Transcripts For CSPAN U.S. House Of Representatives 20180118

Impact of this legislation but theres no doubt that this is backing off of commitment that this nation has made so that all people in our country can freely participate in home ownership. Theyll try to minimize and say its only Credit Unions and banks under only issue 500 or fewer mortgages. But when you add all those folks up, that ends up being a whole lot of mortgages, mr. Speaker. If it was only certain types of data. That data is critical to making sure people are included in the American Dream. We are urging a very powerful no vote. People who advocate this its too , they say much burden its too much burden on businesses. Cant involve them with having to fill out forms, its quite inconvenient. The problem is, if it was such a problem, wed all come together an figure out how to make it easier to meet the requirements of hmda, but thats not whats oing on. They want to delay the implementation of collection of critical data, which will lead to the furtherance of the American Dream. Which is home ownership. They want mr. Speaker, it was only eight ago that we went through the largest foreclosure crisis in the history of our country other than the ago that great d. Eight years ago. Wasnt decades ago. It was just a few years ago, well within the memory of people who serve in this body right now. Many of us were wasnt decades body in that foreclosure crisis. Mr. Speaker, all americans were hurt. They were hurt when the value of of their homes went down. They were hurt when they say unemployment go up. All americans were hurt. If we are perfectly honest, mr. Speaker, not all americans were hurt the same. Africanamerican and latino households wealth took the biggest hit of all. And because of this devastating we because of this shot, saw the stripping away of africanamerican wealth to extreme degrees. Not to mention people from latino families. You know, we we saw the cannot say on the one hand, pull yourself up by the boot straps, work hard so you can own a home, and on the other hand take away the tools by which people can get that home. Ut thats exactly what were doing right here. We are saying were going to take the tools you need to make for a fairer, more open, many more just neighborhood, were going to take those tool which is you rely on and were going to say, you cannot have those tools because the demands of business require that we dont do that. Its just too expensive. Too burdensome. Too inconvenient. You this. You this. 250 years slavery, 100 years jim crow, and another 70 years of , pretty more equal, more perfect union, why would we back track on it . , pretty pretty doggone inconvenient too. If hmda is a tool we use to make our society a why would we back slide on it. Why would we do those things . With that, i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from texas is recognized. Mr. Hensarling thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield myself 30 seconds to say, it was a most interesting and passionate speech my colleague gave. I have good news for him, the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments are not repealed by this bill and neither is hmda, hmda is not repealed. Even the new cfpb regulations that double the data of hmda is not repealed. I urge the gentleman from minnesota to actually read the bill which happens to be four pages long and he would find out that a current, a current exemption that exists under current law for the smallest Financial Institutions that are trying to make loans to the very people he claim he is wants to protect, that is slightly enlarged. Now, mr. Speaker, very happy to yield three to yield three minutes to the gentleman from arkansas, the majority whip of the Financial Services committee, mr. Hill. Mr. Hill thank you, mr. Speaker. I thank our distinguished chairman, i appreciate my friend, mr. Emmer, for introducing this bill. To make this very modest change which does help Community Banks allocate cape capital, make more Mortgage Loans out there in our country. I would say to my friend from minnesota who knows i have Great Respect for him and his eloquence that no one on this side of the aisle is any less interested in justice. Than he is. And i must say, mr. Speaker, that as the chairman noted, this bill does nothing about eliminating protections under the fair housing act, protections under the fair lending act, for discrimination in housing or lending or for minorities in this nation. This is really instead about continuing the theme of the home disclosure act which is to relieve some burden from the smallest Financial Institutions across the country. The act, for example, exempts institutions with less that 50 million in assets that are in an m. S. A. From requiring reports of the act for example the act for example exempts those under 50 million that are not in an m. S. A. From any reporting. Mr. Emmers bill definitely continues on that theme while protecting justice, while protecting the ability to have data to make sure that we in fact in this country have fair lending. This requirement enacted, lenders would be to collect more than double the data points they do now. Its some 300,000 fields of data on a loan act tiffity report to measure compliance with hmda. 300,000 lines of activity. F you have a 10 error rate, mr. Speaker, you are a bad actor. And can submit many more challenges to maintain your even independence as a bank. I would argue that on the backs of other Regulatory Burdens on small banks, like the one that was supposed to be a big help for consumers, its raised costs, limited credit. His comes on the back of that. I believe h. R. 2954 preserves more lending options for the markets these banks serve. I thank my friend, mr. Emmer, for his thoughtful work and i yield back my time, mr. Chairman. Thank you and i thank the chairman. The chair the gentleman from minnesota is recognized. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from minnesota is recognized. Mr. El sn as i mentioned efore, the Home Mortgage disclosure act, the underlying bill, the bill that is being amended today didnt drop out of the sky. We had demonstrable discrimination, thats why we had it. In this bill, the Home Mortgage disclosure adjustment act, completely different piece which i argue back slides on our commitment to fair housing, would undermine our ability to stop discrimination by exempting 85 of the nations banks and Credit Unions and 48 of the nations nonbank lenders from having to follow the data requirements. And what are these reporting requirements . Theyre things that banks collect already. Theyre pieces of information being requirements. Collected n. All they have to do is take one piece of paper that theyve already prepared the documentation for and put it into another document. Thats it. Now, the applications borrowers age. Thats an important thing to combat age discrimination. Credit score, name, version of their credit scoring model. Thats an important piece of information. Thats already in the underwriting file and in fcra. The debt to income ratio which is already in the underwriting file and is required by q. N. Compliance. Automated underwriting system name. Hats in the file. Other information about the property securing the loan. The value of the property to secure the loan. Thats in the underwritten file and other information its in the r. Combined loan to value ratio. Thats in there. Already. Because of underwriting. Manufactured home property type. Land or without land, thats in the underwriting of the file and let me tell you, mr. Speaker that information is critical because the manufactured housing industry, we know, there is predatory lending and unfairness to borrowers a lot. So we need that kind of information to protect borrowers. I reject the argument that somehow if we dont have common sense regulations and disclosure that somehow thats going to being in more, more loans issued. Theres no evidence to support that. What it will likely result in is more discrimination happening and perhaps people who own the banks and Credit Unions just pocketing more being issued. Theres no money but the fact that less regulation and oversight is going to yield more justice for people who have historically been excluded, theres no basis to believe that. Ill reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves, the gentleman from texas is recognized. Mr. Hensarling im happy to yield two minutes to the gentleman from georgia, mr. Audermilk. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Loudermilk thank you for allowing me time to speak on this act. As i sit and listen to the having in here having in here think of what people back home must be thinking is that its often for us here to actually see what its like, boots on the ground back home. So i tend to go back home and talk to the source. What is it that we do up here that can hurt you or help you in your business and your life . And so recently i had a gathering of Small Business owners, executives from larger businesses from across my district and i posed a question to them. If we could only do one thing to help your business, what would that be . Would you rather us lower taxes or reduce regulation . Without exception, every person in that room said are reduce regulation on my business which surprised me. And they them why said because by lowering their taxes, you can help our bottom ine. And by lowering our taxes you can elp our bottom line. Its things such as this, they say that actually gets in the way of me helping the customer. Its not about incomes of the small guy. Its about serving the needs and actually providing access to the capital. The Small Business owner, the back bone of america. Actually needs. Now this bill is a perfect example of how we are simply reducing the burden on these businesses so they can meet the needs of the consumer much better. It doesnt do away with the regulation. It just reduces some of the reporting requirements that are onerous, that are duplicative this basically tailors ata toward the small bank. And the Small Business. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. Mr. Hensarling i yield the gentleman 30 seconds. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Theyre supposed to making many loans to the small guy. I want them to make more many loans. Mr. Ellison the gentleman made a point that i thought was worth mentioning. He wanted to know how this is these the law plays out, boots on the ground back at home. He talked about does it hurt you or does it help you . Made a specific point about getting real life, tangible experience people have with the law. Im glad he mentioned that. And the reason why is that, i m point a woman as earlier this week as i prepared to be here today and she said, you know, she scrubbed floors in the hospital for 30 years. She scrubbed floors in the hospital for 30 years and she got up every day she saved her money, her family never owned a home. They rented. Thats all they could ever afford to do. And she applied for a loan at aback for a home to buy a home once shed gotten her money together and she was hopeful. She was optimistic. Even had a home picked out she wanted to own and have her grandchildren and her she had kids live with her in that home. And she was denied. She had a good credit score. She saved her money. She shared she shared with me she felt it was because of her race. Now, of course, nobodys going to admit that. When it comes to mortgage lending, mr. Speaker, you know, the people who make decisions that exclude one group of people and include another when they dont use the nasty, ugly language that all of us condemn, they dont come in here and say the n word. They dont say ugly stuff. They wear suits, they wear ties, they wear nice pressed white shirts, sometimes they have monograms on their shirts, they are members of the country club. And yet this lady who worked so hard for so long that was trying to buy a home was denied. It was when Statistical Analysis that was brought forward that people thought they should give her that home after all. It was when she went to legal aid and complained. I can tell you this, its the kind of thing that is important. Ow do people on the ground experience the Home Mortgage disclosure act . They experience it as something that gives them a chance to have a good life too. If you never felt the sting of discrimination, maybe its just a business regulation to you. But if you have been looked in the eye and said no and you know that this is not right and you know its probably because of who you are, then and only then will you understand why it is important not to weaken the Home Mortgage disclosure act. Look, i dont doubt that people who are offering this amendment, you know, to relieve the regulate, quoteunquote, burden. I dont think they have animus in their heart. I really dont believe they do. I will tell you this, they are listening to folks in the country club, they are listening to folks who are on the other side of the table. They are not listening to the people who need that mortgage, who worked for that mortgage, who deserve that mortgage. Thats not who theyre talking to, and if they would sit down and listen to folks who just want to own a home, maybe they wouldnt see this as just some sort of some sort of a bothersome regulation. Its getting in the way of business. How can we possibly ever allow that . Because to the folks who would say that, discrimination is a theoretical concept. It might happen to some people but none of the fine people they know in the Banking Industry would ever do that. Mr. Speaker, the underlining bill came up because people were being denied. It came up because people were being told no who should have been told yes. Thats whats going on right now. Thats why this bill, this bill, this Home Mortgage adjustment act needs to be needs to be defeated. Now, if you want to talk about, you know, visa regulation, we can talk about how to help people comply with the law. I am not against that. But what i am against is backsliding and backtracking on the credit on the progress that this country has made in favor of equal access to credit and mortgage lending, and this bill is a threat to that. There shouldnt be anyone who votes for this piece of legislation who seriously considers how damaging discrimination has been historically and who considers how the peoples lives who spent so much time simply trying to be part of this country have been told no. Let me just tell you, theres a lot of groups that agree. 173 national and statebased civil rights and fair housing and consumer and Community Organizations agree. 25 community, labor, and Public Interest groups agree. They say this h. R. 2954 would nearly quadruple the number of banks exempted from the key mortgage disclosures designed to detect predatory and discriminatory lending, leading to 5,400 banks being exempted as well as an additional 487 nonbanks. This is not a small thing. And i just say, look, i give everybody credit for good intentions. I really do. But i think that folks need to really think about what it means to be on the other side of that desk when you are applying for that mortgage, not just the business men and women who deny mortgages or grant them as they see fit. Public citizens says this bill would eliminate race, gender Home Mortgage reporting requirements for lenders who ed end wer than 500 close Mortgage Loans. There is really no benefit to such an exemption as the reporting requirements are negligible. Lenders who write them maintain reporting a few items of this data is not cumbersome. The potential harm on the other hand is to subvert the basic intent of the act which is to publicize whether a bank is serving its geographic data on a race and gender blind basis. What about the center for American Progress . They say, while on its face, this appears to be a simple regulate relief bill. This would prevent them from new home from new Home Mortgage disclosure act reporting requirements. The Home Mortgage disclosure act reporting is the primary source of information on the availability and quality of mortgage lending and serves a vital function and fair lending assessments. This bill would effectively paint an incomplete or inaccurate picture of lending across the country making it vastly more difficult for regulators and researchers alike to assess the state of the mortgage market. I urge members to vote no on this piece of legislation. Its wrong. Its not the right thing. There are other ways to do what the authors want to do, but simply saying all these people are exempt, you dont have to comply is not the right way to go. It will set us back as a nation. It will turn us back as a nation, and im urging a no vote for this moment. I do reserve. The speaker pro tempore the entleman reserves. The gentleman from texas. Mr. Hensarling i believe i have the right to close. I continue to reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman continues to reserve. Mr. Ellison mr. Speaker, i yield the balance of the time to the Ranking Member from california, ms. Maxine waters. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Ms. Waters thank you very much, mr. Ellison. I want to thank you for spending the time that you have spent with us today opposing this legislation. Your history is such that everyone understands that you represent the least of these, that you represent working people, that you represent poor people, and whenever there is an opportunity to speak up for them you always do and i thank you. And so, mr. Chairman, i think we need to remember what this is all about, so let me state the facts. Data allows us to identify underserved communities and populations to combat discriminatory lending. This data was determined what many expected during the subprime bubble, persons of color, particularly africanamericans, received predatory subprime loans than white borrowers and received these loans even when they loans. Ave gotten prime showed violations of the fair housing act. It might be true that h. R. 2954 could provide relief to some Financial Institutions by exempting lenders from the pdating reporting requirements. What is true is this could have farreaching adverse consequences to consumers, particularly those in lowincome census tracks and rural areas. And equally disconcerting is that the reduced hmda data could stop regulators ability to identify and stop any emerging predatory or discriminatory practices faced by those consumers. Borrowers who take out home equity lines of credit are we are talking about the helox, are at risk of losing their homes to foreclosure when Property Values decline. In factction, the expansion of this in the mid 2000s contributed to the foreclosure crisis that many communities experienced in the late 2000s. The Consumer Bureau noted, and i quote, had openend line of redit data been reported and h. M. D. A. , the Public Public and Public Officials could have a much earlier warning and better understanding of potential risk and mortgage relief programs could have better assisted distressed borrowers in the aftermath of the crisis, quoteunquote. While i am a longtime advocate of Community Banks, this bill does not reduce burdens. All of the hmda data points being discussed today will continue to be collected by banks because they need this data to originate mortgages for their customers. I also understand that personal banking does not mean that discriminatory lending does not occur in smaller sized institutions. In fact the obama Administrations Department of justice sued a Community Bank located in minnesota with assets of 1. 9 billion. And so i want to thank you. You heard the arguments. I dont know who they represent over there. I simply ask for a no vote. The speaker pro tempore the gentleladys time has expired. The gentleman from texas. Mr. Hensarling mr. Speaker, how much time do i have remaining . The speaker pro tempore six minutes. The gentleman from texas has six minutes. Mr. Hensarling i yield myself the balance of the time. The speaker pro tempore you are recognized, sir. Mr. Hensarling mr. Speaker, its fascinating listening to my friends on the other side of the aisle. It is fascinating because they tell us they want to protect the single mothers. They tell us they want to protect the people of color. They tell us they want to help and protect the poor but they are protecting them out of their homeownership opportunities. Because of the increased hmda compliance on our Smallest Community Financial Institutions they are ceasing to make these loans. But theyll sleep well tonight in their apartments and in their rental homes knowing that my good friends on the other side of the aisle protected them, protected them out of their ability to finally, finally realize their portion of the American Dream and have that shot at homeownership. I mean, mr. Speaker, how many people have to lose their homeownership opportunities due to the onslaught of the onerous federal regulations . And whats fascinating about this debate is and, again, i would encourage my friends to actually read the bill. I think its three pages long. Maybe 3 1 2 pages long. Again, what they would discover is hmda is still the law of the land. Hmda does not go away if we enact h. R. 2954. But what it says is for our smallest Financial Institutions , the new hmda requirements, the doubling of hmda requirements, the increased burden will not be placed on our smallest Financial Institutions as we are losing one every single day. And as we lose them, we lose that Credit Opportunities for the least of these that my friends i know in their heart want to help but theyre not helping them. Listen to those who are actually trying to make these loans. Nd oh, by the way, i dont know if a successful Business Model for any bank who says, you know what, im going to make more money if i dont lend it to you. If i refuse to make loans, if i refuse to serve my community, if i practice active racism, that will be good for my bottom line. Im not seeing it in the Fifth District of texas, and i highly suspect that it is difficult to find in the United States of america in the 21st century. And so i hear from the Community Banker in nebraska who says, go to any Community Bank reporting hmda and have them sit down and watch bank staff review a loan file and then document the data showing how difficult it is to prevent errors. This bank got out, got out of the business of loaning. They said, quote, we dont need the ulcers created by such tress from the fear of the regulators. I heard from a Community Bank in oklahoma. Because of doddfrank, we no longer offer purchase house loans. We are servicing only the ones we have on the books. Thank you, doddfrank, and hmda. May i have another . I heard from a Community Bank in nevada. The mortgage regulations intended to help the consumer have been particularly harmful. My bank is a very small Community Bank servicing communities in rural nevada. We used to do quite a bit of Residential Mortgage lending but hardly any now due to the restrictive regulations. And so, again, i would just ask that my friends on the other side of the aisle open up both their hearts and their heads and see how many people are being hurt by the cumulative impact of this regulate tsunami hitting those who loan the money to the least of these to make sure they can achieve their version of the American Dream. And where was always angst, mr. Speaker, where was at angst my friends talk about statistics. Heres some statistics from the federal reserve. When the qualified mortgage is blacks ted, 30 fewer and his tannic hispanics, people of color, will be able to get mortgages versus 2010. Theres a statistic. I would say, mr. Speaker, perhaps thats even a more valuable statistic when it comes to looking at the increased hmda burden placed by the cfpb on our Financial Institutions, maybe hats a more important statistic than the new fields of hmda data theyre requiring on the smallest banks and credit yubes in america my statistic friends on the other side oaf this aisle say we care about the plight of these Community Banks. Why are we still losing one a day, and why do you tell us that you care about their plight and their ability to loan money, but you dont vote with us . Fortunately, some members on the other side of the aisle in the other body, over my shoulder, theres a bipartisan bill in the senate that does exactly what h. R. 2954 does. And im very happy to say it was a bipartisan bill coming out of the Financial Services committee, also enjoying some democrat support. But again, i just dont think my friends who are debating now have read the bill. I encourage them to read the bill. Every member ought to support h. R. 2954 and support the opportunity to buy a home and the American Dream. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore all time for debate has expired. Pursuant to House Resolution 693, the previous question is ordered on the bill as amended. The question is on engrossment and third reading of the bill. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. The ayes have it. Third reading. The clerk bill amending Home Mortgage disclosure act to specify which depository institutions are subject to maintenance of records and Disclosure Requirements for such act and for other purposes. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from minnesota seek recognition . Mr. Ellison mr. Speaker, i have a motion to recommit at the desk. The speaker pro tempore is the gentleman opposed to the bill . Mr. Ellison yes, i am opposed to the bill. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman qualifies. The clerk will report the motion. Mr. Ellison i ask for unanimous consent to dispense with the reading. The speaker pro tempore is there objection to the gentlemans request . Without objection the reading is dispensed. With the gentleman is dispensed. With the gentleman is recognized for five minutes. Mr. Ellison mr. Speaker, this is the final amendment to the bill which will not kill the bill or send it back to committee. If adopted, the bill will immediately proceed to final assage as amended. As weve heard today, the Home Mortgage disclosure act is a critical civil rights bill. It is a civil rights bill designed to increase opportunity for all americans. It is about liberty and justice for all. It is about the equal protection clause. Things that hose men and women laid their whole lives down for to make this country more fair and more equal. The Home Mortgage things disclo that intent was to ensure equal opportunity was given to everyone with respect to mortgages. The law is necessary, given our historys our countrys long history that equal opportunity was of discri took away rights and freedoms of lack men and women for 200 years an made them property rather than human beings. This was allowed by nearly a century of segregation, physical lowed by near a century of segregation and disenfranchisement. As a result of it, we stood people stood up to say we have to have laws to protect people. We may not change hearts and minds but we can change behavior. Hmda helped change behavior. Were still fighting for a more equal society. The Home Mortgage disclosure act empowers the consumer bue roy and the public to fight back against discriminatory lending and monitor access to mortgage credit by traditionally underserved communities and populations. If a Financial Institution denies a family a mortgage they can provide a number of excuses for that denial. Le on the Data Collected through the Home Mortgage disclosure act proves theres a broader issue of discrimination at play this bill, the Home Mortgage discrimination adjustment act, exempts institutions from certain hmda reporting requirements if they originate 500 or fewer closed in loans which includes mortgages and car loans and institutions that issue 500 or fewer open ended loans. Thats nearly 6,000 institutions across america that will stop reporting hmda data if the bill go into effect. This opens the door for discrimination. It opens the door for redlining, and its not acceptable. Thats why i offer a motion to recommit that will ensure that individual banks affected by this bill take steps to reduce discrimination in mortgage lending. If opening the door for discrimination is not the intent of the bill, there should be no issues why my amendment is not passed. My amendment simply says that the c. E. O. And president of any Financial Institution must attest that one, the institution is compliant with all relevant fair lending laws, two, the institution is established adequate internal controls to detect whether it provides equal opportunity, three, the institutions senior executives, managers an Loan Officers an other employees who are substantially involved in underwriting residential Mortgage Loans complete an antidiscrimination and diversity training. Ultimately my amendment is innocent to ensure that each exempted institution is properly incentivized to do what theyre supposed to do. Lend to all qualified borrowers. By holding the c. E. O. Accountable, my amendment ensures that lenders will take the actions necessary to begin to overcome historic racism, sexism, and other discrimination, just like hmda was intended. If it is a fact that this that the Home Mortgage disclosure adjustment act is not designed to open the door and green light discrimination, then this amendment is a commonsense proposal to make sure that that does not happen and that the leader of the institution maintain responsibility for that not happening. I urge every member to vote for this motion to recommit. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. For what purpose does the gentleman from texas rise . Mr. Hensarling i claim time in opposition. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for five minutes. Mr. Hensarling i appreciate my colleague restating in his motion to recommit what is essentially already current law. But unfortunately, he adds on yet one more form for a community Financial Institutions fill out on top of the 18 bazillion forms they have to fill out. The cost of which ultimately is imposed upon those who are trying to find credit and find affordable credit. And i would remind the gentleman from minnesota again, every single Financial Institution impacted by h. R. 2954 still, still must submit hmda data. They are still subject to hmda. For the third time. They are still subject to hmda. And, im sure that all will be glad to hear, federal regulators still have Statutory Authority to take any formal Enforcement Actions against entities for violations of the laws or rules. But why, why when were trying to make it easier for the least of these to buy a home are we trying to instead, my friends on the other side of the aisle make more difficult . By more difficult . By adding yet more forms. Forms that also say you know what, even though this is america, youre guilty until proven innocent. Thats a whole different argument. I wish we had time to develop it mr. Speaker. But here is what we need to do. We need to make sure that struggling, hardworking mr. Spe americans have homeownership opportunities. And the Regulatory Burden that came out of the Previous Administration is making it more difficult. And so now, to think that we would double the hmda requirement data, double, for our smallest Financial Institutions that are fighting for survival, that are trying to help our constituents buy a home, is unthinkable and to add yet one more federal law, one of all eral form on top the others that we have, is just unfathomable. Its unthinkable. It will only harm those who were trying to help. I would urge all members to reject the motion to recommit and i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. Without objection the previous question is ordered on the motion to recommit. The question is on the motion. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. The noes have it. The motion is not agreed to. Mr. Ellison mr. Speaker, i ask the yeas and nays, a recorded vote. The speaker pro tempore the yeas and nays are requested. Those favoring a vote by the yeas and nays will rise. A sufficient number having risen, the yeas and nays are ordered. 20 uant to clause 8 of rule further proceedings on this uestion will be postponed. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from new jersey seek recognition . I ask unanimous consent that members have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the further consideration of h. R. 195. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Members have five for what purpose does the gentleman from new jersey seek recognition . Mr. Frelinghuysen mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution h. R. 195 and i have a motion at the desk. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the title of the bill. The clerk h. R. H. R. 195 and 19 amend title 44 United States code to restrict the distribution of free printed copies of the federal register to members of the congress and other officers and flofse united for other purposes. Senate amendment. Offered by mr. Frelinghuysen of new jersey. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to House Resolution 696, the motion shall be debatable for one hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and Ranking Member of the committee on appropriations. The gentleman from new jersey, mr. Frelinghuysen and the gentlewoman from new york, mrs. Lowey, each will control 30 minutes this echair recognizes the gentleman from new jersey. Mr. Free like his mr. Frelinghuysen i yield myself such time as i may consume. I rise to present the house amendment to the Senate Amendment to h. R. 195rk the extension of continuing appropriations act of 2018. This critical legislation extends government funding through february 16. Our current funding expires tomorrow night. If congress does not pass this bill, and the president does not sign it into law before then, the government will shut down. It is our congressional duty to prevent that from happening and to ensure the American People have access to Government Programs and services they depend on. The additional time, just under month, will allow congressional leadership of the white house to come to a final budget agreement with legislation including a limited number of technical changes to ensure good governance. It also includes language to continue the Childrens Health Insurance Program through fiscal year 2023. To help Sick Children from lowincome families get better and to ensure they have healthy and happy futures. Additionally this proposal extends several health carerelated tax provisions. Mr. Chairman, a continuing resolution is not the preferred way to reduce to conduct the nations fiscal business but at this point it is absolutely necessary to avoid a costly, destabilizing Government Shutdown. It is my hope that this will be the last continuing resolution the leadership of the house and senate and white house will quickly come to an agreement on top line spending levels and then we can complete our appropriations work for fiscal year 2018 in short order. Its critical we enact all 12 fullyear funding bills to ensure that our armed forces have the resources they need to accomplish their mission. Both at home and abroad. And that our Government Supports and maintains programs that are lives and the livelihoods of all americans. Mr. Chairman, i urge yes on this critical legislation and reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from lives and new je reserves. The gentlewoman from new york is recognized. Mrs. Lowey mr. Speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from new york is recognized. Mrs. Lowey since President Trumps draconian budget was released, democrats have warned republicans that a bipartisan budget agreement was needed to adequately invest in American Families and communities. Without a budget agreement, programs as diverse as head start, job training, terrorism prevention grants are in danger of inadequate funding at best. Yet, Republican Leadership and the white house have no appropriation strategy other than endless continuing resolutions. Mr. Speaker, the most powerful country in the world now being completely run by a republican government cant keep the lights on longer than four weeks at a time. How did we get here . If this bill passes, is there any reason to believe we will not be back in the same place next month stumbling from one crisis to another is an irresponsible way to govern. Attempting to avoid a shutdown every month denies federal agencies budget certainty and waste taxpayer dollars. Several of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have lamented the damage that the r. S. Inflicts on our military. I agree with them. Yet, time after time they vote for the exact same strategy they bemoan. I encourage my colleague to take action, hasten agreements on immigration and spending caps that would lead to responsible funding bills that keep americans safe. It is also unconscionable that instead of advancing a solution to this impasse, the president personally reneged on his word and rejected a bipartisan compromise on immigration. Protection of American Teens and young adults from impending deportation to a country they dont know is the key to unlocking a responsible bipartisan spending agreement. How can we expect to ever fund the government responsibly when the president cannot be trusted to keep his word . The majority has failed to address a number of high priority items, like funding to combat the Opioid Epidemic, pension protections, funding for Community Health centers. The continuing resolution lacks an important anomaly requested i will the administration to provide by the administration to provide help the Small Business administration while the disaster supplemental is stalled in the senate. Without this language, the Small Business administration will run out of funds by the end of january and will be unable to continue approving loan applications from puerto rico. My friends, this is not how the appropriations process is supposed to work. Its time to protect young americans, lift budget caps, allow chairman frelinghuysen and all of our Committee Members to roll up our sleeves and get to work. Instead of wasting dollars on time, on further c. R. s, we should instead immediately pass a budget agreement and help dreamers, which would facilitate fullyear funding bills the committee could begin writing today. Thank you, mr. Speaker, and i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman reserves the balance of her time. Members are reminded to refrain from engaging in personalities toward the president. Mr. Frelinghuysen i yield to mr. Diazbalart of florida for three minutes. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from florida is recognized for three minutes. Mr. Diazbalart i rise in strong support of this bill. Look, this short resolution, this continuing resolution will give us time to negotiate a budget and addresses our nations priorities. Lets be very clear. If this does not pass now, go to the senate, pass there, sent to the president for his signature and is signed, the federal government will shut down this week. So we all know, as the chairman said, shortterm c. R. s, thats not something we want to do. Thats not our preference. Again, if this one does not pass now, the federal government will shut down. And this is no time to shortchange our first responders, our military. Respond to e to the threats that face us abroad, this is no time to shut down the federal government. The c. R. Supports ongoing Transportation Safety missions, include air traffic control. Again, we cannot allow to shut down and put all that in jeopardy. It allows us to continue the house to house the most vulnerable families, especially our veterans. This is not the time to let them down by shutting, again, the federal government down. It also funds medical care for millions of children, blocks burdensome Health Insurance taxes and, again, supports missioncritical defense activities. This is not the time to let them all down and shut down the federal government. And finally, mr. Speaker, the shortterm c. R. Will allow us to Work Together to find Common Ground on, again, fullyear 2018 bills that meet our defense and domestic priorities. Something else, mr. Speaker. I want the country to know we also have to deal, have to solve the issue of daca. Both sides, not only have been at fault for in many cases refusing to sit down in good faith to negotiate a solution, this c. R. Gives us some time to make sure we solve that issue. Its not time now for political games and gamesmanship and politics. We need to be able to solve the issue of those young folks. We cant do that if the government is shut down. Its time for leadership, for courage. Lets sit down, work out our differences, help secure the border and provide a solution for these deserving kids. For that reason and for so many others, mr. Speaker, it is essential that we do not allow the federal government to shut down. Voting against this resolution is a vote to shut down the federal government. I believe that will be highly irresponsible, so i urge a strong yes vote. I yield back, mr. Speaker. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from florida yields back. The gentleman from new jersey reserves. The gentlewoman from new york is recognized. Mrs. Lowey mr. Speaker, im pleased to yield three minutes to the gentleman from maryland, the democratic whip, mr. Hoyer. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from maryland is recognized for three minutes. Mr. Hoyer i thank the gentleman i thank the gentlelady for yielding. Mr. Speaker, we are now four months into the fiscal year, and this is our fourth continuing resolution. The gentleman says now is the time to work things out. Every democrat voted to extend the fiscal year by 90 days. Nothing was worked out. Why . Because you spent all your time on a tax bill, giving resources 83 of the resources to the richest people in america. Republicans control all the levers of the legislative process the house, the senate, the white house. They have the votes on their own to keep the government open or choose to shut it down as they did by policy some years ago for 16 days. We dont want to shut down the government. Keeping the government open by passing appropriation bills is the most basic responsibility of any governing majority. This governing majority has not sent a single not one appropriation bill to the president of the United States. Not one. Republicans ought to have gotten this work done in the spring and summer, but they wasted their time trying to repeal the Affordable Care act. Thats all they did. After failing to do so, they asked for more time in september. And we voted, every one of us, to give them that time. They squandered it. They had to do more two more extensions. They squandered that time. Now they want to have another time where they can squander more time. Instead of using the extra time to use the job of governing, they wasted it on passing tax overhaul that added 1. 5 trillion in new deficit spending and raise taxes on the middle class. So here we are again, mr. Speaker. Americans are right to be frustrated by the inability or unwillingness of the Republicanled Congress to do its job and keep the government open. You have 241 votes. Get them. Get them. You have the authority to do it and you have the responsibility to do it. Get the votes. Even some republican lawmakers are openly expressing the frustration with their own leadership. Let me quote representative mark meadows. He hit the nail on the head yesterday when he asked, whats the plan . When are we going to deal with immigration . My previous speaker talked about dealing with it. We havent dealt with it. Put something on the floor. You havent done it. When are we going to deal with spending . This is mark meadows. At what point do you quit kicking the can down on the road . This is republican mark meadows, not me. And passing just another continuing resolution in the hopes things get better in a few weeks. Democrats dont want the government to shut down. May i have one additional minute . We dont have the power to shut it down either. Thats entirely in the hands of the majority. And by the way, on there previous c. R. , 90 of your members voted against it. Did they vote against the military, did they vote against the first responders, did they vote against Education Funding . And we wring our hands about the military funding. You think its any easier to run a nondefense agency with a c. R. . Youre wrong if you think that. They undermine our deposk agencies as well. And i hope domestic agencies as well, and i hope they are equally worried about the impact of doing one shortterm funding bill after another on the domestic side. Americans are frustrated that their congress cant agree on what we agree on. Republicans have previously supported the principles of parity when raising spending caps. That was the paul ryan deal. Hes the speaker. He said, yes, well increase military and domestic the same. That was his deal. Paul ryan, the speaker. Thats all were asking for. Paul ryan, make your deal again. And he wont do it. Instead, he wants to just keeping the can down the road once, twice, thrice, now four times. Yes, we want, as the previous speaker said, all dreamers to stay in this country. We all want to reauthorize the chip program, to prevent nine million children from losing their Health Insurance. I dare you to put it on the floor. It will pass with every vote in this house. No, you want to blackmail us into passing something that we dont like and we dont think is good for the country. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. Mr. Hoyer one additional minute . The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Hoyer we want to address other Urgent Health priorities. You want to pass chip but you do not want to pass the Community Health centers. My colleague, betty mccollum, told us about many chip children will have no place to go. You passed a bill but no place to go. So why dont republicans sit down and Reach Agreement . Mr. Speaker, i urge my colleagues across the aisle, dont shut down the government. I implore them, use your majority not to delay but to govern, and i tell them, democrats are still ready to work with you as we have been throughout to sit down and reach bipartisan compromise on our most pressing challenges. E voted to give you 120 days to do that. Now you want some more time. You come to the door and ask for some cake and your neighbor says, come back tomorrow, and you come back tomorrow and you ask the same thing and he says, come back tomorrow and you go back the next day and he says the same thing, come back tomorrow. Thats what the republicans are saying. Come back tomorrow. Come back tomorrow. Come back tomorrow. But there has been no tomorrow. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. Mr. Hoyer vote against this c. R. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentlewoman from new york reserves. Members are reminded to address their statements to the chair. The gentleman from new jersey is recognized. Mr. Frelinghuysen mr. Speaker, im pleased to yield a minute to the chairman of the ways and means committee, the gentleman from texas, mr. Brady. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from texas is recognized for one minute. Mr. Brady thank you, mr. Speaker. You can tell from the previous speaker how eager our democrat colleagues are to shut down this government. Get the votes to keep this government open because we wont provide them. Get the votes to keep funding our military and security but we wont provide them. Get the votes to provide health care, longterm for our children and families because our democrat colleagues wont provide not one vote. Get the votes to delay the damaging impact of obamacare taxes, the Health Insurance tax, the cadillac tax, medical device, you get those votes, republicans, because we will not give you even one of them. These taxes are so damaging to our families, to our workers and job creators its sending jobs out of america, overseas. Get the votes, republicans, because we claim we support this. We just wont support it with our votes. Its regrettable because these are bipartisan issues, and politics are shutting this government down. I urge my democrat colleagues to stand with republicans on behalf of children, families, and workers, keep this government open. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from new jersey reserves. The gentlewoman from new york is recognized. Mr. Speaker, im very pleased to yield two minutes to the gentleman from ohio, the Ranking Member of the energy and water subcommittee, ms. Kaptur. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from ohio is recognized for two minutes. Ms. Kaptur i thank the Ranking Member of the full committee, congresswoman lowy of new york, for yielding me this time congresswoman lowey of new york, for yielding me this time and let me just say that our side has not been consulted. The republicans have 238 votes. To pass anything here, they had the vast majority. You only need 218 votes. So if you wanted to pass, it you could do it right now. You could have done it a month ago. You could have done it two months ago. You could have done it three months ago. But theres something fundamentally wrong on that side of the aisle and of course you have to deal with the other body where you hold the majority and you cant get it done there either. Now, in football you would call this fumbling the ball. In baseball, youd call it flubbing the ball. And honestly, if you cant consult with our side of the aisle, why would you expect anybody would want to work with you anyway . You treat us like were from, i dont know, born yo. Borneo. Why would you think we would want to vote on something that we cant agree with because of its essential unfairness . I really cant understand why youre putting the republic through all these contortions. You dont have a budget. You know, weve been asking for a budget. And you dont make decisions about departments until you have a budget. Because you might underfund one department or overfund another department. So we want to do this in a very orderly way. But our republican friends appear to hope the government will function with no road map. Are they really asleep behind the wheel of the car . They are sure careening and they might even hate brick wall. If the republicans cannot put together hit a brick wall. If the republicans cannot put together a Framework Agreement for a vote this week, its safe to say they fumbled and flubbed every opportunity they had. Reminds me of the old loony toon character elmer fud. They cant even catch bugs bunny when hes staring them right in the face. They arent making progress. And indeed losing ground. There was hope on september 8 when we voted the first time for a shortterm extension that you could actually Reach Agreement. But here it is. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewomans time has expired. Ms. Kaptur and we still dont have agreement. Might i ask the Ranking Member for an additional period of time . 45 seconds . The speaker pro tempore the gentlewomans time has expired. Mrs. Lowey 30 seconds. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman is recognized for an additional 30 seconds. Ms. Kaptur so here we are, january 18, 2018. One day before the risk of another shutdown. And theyre fiddle their fiddling is unprecedented. Dont have a budget framework, cant make decisions, dont consult with our side. Why should we be in a helpful mood . We were always told republicans are stern pass masters. Not only have they failed to pass a budget. Now theyve added 1 trillion more to the deficit and the longterm debt because they wanted to give tax giveaways to all their donors. I urge my colleagues to oppose this sinking effort and demand action for a final full year funding plan. That is what is responsible. That is essential and that is what the American People expect. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewomans time has expired. The gentlewoman from new york reserves. Members are again reminded to address their comments to the chair. For what purpose does the gentleman from new jersey seek recognition . Mr. Speaker, im pleased to yield three minutes to the chairman of the energy and water and Commerce Committee, mr. Walden, from oregon. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from oregon is recognized for three minutes. Mr. Walden thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, im not quite sure what the people of borneo did to deserve the wrath of my colleague from ohio. But perhaps she can explain later to them. But here is the deal. The energy and Commerce Committee did work across the aisle or attempted to, to fully fund the Childrens Health Insurance Program, to fully fund Community Health centers, to fully fund extenders. And at every step of the way, my colleague and friend from the other side of the aisle, asked me to stop and work with them, we tried. We couldnt reach full agreement on the payfors at the time. But we tried and we worked in good faith with each other. 15 democrats on the house floor voted to extend the Childrens Health Insurance Program for a full five years. By the way, that equals the longest extension and the most generous funding to help children and pregnant women thats ever been done for that program. We sent it over to the senate and unfortunately they couldnt find agreement. So we came back and we kept extending it and by the way, the democrat leader of the house, mr. Speaker, ms. Pelosi, said what were doing today, by putting full funding for Childrens Health Insurance Program for the longest extension in the history of the program, a full six years, is, and i quote, sadly, a bowl of doingy doo. Put a cherry on top and call it a chocolate sundayy. Closed quote. Is that what this has devolved to . We have an opportunity today with the help and the leadership of the chairman of the Appropriations Committee to fully fund our states Childrens Health Insurance Program for not five years but a full six years. This is the longest extension in history at the strongest funding level in history. So when you vote no today, as you all apparently are going to do, youre voting to close the government and deny our states, but more importantly the children and pregnant women, access to Childrens Health insurance. The cancellations that go out, the notices, are on your terms. Let me tell what you the childrens hospitals have said to congress. Kids cannot wait. Fund chip now. And i quote, congress has a chance to pass a longterm extension of chip that will provide security for millions of kids. The continuing resolution being considered by congress includes a sixyear extension of chip. Childrens hospitals support a longterm extension of chip and urge congress to take this opportunity to pass chip this week. The time is now to extend funding for this life line millions of children and their families count on every day. Thats childrens hospitals. Cant we put the partisan divide aside and at least fund Childrens Health insurance for children and pregnant women in this country . And keep the government open. That is the question before us today. The question before us today is, do you want to keep the government open and the Services Provided and six years of full funding for Childrens Health insurance and pregnant women . Or will you vote against it . Its as simple as that. The rest is just political rhetoric. So lets fund chip. Lets take care of our families and kids and keep the government open, mr. Chairman. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from new jersey reserves. Members, once again, are reminded to please address their comments to the chair. The gentlewoman from new york is recognized. Mrs. Lowey i am very pleased to yield three minutes to the distinguished gentleman from new jersey, the wellinformed Ranking Member of the committee on energy and commerce, mr. Pallone. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new jersey is recognized for three minutes. Mr. Pallone thank you, mr. Speaker. I want to thank my colleague from new york. I have the greatest respect for my republican chairman from oregon. But he just forgets completely, as so many speakers on the g. O. P. Side have, that they are in the majority and they have a sigma jort. They can do whatever they they have a significant majority. They can do whatever they want. For him to suggest that somehow he cant bring up a chip bill that also includes all these other Health Programs, he mentioned the Community Health centers, i could also mention all the medicare extenders that are not included in this bill. This bill basically either lets expire or continues to expire so many things that are important for the health of the American People. Not only the Community Health centers, which expire in a few weeks, not only the medicare extenders, which includes the therapy caps for seniors in medicare, the Home Visiting program for seniors, the special Diabetes Program, the Teaching Health sent, the National Health centers, the National Health service corps, all of these things. Also the safety net hospitals. As of january 1, the dish or safety net programs for all these hospitals around the country that have to take care of so many poor people, that funding has expired and theyve actually had to cut the funding. So how do you stand up here and say to me and the American People that somehow you care about these things, you want to deal with these things . You are not dealing with these things. What are you doing here again . Once again youre bringing a bill to the floor that has all kinds of repeal of taxes. I dont even want to get into the deal. These are the taxes that help fund the Affordable Care act. Medical device tax. Theres several of them. All you do here is bring up tax cuts or tax repeals and now youre trying to give the impression, because you have this sixyear reauthorization for chip and have eliminated funding and help for all the these Health Care Programs, that somehow you care. Well, when the kids that get the chip funding cant go to a Community Health center or cant go to a hospital because theyre suffering and dont have the funding, where do they go . We know that chip is a great program. But many of the kids that have the insurance under chip have to go to Community Health centers. And all i hear from my Community Health centers and other Teaching Hospitals is theyre ready to send out the pink slips. They may have to close. Theyre not sure they can help these people. So it is a complete joke to suggest that somehow you care. You have the votes, you can do whatever you want. Youre not doing it. Sure, i also agree that daca, the dreamers, are going to suffer. Because thats not being addressed either. But the main thing i want to stress is, youre not addressing all these other Health Care Programs that are just as important as chip. Just as important. And make the chip program essentially not viable because theyre not being addressed. So please, dont suggest to me that you care. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. Mr. Pallone the right vote here is to vote against this. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentlewoman from new york reserves. Members are again reminded to please address your comments to the chair. The gentleman from new jersey is recognized. Mr. Frelinghuysen mr. Chairman, im pleased to yield two minutes to the vice chairman of the energy and Commerce Committee, mr. Barton of texas. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from texas is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Barton i thank my distinguished chairman from new jersey and ask unanimous consent to revise and extend. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Barton my good friend, mr. Pallone, from the great state, the garden state of new jersey, just told you all the things that werent in this bill, that he wish were. My distinguished chairman, mr. Walden, just wished whiss tered in my whispered in my ear that we have put everything you talked about in bills, subcommittee and full committee and on the floor and you voted against them every time this year. Every time. Now, where i come from, you vote for whats in the bill, not whats not in the bill. I wished we had a balanced Budget Amendment to the constitution in this bill. I wish we fully funded our military for the rest of the year in this bill. I wish we, by an act of congress, gave texas a m the National Championship in football in this bill. Thats not going to happen. What is in this bill . We fully fund the Childrens Health Insurance Program for every state of the union and the territories for six years. Never been done before. Fully fund Childrens Health insurance for every state and territory in the union for six years. At existing levels, increased and it increases each year for the next six years, its fully paid for, fully offset. And not every democrat, but almost every democrat has voted against that already twice. If they vote against it this evening, theyll vote against it for the third time. Im the macker manager of the republican baseball team. If you miss it three times, normally means youre out. I hope that some of my friends on the Minority Side will tonight vote with us to fund schip and to fund the government for the next month. Im one of the republicans that supports daca. Im on the dreamer act. Im also on the republican alternative. I would love to vote for daca. But the deadline for daca is not until march. The schip programs expired in september. We need to pass this c. R. And send it to the senate. Vote yes. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from new jersey reserves. Members once again are reminded to please address their comments to the chair. The gentlewoman from new york is recognized. Mrs. Lowey mr. Speaker, im very pleased to yield two minutes to the gentlewoman from minnesota, the Ranking Member of the interior subcommittee of appropriations, ms. Mccollum. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from minnesota is recognized for two minutes. Ms. Mccollum mr. Speaker, i rise in opposition to this legislation, which ignores the urgent need of the American People. The federal governments fiscal year started october 1 of last year. But instead of fulfilling a responsibility to fund our government in a too manyly manner, in a timely manner, President Trump and the republicans spent months working to pass their tax scam. Now, because they didnt do their jobs, mr. Speaker, republicans are asking us to vote to kick the can down the road again. This is no way to run a government. The American People deserve immediate action on Critical Issues that matter to our country. We need a budget agreement in order to do that. We need to keep our government open. We need to meet the needs of the communities and the hardworking people. We need to enact responsible reforms that will save struggling pension plans. We need to provide Disaster Relief to our fellow americans who were hit hard by hurricanes and wildfires last year. We need to reauthorize the special Diabetes Program which funds treatment and prevention programs for native americans, and, yes, we need to pass a dream act which protects children from President Trumps cruel termination of daca. The American People overwhelmingly support these actions, these priorities, but you wont find them in this bill. Instead, republicans have turned this c. R. Into a tax bill that has provisions that didnt make it in the original tax plan. While this legislation does finally reauthorize the Childrens Health Insurance Program, it abandons our Community Health centers where parents take their children to get the care that they need. Make no mistake, this bill will cause layoffs at clinics, which means fewer people in my district, throughout minnesota will get the care that they need. Mr. Speaker, the Republican Party has total control in washington, but instead of working for the American People, President Trump and his allies in congress are ignoring them. Minnesotans and americans deserve a better deal than the one that theyre getting from this republican congress. It is time for President Trump and the republicans to end the chaos, to truly work across the aisle to find ways that we can fund this government responsibly and address our national priorities. Mr. Speaker, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from minnesota yields back the balance of her time. The gentlewoman from new york reserves. The gentleman from new jersey. Mr. Frelinghuysen i yield to mr. Rogers of kentucky for one minute. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from kentucky is recognized for one minute. Mr. Rogers mr. Speaker, i rise in support of this bill. Here it is in a nutshell. Chairman frelinghuysen sought to it we passed all 12 of the Appropriations Bills and sent them to the senate where not a single one has been allowed to come to the floor because of democrat senators who profess to keep they want to keep the government going but vote no. And because the democrats in the senate have barred the consideration of any of these bills, here we are. We have no choice if we want to keep the government open but to vote for this bill. Its the only game in town, and those on the other side who profess they want to keep the government going today will vote no. I dont understand that logic. This is the only chance we have to keep the government operating, to be sure that the american taxpayers money is being spent properly and adequately. But for the purpose of keeping our government open. So mr. Speaker, i urge a yes vote on this bill, and lets move on. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from kentucky yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from new jersey reserves. The gentlewoman from new york is recognized. Mrs. Lowey mr. Speaker, im pleased to yield two minutes to the gentlewoman from connecticut, the Ranking Member of the laborh. H. S. Subcommittee, ms. Delauro. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from connecticut is recognized for two minutes. Ms. Delauro i oppose this continuing resolution. Its staggering that yet again we are punting one of our core obligations as a congress, funding Government Programs. We should be negotiating spending levels for 2018 for both defense spending and nondefense spending. We should have spent the last few months fulfilling our responsibility as legislators by writing bipartisan bills to Fund Programs that help working families and the middle class and the vulnerable, support evidencebased scientific research, and help working people get the skills they need to find good jobs with good wages. Instead, republicans have continued their irresponsible trend of continuing resolution after continuing resolution. They fail to govern. They create chaos. This bill fails to support Community Health centers, which serve as a primary Health Care Provider for over 27 million people, including disproportionately rural and lowincome populations. In 2016, over 376,000 patients across connecticut received care at the connecticut Community Health center. They cut taxes for Insurance Companies while failing to fund Community Health centers. Is shameful they wont work with democrats to ensure defense and nondefense funding. They put Services Critical to our families and communities at risk. From apprenticeship to education for students with disabilities, childcare, afterschool programs that help working families make ends meet and Financial Aid for students attending college. They include a long an extension for the Childrens Health Insurance Program, but they cut out the medicare extenders and other Health Care Programs. But the fear they should be ashamed of the months of fear and turmoil they have caused to children and their families who will be unable to get help at Community Health care centers. They did try they had time to cram a tax scam through congress before the end of the year. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewomans time has expired. Ms. Delauro dragged their feet for months. Shameful. Let me say the republican majority try to cast a blame for the shutdown on the democrats. Let me remind this body and the American People that nine months ago the president said, our country needs a good shutdown in september to fix this mess. Well, the president may get what he wants and what he desires as a Government Shutdown, but its not because of the democrats. Its because of the republican majority in this house and this administration to move forward on behalf of the American People. Its not the democrats. President trump has called for a shutdown of this government. Yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewomans time has expired. The gentlewoman from new york reserves. The gentleman from new jersey is recognized. Mr. Frelinghuysen mr. Chairman, im pleased to yield a minute to the chairman of the energy and commerce subcommittee on energy and upton from michigan. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from michigan is recognized for one minute. Mr. Upton thank you, mr. Speaker. Id remind the speaker that the president issued a statement of Administration Policy in support of this bill that keeps the government open, but i also rise in support of the bill of this bill and in strong support of a sixyear longterm funding for the chip program. We all came to congress to fight for our district and particularly our kids. The michigan chip program serves nearly 40,000 kids, and if chip isnt reauthorized, long term its going to be disastrous for our communities which is why they are depending on us which is why it is in this bill. You know, back in 2015, i helped broker the bipartisan, bicameral deal that led us to the last reauthorization of chip. It wasnt easy but we got there by working together, and over the course of the past year, we have been steadfast in our resolve to reauthorize chip. In our committee we worked tirelessly to advance commonsense legislation thats going to extend chip as well as Community Health centers. And last november, we passed a comprehensive bill on the house floor, and later in the year we passed a c. R. That included shortterm funding for chip. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. Mr. Upton this bill does that. I would urge my colleagues to vote yes. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from new jersey reserves. The gentlewoman from new york is recognized. Mrs. Lowey mr. Speaker, im pleased to yield two minutes to the gentlewoman from florida, the Ranking Member of the military, construction, Veterans Affairs subcommittee, ms. Wasserman schultz. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from florida is recognized for two minutes. Ms. Wasserman schultz thank you, mr. Speaker. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, i rise in strong opposition to this continuing resolution which is yet again a complete abdication of our responsibilities. Instead of adopting fully funded Appropriations Bills or an omnibus with an actual chance of passing this congress, we are in this unbreakable habit of passing continuing resolutions. The republicans most recent proposal does nothing for the funding for the 1,400 Community Health Centers Across the country or the 25 million americans they serve after they let funding run out in september. According to the National Association of Community Health centers, if congress does not act soon, 28,000 sites could close, 50,000 staff could be laid off, and nine million americans could lose access to care. When did this program, which has always had bipartisan support in this body, become a partisan issue . These abdications are simply immoral. Our republican colleagues say we dont have the money to fund these programs, but somehow they were silent on that issue when they gave a handout to giant corporations that add more than 1. 5 trillion to the deficit. While their donors rested peacefully over the holidays knowing their tax cuts were safe, republicans continued to torment 800,000 hardworking young people by refusing to pass the dream act. 122 dreamers lose their protected status every day, and republicans have not been brave enough to do what is right. These courageous individuals are teaching in our schools, working in our communities and serving in our military. I had the prirching of meeting dreamers in south florida and in the halls i had the privilege of meeting dreamers in south florida and in the halls of this capitol. By any reasonable definition, they are americans. This is their home. It is past time for my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to work on a bipartisan spending package that promotes the middle class, protects dreamers and finally assures the American People that their government is working. I simply will not support any spending bill that fails to do so. Make no mistake, republicans control the house, the senate, and the white house. A Government Shutdown will land squarely in their lap. Thank you. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewomans time has expired. The gentlewoman from new york reserves. The gentleman from new jersey is recognized. Mr. Frelinghuysen mr. Speaker, im pleased to yield one minute to the gentleman from georgia, mr. Carter. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia is recognized for one minute. Mr. Carter mr. Chairman, i rise today in support of the decision to attach a sixyear extension of the Childrens Health Insurance Program as this is much overdue. Chip, which is known as peach share for kids in georgia, has been a very Successful Program in covering the medical needs in our state. However, this isnt the first time we tried to extend this program that is so vital to children all across our country. We passed legislation out of the energy and Commerce Committee addressing longterm fix in october. We then passed it in the house in november. We funded a shortterm fix in december. Its time our colleagues across the aisle quit holding Childrens Health care hostage. Now is the time to pass this and continue discussions on Community Health centers, graduate medical Education Programs and other extenders. I want to thank chairman walden, chairman burgess and my colleagues on the energy and Commerce Committee for their work and urge my colleagues to pass this and help our nations children and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from new jersey reserves. The gentlewoman from new york is recognized. Mrs. Lowey mr. Speaker, i am very pleased to yield one minute to the gentleman from new jersey, mr. Pascrell. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new jersey is recognized for one minute. Mr. Pascrell thank you, meesh. This habit of shortterm thank you, mr. Speaker. This habit of shortterm extensions, kicking the can down the road, i heard a few times, is irresponsible and has to stop. We need a longterm funding bill. Democrats have come to the table offered bipartisan solutions. Republicans have dismissed them. Lets put a bill to help the dreamers on the floor. Their incompetence is going to lead to a shutdown. Instead of using nine million kids as a bargaining chip, i bet the majority could pass a permanent Childrens Health extension today. There are nine million children at risk of losing Health Coverage. 200,000 of them in my home state of new jersey. We could save 6 billion. And i cannot believe that this bill has a delay of the medical device tax, mr. Speaker, that was part of the Affordable Care act. That industry agreed to pay that tax. We just did a tax bill for corporations that added over 2 trillion in deficits. Last i checked, medical Device Companies are corporations. What are we doing putting in place a tax law in a budget bill now and a month later the speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Pascrell just this week the New York Times ran a piece titled, can your hip replacement kill you . The article names dr. Steven tower who was given an artificial hip with a defect in the device. Send your bill. Doctors had to do second surgery. Found cobalt leaking from the device causing a condition lled metalasis, destroying muscle, tendons, destroying mr. Towers heart and brain as well. Despite his complaint to colleagues and the manufacture, they continued to manufacturer, they continued to market it. How dare the speaker of the daca question why we want in this legislation when he has a bill that 42 million americans use medical devices . There is no federal f. D. A. Test for most of those devices. They got the court. They bribe doctors, and its in your bill, but we could not take care of those 800,000 people. Chairman, we need a the speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentlewoman from new york reserves. The gentleman from new jersey is recognized. Mr. Frelinghuysen mr. Chairman, im pleased to yield two minutes to my colleague from new jersey, mr. Lance. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new jersey is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Lance thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise in strong support of this legislative package to fund the government and to authorize the chip program, the longest such authorization for chip ever. Chairman frelinghuysen secured passage for all 12 appropriation bills by the before the beginning of the new fiscal year. It is the democrats in the senate who have refused to permit these bills to come to the floor. No good explanation has been given as to why that occurred. Chairman walden brought through the energy and Commerce Committee a chip reauthorization package that passed this house in november. We must continue to ensure governmental operations such as paying our troops on time and making sure our Homeland Security apparatus is fully operational. The chip portion of this bill is a major accomplishment. Nine million lowincome children depend on chip and the Congressional Budget Office estimates that chip will actually save taxpayer funds in the long run. Lets keep the government open and lets fund chip. I urge a strong bipartisan vote in favor of this legislation. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new jersey yields back. The gentleman from new jersey reserves. The gentlewoman from new york is recognize. Mrs. Lowey mr. Speaker, im very pleased to yield one minute to the gentlewoman from washington, ms. Jayapal. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from washington is recognized for one minute. Ms. Jayapal thank you. Mr. Chairman, were back again for the third continuing resolution this fiscal year. This makes no sense and it is no way to govern. And let me be clear and repeat what my colleagues have said. Republicans control the house, the senate and the white house. But they just cant seem to pass a real budget. And if republicans want democratic votes, then they need to have our priorities reflected in that budget. Priorities like protecting the American Dream. For 1 1 2 million Daca Recipients with the dream act. Thousands of young people who fear deportation because of the cruel termination of the daca program. Priorities like Community Health centers and protecting the Retirement Savings of working families. Priorities like addressing the Opioid Epidemic that ravages our communities. Priorities like infrastructure and education and Real Health Care protections for everyone. So if the republican majority, yes, the majority, schutz down the government because shuts down the government because they wont look to get our democratic priorities addressed, then they will have to answer to communities across the country who are looking for a permanent budget, not something that kicks the can down the road for another few weeks. This is not a real solution. This is not a real solution, mr. Chairman. We will not substitute one familys pain for anothers gain. This is about the lives and livelihoods of millions of people. It is about the soul of our country. And americans deserve a better deal. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from washington yields back. The gentlewoman from new york reserves. The gentleman from new jersey is recognized. Mr. Frelinghuysen mr. Chairman, im pleased to yield a minute to the gentleman from texas, mr. Olson. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from texas is recognized for one minute. Mr. Olson i thank my friend from new jersey for allowing me to join this important debate. My friends on the other side are showing why the people, american ople, like root canals, head lice, colonoscopies, more than congress. It brings an act that hurts our youth and poverty. Congressional democrats are going to vote against basic health care for these needy kids. The schip program is their only choice for their health. Nearly half a million young texans, half a million, depend upon schip. It expired september 30 of this year. This bill tonight we vote on will extend schip for six more years. I beg my colleagues, listen to your hearts, to your soul and the voice of these kids who want basic health care. Vote for schip today. Vote for the c. R. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from new jersey reserves. The gentlewoman from new york is recognized. The gentlewoman from new york reserves. The gentleman from new jersey is recognized. Mr. Frelinghuysen mr. Chairman, im pleased to yield a minute to the gentleman from florida, mr. Bill rakes i. The chair mr. Bilirakis. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from florida is recognized for one minute. Mr. Bilirakis thank you, mr. Speaker. I want to thank chairman walden and chairman burgess for all the hard work theyve put into reauthorizing chip. This is a sixyear reauthorization of the chip program, the longest chip reauthorization congress has ever passed. The house already passed a full chip authorization last year, by the way, we also reauthorized the Community Health centers. Most democrats voted against that. Democrats need to put politics aside and support the bill for the sake of our children. Chip reauthorization will ensure funding for 200,000 children in floridas chip program. In addition, this bill has my legislation that protects chip buyin programs. This allows children who arent eligible for traditional chip to buy into the chip program. It makes sense. Inconsistent guidance from c. M. S. Jeopardized these buyin programs. This bill will provide clarity and protect about 12,000 children in the state of florida who participated in the buyin program. I support this particular bill. Please, lets reauthorize chip for the sake of our children. Thank you and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from new jersey reserves. The gentlewoman from new york is recognized. Mrs. Lowey reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman continues to reserve. The gentleman from new jersey is recognized. Mr. Frelinghuysen mr. Chairman, pleased to yield a minute where are we here . The gentleman from texas, mr. Flores. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from texas is recognized for one minute. Mr. Flores mr. Chair, i rise in strong support of h. R. 195, which continues funding the government through february 16. Pays our troops and provides for a sixyear extension of the Childrens Health Insurance Program. 36 of the children in my district are covered under chip and im pleased to support this legislation to ensure that they continue to have access to care that has been delayed by obstructionist democrats in this body and over in the senate. While i support passage of this bill, i want to draw attention to the fact that there are other important provisions that have previously passed this house. Yet have fallen by the wayside as members sought a compromise on the final bill. Ill go through knows main. Again, im pleased that were passing a bill that continues funding for the government, pays for our troops and extends funding for the chip program. Mr. Chair, i strongly urge my colleagues, though, not to forget other Important Health initiatives that must be addressed and i hope that they will join me in seeing that these initiatives are again taken up after pass afpblgt bill. Those provisions that need to be considered include two of my bills, one the Youth Empowerment act, which empowers youth to make healthy decision, and secondly, language from the health state flexibility act, also needs to be tnd. I thank you and i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from new jersey reserves. The gentlewoman from new york reserves. The gentleman from new jersey is recognized. Mr. Frelinghuysen mr. Speaker, im very pleased to yield two minutes to the chairwoman of the ethics committee, mrs. Brooks from indiana. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from indiana is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Brooks mrs. Brooks thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise today to urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this c. R. In part because we need to extend chip, the Childrens Health Insurance Program, for the 104,000 children in indiana who currently rely on the program. We must provide longer term stability to chip and we have the opportunity to do so here today. Chip is crucial for families who would otherwise slip through the cracks. Their income disqualifies them from traditional medicaid but is not high enough to afford family Health Insurance. The chip Program Provides children with comprehensive health and dental services and its helped decrease the rate of uninsured children in indiana to an alltime low of 5 . The families of these 104,000 children in indiana relying on chip and the sixyear reauthorization will grant states the muchneeded certainty in administering chip for American Children across the country and stability for the hoosier families who depend on the program. Furthermore, todays c. R. Includes a twoyear relief from the medical device tax. America tops the world in medical innovation and relief from this tax will further reinforce this leadership. The previous twoyear suspension of this damaging tax has allowed device company, many of which call indiana home, to invest in research and development and invest in highquality, highpaying jobs in medical innovation, all to the benefit of patients who need them the most. I urge my colleagues to vote yes on this c. R. Not only does it provide longterm stability for chip and relief from the medical device tax, but it also provides government funding through february 16 to prevent a shutdown. Like the chairman, i hope this will proit time we need to complete provide the time we need to complete the fiss cal appropriation fiscal appropriation bills. I urge my colleagues to vote yes on the final passage. Thank you. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from new york continues to reserve. The gentleman from new jersey is recognized. Mr. Frelinghuysen mr. Chairman, im pleased to yield a minute to the representive from north dakota, mr. Cramer. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from north dakota is recognized for one minute. Mr. Cramer i thank the gentleman for yielding and i thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Childrens Health Insurance Program provides Health Coverage to lowincome, lowincome children and pregnant women, to have annual income above the Medicaid Eligibility levels but have no Health Insurance. It provides care, in other words, mr. Speaker, for some of the most vulnerable families in our nation. It covers nearly 5,000 children in my home state. In fact, in fiscal year 2016, north dakota received thsdz 19 million in chip funding. I encourage all of my colleagues to now support this Important Program that has historically had bipartisan support. I also want to urge my colleagues to quickly take up funding for Community Health centers, the especially Diabetes Program and other Health Programs that require extension. Community Health Centers in north dakota are already feeling the negative effects of this funding uncertainty. Particularly in hiring and leasing decisions. But, mr. Speaker, we must not vote no on this c. R. Because of whats not in the bill. But we must vote yes because of what is in the bill is critical to the health of our children and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from new jersey reserves. The gentlewoman from new york reserves. The gentleman from new jersey is recognized. Mr. Frelinghuysen mr. Chairman, im pleased to yield a minute to the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. Costello. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from pennsylvania is recognized for one minute. Mr. Costello thank you, mr. Speaker. We need to keep the government open and we need to keep the government funded and we need to reauthorize the Childrens Health Insurance Program. Now, in the energy and Commerce Committee, we passed chip reauthorized for five years, out of committee in october. We passed it out of the full house in november. We are now back now to authorize it for a full six years. We do not need any additional payfors. This will help 177,000 children in pennsylvania and millions across the country. Chip funding will be exhausted next month in pennsylvania. Right now some states already face a shortfall in their funding as the program has not yet been fully reauthorized for all of calendar year all of fiscal year 2018. It is past time we provide a longterm solution and stability for families who depend on this quality, affordable coverage. Ive heard from so many constituents, ive heard from Many Democrats speaking, urging us to reauthorize chip. Tonight we have a vote to keep the government open and to reauthorize the chip program. The right vote on this bill is a yes vote. Thats the vote i will be taking on behalf of my constituents that country. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from new jersey reserves. The gentlewoman from new york reserves. The gentleman from new jersey is recognized. Mr. Frelinghuysen i reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new jersey reserves. The gentlewoman from new york is recognized. Mrs. Lowey mr. Speaker, im very pleased to yield one minute to the gentlewoman from california, the democratic eader, ms. Pelosi. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from california is recognized for one minute. Ms. Pelosi thank you very much, mr. Speaker. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I commend her for her great leadership as our Ranking Member on the Appropriations Committee, or as we say, mr. Frelinghuysen, the almighty powerful Appropriations Committee on which i was proud to serve with you and congresswoman lowey. Im disappointed, though, that the legislation that is brought to the floor today falls so very, very short of our responsibilities to the American People. When it comes to considering this bill, which the republicans are bragging supports chip, its important to review the facts. The facts are the these are thiels. The chip proposal that the are these. The chip proposal that the republicans boast was on the floor in october or this or that was funded by taking money from other childrens programs and thats why it was not to be supported by us. Its also important to remember that the chip reauthorization expired september 30. So here we are with our fourth continuing resolution, our fourth continuing resolution. That means on september 30 we were supposed to not only reauthorize chip, but to pass an omnibus bill to fund the government. Republicans were not able to make the decisions necessary to do that. So we had one extension. Another extension, another extension, this is the fourth. Now for somebody who doesnt know what a c. R. Is, thats our washington lingo, its a continuing resolution. And what it says is that the funding for the country will be continued at the same rate as it was in the previous year. Regardless of the fact that other challenges have emerged. So engaging in those failures to pass an omnibus bill and engage instead in these short term continuing resolutions, this inadequacy does not give certainty to our military. General mattis has told us the military cannot go on these week every two weeks, every month c. R. s. We need to know, we need to have an omnibus that recognizes the full complement of our needs and they are different from last year. It does not fund the fight against opioid addiction. Weve talked about this. We authorized language. We put up some money, but throughout our country there is an Opioid Epidemic that needs to be addressed with funding for it, not just conversation or rhetoric but funding. It does not address some of the crises facing our veterans, whether its their infrastructure, housing, whatever. Theres additional funding thats needed for our veterans over and above whatever it was last year, and this ignores that need. It doesnt it ignores the fact that we have some issues that we have to address regarding pensions. Endangered pensions in our country which have a direct relationship to the economic wellbeing of americas working families. Pensions paid into. Pensions having a shortfall to honor the responsibility. It doesnt protect the dreamers. We could protect the dreamers in all of this, but missing an opportunity. And this takes us right back to the chip. It does not fund Community Health centers that provide primary care for 27 million americans. So these priorities are bipartisan. Nothing i mentioned on this list is anything that does not have bipartisan support in the congress, that has not been openly discussed, bipartisan, transparency, unity, unifying us around these issues. We did not put priorities forward that were partisan but those that had bipartisan strong bipartisan support. So when our colleagues come to the floor and say, oh, were doing chip, chip is a wonderful initiative. This is one of the first pieces of legislation that i passed as speaker of the house and sent to obama. Not high enough value to put in its proper context. So this reauthorization of chip that theyre putting here, this funding for chip, is its not really funding. We wanted 10 years for chip to make it permanent so we dont have to go through this and we move all doubt, we remove any certainty whether this health care will be available for children who need it. 6 aid 10 years, you save billion. 6 billion you save. Six years, 1 billion. Why wouldnt we want to save 6 billion . Nonetheless nonetheless, what my concern is is that they chose to bring a bill to the floor that isolates chip away from the other essentials that are a part of the delivery of that Health Care Service to children. It doesnt it does not reauthorize Community Health centers which provide, as i say, vital care to 26 million americans. It does not address does not extend the medicare extenders so necessary, especially for our seniors. Home visiting care and other initiatives. It does not address the medicaid dish, disproportionate share, challenge that is across america. Ask your friends in Rural America especially about that. Therapy services, diabetes. Teaching Health Centers. Teaching Health Centers for primary care doctors completely out of this bill. Thats why i am so proud of the legislation introduced by congressman mceachin today which has the full complement, and its nothing additional. Its how we have always proceeded with the priority of Childrens Health in a package thats about Family Health and delivery of service. As the president himself tweeted this morning, chip should be part of a longterm solution, not a 30day shortterm extension. We like it 10 years. They have it six years, but it shouldnt be in this bill because this bill is sort of a halfbaked facade to make it look as if we are keeping government open. Were keeping government debilitated by not addressing, coming to agreement on the omnibus that we know that we have to do, that addresses the needs of our military as it recognizes the security provisions in the domestic bill that are about security. Whether its the state department department, Veterans Affairs, antiterrorism activity at the justice department. And the fact that the strength of our country is measured in many ways. Certainly our military, which we are very proud, and the agencies i mentioned, but also in the health, education and wellbeing of the American People. So here we are. What does government do . Government does transportation. How can you, if you are in the Transportation Department make commitments when youre on a short fuse of, was it two weeks in december, now four weeks they want to go forward . Why dont we just settle it . Grow up . Take responsibility . Get this done for the American People . Nobody i know wants a shutdown of government. Well, maybe except for the president who said what did he say . This country needs a good shut our country needs a good shutdown. He said that in may. I think with his experience as president now he probably knows theres no such thing as a good shutdown. We dont want to shut down. By the way, if there is one, this will be the first time there would be a shutdown in recent history that was took place when one party had the white house, had the senate, and had the house of representatives, had full responsibility for managing, for leveraging, for getting the job done to fund our country for another year with certainty. And this has two years provisions what we are negotiating with the republicans. Really, coming to the floor, hiding behind chip to hide the shortcomings and the lack of taking responsibility for our responsibilities to the American People is really a sad thing. And thats why mceachins bill which had the full complement to make chip really work was the way to go. Sadly, i wish we had something that although i object to the process of one shortterm continuing resolution of last year instead of looking to the future for next year, i disapprove of that process. The substance of this legislation makes it totally unacceptable, and i urge a no vote. With that i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady from california yields back her time. The gentlelady from new Jersey New York reserves her time. The gentleman from new jersey is recognized. Mr. Frelinghuysen mr. Chairman, im pleased to yield a minute to the gentleman from michigan, mr. Walberg. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from michigan is recognized for one minute. Mr. Walberg thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise today in full support of this funding extension which includes a vital longterm reauthorization of the state Childrens Health Insurance Program, or chip. This bill provides the longest extension in history of the chip program and provides security for millions of kids and pregnant mothers. Its important to remember the house has already acted responsibly three times to extend chip. In november, this chamber passed the championing health kids act on a bipartisan vote. The bill not only would have extended chip for five years, but it also addressed other important public Health Programs like federally qualified Health Centers. Regretfully, partisanship, political gamesmanship left that bill to languish in the senate. My constituents remain frustrated that the majority of my democratic colleagues in this chamber have voted three times against chip. The delays and posturing are inexcusable. I hope everyone in the house votes to pass this the speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. Mr. Frelinghuysen i am pleased to yield another 30 seconds. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Walberg i hope everyone in the house passes this extension today so we can get to work quickly reauthorizing Community Health centers and other important Public Health priorities. I encourage my colleagues to put aside the political games. Vote aye on the bill. The only correct vote. And then tell the senate to do the right thing as well. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back his time. The gentleman from new jersey reserves. The gentlelady from new york is recognized. Mrs. Lowey i am pleased, mr. Speaker, to yield two minutes to the gentleman from new jersey, the Ranking Member of the committee on energy and commerce, mr. Pallone. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new jersey is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Pallone thank you, mr. Speaker. I am amazed when i hear my republican colleagues talk about how they brought chip to the floor, they brought Community Health centers to the floor. What they forget to mention is that every time they did that they included payfors in other words, funding measures that would basically sabotage the Affordable Care act. We have seen a concerted effort not only to try to repeal the Affordable Care act, which failed, but then to do Everything Possible to make it more difficult for people to get their Health Insurance. We know that in the tax plan, or tax scam that they passed a few weeks ago that they were so determined to spend all their time on, what did they do . They eliminated the mandate that people have Health Insurance. The c. B. O. Estimates there will be 13 million americans over the next few years that will lose their Health Insurance. When they talked about the chip and those previous in those previous times, what did they do . They put in provisions that cut the funds help for children. They put in a provision if you didnt pay your Health Insurance within 30 days you would lose it. C. B. O. Estimated that Something Like half a million americans would lose their insurance because of that provision. They put in provisions that said that people who got their medicare had to pay more pay more for it. Pay even 100 depending upon their income. They have done Everything Possible to sabotage the health care system, and for them to get up and say, oh, we care about kids, we care about Community Health centers, nothing is further from the truth because everything has been done to sabotage Americas Health care system. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back his time. The gentlelady from new york reserves. Now the gentleman from new jersey is recognized. Mr. Frelinghuysen mr. Chairman, im pleased to yield two minutes to the chairwoman of the republican conference, Cathy Mcmorris rodgers from the great state of washington. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady from washington is recognized for two minutes. Mrs. Mcmorris rodgers i thank the gentleman for yielding. Were about to face a very critical deadline in many states, including my home state of washington. Chip funding will run out. More than 60,000 kids in my state count on chip and need certainty. This funding bill reauthorizes chip for six years, the longest extension in the programs history. Now democrats are threatening to hold us up again for a daca deal. Now, to be clear, i want a daca deal, too, and i am disappointed we dont have one yet but theres no reason to punish children across the country. Today, we are voting to prioritize our nations children, and its time for the democrats to join us. I also want to take this opportunity to stress the importance of reauthorizing the Teaching Health Center Graduate medical education program, which expired in september. These centers face a looming deadline of january 31 to decide whether or not to recruit their july, 2018 classes. Without a longterm solution, Centers Across our country cannot make the important decisions that will affect the residents. Dreds of in one, one Teaching Health center in memphis closed earlier this year without a place for them to continue their medical training and reducing Patient Access to care. Although a reauthorizing of the program was not included in this bill, we must get this done as soon as possible. I look forward to working with the chairman and the committee moving forward, and i urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this sixyear reauthorization of chip and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady yields back her time. The gentleman from new jersey reserves his time. The gentlelady from new york is recognized. Continues to reserve. The gentleman from new jersey. Mr. Frelinghuysen mr. Chairman, i reserve and have he right to close. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady from new york is recognized. Mrs. Lowey i yield myself one minute to close. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady is recognized. Mrs. Lowey my friends, congress has a response to believe the informs in initiatives to defend the country and grow the economy, instead of continuing down a rudderless path of c. R. After c. R. , we must pass a bipartisan budget agreement prork tect dreamers which will enable the Appropriations Committee to responsibly write fullyear funding bills. I urge a no vote and yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady yields back the balance of her time. The gentleman from new jersey is recognized. The gentleman has five minutes remaining. Mr. Frelinghuysen i yield the balance of my time to the chairman of the energy and Commerce Committee. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for the balance of the time. Thank you to my colleague for your hard work and cooperation on this legislation. The choice before us today is very, very simple. Its a choice the American People are watching. The chase is, do you fund the government while you work out the other differences, or do you close the government . Its a binary choice. Its not about all the other things id like in this bill or