ms. Norton i yield myself such time as i may consume. The chair the gentlelady is recognized. Ms. Norton mr. Chairman, my amendment strikes the repeal of the district of columbias local budget autonomy act which allows the district of columbia to spend its local funds consisting solely of local taxes and fees after a 30day congressional review period and this is now law. It is astonishing that my republican colleagues are so at odds with the local jurisdiction spending its own local funds without the approval of a federal body, the u. S. Congress, that we will be voting for a third time since may, 2016, to repeal this local law. The first two attempts were not enacted into law, and i expect this third attempt to fail too. In fact, i should not have to offer this amendment. The bills repeal of the local budget autonomy act violates the house rule against legislating on an appropriation bill. Of course, the special rule governing consideration of the bill prohibits me from raising a point of order against the repeal provision which would be sustained by the chair. The local budget autonomy act is in effect, it is now law, i repeat. This year, the d. C. Council passed its second local budget under the local budget autonomy act. Smart lawyers have differed about the validity of the local budget autonomy act when d. C. Enacted it. However, the local budget autonomy act has been litigated. The only court ruling in effect upheld it. That ruling has not been appealed, and the Court Ordered d. C. Officials to implement it. Some House Republicans disguise their opposition to the local budget autonomy act with legalistic arguments until speaker ryan revealed last year the real reason the house passed the standalone bill repealing the local autonomy act. He said, and i am quoting him, there are real consequences. The d. C. Government wants to use revenues to Fund Abortions in the district. House republicans will not stand for that, end quote. The speaker the speaker was wrong. Congress loses nothing under our budget autonomy law. Congress retains the authority to legislate on any d. C. Matter, including the local budget, at any time. Thats unfortunate but that, too, is the law. The local budget autonomy act is a modest attempt by the district to be able to implement its own local budget soon after it is passed like other jurisdictions, instead of having it caught up in congressional delays. Instead, the riders in the bill prohibiting d. C. Spending its local funds on marijuana commercialization and Abortion Services for low income women were changed. From those in prior appropriations bill. To account for the local budget autonomy act and still thats not enough. D. C. Riders applied only to funds included in appropriation bills. Because only appropriation bills authorize d. C. Spending. In the bill in this bill, as in the fiscal 2017, the riders apply to d. C. Local Funds Available under any authority, including those in the local budget passed under the local budget autonomy act. Local control over the dollars raised by local taxpayers is a principle much cited by my republican colleagues. And it is indeed central to the american form of government. Beyond this core principle, budget autonomy has practical benefits for d. C. , including luring lowering borrowing costs, more accurate revenue and expenditure forecasts, improved Agency Operations and the removal of the threat of d. C. Government shutdowns during federal government shutdowns. These are our concerns. D. C. s budget is larger than the budgets of 14 states, mr. Chairman. The district raises 8 billion in local funds. While d. C. Is in a better financial than most cities and states in this country, with a Rainy Day Fund of over 2 billion and a total budget of 14 billion, budget autonomy makes the district Even Stronger as it must be because it has no state fallback. I reserve the balance of my time. The chair the gentleladys time has expired. For what purpose does the gentleman from georgia seek recognition . I rise in opposition to the amendment. The chair the gentleman is recognized for five minutes. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I have Great Respect for ms. Norton and i appreciate your passion and zeal for the district and you advocate well for them and i hear my friends across the aisle speak about the disregard for local law. Let me assure you, mr. Chairman this is truly not the keas. Article 1 of section of the constitution gives congress the power, and let me quote, the power to exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever. End quote. Over the seat of government of the United States. Which is the district of columbia. Now the district of columbia is neither a state nor a municipality. In fact, it is a district. Therefore d. C. Derives all its powers, not from the sovereignty of statehood, but from the delegation given to them by ongress. Congress,y the by the home rule act of 1973, aloud d. C. To assume more responsibility over time. This bill before you continues to appropriate d. C. Funds as it has for the last 44 years. Thats 44 years of republican majorities and democrat majorities. This changes nothing from there. Under various administrations as well. So this bill does not change the special and unique relationship between d. C. And the federal government because the d. C. Budget awe autonomy act did not change that special, unique relationship between the district and the federal government whatsoever. Now the d. C. Budget autonomy act only amended the home rule act as adopted by the d. C. Code. No state can override federal law. As we debate this each and every time let me assure the body here, district of columbia has plenty of autonomy. When it comes to spending, that is the role of congress as given to us through the u. S. Constitution. And with that, i urge a no vote on this amendment and yield back the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman yields back. The question is on the amendment offered but the gentlelady from washington, d. C. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the the chair, the noes have it in the opinion of the chair the noes visit. The amendment is not agreed to. Ms. Norton i request the yeas and nays. The chair does the gentlelady request a recorded vote . Ms. Norton yes, mr. Chairman. The chair pursuant to clause 6 of rule 18, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the jeament from washington, d. C. Will be postponed. It is now in order to consider amendment number 198 printed in ouse report 115297. It is now in order to consider amendment number 199 printed in ouse report 115297. For what purpose does the gentleman from minnesota seek recognition . Mr. Ellison mr. Chairman, i have an amendment at the desk. The chair the clerk will designate the amendment. The clerk amendment number 199 printed in house report 115297, offered by mr. Ellison of minnesota. The chair pursuant to hughes resolution 504, the gentleman from minnesota, mr. Ellison, and a member opposed each will control five minutes. The gentleman from minnesota is recognized. Mr. Ellison thank you, mr. Chairman. My amendment simply preserves the Consumer Financial Protection Bureaus independent funding and ensures that the Consumer Bureau is adequately funded. Thats essentially what this is all about. This is very clear. The sides on this couldnt be more clear. My amendment is one of the many this week but i hope that people pay special attention to how folks vote on this particular amendment. This amendment is a clear litmus test, yes, it is. If a legislator wants to support the work of the consume financial Protection Bureau, if they want to support the work of 11 1 2 of 11. 5 billion being returned to consumers, vote yes. A yes vote on my amendment means you want to protect americans from fraud, deceptive practices, ripoff schemes. A yes vote means you want Debt Collection agent circumstances payday lenders and others to be held accountable if they rip off consumers. A yes vote means you want honest an fair dealing firms in the Financial Services space to be rewarded for their good work and for the people who take advantage of consumers to be punish. We want to keep Good Companies good. How can you do that if good and bad get treated just alike . We need the cfpb my amendment sked, you stand with ari bouris, you may have seen on the cbs sunday morning a few weeks ago, he contacted the consumer bume bureaus Consumer Complaint center for help. His teenage son joined the army, like mine did, an bought a used truck at a car dealer near his base my boy when he went into the army was 18 years old. I imagine ari was about the same age, wanting a car. And yet that desire was taken advantage of. Teenage ari joined the army and bought a used truck at a car dealer near the base and the loan was way more than this private could possibly afford. Extensive extended warranty, 18. 5 interest. He would have paid three times more than the blue book value for this 11,000 truck. Private bouris would have paid three times more and yet he cant afford three times more. Hes just a private trying to serve his country. But the bureau got private bouris and 50,000 other service member, let me say this again, mr. Chairman, 50,000 other Service Members out of these predatory loans that ruin their finances and cause enormous stress in their lives. We need Service Members thinking about protecting the country, not how to fight off some predatory lender. My amendment asking, if you hanif from amir North Carolina who was one of more than half a Million People who have wrongly charged autoinsurance when he took out a loan to buy a honda civic. He already had insurance but wells fargo charged him and 20,000 others added insurance and made them miss payments. This led their cars to be repossessed in some cases. Numerous scandals at wells fargo, the forced insurance, the fake accounts, overcharges and mortgage closings, signing consumers up for Life Insurance without their consent and other fraudulent practices are coming to light buzz of the work of the Consumer Bureau and its Consumer Complaint office and they need independence. I reserve for the moment, mr. Chairman. The chair the gentleman reserves. Does the gentleman from missouri rise in opposition . Mr. Chairman, i rise to claim time in opposition to the amendment. The chair the gentleman is recognized. Thank you, mr. Chairman. In june, the house passed h. R. 10, the financial choice act work overwhelming support. Section 713 of the financial choice act contained language to subject the cfpb to the appropriations process. Its funded out of the earns of the Federal Reserve system. The director need only submit a letter to the board of governors at the Federal Reserve each quarter certifying the amount of funds to be reasonably necessary for carrying out the thors of the bureau. The Federal Reserve transfering the money thth bureau for operations. Basically the Federal Reserve serves purely as an a. T. M. Machine and Neither Congress nor the president has the ability to have any input into the bureaus funding or oversight of whether that funding is spent effectively. Mr. Luetkemeyer the bureaus funding is different from other regulators that fleets markets for police markets for fraud. Including the securities and Exchange Commission, Consumer Product safety commission, Commodity Futures Commission and all those which are funded principally through congressional appropriations. To return to a constitutional structure and create agency accountability, Congress Must reclaim its power of the purse. Over the most potent tools the constitution gives congress for oversight of federal agencies and implements real reforms. There can be no con sthovente governs if the governed if the American People through their elected representatives have no say in how their government spends their hardearned dollars. To reassert congress pow ore they have purse, the financial choice act calls for all financial regulatory, including cla and fsoc to be funded through the congressional appropriations process, ensure theegs agencies use their funding effectively and transparently to fulfill their missions of protecting consumers and investors. Like other executive Branch Agencies and like other regulators that police the mark the cfpb will have the chance to justify its expenditures to congress as part of the appropriations process. Congress can continue to Fund Programs that provide value to consumers and can stop funding programs that are mired in waste, fraud, and abuse. This is a basic accountability measure, no more or less. It seem misgood colleague across the aisle is fearful that we may do something to harm that ability. Hes afraid of providing accountability for those dollars. Thats our basic function and its our responsibility. We must not miss this opportunity to reestablish separation of powers and restore the constitutional governance of the state. With that, mr. Chairman, i reserve the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman se reserves. The gentleman from minnesota is is recognized. Mr. Ellison how much time do i have left . The chair the gentleman has one minute remaining. Mr. Ellison i will yield the remaining minute to the gentleman from illinois, mr. Quigley. The chair the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Quigley i thank the gentleman for yielding. Before doddfrank, consume brother text laws were enforced by a patchwork of different regulations, each focused on their own issues. The cfpb enhanced and simplified consumer regulation, consolidating enforcement into a Single Authority devoted to all aspects of Consumer Protection. Ranging from oversight over mortgages and credit cards to unregulated products previously like payday and student loans. Wells fargo fake account scandal which cfpb played a key role in exposing and other breaches showed why we need a wellresourced and fully functional cfpb. By subjecting cfpb to the appropriations process the goal isnt to provide necessary oversight, considerable Accountability Measures already exist. It is to starve them of funding and weaken their ability to do their job. Weve seen this before at other financial regulators like the securities and Exchange Commission and cftc who are still struggling to carry out doddfrank rule making. I ask my colleagues to preserve this independence, stand the side of consumers and vote yes on the ellison amendment. The chair the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from missouri is recognized. Mr. Lute kefire mci yield one minute to the gentleman from kentucky. The chair the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Bartlett with all due respect this amendment is about protecting bureaucrats from accountability from the American People. You know, i dont know for the life of member why members of congress would not defend this institution both democrats, defend this institution, why would we give away the complete and effect tall power of congress, the power of the purse away to unelected bureaucrats in the executive branch . When i asked chairman yellen, she didnt know the answer to that basic question. We know they are not accountable. Thats by statutory design. Thats what doddfrank says, but we would hope they be accountable to the source of their funding and not even accountable to the fed. Defeat this amendment. Support accountability and support the constitution and support the power of the purse to the elected members of congress. I yield back. Mr. Luetkemeyer i yield one minute to the gentleman from pennsylvania. Mr. Rothfus i rise in opposition of this amendment. The proponents suggests that his amendment is necessary for functioning of the cfpb. Its not. The cfpb will continue to function but with the accountability of the American People. Inconsistent is with the fundamental principle of american government, of government of the people, by the people and for the people. This amendment is inconsistent with the fundamental american principle of selfrule. That happens in this congress. Congress needs to have authority over every part of the federal government, including the cfpb so we can make the determination of what harm it may be bringing to consumers. We do know that consumers have been harmed with loss of free checking and losing Community Institutions because of the regulation coming from this town. I urge my colleagues to vote against this amendment and vote for accountability over the cfpb. I yield back. The chair the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from missouri is recognized. Mr. Luetkemeyer i yield to congressman graves. Mr. Graves i appreciate the work here by the gentleman making a great case and why this amendment is harmful to the American People. I join them in my opposition and their opposition as well to this amendment. And i urge the house to defeat it. The chair the gentleman from missouri is recognized. Mr. Luetkemeyer i assume we have 15 seconds left. Just to close, i would encourage all the members to oppose the amendment. Its curious why we have someone here fighting congress to do its job and provide oversight. Are we fearful of someone looking over the shoulder of cfpb . Why. What should we be worried about. We need to be looking over their shoulder. I yield back. The chair all time for debate has expired. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from minnesota. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, the noes have it, the amendment is not agreed to. Mr. Ellison i ask for a recorded vote. The chair pursuant to clause 6, rule 18, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from minnesota will be postponed. It is now in order to consider amendment number 200 printed in house report 115297. For what purpose does the gentleman from minnesota seek recognition . Mr. Ellison i have an amendment at the desk. The chair the clerk will designate the amendment. The clerk amendment number 200 printed in house report 115297 offered by mr. Ellison of minnesota. The chair the gentleman from minnesota and a member opposed each will control five minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from minnesota. Mr. Ellison mr. Chairman, my amendment preserves the cfpbs authority to protect people who live in manufactured housing, manufactured housing buyers. Im lucky to have the manufactured Homeowners Association in my district and wrote a letter on behalf of my amendment. And would submit it. Im proud to have the residents of the park plaza manufactured Home Community in my district. They tell me that being steered to high cost loans makes Home Ownership more costly for families. Before dodd frank and the creation of the cfpb, the manufactured home loan market was notoriously predatory. For example, a story in the Seattle Times, which i recommend members read tell the story of kirk and Patricia Ackley in Washington State. They bought a new manufactured home big enough for their children and room to care for patricias dad. But their dream became a nightmare when the promised 7 Interest Rate was raised to 12. 5 . This family faced crisis when this raised their monthly 00. Ent from 700 to 1, they invested to build a concrete foundation. They took a loan and nearly cost them their marriage. The home was repossessed. In 2015, investigation by the center for Public Integrity and the Seattle Times interviewed 280 customers of Clayton Homes. One person they interviewed was a member of the navajo nation. She said she learned about clayton on navajo radio. The ad recommended that she talk to a specific navajospeaking salesperson outside of the reservation. He told her that vanter built mortgage was the only source of financing for homes on the reservation. He didnt tell her the truth and overcharged her. Now its illegal to steer buyers to high cost loans because of new loans from the cfpb. Loans with high Interest Rates can be especially devastating to buyers of mobile homes since houses often depreciate quickly. A buyer with a high rate will still owe a large sum for many years on a home that can be almost impossible to sell or finance. Thats because the value of the home can fall below the loan balance. Opponents of my amendment say that they want to help manufactured home buyers. Thats a good thing. Yet none of them have cosponsored h. R. 515 which would provide lowcost loans to owners of outdated mobile homes so they can buy Energy Star Homes which would reduce their bills and save energy. None of them joined me to cosponsor the manufactured Housing Community stability act, which allows them to form a cooperative and buy the land that they live in. Or what about h. R. 3583 which gives manufactured homeowners located in communities the same tax benefits as those who own their own land. I have introduced these bills to try to help people who live in manufactured homes. We do and must stand with them because this is an affordable and sometimes quality housing option for people and yet manufactured homeowners support my bills. Right here we have a manufactured the National Manufacturing Homeowners Association which said clearly these amendments and my amendment is a good one. Theres a way for manufactured homeowners that zose not involve overcharging. There is a way forward to help owners of manufactured housing without helping Clayton Homes and its affiliates make more money off of them. No other lender benefits to this section 915, 91 of the high cost loans come from lenders owned by clayton. The industrys second largest mobile home lender, wells fargo didnt have a single loan in the highright pool in the Seattle Times study. Support my amendment number 200. And i reserve. The chair the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from kentucky is recognized. I rise to claim time in opposition to the amendment. The chair the gentleman is recognized. I yield myself such time as i may consume. Bower bower the examples raised by my friend, the gentleman from minnesota, really have nothing to do with the provisions of the bell that the amendment seeks to strike. What the bill does do and i thank the gentleman from georgia for including this in the Financial Services appropriations bill, what the bill does is make targeted adjustments so that manufactured home loans are available in the market. Again, Consumer Protection is not denying people access to Affordable Housing and thats what the gentlemans amendment would do. The doddfrank act does prevent predatory language but nothing in this changes that at all. Instead of unrelated stories about Consumer Protections, lets get back talking about how consumers are harmed by the rules we are seeking to change. Look, lets talk about real people who are affected negatively by overreach by the cfpb and dodd frank. People in my district, in rural kentucky where manufactured housing one of the best affordable options and less expensive than renting. Lets talk about the hospital orker who was denied a loan of 38,500 to finance manufactured home. He had an 8 downpayment. And plenty to cover the housing costs of 760. The payment for his own home would have been less rn what he was spending on rent, but he was unable to get financing. Why . Because of the cfpb, because of doddfrank, because of overregulation. He contacted his local banks and Credit Unions but they longer finance manufactured homes because of overregulation. Those harms include those who live in and those who seek to purchase a manufactured home, retirees, veterans, et cetera. And the home disclosure act data is clear. Consumers have been shut out of the market because regulations have caused financing to be less available for manufactured homes. I want to reserve the balance of my time and i want to give some other members the opportunity to Say Something about this. But i do just want to conclude by saying, this amendment again is not about Consumer Protection. The amendment protects consumers right out of their homes. That is not Consumer Protection. Keeping access to affordable Home Ownership is the American Dream. We shouldnt be denying that to people especially in rural america. And i reserve. The chair the gentleman has the only time remaining. Does the gentleman wish to close from kentucky has the only time remaining. Does he wish to close . Bower bower how much time is remaining . The chair 2 1 2 minutes. Bower bower i yield to the gentleman one minute. Mr. Luetkemeyer its interesting about the debate. We are picking around around the edges of some things and dont understand the unintended consequences of what we are trying to do here. The amendment that is trying to change the definition of what Mortgage Originator and facilitates the access to credit to purchase a manufactured homes is going to do the opposite. You rills that the gentleman from new mexico, mr. Pearce, he has testified in our committee ver 50 of the people in his district living in manufactured homes. This is a major source of housing for many people. And i have a story from a banker in Southeast Missouri who had an individual who had several disabilities and very honest man and wanted to come in and take kay of a dental problem and collateral was a truck and his manufactured home. And he wanted to make the loan on the manufactured home because he could stretch out the payments and do it at a less Interest Rate. But he couldnt do that. Why . Because the law is structured, he had to do it on his car loan and has put difficulties in the way of this individual. I certainly am opposed to the amendment. And i yield back. The chair the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from kentucky is recognized. Bower bower i yield one minute to the gentleman from georgia. Mr. Graves i thank mr. Barr for his work on this. The language that the author of this amendment is trying to strip is actually language that improves the quality and affordability of housing for mill quops of america caps. I appreciate mr. Barr for trying to save americans from the limited access to resources. And new regulations by the cfpb have limited options as well as many other things. And as a result, many lenders are no longer able to offer small balance loans which are used for Affordable Housing such as manufactured housing. We should be encouraging more access to financing. We are talking about the American Dream, the ownership of your home. Dont take that away. I urge a no vote on this amendment and i thank the gentleman for his work. Nd i yield back. The chair the gentleman from kentucky is recognized. Mr. Barr this is about making it more afford to believe own a home. There may be in some cases a higher Interest Rate for a manufactured home than a sitebuilt home but a manufactured home can be less than half the cost of a sitebuilt home. So youre talking about overall affordability. Why would we deny people the opportunity have overall affordability as opposed to being forced into higher cost rent where they dont own the American Dream or being in a position where they cant afford at all, the only option available a sitebuilt home a nonmanufactured home. Defeat this amendment, preserve access to rural, afordable house, be proconsumer and oppose this amendment. I yield back. The chair the gentlemans time has expired. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from kentucky the gentleman from minnesota. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. Mr. Ellison i ask for a recorded vote. The chair pursuant to clause 6 of rule 18, further proceed on the amendment offered by the gentleman from minnesota will be postponed. It is now in order to consider amendment number 201 printed in house report 115297. For what purpose does the gentleman from minnesota seek recognition . Mr. Ellison i have an amendment at the desk. The chair the clerk will designate the amendment. The clerk amendment number 201, printed in house report 115297, offered by mr. Ellison of minnesota. The chair pursuant to House Resolution 504, the gentleman from minnesota will control five minutes and a member opposed will control nye minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from minnesota. Mr. Ellison my amendment is to preserve the Consumer Financial Protection Bureaus authority to regulate small dollar loans. Sometimes people need access to more money. Quickly. We know that. Your car breaks down, your refridge lator die, your kid breaks a leg at a soccer game you get hit with an Unexpected Health bill. Life happens. Sometimes, not on a plan, we get that. Unfortunately, too many people, about half of families, do not have the adequate savings for the cushion. Right now, mr. Chairman, about 63 of all americans do not know. They report that they do not know what they would do if hit with an unexpected 500 bill. If they take out a payday loan or title loan, they can fall into a sickle of debt and many people do. Instead of getting one 500 loan, most people get a repeat loan of six to 10 on average, paying additional fees each time at 400 interest. So 500 loan could cost thousands of dollars. More than 0 of payday industrys revenues are generated by repeat borrowers. Not one and done, mr. Chairman. Thats why the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau prioritized improving small dollar loan market. Unfortunately, language in this bill would stop the Consumer Bureau from moving forward to rein in abuses in the payday loans. Auto title loansings, and other debt traps. The Consumer Bureau has documented through extensive study how payday lending traps borrowers in a cycle of debt. One in three Auto Title Loans in default. One in five borrowers using Auto Title Loans have their car repossessed. Thats 20 . The Consumer Bureau is close to releasing guidance to improve this market. Its erts efforts are supported by a Broad Network of civil right and consumer advocates, as well as faithbased leaders poosing opposing predtoifer lending. Im proud of exodus lending in my district. A lutheran congregation recognized too many congregants were stuck in the debt trap. They had Bank Accounts but when they took out payday loans, it gave the lenders access to their Bank Accounts which tripped out a third of their paycheck every week. Lutherans working with sunrise banks established an alternative. They made more than 100 loans to people stuck in debt traps. Other communities are creating small dollar lending alternatives through employer assistance programs, with forprofit partners. My amendment would allow, simply allow, the cfpb to finalize its rule making. So when cool ideas like these to help people out of debt can go forward. We need strong federal standards so people can have access to small loans on a quick basis without falling prey to predatory traps. The Research Center research from the center for responsible lend showings payday lending drains 3. 4 billion a year nationally from consumers pockets. Money that is no longer available to help pay for medicine, new tires, or any kind of emergency. Cre cfpb is close to putting forth a better way to get private sector lenders involved and that would have we can could have a 3 hourks a 300 loan with 60 fees someone could repay. Lets allow the cfpb to move forward to better small dollar loans. Please support my amendment. I reserve the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman reserves. Does the gentleman from missouri wish to rise in opposition in mr. Barr i rise to claim time in opposition. The chair the gentleman is recognized. I yield myself such time as i may consume. Mr. Luetkemeyer the house passed the financial act with overwhelming support, it removed the cfpbs authority to regulate small dollar credit. Its unnecessary and harms consumers. The ledge slay chours the legislatures of several states determined what worked for their constituents. No state is without small dollar shortterm lending laws and regulation of some kind. Congress has an obligation not to suspend the democratic process in the states by delegating to the cfpb director the authority to impose one unelected mans view on all americans. Small dollar and payday loan products are an unfortunate necessity for many unbanked and underbanked americans. Whats the a. P. R. For losing a job, mr. Chairman . Whats the a. P. R. For getting evicted and having your utilities shut off . Whats the opportunity cost for struggling americans of no longer having access to this vital lifeline . Removing the option to utilize a small dollar, shortterm loan is likely to have a very real and very harmful impact on the consumer forcing home to miss ill payments, shift to illegal options or other emergencies that could arise. I believe the best way to improve products is to promote competition, not ban them the financial choice act ensures the market, not the regulators, is responsible for determining product linalt in the marketplace. Cfpbs own study showed the their regulation would drive out 80 of the small dollar lenders and they went ahead. They intend to restrict credit to these people that need the credit. Fdic 2015 study showed that 25 of the people in this country are either unbanked or underbanked. How do we solve that problem . How do those folks have access to credit . The cfpb is not trying to regulate, theyre trying to destroy small dollar lending market. With that, mr. Chairman, i reserve the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from minnesota is recognized. Mr. Ellison lets be clear. To get a payday loan you have to have a bank account and a job. Were not talking about the unbanked. Were talking about people who run into a shortterm financial crisis, they go to a payday lender but the amount of the fees that are so high that theyve got to borrow money to pay the money back and end up getting in a cycle of six to 10 loans that they have to continue to take out which drains money from their finances. They lose Bank Accounts because of payday loans. , re saying, let the cfpb allow the regulatory process, the rule making process to go forward. Lets not chop it off. Lets not stop it. Lets see what we can find out. Like people in my district have come up with some pretty innovative ways to go around the high cost, high a. P. R. Payday lending scam. But if we just say no, were going to take authority away fre the cfpb what were really doing is subjecting americans to the payday len industry. Now i dont take loans, i dont take support from them guys, im mape to stand up here and say, vote for my amendment. The chair the gentlemans time has expire. The gentleman from missouri is recognized. Mr. Luetkemeyer mr. Chairman, i yield a minute to the distinguished from pennsylvania, mr. Rothfus. The chair the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Rothfus i rise in opposition to this amendment. Here we go again. Another amendment defending another one size fits all washington solution. And a solution that the d. C. Circuit court of appeals would say is going to be promulgated by the single most powerful official other than the president in the United States government. An official that could affect the lives of countless of americans who are in need of shortterm credit. This amendment is a solution in search of a problem. It suggests theres no regulation going on in payday lending. The fact is, these transactions are being regulated. Theyre being regulated at the state level. By legislators who know their states and their constituents. This cfpb action, they act here, may well remove the action to utilize a small dollar shortterm loan and that is likely to have a very real and very harmful impact on the consumer. Forcing them to miss bill payment, shift to alternative, potentially illegal options, or exacerbating any number of other financial emergencies that could arise. I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment and i yield back. The chair the gentlemans time has expire. The gentleman from missouri is recognized. Mr. Luetkemeyer hutch time do i have left . The chair the gentleman has two minute remaining. Mr. Luetkemeyer i yield 30 seconds to mr. Graves of georgia. The chair the gentleman is recognize. Mr. Graves i join this team in opposition to the amendment. I want you to think of what weve heard over the last several minutes of debate over several amendments. We heard an amendment offered to take away the American Dream so that consumers couldnt buy a home at an affordable kansas. Cost. Next were hearing the other side of the aisle want to take away the ability of small loans from individuals and consumers across the country. But even prior to that, they did not want the very agency that is causing this damage to have any oversight by congress. This is maddening. This is amazing. I appreciate the good work thats been done by the Financial Services committee. Im glad weve been able to incorporate a lot of great work into this bill. With that i join these gentlemen in opposition to this amendment because this is ability making america prosperous again. Thats what this bill does. The chair the gentlemans time has expyre this egentleman from missouri is recognized. Mr. Luetkemeyer i yield myself the balance of the time. The chair the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Luetkemeyer this is frustrating to me from the standpoint of just a minute ago i gai the figure of 25 of our people are either unbanked or underbanked and my good colleague across the aisle said hes not worried about people who are unbanked cant have access to payday lending or shortterm lending and thats just not accurate. Thats quite frankly in many instances where people get their credit started. They go to someplace like this because theyve got a job. You cant get a payday len or small dollar loan like this unless you have a job. And they take their ticket, their stub of their paycheck and go in and say, ive got a job. From that, they can be able to then start paying back whatever the loan is they take out. Ive got in front of me also a whole list of groups of folks here, individuals, who have utilized small term shortterm, small dollar programs. Heres michelle, from my own district. She says, my frustration loan access today is my 20yearold daughter who has a fulltime, decent paying job isnt able to get a loan to buy her first vehicle, she cant even get a credit card. Its a catch22. You need credit to get credit. Nobody will give you credit to begin with. This is a this is an opportunity for a lot of people to get their foot in the door, to get credit established and if youve got bad credit to reestablish good credit. It also helps people to take care of and ive got another whole bunch of stories here about a young man who was able needed to get a car loan to get his car fixed as the gentleman from minnesota indicated. So again, mr. Chairman, i certainly oppose the gentlemans amendment and i ask everybody else to do as well. Thank you and i yield back. The chair the gentlemans time has expyred. The question is on the amendment offer by the gentleman from minnesota. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, the noes have it. The amendment is not agreed to. Mr. Ellison i ask for a recorded vote. The chair pursuant to clause 6 of rule 18, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from minnesota will be postponed. It is now in order to consider amendment number 203 printed in ouse report 115297. It is now in order to consider amendment number 204 printed in house report 115297. For what purpose does the gentleman from michigan seek recognition . Mr. Mitchell i have an amendment at the desk. The chair the clerk will designate the amendment. The clerk amendment 204 printed in house report 115297, offered by mr. Mitchell of michigan. The chair pursuant to House Resolution 504, the gentleman from michigan, mr. Mitchell and a member opposed each will control five minutes. The gentleman from michigan is recognized. Mr. Mitchell our nation faces a dire fiscal situation. We have reached our debt limit and lifted our debt limit and trying to determine how to control our spending while fund many programs. Too many regulations and mandates are unnecessary and exact burdensome costs on our constituents, both families and businesses. The reality is we can and must make cuts to our government before Financial Markets make them for us. We can do that without impacting essential programs if we make the right targeted cuts. If we make the cuts, we can grow eager nomy by over bureaucrats. Not only is such action possible but essential for the wellbeing of our economy and our families. We need to be focused on growing and protecting main street, not protecting already bloated federal government. The amendment i propose makes a cut to the bureaucracy and several components to Financial Services. These cuts are 10 reduction in Administrative Expenses which ould save taxpayers 596 million annual any. That is over a half a billion a year. One of the cuts includes a cut to the i. R. S. My amendment does not target i. R. S. Services. Lord knows people need all the help they can get. The amendment focuses on i. R. S. Enforcement. They abused their power by targeting groups based on their political beliefs, victim miesing groups and individuals. They misled america caps and took three years to provide a full list of organizations that were targeted for their political beliefs. This is an agency that must be stopped. And my amendment is a step towards doing so while saving the american taxpayers money. I urge my colleague to seriously consider my amendment and hold our government accountable. Thank you. And i reserve. The chair the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. Does the gentleman from illinois rise in opposition . Mr. Quigley i do. The chair the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Quigley this type of amendment bluntly imposes cuts to government function without regard to merit or consequences. Weeken this bill lead to cybersecurity. Poor administration of grants to Small Businesses, longer wait times for citizens seeking assistance from federal agencies, longer processing times, reducing the ability of e i. R. S. To detect hacks and cheats, widespread delays in civil and bankruptcy cases just as an a few examples. The bill is underfunded having been cut 6 below current levels. The administrative accounts were a large source of this reduction and this amendment blindly strips nearly 600 million more out of these offices. This amendment would not encourage the agency to do more with less. It would force the agencies and our constituents to do less with less. I strongly urge members to oppose this amendment and reserve the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentleman from michigan is recognized. Mr. Mitchell i yield one minute to my colleague and chair of the subcommittee. The chair the gentleman is recognized. I know mr. Quigley and i have worked hard on this bill. And there are a lot of difficult decisions. Mr. Graves mr. Mitchell was sitting here with a mission from constituency to find savings and to reduce the debt and the deficit. With that, mr. Chairman, i applaud his efforts. And he sharpened his pencil and did a lot of work and i appreciate him bringing this concept before the house. The chair the gentleman from michigan reserves. The gentleman from illinois is recognized. Mr. Quigley it is up to us as appropriators to determine exactly what needs funding and to what levels. And for those reasons, i ask my colleagues to oppose this amendment. And i yield back my time. The chair the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from michigan. Mr. Mitchell mr. Chair, i have to say im astonished with the response that across the board cut is indiscriminate. It actually allows the agencies within the administrative accounts to manage money as they best see fit. The idea that we cant cut 10 of the budget only works in government. Spent my entire life with the chrysler corporation. Where lee said if you cant cut 10 of your budget, we saved the company. It happens in the real world every day. Lord knows it happened after 2008 when the Financial Market crashed. Its not possible to do without a cybersecurity crash, without all the fear mongering that comes over a simple cut. If we are going to get to a point to afford the government, we have to have fiscal limitations and fiscal responsibility and Broad Strokes that it is indiscriminate. I urge my colleagues to support the amendment that saves half a billion in the federal budget. And makes people manage with the resources like the rest of the world has to. I appreciate the time. And i yield back. The chair the question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from illinois michigan, excuse me. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it. Mr. Quigley i ask for a recorded vote. The chair pursuant to clause 6, rule 18, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from illinois from ichigan will be postponed. It is now in order to consider amendment number 205 printed in house report 115297. For what purpose does the gentleman from West Virginia seek recognition . I have an amendment at the desk. The clerk amendment number 205 printed in house report 115297 offer by mr. Jenkins of West Virginia. The chair the gentleman from West Virginia and a member opposed each will control five minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from virginia. Ms. Jenkins a high drug intensity area is a program that brings together federal, state and local Law Enforcement in this making a difference in my home state and in many parts of the country. It has helped Law Enforcement afford overtime and equipment that they would struggle to afford. This program is tackling our most challenging Public Health and safety issue of our time, the drug opioid epidemic. It is needed. The opioids epidemic is getting worst and not a time to withhold funding on programs that work. At Thomas Health centers in charleston, West Virginia, the number of infants born exposed o open oids and other drugs opioids increased from 2013 to 189 babies in 2016. Thats an increase of 99 in just four years. Overdose death rates continue to climb as well. In my hometown, overdoses in 2017 have already surpassed the number in 2016. 1,250 there have been overdoses, an increase, of get this, 450 since 2014. A 450 increase in four years. Just last year, West Virginia added two new counties and another countys application is pending review. It works. And it is evident counties applying to on become a member. We must increase funding for this critical program. I urge adoppings of this amendment. The chair for what purpose does the gentleman from kentucky rise . Claim time in support of the amendment. I yield two minutes to the gentleman from kentucky. The chair the gentleman is recognized. Thank you congressman jenkins on your leadership on this issue. I join my colleague in introducing this amendment which seeks to increase funding to hidta by 6 million. Thats not enough, but an improvement over the status quo. And this program is a Proven Program established to combat the sale and distribution of illegal narcotics. Im greatly concerned about the current and future wellbeing in this nation, which according to the centers for Disease Control kentucky has the third highest rate going behind West Virginia and new hampshire. Members of the Drug Abuse Task force which is compliesed of local and state officials, drug treatment and prevention recommended funding to help fight this crisis. The heartbreaking stories of loved ones who have died from addiction and the stories of First Responders who are called to the scene of overdose deaths. Hidta took e, illicit drugs off the streets which equates to a return investment of 75 for every 1 dollar budgeted in 2016. We can use this return on investment to continue to take narcotic drugs out of our communities while helping to Fund Prevention and treatment. We all know someone who has fallen to addiction by drugs or victim to a drug overdose. Support this important amendment which would make a difference in helping our communities fight this alarming epidemic and its a Work Force Development issue. Many of the employers in kentucky and i know in West Virginia talk about the labor supply difficulties as a result of the addiction. Ut worst is the human. Many counties are applying for this money and there is more demand for more funding. Please support this amendment. And i yield back. The chair the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from West Virginia is recognized. Mr. Jenkins let me close by saying a deep heart felt thank you to congressman barr from kentucky. You have been a stalwart in fighting this drug epidemic and supporting efforts like hidta and thanks to chairman graves. He has been been terrific in Financial Services. If you think where we started in this process, he has brought us light years away for funding. Thank you, chairman graves and thanks to chairman frelinghuysen. He has been terrific and restoring much needed funding. This is an important final step to address this critical issue. I yield back. The chair the gentlemans time has expired. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from West Virginia. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it and the amendment is agreed to. It is now in order to consider amendment number 206 printed in house report 115297. For what purpose does ms. Jackson lee i have an amendment at the desk. The clerk amendment number 207 offered by ms. Jackson lee. The chair the gentlelady from texas is rick niesed. Ms. Jackson lee my amendment is adding 500 to the Community Development Financial Institutions fund which support Community Organizations working to expand economic development, Affordable Housing, Community Banking and Financial Services. The underpinning is to enhance Financial Literacy to be seen as many in our district as a very important component. Let me thank the chairman and Ranking Member for bringing this underlying bill to the floor and indicate that this is a small measure working with all of the