The speaker pro tempore on this vote the yeas are 366. The nays are zero. 2 3 having responded in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed, without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. The Unfinished Business is the vote on the motion by the gentleman from florida, mr. Mast, to suspend the rules and pass h. R. 7318 on which the yeas and nays were ordered. The clerk will report the title of the bill. Ller h. R. 7318, a bill the clerk h. R. 7318, a bill to amend the federal assets sale and transfer act of 2016 to ensure that the public buildings reform board has adequate time to carry out the responsibilities of the board, and for other purposes. The speaker pro tempore the question is will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill. Members will record their votes by electronic device. This is a twominute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore the yeas are 372, the nays are two. The bill is passed and without objection. The Unfinished Business is the vote on the motion of the gentleman from florida, mr. Mast, to suspend the rules and pass h. R. 7319. The clerk h. R. 7319 the amend to amend the federal assets sale and transfer act of 2016 with respect to Real Property and for other purposes. Members will record their votes by electronic device. This is a twominute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore the yeas are 372. 2 3 being in the affirmative, the rules are suspended and without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. The Unfinished Business is the vote on the motion of by mr. Mast and pass h. R. 7329. The clerk h. R. 7329 a bill to make technical corrections to provisions of law enacted by the Frank Lobiondo coast guard authorization act of 2013. The speaker pro tempore the question is will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill. Members will record their votes by electronic device. This is a twominute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore on this vote, the yeas are 378. The rules are suspended and the bill is passed and mokes motion is laid on the table. The clerk will report the title of the bill. The clerk senate 33 7 an agget to amend reporting requirements to improve congressional oversight reduce reporting burdens and promote transparency. The Unfinished Business is the request for a recorded vote on. His was a twominute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore the yeas puerto rico 381. Twids being in the affirmative, the rules are suspended and the bill is passed and the motion to reconsider is laid upon the table. The Unfinished Business is the vote on the motion of of the the gentleman from North Carolina and pass h. R. 7293 on which yeas and nays are ordered. The clerk h. R. 7293, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service loathed at 70 ayrault road in fairport, new york, as the louise and bob slaughter post office. The speaker pro tempore the question is will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill. Members will record their votes by electronic device. This is a twominute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore on this vote the yeas are 375. Six nays. Two members recorded themselves as present. 2 3 having responded in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed, without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. Members will be advised that the next vote is on s. 2276. The Unfinished Business is the vote on the motion from the gentleman from North Carolina, mr. Walker, to suspend the rules and pass s. 2276 on which the yeas and nays are ordered. The clerk will report the title of the bill. The clerk senate 2276, an act to require agencies to submit reports on outstanding ecommendations in the annual budget submitted to congress. The speaker pro tempore the question is will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill. Members will record their votes by electronic device. This so twominute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore on this vote the yeas are 3822. 2 3 having responded in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed, without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. The Unfinished Business is the vote on the motion of the gentleman from North Carolina, mr. Walker, to suspend the rules and pass s. 3031. The clerk will report the title of the bill. To lerk senate 3031, amend chapter 5 of title 40, United States code, to improve the management of federal personal property. The speaker pro tempore the question is will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill. Members will record their votes by electronic device. This is a twominute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore on this vote the yeas are 383. The nays are one. 2 3 having responded in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed, without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. The Unfinished Business is the vote on the motion from the gentleman from North Carolina, mr. Walker, to suspend the rules and pass s. 3191 which the on which the yeas and nays were ordered. The clerk will report the title of the bill. Act erk senate 3191, an to provide for the expeditious disclosure of records related to civil rights cold cases, and for other purposes. The speaker pro tempore the question is will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill. Members will record their votes by electronic device. This is a twominute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore on this vote the yeas are 376. The nays are six. 2 3 having responded in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed, without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. The speaker pro tempore the house will be in order. Members, please take conversations off the floor. House will be in order. Members, please stake conversations off the floor, lear the well. He house will be in order. He house will be in order. The house will be in order. Members, please take your conversations off the floor. Please take your conversations off the floor. Clear the aisles. Take your conversations off the floor. For what purpose does the gentleman from missouri seek recognition . I move to suspend the rules and pass s. 3661. The clerk eaning act to provide for a program of the department of defense to commemorate the 75th anniversary of world war inch inch. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from missouri, mr. Graves and the gentleman from illinois, mr. Lipinski each will control 20 minutes. Ase ers, please ce conversations. Chair recognizes the gentleman from missouri. Mr. Graves i ask unanimous consent that members may have five legislative days to insert extraneous material on the bill under consideration. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Graves i yield myself such time as i may consume. Mr. Speaker, this bipartisan bill is going to ensure that the federal government plays a constructive role in helping to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the allied victory in europe. In 2020, we expect a number of events including the flyover of the National Mall to honor the sacrifices by many to preserve the freedoms that we enjoy today. Planning for these efforts is under way and having the congress reckfies the importance of these activities not only going to send a message to the rest of the federal government but to our veterans who have given everything to maintain our freely. With that, i reserve. The speaker pro tempore squart. The gentleman from illinois. Mr. Lipinski mr. Speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. I rise in support of this legislation establishing to accomplish a commemorative program to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the end of world war inch i in europe. This was a war for freedom and human rights. The victors and the contribution the speaker pro tempore the house will be in order. Members, please take conversations off the floor. The gentleman has the right to be heard. Ll of you. The gentleman from illinois. Mr. Lipinski the contributions of American Armed forces must never be forgotten. Commemorating this anniversary should be done in an extraordinary way. Commemorating this e. P. A. In history will allow us to recognize our world war ii veterans who are still living. We must list quen and learn to their stories. I fear that knowledge of history is continuing to decline in our nation. We must do all we can to make sure americans never forget the lessons of world war ii and all the sacrifices that were made to preserve freedom in the world. I urge my colleagues to support this important bill. And i reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentleman from missouri. Mr. Graves i dont have any other speakers. I reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentleman from illinois. Mr. Lipinski i yield myself the remainder of the time. Mr. Speaker, i want to thank mr. Graves for introducing this legislation. Very important for remembering world war ii, commemorating it on the 75th anniversary and thank him for his work. Wish him a Merry Christmas and look forward working with him next congress and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. Mr. Graves i want to thank the gentleman for his hard work on this and this is an easy bill. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair mr. Speaker, i request the yeas and nays. The speaker pro tempore the yeas and nays are requested. A sufficient number having arisen, yeas and nays are ordered. Pursuant to clause 8, rule 20, further proceedings on this question will be postponed. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition . Mr. Royce mr. Speaker, i move that the house suspend the rules and concur in Senate Amendment to h. R. 2200. The clerk h. R. 2200, an act to reauthorize the trafficking victims protects act of 2000 and for other purposes. Senate amendment. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from california, mr. Royce and the gentleman from new york, mr. Engel each will control 20 minutes. Mr. Royce i ask unanimous consent that members may include extraneous material in the record. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Royce i yield myself such time as i may consume. Mr. Speaker, the Senate Unanimously passed this mendment version of the h. R. 2200. The house originally passed back in july. It is part of a bipartisan, bicameral package of bills to reauthorize and to strengthen our nations effort to combat human trafficking. It deserves our unanimous support and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from new york. Mr. Engel i rise in support of this measure and i yield myself such time as i may consume. The measure before us authorizes the protections for survivors more effective and improve the way we prevent this crime and ensure we are prosecuting those responsible. This bipartisan bill passed the Senate Unanimously. And a similar version passed the house in july of 2017. I join the chairman. And i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. Mr. Speaker, i request the yeas and nays. The speaker pro tempore the yeas and nays are requested. Those in favor of taking this vote by the yeas and nays will rise and remain standing until counted. A sufficient number having arisen, yaped. For what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition . Mr. Royce i move the house suspend the rules. The clerk senate 1023 an act to reauthorize the tropical conservation act of 1998 through fiscal year 2021. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to the rule the gentleman from california and the gentleman from thork each will control 20 minutes. Mr. Royce i ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to revise and extend tear remarks and to include any extraneous material on this measure. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Royce i yield myself such time as i may consume. Senate bill 1023 the Tropical Forest conservation reauthorization act passed the Senate Unanimously. It is the Senate Version of h. R. 6982 introduced by the gentleman from ohio, mr. Chabot. It is an important bipartisan, bicameral bill that reauthorizes and reforms Ongoing International conservation efforts to increase transparency and ensure that assistance does not go to problematic governments. It deserves our unanimous support and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from new york. Mr. Engel mr. Speaker, i rise in support of this measure and i yield myself such time as i pay consume. This is an important bill that improves our ability to address the acute environmental threats facing Tropical Forests and coral reefs. The act passed the senate in 1998 and this reauthorization is the come pan. Its a bipartisan, bicameral bill. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The question is will the house suspend the rules and pass senate 1023. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. Mr. Speaker, i demand the yeas and nays. The speaker pro tempore the yeas and nays are ordered are requested. Those in favor will rise and remain standing. A sufficient number having arisen, yeas and nays are ordered. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, further proceedings on this question will be postponed. Mr. Royce i move the house suspend the rules. An act senate 1158, to help prevent acts of genocide and other atrocity crimes which threaten International National security by enhancing United States capacities to respond to such crises. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from california and the gentleman from new york each will control 20 minutes. Mr. Royce i ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Royce i yield myself such time as i may consume. Elie wiesel1158 the and genocide preventions act passed the senate you nan mousely and Senate Version of h. R. 3030 which this body passed on july 17. The vote here on the floor was 4065. T is an important bipartisan bicameral bill that ensures that United States is the leader to prevent crimes against humanity. It deserves our support and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from new york. Mr. Engel i rise in support of this measure and yield myself such time as i may consume. This is an important bill that respond to genocides and mass atrocities. This version of the elie wiesel genocide and atrocities prevention passed the senate in the senate and come pain to h. R. 3030 which the house approved in july. It is bipartisan, bicameral bill. Join me in supporting it. Will the house suspend the bill. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. Mr. Massie mr. Speaker i kindly request the yeas and nays. The speaker pro tempore a sufficient number having arisen, yeas and nays are ordered. Pursuant to clause 8, rule 20, further proceedings on this question will be postponed. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the title of the bill. The clerk senate 1580, an act to enhance the transparency, improve the coordination, and intensify the impact of assistance to support access to primary and secondary education for displaced children and persons, including women and girls, and for other purposes. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from california, mr. Royce, and the gentleman from new york, mr. Engel, each will control 20 minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from california. Mr. Royce i ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this measure. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Royce thank you. I yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Royce mr. Speaker, senate bill 1580, its the protecting girls access to education in vulnerable settings act. It passed the Senate Unanimously. Its the Senate Version of h. R. 2408, which this body passed last october. Gain, this is a very important bipartisan, bicameral bill that will promote access to education for refugee children, especially girls. It deserves our unanimous support, 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 york. Mr. Engel mr. Speaker, i rise in strong support of this measure and i yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Engel the protecting girls access to education act is a good bill that works to improve access for education for displaced children, especially girls. This bipartisan bill is the Senate Version of h. R. 2408 which passed the house by a voice vote in october of 2017. I urge all members to join me in supporting it and yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The question is will the house suspend the rules and pass senate 1580. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, 2 3 having responded in the affirmative mr. Massie mr. Speaker. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from kentucky seek recognition . Mr. Massie mr. Speaker, i rise to request the yeas and nays. The speaker pro tempore the yeas and nays are requested. All those in favor of taking this vote by the yeas and nays will rise and remain standing until counted. A sufficient number having arisen, the yeas and nays are ordered. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, further proceedings on this uestion will be postponed. For what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition . Mr. Royce i ask the house suspend the rules and pass senate bill 1862. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the title of the bill. The clerk senate 1862, an act to amend the trafficking victims protection act of 2000 to modify the criteria for determining whether countries are meeting the minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking, and for. Ther purpose the speaker pro tempore pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from california, mr. Royce, and the gentleman from new york, mr. Engel, each will control 20 minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from california. Mr. Royce i ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include any extraneous material on this measure. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Royce thank you. I yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Royce mr. Speaker, senate bill 1862, the trafficking victims protection reauthorization act, passed the Senate Unanimously. It is part of a package of bipartisan bills negotiated between the house and the senate to reauthorize and reform and strengthen our nations efforts to combat human trafficking. It deserves our unanimous support. 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 york. Mr. Engel mr. Speaker, i rise in support of this measure and i yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Engel this is another good measure to strengthen our governments response to the horrific practice of human trafficking. The trafficking victims protection reauthorization act passed the senate with strong bipartisan support. I urge all members to join me in supporting its passage. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The question is will the house suspend the rules and pass senate 1862. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, 2 3 having responded in the affirmative mr. Massie mr. Speaker. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from kentucky seek recognition . Mr. Massie mr. Speaker, i seek recognition to demand the yeas and nays. The speaker pro tempore the yeas and nays are requested. All those in favor of taking this vote by the yeas and nays will rise and remain standing until counted. A sufficient number having arisen, yeas and nays are ordered. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, further proceedings on this question will be postponed. For what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition . Mr. Royce mr. Speaker, i move the house suspend the rules and pass senate bill 3247. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the title of the bill. The clerk senate 3247, an act improve improve an act to improve programs and activities relating to womens entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment that are carried out by the United States agency for international development, and for other purposes. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from california, mr. Royce, and the gentleman from new york, mr. Engel, each will control 20 minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from california. Mr. Royce i ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include any extraneous material on this measure. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Royce thank you. I yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Royce mr. Speaker, senate bill 3247, the womens entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment act, passed the Senate Unanimously. It is the Senate Version of h. R. 5480, by my bill, which this body passed on july 17 of this year. It is an important bipartisan, bicameral bill that would expand womens access to finance and inclusion in the formal economy, in emerging markets around this globe, and i thank jessica kelch, andy taylor, and meg gallagher, for their expert contributions to this bill and on this issue. This bill deserves our unanimous support, 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 york. Mr. Engel mr. Speaker, i rise in support of this measure and i yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Engel this is a bipartisan bill that aims to empower women economically by targeting United States Development Assistance to womenowned small and mediumsized businesses. As the gentleman from california pointed out, hes the sponsor of this bill companion bill in the house. This legislation passed the Senate Unanimously and is the companion of h. R. 5480. I urge members to join me in supporting it. Before i yield back the balance of my time, mr. Speaker, i just want to Say Something since this is probably the last time well have a chance to debate, the chairman and myself, in this congress. I have served as Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs committee for the past six years and in the new congress will become the chairman of the committee. The gentleman from california, mr. Royce, has served as the chairman for six years. I can tell you that there is no better role model than ed royce, and the work weve done together, the bipartisan work weve done together has really made a difference in peoples lives all around the globe. Mr. Royce has been a chairman extraordinaire. We have always operated under the premise when it comes to foreign policy, partisanship should stop at the waters edge and thats what we have really tried to do. So i want all my colleagues on both sides of the aisle know i of d not be more praising the chairman, the gentleman from california. Its been an honor and pleasure serving with the gentleman and being his friend and i cannot think of anyone doing a better job than hes done for the past six years. I hope hell come back and visit. Whenever i have a question to think about what i will do as chairman in the next congress, i would think what my friend, ed royce, would do and know i cant go wrong. Mr. Royce if the gentleman will yield . Mr. Engel yes, id be happy to. Mr. Royce id like to thank the gentleman. Id like to thank mr. Engel of new york for his friendship for over 20 years on the committee but also for his shared leadership over the last six years on this committee can. And i would also like to thank him for his commitment over the years, for his focus on American Values and spreading those values around the globe. And so i yield back but thank you very much, eliot. Mr. Engel i thank the gentleman, and i wish him god speed. We will be in touch. Weve been a good team. Its been great. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The question is will the house suspend the rules and pass senate 3247. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, 2 3 having responded in the affirmative mr. Massie mr. Speaker. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from kentucky seek recognition . Mr. Massie i seek recognition to request the yeas and nays. The speaker pro tempore the yeas and nays are requested. All those in favor of taking this vote by the yeas and nays will rise and remain standing until counted. A sufficient number having arisen, the yeas and nays are ordered. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, further proceedings on this question will be postponed. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from illinois seek recognition . I move the house suspend the rules and pass the bill s. 512. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the title of the bill. The clerk senate 512, an act to modernize the regulation of Nuclear Energy. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from illinois, mr. Kinzinger, and the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. Doyle, each will control 20 minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from illinois. Mr. Kinzinger thank you, mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous materials into the record on the bill. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Kinzinger thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Kinzinger thank you, mr. Speaker. S. 512 makes targeted commonsense reforms to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Fee structure. It threatens to unnecessarily increase the financial burden on the Nations Nuclear fleet, including the four plants im so proud to represent in illinois. This bipartisan bill will ensure transparency, predictability, and fairness in the regulatory process which will keep the United States as the Global Leader of clean, safe, and reliable nuclear power. This bill reflects thoughtful bipartisan and bicameral consensus on what is needed for a robust Nuclear Industry Going Forward and i urge my colleagues to join me in voting to enact these important reforms into law. With that, mr. Speaker, i reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentleman from pennsylvania. Mr. Doyle mr. Speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Doyle mr. Speaker, i appreciate the opportunity to speak about senate bill 512, the Nuclear Energy innovation and modernization act. This legislation contains language from h. R. 1320, the Nuclear Utilization of key note energy act, or nuke act, that i introduced in the house with my colleague, representative kinzinger. It passed the house in september and im glad to see the senate supported these important priorities for the Nuclear Energy. Id like to thank senators barrasso and whitehouse for introducing this legislation in the senate and i want to thank my friend, representative kinzinger, for working together to advance the nuke act in the house. This legislation is very timely as the Nuclear Industry is facing pressure from a variety of factors, ensuring clarity and reliability for the industry will be an important step, and i believe this legislation accomplishes those goals. Mr. Speaker, before i conclude, i would like to note that my colleague, representative gene green, a cosponsor of the nuke act, is retiring at the end of congress. I want to commend mr. Green for his service to the people of texas, and i want to wish him the best in his retirement. Thank you, again, to mr. Kinzinger, and i urge my colleagues to support this legislation and with that, i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from illinois. Mr. Kinzinger thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield to the gentleman from california, mr. Issa, five minutes. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for five minutes. Mr. Issa thank you, mr. Speaker. I want to thank the energy and Commerce Committee for giving me an opportunity to, one, speak in support of this bill, and, two, take just a couple of minutes to say whats wrong with this body on one bill that you wont see here today. Back in january, two years ago, h. R. 170, one of the first bills to be dropped was put into the hopper, was a bipartisan bill that came from the previous congress, dropped on the first day. H. R. 170 would reform after h1b an two decades the immigration system, which is broken. Today, more people come in under h1b who are not necessary, not qualified, not in fact in short supply any re than any other nanny, housekeeper, or person just to do basic work. The system has been hijacked because it has not been reformed. More than two decades ago, exemptions were placed in if you paid 60,000. 60,000 was a lot of money in the 1990s. Probably not enough for the highest hightech worker, but pretty good for a brand new graduate with a masters degree in the stem field. Today, we find ourselves, again, again, and again seeing stories about organizations like the university of californiasan francisco, abbott labs, Southern California edison, who hire people that come from other countries almost exclusively from india and take away american jobs and we see time and time again the americans having to train them because they dont actually know how to do the jobs and, yes, theyre making 60,001. This needed to be fixed, and i want to commend members of the judiciary committee, both majority and minority, because we worked together on a bipartisan bill, passed it unanimously out nearly a year ago. And for a year we asked for a suspension vote. In these last days, perhaps the last day that i will stand on the floor, i have watched more than 20 bills come across. Some of them are pretty important. And noncontroversial. Some of them are postal namings and room namings. The fact is that house leadership on my side of the aisle is responsible for holding back a bill that was needed, that the president would have gladly signed, that he even spoke to the Tech Community while he was running for office, that was worked out in a situation in which Many Companies werent thrilled with the reform, but they knew it was needed. So, mr. Speaker, i am pleased to vote for the bill that is before us. But h. R. 170 will not see the light of day from my republican colleagues. But rather i will call on the new democratic majority to do what republicans were not allowed to do. And let there be no doubt, it would have passed overwhelmingly, perhaps unanimously, on the floor. But if it is not brought up by a new member and brought to the floor in the first few days, we as a body will be further diminished for having something we know is needed, having something we know was desired and worked out, and because of some silent force, my own house majority, some member or members of the leadership have managed to spike it. And i will tell you, mr. Speaker, as my last words on the house floor, to be told by each and every member of the leadership, including the whip, the leader and the speaker, that they have no problem with this bill, they know of no reason not to bring it up, and then watch it not be brought up, and each week be told that it will be maybe it will be there next week under suspension, i will tell you, mr. Speaker, this is what i will remember as our least fine hour. An example of why americans dont trust congress. Because even when we agree on something, virtually unanimously , often a silent force manages to keep something that is noncontroversial from happening. Mr. Speaker, as i yield back for the last time, in my time on the hill, i want to tell you that it has been a great honor to serve here. It has been the greatest honor of my life. And i wish i could go out not saying to my democratic colleagues, the new majority, do in the next congress, h1b reform, that which you agreed to and which my side failed to do. With that, i thank the leadership and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from pennsylvania. The gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from illinois. Mr. Kinzinger thank you, mr. Speaker. In conclusion i move that i ask my colleagues in the house to support this bill. I thank my colleagues on the other side of the aisle for their hard work, and i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The question is, will the house suspend the rules and pass senate 512. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, 2 3 of those voting having responded in the affirmative for what purpose does the gentleman from kentucky seek recognition . Mr. Speaker, i request the yeas and nays. The speaker pro tempore the yeas and nays are requested. All those in favor of taking this vote by the yeas and nays will rise and remain standing until counted. A sufficient number having arisen, the yeas and nays are ordered. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, further proceedings on this uestion will be postponed. For what purpose does the gentleman from illinois seek recognition . Thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, i move that the house suspend the rules and pass the bill, senate 1934. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the title of the bill. The clerk senate 1934. An act to prevent catastrophic failure or shutdown of remote diesel power engines due to emission control devices and for other purposes. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from illinois, mr. Shimkus, and the gentleman from new york, mr. Tonko, each will control 20 minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from illinois. Mr. Shimkus thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, i ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous materials on the record on the bill. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Shimkus thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this bill is a targeted exemption for remote villages in alaska, from e. P. A. s most recent emission rules. E. P. A. State officials have found that diesel generators compliant with the most recent standards do not work reliably in harsh, cold winter conditions. To preserve the health and safety of the people relying on diesel generators, less strict but actually workable standards, our colleagues in the Senate Passed this bill with unanimous consent. It is reasonable legislation that deserves our support. I see senator whitehouse and carper were supportive of this bill. It comes out of the e. P. W. Committee. I ask our colleagues to support it. And i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentleman from new york. Mr. Tonko mr. Speaker, i yield myself as much time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Tonko thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise in strong opposition to s. 1934. Which would roll back Public Health standards under the Clean Air Act for dirty diesel generating units in remote areas of alaska. This legislation would undermine protections for human health, protections for the environment, and protections for our climate. Adding insult to injury, this bill is being brought up under suspension of the rules at the last minute, over the objections of democrats. The committee on energy and commerce, which has jurisdiction over the Clean Air Act, and where i serve as the environment subcommittee Ranking Member, held no hearings on this subject, nor considered any legislation relating to this matter. E. P. A. Already gives special considerations for diesel generators in remote areas of alaska. These special considerations allow remote areas to use stationary diesel generators that are certified to marine engine standards rather than more stringent landbased, nonroad engines. However, all diesel generators in these areas that are model year 2014 or later, and not for emergency use, must be certified to meet e. P. A. s tierfour emissions standards. If they cannot meet those standards, they must meet certain alternative requirements for particulate matter or install an emission control device that reduces that p. M. Emission. S. 1934 directs the e. P. A. Administrator to revise downward existing new Source Performance Standards for diesel generators so that these units would only have to meet e. P. A. s tierthree standards, rather than the more protective criteria. Certainly it is legitimate for congress to consider assisting these remote areas with unique power needs and pollution problems. However, we should be looking to help these areas obtain cleaner, healthier air, not rolling back standards and pretending that the pollution and associated health and environmental roblems dont exist. The further concern is that i note that the bill directs the e. P. A. , in consultation with the department of energy, to submit a report assessing options for the federal government to meet the energy needs of remote areas in the state of alaska. In an affordable and reliable manner. While addressing air emissions. That study is the right first step. And i would be happy to support it. And then work with my colleagues to find ways to help these areas , based on the results of that particular study. But unfortunately this bill takes the backwards approach of rolling back standards and then studying the problem. Perhapses if our republican colleagues had come per perhaps if our republican colleagues had come to us sooner, then this week we might have been able to come together on legislation. Unfortunately republicans have chosen to take this up without consultation, at the last minute, over our objections. They have left us no option other than to fight. I wish it were otherwise. For the past two years, the Trump Administration has engaged in a consistent effort to undermine the Clean Air Act, and its protections, from everything from mercury and hazardous air pollutants to smog and particulate matter. We have seen the Trump Administration walk away from the paris climate agreement. Undo the clean power plan. And gut fuel economy and Greenhouse Gas standards for motor vehicles. We must continue to stand firm against these actions that endanger Public Health, our continued economic wellbeing, and, most certainly, our planet. With that, i urge my colleagues to stand up for our Public Health, for our climate, and against those continued rollbacks of our nations most successful environmental statute, Clean Air Act. I urge my colleagues to vote a strong no on s. 1934, and with that i thank you, mr. Speaker, and i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentleman from illinois. Mr. Shimkus thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, i yield five minutes to the only house member from alaska, and the dean of the house. Chairman young. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for five minutes. Mr. Young i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Young i want to thank the gentleman for bringing this bill up. This is not a trump bill. This is a bill that effects one area, alaska. And this bill was asked for by the people that live in alaska. Not new yorkers. People that need power. That have not had power and have been put they cannot meet these standards imposed by the e. P. A. It doesnt work in the cold climate. They do not have the money to buy new generators. And i talk to someone who says, we have to protect their health. The gentleman from new york is going to shut down the clinics, the schools, and individual homes that cannot be heated. Because there will be no electricity. Theres no roads. Im talking about small villages. 60 people. 25 people. All have a generator now that are outdated, but thats the only thing they can afford. You know, we hear a lot from that side of the aisle, sometimes this side, about how were protecting the people. Well, lets see you protect them when they dont have health care. You dont have schools. Youre really helping them out. As usual, the other side of this aisle unfortunately stand on this house floor and say whats best for people when they havent the slightest idea. You know, i dont wish bad luck on anybody, but maybe we ought to have a blackout in new york and see how you feel in a know . Storm. Maybe snow storm. Maybe we have people understand that youre effecting peoples lives directly by not supporting this bill. This is a senate bill that passed unanimously, supported by tom carper, supported by markey, supported by i think every senator. It doesnt have opposition on the house floor. Unfortunately this is under suspension and youll probably have enough votes to defeat this bill. Go home and feel good. Say, i did the lords work. I kept the air clean. I protected the people. And youre full of it. Really full of it. Youre hurting the people. Hurting my alaskans, my rural alaskans, and im frankly i stand on this floor and watch this time and time again. Why would you oppose something thats going to help people . Impose an Unfunded Mandate on these villages is what very frankly the e. P. A. Has done. The new ones i might see, but the ones that are established there, i suggest respectfully we ought to let them use that so they can have heat in their houses, not air conditioning. They can keep their food frozen, they can have their clinics take care of their people. And their schools will stay open. And these Rural Communities of my alaska natives, thats who youre hurting. I hear it all the time. Were going to help the impoverished and poor. Youre not helping them, youre hurting them. When you go to sleep tonight in your nice, warm house, and you fly home in your nice plane, and you get in your nice car, feel good about helping the poor people. I say you hurt them. I yield back. Gladly yield. Just to clarify the argument. Obviously i have a few questions. Define an isolated village. Mr. Young a village is probably airport, small, fuel has to be shipped in by air or by boat. Mr. Shimkus how long would that flight be . Mr. Young in some areas its three hours. Youre having to fly the fuel in and theyve had this generator, they had enough money to buy it maybe 10, 15 years ago. And now theyll have to put on a socalled air cleaner, they dont have the knowledge to run it, and it doesnt work. Mr. Shimkus how many people are in an isolated village . Young 25, 50, 100. My village that i live in has 550. Thats all. Give you an idea if the gentleman will yield for me for just a second. If you took alaska, all the land east of the mississippi river, to the atlantic oh, the tip of maine to the tip of florida, ocean, the tip of maine to the tip of florida, that is alaska. In that area im talking about, maine to florida, 253 congressmen and 52 senators. Think about that. While i say that, theres no roads. And youre going to punish those people that finally got enough money to buy an older generator, but the e. P. A. Has an Unfunded Mandate and says, youre helping them. Mr. Shimkus i hear these new generators cost around 66,000 today 75,000. Mr. Young more than that. In that area, probably 150,000. Mr. Shimkus if you have 60 people, thats 1,000 each. Mr. Young theres no income. This is an impoverished life. They have a school trying to improve their lot, they have a clinic trying to improve their health. But youre going to take the power away because you want to keep the air pure. Shame on you. The speaker pro tempore the chair would remind members to address the chair with their remarks. The gentleman from new york. Mr. Tonko thank you, mr. Speaker. I respect and i share the gentlemans concern for the people of alaska. Im talking about a bill thats drafted incorrectly. While it may be specific to alaska, it is not specific to remote areas. So we can share the compassion for the people, were just asking if we had done this in regular order, in exchanged dialogue with one another, perhaps the outcome would have been stronger. With that ill continue to reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentleman from illinois. Mr. Shimkus thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, i yield i think three minutes to the gentleman from oregon, the chairman of the energy and Commerce Committee. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for three minutes. Mr. Walden i want to thank the gentleman from illinois and my colleagues on both side of the aisle. I spent about a year in alaska going to college. Been back a number of times. It is, as the gentleman from alaska describes, a very unique area. It is unlike anywhere else in america. And when you get out into these remote villages you may fly in in a small cessna airplane, land on a gravel strip as i have done and get out and there may only be about 25 or 50 people there. Thats it. By the way, in the winter it can be, what, 50, 60 below . Ive seen that and seen in spring where we had to take off three different times on a runway because it had begun to soften up, the snow had begun to soften up. We had to get out of the plane, turn it around, get back in. Eventually we had to leave one guy behind in order to get off the ground. This is a very unique place and the poverty that the gentleman from alaska describes is very real. And so, yes, of course, i wish we had more time to work this out. To my colleague from new york, you and i have worked out most of these things along the way quite well. This bill came to us late and frankly we didnt have time to deal with all of the finite pieces. Perhaps we can go back in the next session and do that but this is before us today. The problem is before us today. I believe this is a reasonable solution and that we should pass it. So mr. Speaker, i encourage my colleagues to approve this bill, send it to the president. I commit to work to make it even better next year. I wont be the chairman. I understand that. But mr. Tonko, mr. Speaker, will be, i think, the chairman of the environment subcommittee. And i would work with him and the gentleman from alaska. But this is the time, as we know, when things finally get done and they may not be perfect but in this case, i would err on the side of passing this bill and then find tweaking it later if we have to, but this is a real serious issue in these tiny, remote, impoverished villages. I would defer to the gentleman from alaska who knows it better than any of us and encourage passage of this legislation. Mr. Speaker, i also want to pay tribute, in closing, to our chief counsel on the committee, karen christian, who will be leaving us at the end of this congress. She has been a remarkable member of the staff, engaged in the oversight and investigations subcommittee for years doing incredible work, and is going off to greener pastures. But after 13 years in the committee, i just want to say to karen, thank you for your service, thank you for your leadership. We are going to miss you, and good luck to you and your family. With that, mr. Speaker, i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york. Mr. Tonko thank you, mr. Speaker. Karen, from this side of the aisle, we wish you well too. Enjoyable having to work with you and look forward to working with the members of the other side of the aisle in the 116th congress on this issue and others. With that i continue to reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from illinois. Mr. Shimkus im prepared to close. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york. Mr. Tonko we have no further speakers, so ill close saying that were concerned about the loosely defined language in this bill. Were concerned about the attacks on the Clean Air Act that are so important to all americans. And with that i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The gentleman from illinois. Mr. Shimkus mr. Speaker, ill continue to respond to what the chairman said. I think if we err we ought to err on health and safety of alaskans. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the next congress and yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The question is will the house suspend the rules and pass senate 1934. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, 2 3 having responded in the affirmative the gentleman from new york. Mr. Tonko i request a recorded vote, please. The speaker pro tempore does the gentleman request the yeas and nays . Mr. Tonko request the yeas and nays. The speaker pro tempore the yeas and nays are requested. All those in favor of taking this vote by the yeas and nays will rise and remain standing until counted. A sufficient number having arisen, the yeas and nays are ordered. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, further proceedings on this uestion will be postponed. For what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition . Mr. Mcclintock i move to suspend the rules and pass s. 3456. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the title of the bill. E clerk senate 3456, an act to redesignate Hobe Sound National Wildlife refuge as the nathaniel p. Reed Hobe Sound National Wildlife refuge, and for other purposes. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from california, mr. Mcclintock, and the gentleman from arizona, mr. Grijalva, each will control 20 minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from california. Mr. Mcclintock thank you, mr. Speaker. Id ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Mcclintock mr. Speaker, s. 56 would rename the hobehobe located in southeast Hobe Sound National Wildlife refuge as the nathaniel p. Reed hobe who passed away at the age of 84. He was a prominent conservationist who served as assistant secretary of interior from 1971 to 1977 and later returned to florida to form an Advocacy Group to help preserve and restore the everglades. He joined forces with former senator bob graham to launch the Florida Conservation coalition. Renaming the Hobe Sound National Wildlife refuge which is located near his home in florida to nathaniel p. Reed hobe would honor him. I reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from arizona. Mr. Grijalva thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Grijalva thank you, mr. Speaker. This bill redesignates the Hobe Sound National Wildlife refuge in southern florida as the nathaniel p. Reed Hobe Sound National Wildlife refuge. , concur with the gentleman the majority, mr. Mcclintock on this issue. We ask all members to please vote in favor of the resolution. Its a fitting tribute to a former interior Department Official who helped develop the endangered species act and the clean water act. Its a fitting tribute and we urge passage and we yield back the remainder of our time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from california. Mr. Mcclintock id urge adoption of the measure and yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The question is will the house suspend the rules and pass senate bill 3456. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, 2 3 having responded in the affirmative the gentleman from kentucky. Mr. Massie i know this is a surprise but i rise to request the yeas and nays. The speaker pro tempore the yeas and nays are requested. All those in favor of taking this vote by the yeas and nays will rise and remain standing until counted. A sufficient number having arisen, yeas and nays are ordered. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, further proceedings on this question will be postponed. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition . Mr. Smith mr. Speaker, i move to suspend the rules and pass the bill s. 3277, the space frontier act of 2019. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the title of the bill. The clerk senate 3277 an act to reduce regulatory burdens and streamline processes related to commercial space activities and for other purposes. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from texas, mr. Smith, and the gentlewoman from texas, ms. Johnson, each will control 20 minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from texas. Mr. Smith mr. Speaker, i ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on s. 3277, the bill now under consideration. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Smith mr. Speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Smith mr. Speaker, the space frontier act is a missed opportunity despite months of negotiations. The house successfully added some positive provisions to the bill, including increased the statue of the department of Commerce Office of space commerce to a bureau of space commerce led by a senateconfirmed assistant secretary of commerce. Reduced from 120 to 90 days for Remote Sensing applications. Remote Sensing Applications cannot be denied if a product will be commercially available within three years. Enhanced deadline enforcement for Remote Sensing applications. Included a lowearth orbit Commercialization Program authorized at the house Science Committees nasa reauthorization level of 150 million. This bill contains some improvements over current commercial space law, but many bold reforms in the American Space commerce Free Enterprise act, which passed the house unanimously, were not included in this package. We have not done enough to encourage commercial space activity, which has the potential to transform research, development, discovery and access to space. While Remote Sensing reform is marginally improved over current law in the original version of the space frontier act, it doesnt go far enough. We set out to change how we think about Remote Sensing, a growing constantly advancing and increasingly commonplace industry that should be free to act unless there is a good reason to prevent that. Instead, this bill only tinkers around the edge of a threedecade outofdate law. This legislation will keep the government in strict control of American Companies space be access and actions, discouraging businesses and damaging american competitiveness and leadership in space. Meanwhile, other countries are Encouraging Technology development in an effort to overtake us and grab market share from American Companies. This represents a missed opportunity for american businesses that is being stifled by parochial government interest. In the bill before us, there is still room for Government Employees to ignore the deadline Enforcement Mechanisms and drag out decisions indefinitely. The bill also doesnt guarantee that Remote Sensing companies will be given all relevant information, explaining why their applications were not approved. There is also less of an assumption of approval for a Remote Sensing license application than was included in my bill. Who knows what capability will be quashed because we didnt fully empower private industry. Congress must remain vigilant in its oversight of Remote Sensing licensing and any abuse of the approval process should be challenged. My biggest disappointment is that this bill does not establish a selfcertification regime for private space missions. American Space Companies are moving overseas because current laws here dont enable them to conduct business. The housepassed bill intentionally made it easier to approve private space missions. Regrettably, the senate killed these provisions. The bureau space commerce created in this bill needs to use its authority to the maximum extent possible to promote, support, approve private space missions. Mr. Speaker, there is much work left to be done to bolster american competitiveness and foster innovation, and i Hope Congress will act next year to continue our leadership in space. With this hope and expectation, i support this bill and reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentlewoman from texas. Ms. Johnson thank you very much, mr. Speaker. I rise in reluctant support of senate bill 3277, the space frontier act of 2018. I say reluctant because the process that brought us to this point is extremely disappointing. Many of the provisions of this bill have not been seriously vetted by the Science Committee. I doubt very much whether they were at all vetted by anyone in the senate, and this bill makes some potentially significant changes to space policy in the United States. This is no way to legislate. I there are some good things in the bill that i very much appreciate that the end date for the International Space station is pushed back to 2030. Now, i dont know if that date is a proper one, but i do know that the arbiter, decision made by the Trump Administration to end the International Space station by 2024 was wrong and as we move into the next congress, this is something i hope to be looking into. Im also glad to see commercial Remote Sensing language that will help the industry grow while still considering the governments legitimate security interest. In short, ill be voting for this bill in part because i support the development of commercial space activities and want them to flourish. While still protecting the the interest. Public interest. However, as a presumptive chair of the Science Committee in the next congress, i certainly will be revisiting some of the other items in the bill. Fwrins this bill creates an office at for instance, this bill creates an office at nasa and doesnt specify whether the money is to come from nasa or how it will be spent. I would also note that nasas vital Education Programs receive less money than that. So this is a major new initiative. And it is something that requires review. I could go on, but unfortunately it is clear that its not going to be theres not going to be time today for a thoughtful discussion of any concerns with the bill or any opportunity to address them. That will have to wait until we have a new congress. I plan to submit a longer statement in the record, which will highlight some of my concerns. For now it is enough to say that i support nasas mission. And a robust u. S. Space industry. And for that reason i support this bill, in spite of the awful process that got us here. I reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady reserves the balance of her time. The gentleman from texas. Mr. Smith mr. Speaker, we have no other requests for time on this side. So im prepared to yield back if the gentlewoman from texas is prepared to yield back. Before i do, i just want to thank the Ranking Member of the Science Committee, Eddie Bernice johnson of texas, who is obviously a texas colleague, and a longtime friend, for all of her good work on the Science Committee, while ive been chairman of that committee. Es been instrumental in our taking to the house floor and having passed on the house floor 35 bills. And of those 35 bills, 33 have been bipartisan. And that is largely due to her contributions and her efforts to try to make those bills bipartisan. So, i do appreciate having worked with her for the last six years. I wish her well next year, and want to congratulate her on being the next chairman of the science, space and technology committee. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentlelady from texas. Ms. Johnson mr. Speaker, i have no further requests for time. But i would like to say, on behalf of my retiring chair, that it has been a challenge. Ive learned a lot. I respect and like him. I wish him well for his future. And i hope that hell visit us now and then to see there will be a little bit of a change in the committee. Thank you. I yield back. And i hope that well pass this bill. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields back the balance of her time. The gentleman from texas. Mr. Smith i yield back the balance of my time as well. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The question is, will the house suspend the rules and pass senate 33 3277. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, 2 3 of those voting having responded in the affirmative the gentleman from for what purpose does the gentleman from kentucky seek recognition . Massachusetts massachusetts i seek recognition mr. Massa i seek recognition to request the yeas and nays mr. Massie mr. Massie i seek recognition to request the yeas and nays. The speaker pro tempore the yeas and nays are ordered. All those in favor of taking this vote by the yeas and nays will rise and remain standing until counted. A sufficient number having arisen, the yeas and nays are ordered. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, further proceedings on this proceeding is postponed. For what purpose does the gentlewoman from texas seek recognition . Mr. Hensarling mr. Speaker, i move to pass the bill. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the title of the bill. The clerk h. R. 7388. A bill to extend the National Flood Insurance Program and for other purposes. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from texas, mr. Hensarling, and the gentlewoman from california, ms. Waterses, each will control 20 minutes waters, each will control 20 minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from texas. Mr. Hensarling i ask unanimous consent that all members have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this bill. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Hensarling mr. Speaker, i yield myself as much time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Hensarling thank you, mr. Speaker. The National Flood Insurance Program is a program that has a number of challenges. But its also a Vital Program for americans who live in floodprone areas. The challenges in the program are well known. Regrettably it is going bankrupt. Torettably it incents people live in repeatedly flooded areas. It protects a government monopoly. That is why the house earlier this year acted with a comprehensive reform bill. Unfortunately our friends on the other side of the capitol have yet to act. We do not wish to have the Current Program lapse. Thus we are on the floor at this very moment. This is a very simple bill. It would provide a temporary shortterm authorization through the end of may of 2019. Regrettably i believe now the ninth extension since the house has acted. And it also ensures that we provide certainty, certainty to the market of what the policies of the National Flood Insurance Program are. I was there in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. And one of the great challenges, there were many tragedies, but one of the great tragedies were how few people actually had Flood Insurance. And so what we want is a system that hopefully will see more people have Flood Coverage written into their Homeowners Insurance policy. So the nfip wisely have moved in the direction of what they call allowing Insurance Companies to not have to have a noncompete. This is a current policy of the program. But too many Insurance Companies dont believe that policy will stay. So we will ensure that that policy stays through this bill, so that more people, in this tragic situation, will be covered by Flood Insurance. And so again, this ensures that current policy is at least extended through may of 2019. It adds certainty to current policy. I know in discussions that the Ranking Member who has a lot of expertise in the subject of flood, we negotiate in good faith, we didnt quite get there in the comprehensive bill, but she agrees that we need this bill right now to ensure that current policy is extended, at least through may of 2019. And i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentlewoman from california. Ms. Waters thank you very much. Explain to try and exactly what is happening with this propose albie my chairman, mr. Proposal by my chairman, mr. Hensarling. Mr. Hensarling came to me and indicated that he wanted to add language to the reauthorization , the shortterm reauthorization, of the Flood Insurance program. I explained to him that i had an agreement with mr. Scalise. And our agreement was that this would be a shortterm reauthorization that was clean and that it would be added to the continuing resolution and that we would see to it that the Flood Insurance program would not lapse. And so mr. Hensarling went to mr. Scalise and mr. Scalise agreed to it, and because he agreed to it, mr. Hensarling moved forward. Following that, Staff Members pointed out that if the language is added, that mr. Hensarling would like to add, it was going to create a problem. It was going create a confrontation. And that he would we would endanger the ability to have shortterm reauthorization. And if we do that, homeowners are going to be disadvantaged because they would not have access to the insurance that they need to satisfy the mortgages that they were trying to get. And so weve had a long discussion and a long debate about what the senate is going to do. And of course our understanding now is that the senate will not support the language that is going to be put in thats headed by mr. Hensarling. And this was going to endanger the ability for us to get the shortterm reauthorization. And so given all of that, and understanding all of that, yes, i made an agreement with mr. Hensarling that if mr. Scalise agreed, that i would agree. But i want and ive said to mr. Hensarling, as we had a long discussion on the floor with some of the leadership, etc. , that one of the things we want is we want this shortterm reauthorization until may, until we can get to work on longterm reauthorization for the National Flood Insurance Program. Yes, mr. Hensarling is correct, possibility ve the who r private insurers write insurance for the National Flood insurance to do both, to be able to write insurance. But we do know that even if theyre able to do it now, were not saying that we should do anything to codify that in existing law. They are saying you should not do anything to codify that in existing law. Simply because it endangers the ability for the support, for the National Flood Insurance Program to be reauthorized through this short term. So its complicated. And it presents a dilemma for everybody. But in the final analysis, no matter what, the real question becomes, is it important for shortterm reauthorization of the National Flood insurance, or do we allow it to get caught up in these agreements so that we dont have it, and then the Real Estate Market is going to go crazy, home owners who are trying to purchase insurance because they cant get a mortgage without it, all of this will be absolutely undermined. And thats the essence of what is going on. And i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman reserves the balance of her time. The gentleman from texas. Mr. Hensarling mr. Speaker, i would just point out, again, all this bill does is extend for six months the current policies of the nfip. Not one single policy of the nfip is changed. In this bill. Im now happy to yield as much time as he may consume to the distinguished majority whip, mr. Scalise. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from louisiana is recognized. Mr. Scalise thank you, mr. Speaker. I thank the chairman of the committee for yielding time, to talk about this important program. I want to thank the gentlelady from california for her consistent commitment to making sure that the National Flood Insurance Program is there for families who need it, families all around the country. Not just families, by the way, mr. Speaker, in coastal areas. This is a program that effects every community in our country. Its a program that effects millions of people throughout the country. Hundreds of thousands in my home state of louisiana. But people from all around. Its an important program. And, mr. Speaker, i would love for this to be a private program where there were great options all around for people to buy private Flood Insurance. Unfortunately today there arent. And so because there arent, those private options, the only game in town is nfip. And so its incumbent upon us to make sure that this program works. And its got to be a program thats fair for ratepayers and fair for taxpayers. And so, mr. Speaker, over the years weve had many different longterm and shortterm reauthorizations. Its well documented. Its been one of the frustrations of trying to get consistency in the program. But in the meantime, its important that this program move forward. Too many people are counting on nfip to be there for them, that have a closing on a home this week, maybe somebodys buying a newhouse for christmas. And they have to have Flood Insurance a new house for christmas. And they have to have Flood Insurance. We need to make sure that program is there for them. Its important we continue to keep this going while negotiations, well go on to see if we can get a longterm solution. The house came together and found a way to get a fiveyear reauthorization. But the senate wasnt able to put it together. I have no doubt in the future were going to have those negotiations and find way to get a longterm reauthorization for the program. And i appreciate all the efforts that are being made. But in the meantime, people know that you cant just have this program expire as those negotiations go on. So, with that said, mr. Speaker, i want to thank all the parties involved who are negotiating in good faith to try to get this done. Again, want to thank the gentlelady from california for her continued efforts to make sure that people, millions of people all across this country, have that program. I want to thank the chairman for his years of service. Its been a long time, weve worked together, both former chairmen of the r. F. C. I know hes going to have brighter days ahead. Im sure hes glad that hell have a few more days to live out his current career. But i appreciate the gentleman from Texas Service over these years to our country and congress. And with that, i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady from california. Ms. Waters ms. Waters i think what mr. Scalise said is the significant question about this issue, and that is what do we do today to make sure that we have shortterm reauthorization. If we have thoughts other than that, are we reexamining those thoughts in any way or do we understand the danger that may be imposed upon our ability to get shortterm reauthorization with any efforts that we are making to codify or place into law, the ability for private insurers to participate in the program along with the way they participate in the National Flood Insurance Program . And i think the significant question is what mr. Scalise has said is, will we be able to support shortterm reauthorization with whatever we do today . That becomes the question. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady yield back. The gentleman from texas. Mr. Hensarling thank you, mr. Speaker. I want to thank the majority whip for his kind words and our ability to Work Together and put together a product that were both proud of that the house passed. Again, we regret that those on the other side of the capitol have not seen the wisdom to put forth any plan. So what we have before us is something quite simple. If you believe you want to create at least six months of certainty for the market, Real Estate Market, Residential Market especially in floodprone areas, you will pass this bill. This is the one that creates certainty that every single current policy of the nfip is extended for six months. Thats what it does. It codifies one particular policy of the nfip and this creates more certainty. And this is what people coming to the floor say they want. I lament the fact we are not doing a fiveyear reauthorize reauthorization. But at least today, we can create certainty for six months as negotiations continue on in the next congress. And i would urge every member to support this bill and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The question is will the house suspend the rules and pass h. R. 7388. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion mr. Speaker mr. Massie recognizing this is the shortest day of the year and that this may create the longest vote series of the year, i request the yeas and nays. The speaker pro tempore the yeas and nays are requested. Number, yeas and nays are ordered. Further proceedings on this question will be postponed. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to clause 12a of rule 1. The chair declares th mrs. Lowey, each will control 30 minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from new jersey. Mr. Frelinghuysen i rise today in support of house amendment to the Senate Amendment to House Resolution 695, a bill making further additional continuing appropriations for the fiscal year 2019. This measure keep ours government open until february , 2019, and prevents a costly, destabilizing Government Shutdown. This continuing resolution reflects the house position on Border Security and provides 5 billion for the construction of physical barriers at our borders. This is the same amount that was provided in the Homeland Security funding bill approved by this by the House Appropriations committee back in july of this year. In addition this legislation includes 7. 8 billion in supplemental funding for Disaster Relief. Congress has always been responsive to hurricanes, wildfires, and typhoons and other natural disasters. We must continue to do so to help our fellow americans as they rebuild their lives and livelihoods. I dont support a Government Shutdown and i never have. Americans deserve stability and predictability of a government that is 100 operational. I would have much preferred to complete negotiations on our remaining seven bills with our senate counterparts. But there were several very challenging issues that remained. As i as i stated before, a continuing resolution is the last resort when it comes to funding the federal government. I urge my colleagues to vote yes on this bill, and i urge the senate to do the same and i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentlewoman from new york is recognized. Mrs. Lowey i yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman is recognized. Mrs. Lowey last night, the Senate Unanimously passed legislation that would fund our government through february 8. Democrats are disappointed that congress would kick the can down the road once again. Yet, we remain willing to pass that bill to keep the government open. Unfortunately, my friends, even that simple stopgap measure is apparently unacceptable to a president hellbent on shutting down the government over his wasteful wall. And instead of showing leadership and moving forward with the senate legislation, despite the president s tweets, House Republicans have caved once again to trumps political whims. They now have put up this grab bag of legislation that wastes taxpayers dollars, fails to meet the urgent needs of disaster victims, and frankly, my friends, is dead on arrival in the senate. With all the challenges facing our country, from soaring Health Care Costs to crumbling infrastructure, it is inconceivable that republicans want to spend 5. 7 billion on an unnecessary wall that President Trump himself promised mexico would pay for. Moreover, the disaster supplemental attached to this bill shortchanges nutrition needs in puerto rico, needs that were apparent 16 months ago and republicans have continued their pattern of denying science by grossly underfunding mitigation and resilience against future disasters caused by climate change. Mr. Speaker, this bill is nothing but another attempt by lameduck republicans to apiece President Trump. Its a fitting appease President Trump. Its a fitting final act for a Dysfunctional Congress in modern history. I oppose this reckless and irresponsible bill. I urge my colleagues to reject this legislation and instead pass the senates clean c. R. , keep our government open, and prevent a trump shutdown. I reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman reserves the balance of her time. The gentleman from new jersey is recognized. Mr. Frelinghuysen mr. Chairman, im pleased to yield a minute to the gentleman from florida, mr. Dunn. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from florida is recognized for one minute. Mr. Dunn thank you very much, mr. Chairman. Mr. Speaker, just over two months ago Hurricane Michael ravaged the panhandle of florida. It was a devastating category 4. 9 storm that damaged more than 90 of the air force base and decimated our agriculture industry and destroyed entire communities. Mr. Speaker, the folks back home in my district, the Second District of florida, are hurting. This supplemental disaster funding is a down payment on getting the hardworking folks in my district back on their feet. This funding by no means is even close to what we will need to completely rebuild, but it is a start. I commend President Trump for remaining steadfast in his commitment to our nation. After Hurricane Michael, President Trump and Vice President pence came down to the Second District and made it clear that we have their support and we will rebuild. Mr. Speaker, ill continue to fight for the Disaster Relief funding in the coming months and years, because the survivors of Hurricane Michael across the south deserve nothing less. And i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The gentleman from new jersey reserves. The gentlewoman from new york is recognized. Mrs. Lowey im pleased to yield two minutes to the gentlewoman from ohio, the Ranking Member of the energy and water subcommittee. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from ohio is recognized for two minutes. Ms. Kaptur i thank the Ranking Member from new york, mrs. Lowey, for yielding. Here we are, mr. Speaker, again and again and again. In fact, its the ninth continuing resolution that the republicans have punted in this Congress Rather than getting the job done. This president claims to be a great deal maker but what kind of a deal does he even want . He keeps switching the goal posts again and again. It reminds me of a child who flips over a monopoly board when he realizes hes about to lose. The president s nonsense is compounded by the dysfunction, sadly, of House Republicans. They are about to vote on funding a bill that has no chance of becoming law. Zero. Zero chance of becoming law. All of this because they want to waste money on a border wall that mexico was supposed to pay for and wont work anyway. Because its 13th century technology. Imagine billions of dollars being able to pay some of the Student Loan Debt around this country or help our teachers earn better salaries or pave the roads and bridges around this country that need repair or invest in good, Clean Energy Jobs . Take your pick, mr. President. But 5. 7 billion for a wall that wont even work . No, thanks. The American People expect so much more of us in this congress. Sadly, the Republican Leadership and this president are attempting 11th hour shenanigans to get a wall that voters across this country clearly, definitely rejected when they sent a new majority to congress and, frankly, they cant get here fast enough. The American People deserve better. I urge my colleagues to vote no. I thank you and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields back. The gentlewoman from new york reserves. The gentleman from new jersey is recognized. Mr. Frelinghuysen mr. Chairman, im pleased to yield two minutes to the gentleman from georgia, mr. Buddy carter. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Carter i thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, i rise today to discuss the importance of any funding bill, including funding for the border wall, as well as funding for our communities and farmers who have been hit hard by natural disasters. For those of us representing Rural Communities, we know well how important the Agriculture Community is, not just in the livelihood of those areas, but to our entire nation. Our farmers are often Unsung Heroes of our nation, helping maintain the breadbasket our country is known for. In short, the American Farmer feeds the world. Its not by accident that american agriculture has developed or produced the safest and most abundant food supply in the world. Its through blood, sweat and tears over generations. In my own state of georgia, agriculture is our top industry. Blueberries represent a 1 billion industry across georgia and the commodity is the backbone of many of our communities. After several hurricanes and other natural disasters, its past time that Congress Takes the time to address their needs. Plain and simple, Disaster Relief funding must be included in any end of the year funding package. Georgia has faced devastating weather recently, including hurricanes and freezes. Georgians at every corner of the state are feeling the impact. Whether its along the coast or southwest georgia, the need for disaster funding is very much alive. Our number one responsibility is to our constituents, those who have put their faith in us to do what is right for our districts and for our country. For this reason, congress should stay here until we get this job done. We need Border Security and we cannot kick the can on disaster funding. I urge my colleagues to help us get this to the finish line and provide the help that millions of americans are depending on. Vote for our National Security. Vote for our farmers and growers who desperately need this disaster assistance. Lets get this done. Thank you, mr. Speaker, and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The gentleman from new jersey reserves. The gentlewoman from new york is recognized. Mrs. Lowey mr. Speaker, i am pleased to yield two minutes to the gentleman from new york, the Ranking Member of the commerce, justice, Science Committee, mr. Serrano. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Serrano i thank the gentlewoman. You know, for me, this is a very simple thought. Its the same thought ive had all along. This country, of all countries, should not be building a wall. This country, the land of opportunity, the land of freedom, the land where people come to build a new life, should not be building a wall. So what do we do . There isnt the support necessary for building the wall. For funding it. So at the last moment we sneak it into a socalled mustpass bill or otherwise you shut the government down. But the president has already said that he doesnt mind taking credit or taking responsibility for shutting this government down. Its very simple. People say, well, theres aid here, disaster aid. Weve been dealing with this disaster issue now for over a year, and still we dont do the right thing. This is simple for me. We cant build a wall. This will be a waste of money. You know something, i dont know who, but as we speak here, there are people already who know how to get over, through, and under the wall. The wall is not what we need. What we need is immigration reform, and we need another outlook. But lastly, again, i repeat, of all the countries in the world, this is the one that cant go down in history of being the greatest democracy and build a wall. In my city there is a statue that says, give me your tired, give me your poor. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new jersey is recognized. Mr. Frelinghuysen im pleased to yield two minutes to the gentleman from ohio, mr. Wenstrup. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from ohio is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Wenstrup our federal government was established to establish justice, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty. Lawmakers take an oath to uphold the constitution. We fail in our sworn duty if we refuse to ensure the sovereignty, security, and wellbeing of this nation through secure borders. The situation at the border is a serious problem that demands our immediate attention. Its been constantly prushed aside because somewhere brushed aside because somewhere along the way our conversation about Border Security got muddled. The wall, surveillance of trafficking routes, all have been recast exclusively into the context of immigration policy. Border security is indeed a part of immigration policy, but its much more than that. Its part of keeping drugs off our streets and keeping americans safe. Our porous borders can allow drugs, cartels and even terrorists into our nation. An unsecured border makes it impossible for us to enact meaningful immigration reform. As we cannot any legal system to work if we dont have control over who is entering. Funding for Border Security is not a political point. This is about keeping americans safe, keeping illicit drugs out of our country and protecting American Families and our own precious lives. Mr. Speaker, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The gentleman from new jersey reserves. The gentlewoman from new york is recognized. Mrs. Lowey mr. Speaker, im pleased to yield 2 1 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina, the Ranking Member of the transportation, housing, urban development committee, subcommittee. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from North Carolina is recognized for 2 1 2 minutes. We find ourselves only hours away from the third republican shutdown of the Trump Presidency and we know how we got here, seven key appropriations bills, six of them teed up with bipartisan support, could have been, shouldve been staffed in suspect. Mr. Price instead, republicans came up with a sixweek continuing resolution and now they backed down even on that. Instead of taking yes for an answer following last nights senate vote on this continuing resolution, the best House Republicans could come up with is an attempt to placate the president and his antiimmigrant demagoguery. Despite telling us for years that mexico would pay for this grandiose border wall, the president and the speaker have decided that fulfilling this foolhearty Campaign Promise is worth shutting down the government. The president said so himself last week, i will take the medal, he said, i will be the one to shut it down. To add insult to injury, as though throwing billions in taxpayer money at the president s wall wasnt bad enough, the republican majority now has cynically added muchneeded Disaster Recovery funds in the final hour despite knowing full well that this bill is no more than a political stunt. Mr. Speaker, we know we need disaster funds. I repeated and stressed that. The urgency of increased funding for the millions in my state still reeling from disasters. But it is cynical, it is deceptive, it is cruel to hold the needs of these people hostage to fulfill President Trumps antiimmigrant wish list. Our nation faces our nation faces many pressing needs but the best republicans n give us is political games and twitter tantrums. We have a responsibility to our constituents to keep the government open and providing governance to the president s impulses. Lets end this charade, pass the senates continuing resolution and fulfill our most basic responsibility to fund our government. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from new york reserves. The gentleman is recognized. Mr. Frelinghuysen im pleased to yield one minute to the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. Rothfus. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Rothfus i rise in support of this legislation which will keep open several Government Agencies and appropriate funds for securing our southern border. We have talked for years about securing our border, this is important for the entire nation. My perspective comes from representing a district hard hit with the Opioid Epidemic. Mexico and the United States have a mutual interest in securing our border. Heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamines and other drugs flow northbound while ill list cash is flowing southbound. This ill list cash is fueling a rein of a reign of terrorly mexican drug cartels that have murdered over 200,000 mexican citizens over the last 10 years and only 5 of them have been prosecuted. Theyve killed priests, theyve killed journalist, theyve killed students. Theyve killed each other. There are mass graves all over mexico. Mr. Speaker, we need to secure the border for the benefit of both countries. Its pastime we do. This i ask support for this legislation and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expire the gentlewoman from new york is recognized. Mrs. Lowey im pleased to yield three minutes to the gentlewoman from california, the Ranking Member of the Homeland Security subcommittee, ms. The speaker pro tempore the entlelady is recognized. Democrats understand how the need to keep the government funded and help the American People, but republicans are driving us to the brink of another shutdown. The republicans have controlled the house, the senate and the white house, have the power to keep the government open. Yet at a time of great Economic Uncertainty and right in the middle of the holiday season, republicans are refusing to stand up to the president who made it clear hed be proud to shut down the government if he can can not force american tax payers to spend billions of thrars on an immoral, ineffective, and expensive wall. Ms. Roybalallard the fact is, serious Homeland Security vulnerabilities will not be address ned president is allowed to squander 5. 7 billion on a border wall. This includes in the being able to hire more Law Enforcement agents to focus on opioids, gangs and Child Exploitation investigations, no funding to recapitalize the coast guards air and sea fleet, including the procurement of our first heavy ice breaker since the 1970s. As the arctic ice recedes, russia, china, and other countries are winning the race to lay claim to the vast resources of that region where at times there is no u. S. Presence. There will be no funding to hire additional custom officers to intercept ill list drugs and other contraband, almost all of which comes into our country hrough the ports of entry. And mr. Chairman, there will be no increased funding for First Responder grants to help states and locality localities better prepare and respond to terrorism and disasters of every kind. All of these funding needs have strong, bipartisan support. Yet these critical National Security needs simply cannot be met if we waste 5. 7 billion on an overly expensive and unnecessary border wall. On election day, the American People sent a message that they want a government that works for them. Unfortunately, House Republicans continue to ignore them and are steering our nation into a trump shutdown. The Senate Passed a clean, bipartisan c. R. Extension to keep our government open. Its time for House Republicans to do the same on behalf of the American People. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the jerusalem yields back. The gentlewoman from new york reserves. The gentleman from new jersey is recognize. Mr. Frelinghuysen im pleased to yield two minutes to the gentleman from texas, mr. Culberson, a member of the House Appropriations committee. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Culberson thank you, mr. Chairman, and mr. Speaker. I hope my colleagues will join me in voting for this important bill to keep our word to the American People. Keeping our word to our constituents is one of our most important responsibilities and the president and those of us that ran to secure the southern border promised that we would see this wall built and those parts of the border where it in those parts of the border where it makes sense. Relying on the judgment of our sector chiefs on the border to tell us if a fence makes the most sense or a wall or a year dam in places on the rio grande where you can dam up the water where the local sector chief believes thats probably the best way to secure the border, well follow that recommendation but this 5 billion set aside for construction of border fencing and a wall is consistent with what the full Appropriations Committee did this summer. We debated this extensively, mr. Speaker, we all talked about this, ths not a new number. This is something that the full committee voted on and approved when the Appropriations Committee voted the Homeland Security bill out of committee this summer. This is consistent with what the committee did, this keep ours word to our constituents, and we are also keeping our word to those americans who suffered as a result of their disasters and in california with the wildfires and flooding that occurred from the hurricanes and i want to thank chairman free ling highen again for his support for the people of texas and Southeast Texas who suffered from Hurricane Harvey. It was my privilege as representative for district seven in west houston to help spearhead that package, retvry package for Hurricane Harvey that brought together the delegations from florida and texas, we put together with your help, mr. Chairman, the largest hurricane recovery package in the history of the United States. And made sure the people that need that money got it as soon as possible. Thats another reason its so important to pass this bill, to make sure the flood ravepled people of florida get the help they need. But above all this is about keeping our word to our constituents, something ive been proud to do in representing the people of west houston in district seven for 18 year, i urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this porn piece of legislation tonight. Ms. Lee they asked for 5 billion to build the border wall. Theyre not negotiate, they are holding our goft hostage and demanding this wasteful,ence p expensive wall as their ran some. Republicans control the house, the senate, and the white house. You would think that they could at least keep the government open. But instead of passing the senatepassed clean continuing resolution to prevent a shutdown, republicans want to vote on this unnecessary border wall. Mr. Speaker, this is completely irresponsible. Federal workers rely on their paychecks, especially during the holidays. People have planned narc park trips over the holidays. Is President Trump doing to going to shut down the government in the midst of the holiday season, during vacation, during their time off with their families . How sinister and meanspirited can the president and our republican colleagues be . But this wouldnt be the first time that the republicans were manufacturing a crisis. The republican led shutdown in 2013 cost our economy 24 billion. If President Trump shuts down the government, for the third time this year i might add, he will sabotage our economy. Instead of pushing forward with this bill pluvens should allow a vote on the senatepassed continuing resolution to keep the government open. I urge my colleagues to vote no on this disastrous bill and i thank you and yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields back. The gentlewoman from new york reserves. Members reminded to refrain from engaging in personalities toward the president. The gentleman from new jersey is recognized. Mr. Frelinghuysen im pleased to yield two minutes to the gentleman from georgia, mr. Heist. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Hice i thank my friend, thank him for his great leadership. I rise in support of this bill and urge my colleagues to come together in support of securing our nations southern border. We finally now have an opportunity before us that enables us to take a step in resolving the immigration and border crisis, frankly one that is growing daily in scope and complexity and largely because of the inaction of this body, but we have the opportunity now to change that. The 5 billion requested by the president is a relatively small amount when considered when we consider the federal governments Discretionary Spending this year is at a whopping 1. 3 trillion. That comes to about . 5 million a minute. If you to the math, thats 5 billion comes to less than a day and a half worth of federal spending. About 33 hours. So to give people some degree of comparison in late 2016, the department of transportation awarded a little over 1 billion grant to the city of san diego to expand its trolley service, 11 miles. Thats roughly 100 million per mile for something that the d. O. T. Estimated only 25,000 people would use. So if we can spend 1 billion on a trolley for 11 miles that not very many people will use, certainly we cab spend 5 billion to do something thats going to benefit and protect our nation. And our border. And wherever walls have been built on our border, whether were dealing with san diego orel passeau or tucson or wherever, the walls have been effective. Tremendously. So the border wall in itself is no magic bullet. There are some other things we need to do. Closing the asylum loopholes for example, making everify mandatory. Ending chain migration. But this is our opportunity both to secure the border and give the gentlemans time has expired. Mr. Hice i urge support for the bill. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expire. The gentleman from new jersey reserves. The gentlewoman from new york is recognized. Mrs. Lowey im pleased to yield three minutes to the distinguished gentleman from maryland, the democratic whip, mr. Hoyer. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for three minutes. Mr. Hoyer i thank the gentlelady for yielding. Hat a sad day. Mr. Chairman, i feel badly that youre leaving on this note. I know it is not your wish. I know that if you were in charge we would have reached agreement. I know under your leadership we passed didnt pass them, six bills were forged in a bipartisan way. Not our bills. Your bills. Ladies and gentlemen, the seventh bill is also agreed to. Save one item. So that approximately 96 of the ledge legislation has been agreed to by both sides and the United States senate has passed a continuing resolution based pon those bills by voice vote. Yet here we are. Twisting in the wind at 7 00 p. M. On the day before the government shuts down. What a sad performance. What a regrettable lack of responsibility. How we have undermined the fate faith of our people, treated the federal employee terribly. And given cause for the rest of the world to think, what are they doing . There is not one person on the republican side of the aisle that believes if they pass this bill that it will be accepted by the senate. Not one of you. Believes that. And so we are playing political games here. To pander to the president of the United States. Who sadly rejected a compromise that was reached by all of us. The majority leader of your party and the speaker. Before this compromise. We were for this compromise and the senate was for this compromise. One person, why are we here . I will shut down the government, absolutely. I am proud to shut down the government. That is what the president of the United States said just a ew days ago. And today he put the entire a tizzy. In how sad it is that the Republican Leadership of this congress and the last congress have consistently been unable to meet their fiscal responsibilities. John boehner brought a bill to open up the government. May i have one additional minute . The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for an additional one minute. Mr. Hoyer to open up the government. And sadly, only 78 republicans would follow their leadership. Mr. Boehner, mr. Cantor, mr. Mccarthy. Only 78. And the rest, including the present detecter of o. M. B. , director of o. M. B. , voted to keep government shut down. So im not surprised that were here. But it is sad that we are here acting so irresponsibly. If we have one duty as we come here, it is to have our government function effectively for our people. And we are failing tonight. And this is a pretense. This bill is going nowhere. The senate wont accept it. Now, perhaps the senate will send it back, amended. Perhaps. But, ladies and gentlemen, we are, we think, adults. Lets act responsibly. Defeat this bill. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentlewoman from new york reserves. The gentleman from new jersey is recognized. Mr. Chairman, im pleased to recognize mr. Poliquin of the great state of maine for two minutes. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from maine is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Poliquin thank you, mr. Chairman, very much. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I dont quite understand what the other side is saying today. Talking about politics and being irresponsible and not compassionate. Are you kidding me . Are you kidding me . Here in the house of representatives, and in the senate, we take an oath to support and defend the constitution. That means keeping our families safe. There is no more important responsibility. Nothing more important than keeping our families safe. That means rebuilding our military. And, yes, it also means, also means securing our borders and knowing who is entering in our country. I dont know why its so hard to make a distinction between what is legal and what is illegal entry. I come from maine. We have a 600mile border with canada. Theyre great neighbors. But ill tell you, i feel for the people down the southwest part of our country. It is common sense to secure our borders, know who is entering in our country. Ill tell you, my heart goes out to these folks who have made their way from central america, to the other side of the border fence with texas, in mexico, wanting to come in here. But we dont know who they are. Beyond the fact that we do know, according to Homeland Security, there are 600 folks who have criminal backgrounds. Now, these folks no, sir. Now these folks, these folks have been offered asylum and work permits by the country of mexico. Every single one of them. And they have refused. And now they want to enter our country. Fine. But theyve got to do it legally. In rural maine, we have been harthit by this Opioid Epidemic hardhit by this Opioid Epidemic. Nothing more difficult than this issue in rural america. 80 of this terrible cheap heroin, deadly heroin, which is a substitute for the opioid pills, comes over that southwest border. The house should pass this bill and secure our borders. It is common sense. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. Mr. Poliquin secure our borders. And i support this bill. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is no longer recognized. Mr. Poliquin thank you, sir. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new jersey reserves. The gentlewoman from new york is recognized. Mr. Speaker, im pleased to yield two minutes to the gentlewoman from connecticut, the Ranking Member of the labor, health, Human Services and education subcommittee, ms. Delauro. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from connecticut is recognized for two minutes. Ms. Delauro if the other side of the aisle thought this was such an important bill, you should have brought it to the floor. Thats what we do here. I rise in opposition to the amendment before us. Staggering that the republicans have the United States careening toward another Government Shutdown. And the American People do not want a shutdown. Hundreds of thousands of workers will be sent home. Many others will continue to work without pay. Parks, museums closed down. In fact, according to the estimates by the connecticut mirror, this trump shutdown, and he does own it, could impact as many as 1,500 federal employees in connecticut. And right before the holidays. Nor do the American People want a wall. It does not reflect our values as a nation. Experts are telling us it is not an effective use of taxpayer dollars. With regards to maintaining Border Security. Its money we should be spending on working families, on roads and schools in our communities, not a fence in the desert. Its not just a border wall, which was a nonstarter. Disaster relief provisions of the c. R. Are inadequate. Failing to meet the communities deve communicate communities devastated by disaster, risking the future of children who suffer from severe trauma and communities still picking up the pieces. It leaves out 600 million of antihunger and nutrition support for women, infants and children in puerto rico. That is unacceptable. The president and the republicans have two choices. Perform the basic job of governing, keep the government open, or perform for fox news. They have chosen the latter. It is an outrageous tantrum. My friends, this is not government for the people and by the people, it is government by tantrum and tweet. Please vote no. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields back the balance of her time. The gentlewoman from new york reserves. The gentleman from new jersey is recognized. Mr. Frelinghuysen mr. Chairman, im pleased to recognize the gentleman from South Carolina, mr. Tom rice. For two minutes. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from South Carolina is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Rice thank you, mr. Speaker. Opioids and illegal immigration. Southern s of a border. And my constituents have had enough. Illegal immigration holds down wages and diminishes our middle class. The democrats say they are for Border Security. They just dont want to pay for it. Empty words. Its funny. Mr. Schumer voted for a border wall in 2006. But hes against it now. Why . Because our president wants it . Empty words. In eople in my district 2017 were killed by opioid overdoses. My Law Enforcement agencies tell come t 85 of those drugs across our southern border. You say youre for Border Security. But you dont want to pay for it. Empty words. Playing politics. 150 people in my district. In your district too. Its a cancer, it doesnt just effect my district. Its across this entire country. And you dont you say youre for Border Security and you wont take any action to stop it. Mr. Speaker, its gone on long enough. Illegal immigration holds down wages, stretches our social safety net, holds down our middle class. The opioids kill people across our country. It is a cancer and its growing. Its not even leveling off. Its growing. Killing people in my district, in yours too. Empty words. Shame on you. 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 mr. Speaker, as i yield to mr. Bishop of georgia, i want to make it clear that most of the opioids, the drugs are coming through the ports of entry. And im very happy to yield two minutes to the gentleman from georgia, the Ranking Member of the agriculture subcommittee, mr. Subcommittee. Mr. Bishop i thank the gentlelady for yielding. Mr. Speaker, as a legislative body, one of Congress Core responsibilities is to keep the government open and working for the people. Another core responsibility is to help communities that are struck by disaster, to recover and rebuild. The continuing resolution before us is not a sufficient response to these vital needs. It includes only token Disaster Relief for Rural Communities and farmers in middle and southwest georgia that were devastated by Hurricane Michael and other disasters that occurred in 2018. It does not include a number of provisions that were being negotiated. It includes only 8 million for impacted Rural Communities, instead of 150 million. It does not change the percentage of recovery of crop losses from 85 to those with Crop Insurance to the 90 and 65 for those with Crop Insurance to 70 . It includes less than half of the estimated need for the emergency Forest Restoration program. 200 million instead of 480 million. It does not include the lower threshold for the mortality to 7. 5 . But it leaves it at the current level of 15 , which is totally inadequate. It does not include the most recent estimate for the commonwealth of the northern Mariana Islands disaster, nutrition, which is 8. 5 million instead of 9. 3 million. And finally, it does not include any of the 600 million for puerto rico nutrition assistance. Unfortunately it does include significant funding for a misguided and wasteful wall on our southwestern border. This wall would do nothing to improve our nations security and is a serious misallocation of taxpayer dollars. It should have been stripped from this important funding legislation and considered separately. Furthermore, this legislation is dead on arrival in the senate. We must do better. We must meet the significant needs of my georgia constituents and americans across the country that are still rebuilding from Hurricane Michael. And we must pass a government bill that would avoid the damage caused by a Government Shutdown. I urge my colleagues to reject this bill. 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 the gentleman from alabama, a member of the committee, mr. Aderholt. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from alabama is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Aderholt thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise to support the package. Relates to s it relates agriculture and rural development. As chairman of the agriculture subcommittee, i have worked with the Ranking Member, ive worked with other members who represent districts that have been impacted by this historical weather thats related to disasters, to support bipartisan relief to the farming and to the Rural Communities. From hurricanes to Volcano Activity to deadly wildfires, this supplemental provides federal Financial Relief to those most negatively impacted by the natural disasters. While many of us favor limited government, there are times like these where federal assistance is needed and where it is warranted. Members from the southeast to california to hawaii and to communities in between represent districts with agriculture and rural constituents who have suffered devastating losses to their livelihood. In my home state of alabama, for example, producers of cotton, to vegetables, have lost everything. In georgia, florida, North Carolina and South Carolina, producers of livestock lost their source of income now and into the future. At a time when hardworking farmers invested limited dollars and countless hours of labor, their livelihoods were wiped out within hours by a once in a lifetime storm. These farmers and producers take Financial Risks that are unknown to most americans. Even if the delivery of this critical relief is delayed by the normal administrative process, lenders and bankers must see a signal from the federal government that Financial Support will be coming before the next crop year. I want to highlight just briefly those parts of the package that relate to agriculture in Rural Communities. The agriculture portion of the bill totals 1. 4 billion. A majority of the funding supports the hardworking farmers and ranchers who produce crops and livestock for food on our dinner tables. The package also provides funding for critical watersheds, damaged by the hurricanes and fires. Lastly, the Funding Provides for basic nutritional needs for those who qualify in the northern Mariana Islands. In closing, i ask my colleagues to support this bill, as we build americas communities impacted by these natural disasters. 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 minnesota, the Ranking Member of the interior subcommittee, ms. Mccollum. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from minnesota is recognized for two minutes. Ms. Mccollum mr. Speaker, i rise in i rise in opposition to this continuing resolution that is going nowhere. House republicans cater to every whim and temper tantrum that the president throice abdicating their response bill. The Senate Passed by vote by voice vote, a continuing resolution and the house is ready to follow suit today and the president said he would sign it. The president appears to put the demands of conservative pundits over the American People causing a Government Shutdown and time for Republican Leadership to pass the agreed upon continuing resolution that will bring back conomic uncertainty to our economy. The president has not used the money for Border Security and republicans are ready to give him the same amount of funds and we gry to that. No reason to waste 5. 7 billion on a brder wall that will not do what the president has promised. E face Opioid Epidemics, the rising cost of prescription drugs and infrastructure that is crumb pling and congress should be working on these issues. Let us pass a responsible responding bill and give our local government and businesses and the American People the sense of stability this holiday season. With that, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the members are reminded to refrain in engaging in personalities against the president. Mr. Frelinghuysen i yield to the republican whip, mr. Scalise. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Scalise thank you, mr. Chairman. Mr. Speaker, this is about keeping america safe. This is not a complicated vote but its an important vote that defines whether or not we are going to stand for Border Security in this country. For decades it has been promised. There have been bills going back to the 1980s where we were promised we were going to get a never border and never happened. We have a president who ran on this issue. This isnt something that popped up but front and center and he said im going to secure the border, im going to build the wall and the people on the side, our Democrat Friends said they wanted open boards. Some on the other side said they want to abolish i. C. E. , the very Border Patrol agents that are keeping the interior of america safe. Who are i. C. E. Last year alone saved over 900 kids from human trafficking. That is stuff that came across our border. You know, we are a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws. Migrategrand parents came here from italy and im proud of that. Let in more than a millpion people in this country every single year, the most generous country in the world. We should be proud of that. For people who want to say it is a country of closed borders, this is about keeping america safe and there is a legal way to come here and President Trump has said that. If you want to seek asylum there is a legal way to do that. Hard to claim that when you came through mexico and forced yourself across that border and megscow said we will offer you asylum and work permits and a job and you said no. So its hard to say you are claiming asylum here when you turn down asylum in mexico. Its not about asylum. But its about rule of law. What do you say to the millions of people to people who are waiting 10, years, 15 years, 20 years. They are waiting in these lines and doing it the right way and you have a few thousand people who say we are going to storm across your borders and the president says i want to secure this border. So we have a choice to make, mr. Speaker. Are we going to stand with the president and say we are going to give you the tools. Either a straightup border. Lets not behind it. When you saw the meeting at the white house last week when you had the Senate Minority leader and future speaker of the house going over to the white house, they didnt want to give the president money for the wall. You saw them, they were bragging and wanted to assign plame and take plame for the shutdown. They said it since. So if he if they have a personality conflict with the president dont let the security of this nation get in the way of this. The president said i care about the American People and i have a responsibility to keep this country safe. And i wish everybody that came here across the border wanted to come here to seek the american dream. Mr. Speaker, we know that people have come across this border with ill intentions. I mentioned last year the 900 children that were saved from human trafficking. My colleagues talked about the Illegal Drugs that come across our border. The secretary of department of Homeland Security says on average every single day in america, 10 known or suspected terrorists try to come into this country illegally. The other side said the numbers arent 10. How many terrorists coming into this country in this country are enough. I say none. There is a legal way to come here and those are the people that we know of. How many people that want to break our laws and do harm to our citizens and jump in front of other people that are trying to come to america the right way. How many more people have tried to come across that we dont know about because we dont have a secure border. We have a president who says, i need tools. And oh, by the way, there are some things that are in law, that we in law tell the president where he can and cant build the wall. What materials he can and cant use. He has ideas. The president has shown ideas of how to build a better security wall at a cheaper cost and the law prohibits him for building it cheaper. How ridiculous is that. So we removed that in this bill and we tell the president how to build the wall to keep america safe. So again, mr. Speaker, as i close, weve got a choice to make. There is a bill before us in a few minutes to say are we going to stand up for the rule of law and keeping this country safe and supporting the president s ability to secure americas border or not . You can vote yes or no, but dont hide politics. This isnt about the person in the white house but whether or not we are going to respect the rule of law and keep america safe. I urge my colleagues to vote yes and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new jersey reserves. The gentlewoman from new york is recognized. Mrs. Lowey im pleased to yield two minutes to the gentleman from ohio, the Ranking Member of the Legislature Legislative branch subcommittee. Excuse me. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from ohio is recognized. Mr. Ross this has been really interesting debate. Mr. Ryan its like they have amnesia and nothing happens before the election a couple of years ago. Ll of these promises about a border wall were followed by the cheers and the chants of, and whos going to pay for that wall . You remember your fans saying, mexico is going to pay for that wall. Who . Mexico. And here we are getting ready to shut down the government over you asking the american taxpayer to pay for this border wall and some of you even are standing up there, that our words dont mean anything. When this president is going back on the promise that he made. He said mexico was going to pay for it. He said it at the rallies. He was in ohio. He was in the swing states. And now hes going back on his word on that and just went back on his word where he promised the entire senate he was going to support the continuing resolution and you are calling us and saying our hoards are hollow, are you kidding me . Im for Border Security, but im not for a wall. You know what . I like cars. Im for cars, im not for the modelt. I like planes. I dont want a glider that was designed and built that was built by wilbur wright. I like my phone but i dont want to get the rotary dial out. You guys are living in the past. And this government is in chaos. It is in a freefall. The market is in the freefall. The staffing at the white house is in a freefall. We are pulling out of syria. What is going on . You are in charge of the house and senate and white house. Get a grip and learn how to govern the country. The speaker pro tempore the gentlemans time has expired. The gentlewoman from new york reserves. Members are reminded that they should direct their comments to the chair and once again, members are reminded to refrain from engaging in personalities toward the president. Otherwise, they will be ruled out of order. The gentleman from new jersey is recognized. Mr. Frelinghuysen the gentleman reserves. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from new york is recognized. Mrs. Lowey mr. Speaker, i yield two minutes to the the gentlewoman from from florida, the Ranking Member of the military construction and Veterans Affairs subcommittee, ms. Wasserman schultz. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady is recognized. Ms. Wasserman schultz mr. Speaker, i rise in opposition to this legislation. We are at this point because of President Trumps recklessness and House Republicans refusal to govern responsibly. We are three months behind schedule on completing the appropriations bills. Democrats would prefer to get our work done instead of kicking the can down the road. The only thing that seems possible to accomplish before adjourning is pass the c. R. Until february 8. However, after another twitter tantrum, House Republicans are cattering to trumps worst impulses. This wastes dollars. And will fail in the senate. It is a waste of time for us to consider it. Our country faces many pressing needs and there is no reason to waste 5. 7 billion on President Trumps immoral, unnecessary, irresponsible wall. Mr. Speaker, 5. 7 billion would f22s and se the all damaged marine corps facilities in South Carolina. These are facilities that were wiped out by Hurricane Michael. The tindal. Democrats have been willing to negotiate how best to secure our border but we will not support his project that mexico was supposed to pay for. We strongly support a disaster supplemental but this fails to mitigate. We are less than 36 hours from another trump Government Shutdown, democrats who are prepared to bail them out. Yet they cant take yes for an answer. No wonder voters said they have had enough. Can i have an additional 30 seconds . The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from from new york reserves. Members are yet again reminded to refrain from engaging in personalities towards the president. The gentleman from new jersey is recognized. Mr. Frelinghuysen i am pleased to recognize mr. Gohmert. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Gohmert thank you, chairman. We hear references to an immoral wall . We have heard wall demonized and yet i read yesterday that president obama in his new house has constructed a 10foot wall around his property. Now either the walls work or they dont. And if were going to have democrats continue to say they dont work, then you need to stand up and say, mr. Obama, tear down your wall. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore jabbed. 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 gentleman from illinois, Ranking Member of the Financial Services subcommittee, mr. Quigley. Mr. Quigley mr. Chairman, your point is well taken. Mr. Chairman, the arguments we have heard tonight remind us of the tale full of sound and fury signifying nothing reminding us who told us that tale. Every border chief since the border chief under president reagan has said the wall will deter a crosser somewhere between 90 seconds and 3 00. 5 billion for that. If you really want to protect your country and that is what you are so spent on doing, my subcommittee can help you. In january of 2017, with a high degree of certainty, the entire Intelligence Community said the russians attacked our democratic process. We are not prepared for their next attack. D. N. I. Coates that the lights are flashing red. We spent 180 million in Election Security in 2018. Nothing since then. 40 states do not even have sufficient equipment to put on software that blocks this hacking. 13 states dont even have a paper trail. The last time our democratic process was called into question was during bushgore where this body spent 3. 5 billion to protect its integrity. We can and must do better. By the way, you have control of the house and senate. You dont need to yell at us, folks, yell at your own caucus. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman from new york is ecognized. Mrs. Lowey democrats support strong, smart Border Security. But we will not allow republicans to fleece american taxpayers by making them pay 5. 7 billion for trumps ineffective wall. And i want to remind my friends that 88 of opioids seized come through the port of entry. Lets get the facts on the table. I will say save my other comments, including praising chairman frelinghuysen, for his distinguished career in public service, for the debates on a bill that has an actual chance at becoming law. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields back the balance of her time. The gentleman from new jersey is recognized. Mr. Frelinghuysen mr. Chairman, i urge members to vote yes on the bill. To keep the government open until february 8. To support critical Border Security, which is badly needed. And to look after the needs of so Many Americans who have suffered from so many disasters over this past year. And i yield back the balance of mymy that debate last night. They did pass it. That measure would fund the government until february 8 and it includes 5. 7 billion for a border wall and 7. 8 billion in sdaster relief. Its now in the senates hands to resolve the stalemate but its unlikely theyll have democratic support to pass it. The house is currently in recess. The chamber does plan to vote on several bills. Among them, legislation related to protections for trafficking victims and Nuclear Energy innovation. Live house coverage will continue when members gavel back in. That will be sometime this afternoon here on cspan. Earlier today at the white house, Republican Leaders met with President Trump to discuss a way forward with government spending. President there encouraged Senate Majority leader mcconnell to change senate rules to pass the spending bill but senator mcconnell said he doesnt have enough votes. The senate is currently in session. And they are now voting on a motion to proceed to the housepassed spending bill. We will, of course, continue to follow the vote in the senate as it takes place. When the final vote tally happens well bring that to you on the cspan networks. Before the vote, senate leaders, Chuck Schumer and mitch mcconnell, spoke briefly on the floor of the senate and heres a look. Mr. Schumer well, mr. President , the events of the past week should concern every american. This may have been the most