The house returns in about 50 minutes to vote on amendments to a federal spending bill that would fund six Government Departments for fiscal year 2021. Until then, debate from the floor from earlier today. We begin with remarks from appropriations chair nita lowey. . Mrs. Lowey mr. Speaker, to House Resolution the bill h. R. Defense, commerce, water , science, energy, development, Financial Services government, homeland security, labor, health and education, ces, transportation, housing and rban development, appropriations act for fiscal ear 2021, and ask for its immediate consideration in the house. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the title of bill. The clerk Union Calendar number 7617, a bill making appropriations for the department of defense for the 30,al year ending september 2021, and for other purposes. The speaker pro tempore resolution house 1067, an amendment in the nature consisting of the text of rules committee 11660, modified by the mendment printed in part a of house report 116461, is bill, as nd the amended, is considered as read. The bill, as amended, is debatable for 90 minutes equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority ember of the committee on appropriations. The gentlewoman from new york, the gentleman from oklahoma, mr. Cole, each will control 45 minutes. The hair recognizes gentlelady from new york. Mrs. Lowey mr. Speaker, i ask that all consent members may have five legislative days to revise and and include remarks extraneous material on the consideration. The speaker pro tempore without objection. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mrs. Lowey mr. Speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman is recognized. Mrs. Lowey today we continue investing for the people with h. R. 7617. This mini bus combines six appropriation bills defense, commerce, justice, science, energy and Water Development, Financial Services, and general government, laborhhs, education, and transportation, housing, and urban development. The bill promotes economic recovery from the devastating covid19 pandemic. It provides more than 200 billion in emergency funding to rebuild our nations transportation, housing, and energy infrastructure. To expand broadband to unserved and underserved areas. And to rebuild the nations aged Public Health capacity and support state and local Health Agencies and Global Health activities. The bill prioritizes public 47 and safety with billion for lifesaving medical research at the National Institutes of health, and 50 million, an increase of 25 million above f. Y. 2020, for firearm injury and Mortality Prevention Research at the n. I. H. And c. D. C. , and it includes strong funding for numerous Public Health efforts, including initiatives to reduce h. I. V. Infections, address tobacco and ecigarette use, and ensure food safety. As we confront the twin crises of covid19 and systemic racism, the bill takes bold steps to build safer and stronger communities for all people. It provides strong funding to support Law Enforcement reform at the state and local level while catalyzing Economic Development in disadvantaged communities that is fundamental to a more just and equitable society. Among other priorities the bill invests in education and job training, expands access to safe, affordable, and fair housing. Supports Service Members and military families. And combats Climate Change and embraces a clean energy future. This package prioritizes the lives and lively hoods of the American People livelihoods of the American People and makes the strong investments needed to build a stronger future for every person. It is the product of months of thoughtful deliberation and input from members on both sides of the aisle. I am proud of the work we have completed under the incredibly difficult sirkstabses of the covid19 circumstances of the covid19 pandemic. Our incredibly talented appropriations subcommittee chairs will discuss more about what this package does for the people. I urge support for the bill. And i reserve the balance of my ime. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman reserves. The gentleman is recognized. Mr. Cole thank you very much, mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as i may consume. As the vice Ranking Member of the House Appropriations committee, mr. Speaker, i stand today in opposition to h. R. 76 17, the second set of fiscal year 2021 Appropriations Bills to be considered by the house. This mini bus of six bills includes the two largest, defense and laborhealth and Human Services and education, as well as the titles covering commerce, justice, science, energy and Water Development, Financial Services and general government, finally transportation, housing, and urban development. While i am always encouraged to see the process of funding government under way in congress, democrats, unfortunately, chose a deeply flawed approach in exercising this function for fiscal year 2021. Remember, nearly a year ago, mr. Speaker, Congress Passed and President Trump signed into law the bipartisan budget act of 2019, which set budgetary levels for fiscal years 2020 and 2021. This bipartisan and bicameral compromise was a result of a good faith negotiation between the president and congressional leaderships. Last year my friends on their side of the aisle actually kept that agreement and we had an orderly appropriations process, successful outcome. We had no government shutdowns, no longterm continuing resolutions. This year, however, despite this existing agreement, democrats on the House Appropriations committee chose to write bills that greatly exceed the spending limits allowed for fiscal year 2021. In fact, they did so through extensive use of a budget gimmick that designates certain funds as emergency. Without question, there are many worthwhile items and priorities in these six bills before us, mr. Speaker, but i remain concerned about the use of emergency designated funds as a work around and schemed to break the budget agreement between the two parties and the president. In fact, in this bill alone there is well over 200 billion of this socalled emergency spending. Clearly in violation of the budget agreement. 186 billion is included in infrastructure title without any bipartisan discussion or agreement. Another 24 billion is included to address the coronavirus, even though discussions and negotiations were under way on another supplemental, specifically for that purpose. These funds were added without any consultation with house republicans, with the senate, or with the president. And without that consultation, they have no chance of becoming law. Lets remember, mr. Speaker, some of the critical things these six appropriations titles are supposed to support each year. Our dedicated Service Members who put their lives on the line every day to defend and preserve our precious freedom. Our courageous Law Enforcement officers who keep our communities safe. Our hardworking Small Business owners and their workers who are seeking to achieve the american dream. Our vital researchers who are looking for lifesaving treatments and cures. Our ports and waterway that is are so critical to commerce. And finally, they support our Transit System upon which Many Americans depend daily. All these things are put at risk, mr. Speaker, unless democrats and republicans Work Together. Unfortunately, along with the unworkable approach taken in writing this package of bills, there are many partisan policy provision that is must come out before it can become provisions that must come out before it can become law. Many are similar to the policies pushed through the house in recent months. Considering the committee has had more than 100 hearings and briefings to make important funding decisions, its disappointing that many of 2450es provisions these provisions seem to have been dictated from the top. A few examples, the bill jeopardizes our safety and security by allowing terrorists detained at Guantanamo Bay to be brought to u. S. Soil. It also includes language that would prevent the United States from exercising the right to defend ourselves and our allies, such as israel. In a time when china is seeking to dominate the world order, this bill would undermine americas preeminence in Space Exploration and crede the opportunity to china to dominate the next frontier. This whinny bus plays into the dangerous narrative of defunding the police for failure to provide Adequate Funding for our federal Law Enforcement agencies. Moreover state and local Law Enforcement agencies are barred from receiving excess equipment from the department of defense. As the Ranking Member on the laborhhs Education Committee i am most familiar with the partisan provisions contained there. Indeed, the text of that bill includes a wide variety of harmful riders. First includes a partisan policy prescription that will tie the hands of the administration with respect to title x Family Planning programs. Most notably the riders would force the administration to resume grants awarded to controversial groups that provide abortions such as planned parenthood and it would prevent the administration from granting waivers to protect deeply held religious beliefs of institutions, organizations, and individuals that provide Vital Services to the funded in the bill. The laborhhs tight also includes riders that would under do the department of labors rule clarifying the joint employer standard. If this policy rider were enacted, it would cause chaos for thousands of businesses and millions of employees. Leaving them uncertain about nature of the employment relationship. Not to be outdone, this bill also includes riders, micromanaging, and secondguessing how hhs administers the daily and Children Program which will ensure individuals devogt their energies assisting such unaccompanied minors, will find themselves devoting their energy to becoming wrapped up in congressly mandated. The same can be said for the other five divisions of this package. Throughout this mini bus the democratic majority has inserted policy ride thats tight hands of the administration. They have limited the ability of the administration to reprogram funds even when necessary. They have inserted rider after rider aimed at preventing the president from spending money on barriers and security measures at the southern border. And they have removed countless bipartisan policy provision that is have been carried in previous years bills. When it comes to congress fundamental function of keeping the government opened and operating, good faith negotiation must be present at every stage. In this era of divided government that might be challenging, but we have proven time and time again that its certainly not impossible. We did it when we negotiated the 2019 budget agreement. We did it again when we moved through an orderly process for the 2020 fiscal year Appropriations Bills. And finally, we did it most recently on four separate occasions in dealing with the coronavirus. All this success was the product of bipartisan negotiation in divided government. In those negotiations neither side can dictate to the other or jam the other or failure will result. In the days ahead, mr. Speaker, we must Work Together on Appropriations Bills that reflect the bipartisan budget agreement and leave out controversial policy language. Until we do that, no appropriations bill bill will make it to the president s desk and we will run the risk later this year of either a longterm continuing resolution or even a government shutdown. For those reasons, mr. Speaker, i stand in opposition to the second mini bus package and i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The lady is recognized. The gentlelady from new york is recognized. Mrs. Lowey mr. Speaker, i am pleased to yield five minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from ohio, the chairwoman of the subcommittee on energy and Water Development, ms. Kaptur. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady from ohio is recognized for five minutes. Ms. Kaptur thank you, chairwoman lowey and Ranking Member granger and vice Ranking Member cole. Please let me add my thanks to you, chair lowey, for your years of honorable, dedicated, and affable service to this committee and to our nation. And for your recognition of the full potential of the energy and Water Division. Truly you will be missed. And without question you have made your mark. Across our nation and the world. You can draw great satisfaction from that. I also want to thank my brother, stephen, watching from a distance, without your strength and courage i would not be here today. This bill represents an overwhelming majority of our total discretionary appropriations and with its passage the houses completion of 10 Appropriations Bills. I extend congratulations to chairwoman lowey and of course Ranking Member kay granger for this fete in the middle of a feat in the middle of a global pandemic. I also have to thank the marvelous Committee Staff who made this possible. I wish to say that the energy and Water Division captures the american spirit of ingenuity and independence in our enterprising nation. Our bill lays the foundation for critical investments to combat Climate Change. It is poised to pass today as the most important funded Climate Change bill the 116th congress will pass. Truly this bill will sustain life in america and address global imperatives. Our bill upgrades and strengthens our Nations Energy and water infrastructure. It responsibly funds our Nations Nuclear deter rent deterrent. It rejects the administrations dangerous plan to restart Nuclear Explosive testing. The bill rejects the president s drastic and shortsighted proposed cuts that would harm americas leadership at home and abroad. Instead, it invests in important programs that keep our nation at the forefront of Global Energy innovation. It provides water, irrigation, and electricity for millions millions of americans. And these programs propel real Economic Growth and the jobs it. Go with let me briefly walk through the bill. Engineers rps of received 7. 6 billion, the funding, r of record increase of 1. 7 billion above the budget request. Bureau of reclamation eceives 1. 6 billion, an increase of 508 million above the request. The department of energy eceives 41 billion, an increase of 5. 1 billion above the request. And within the department of bill contains historic funding levels for key to our , critical future. First, Energy Efficiency and Energy Receives 2. 85 billion, 2. 1 billion above the request. Rpae, receives 45 million, a record 445 million, a record amount that the president blunting o eliminate, americas future. Nd the office of science receives 1. 2 billion above the request. This bill also provides an the home or weatherization assistance program. T helps ensure that additional lowincome households have energyefficient and more livable and affordable futures communities across our nation. He National NuclearSecurity Administration receives 18 billion, 1. 3 billion above nuclear within the Security Administration, the bill responsibly funds americas deterrent. And Nuclear Nonproliferation an ives 2. 24 billion, increase of 209 million above the request. Prohibits thebill diversion of essential army corps funds to be used for a wall. In addition to regular cues upations, the bill additional investment that will pur a jobrich robust economic recovery by modernizing our energy and water infrastructure, chair annot thank our more for her efforts to ensure this occurs. To uding 17 billion accelerate backlogged army corps of engineer projects across this nation. 3 billion to accelerate work on projects reclamation and 23. 5 billion for department f energy to modernize infrastructure and deploy