The publication is reproduced in full below:
{time} 2015
HAITI DEVELOPMENT, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND INSTITUTIONAL TRANSPARENCY
INITIATIVE ACT
Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 973, I call up the bill (H.R. 2471) to measure the progress of post-disaster recovery and efforts to address corruption, governance, rule of law, and media freedoms in Haiti, with the Senate amendment thereto, and ask for its immediate consideration.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will designate the Senate amendment.
Senate amendment:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Haiti Development, Accountability, and Institutional Transparency Initiative Act''.
SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF POLICY.
It is the policy of the United States to support the sustainable rebuilding and development of Haiti in a manner that--
(1) recognizes Haitian independence, self-reliance, and sovereignty;
(2) promotes efforts that are led by and support the people and Government of Haiti at all levels so that Haitians lead the course of reconstruction and development of Haiti;
(3) contributes to international efforts to facilitate conditions for broad, inclusive, and sustained political dialogue among the different actors in Haiti to restore democratic legitimacy and institutions in Haiti;
(4) builds the long-term capacity of the Government of Haiti, civil society, and the private sector to foster economic opportunities in Haiti;
(5) fosters collaboration between the Haitian diaspora in the United States, including dual citizens of Haiti and the United States, and the Government of Haiti and the business community in Haiti;
(6) supports anticorruption efforts, promotes press freedom, and addresses human rights concerns, including through the enforcement of sanctions imposed in accordance with the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act
(subtitle F of title XII of Public Law 114-328; 22 U.S.C. 2656 note) on individuals implicated in human rights violations and corruption;
(7) respects and helps restore the natural resources of Haiti and strengthens community-level resilience to environmental and weather-related impacts;
(8) promotes political stability through the holding of free, fair, transparent, and timely elections in accordance with democratic principles and the Constitution of Haiti;
(9) provides timely and comprehensive reporting on the goals and progress of the Government of Haiti and the United States Government, and transparent post-program evaluations and contracting data; and
(10) promotes the participation of Haitian women and youth in governmental and nongovernmental institutions and in economic development and governance assistance programs funded by the United States.
SEC. 3. DEFINITION OF APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.
In this Act, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
(2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
SEC. 4. STRENGTHENING HUMAN RIGHTS AND ANTICORRUPTION EFFORTS
IN HAITI AND HOLDING PERPETRATORS OF THE LA
SALINE MASSACRE ACCOUNTABLE.
(a) Prioritization by Secretary of State.--The Secretary of State shall prioritize the protection of human rights and anticorruption efforts in Haiti through the following methods:
(1) Fostering strong relationships with independent civil society groups focused on monitoring corruption and human rights abuses and promoting democracy in Haiti.
(2) Supporting the efforts of the Government of Haiti to identify persons involved in human rights violations and significant acts of corruption in Haiti, including public and private sector actors, and hold them accountable for their actions.
(3) Addressing concerns of impunity for the alleged perpetrators of and the individuals who organized and planned the massacre in La Saline that took place on November 13, 2018.
(4) Urging authorities to continue to investigate attacks in the neighborhoods of La Saline and Bel Air in 2018 and 2019 that left dozens dead in order to bring the perpetrators to justice.
(b) Briefing.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall brief the appropriate congressional committees on the events that took place on November 13, 2018, in the neighborhood of La Saline, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and the aftermath of those events.
(2) Elements.--The briefing required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:
(A) An examination of any links between the massacre in La Saline and mass protests that occurred concurrently in Haiti.
(B) An analysis of the reports on the massacre in La Saline authored by the United Nations, the European Union, and the Government of Haiti.
(C) A detailed description of all known perpetrators of and the individuals who organized and planned the massacre.
(D) An overview of efforts of the Government of Haiti to bring the perpetrators of and the individuals who organized and planned the massacre in La Saline to justice and to prevent other similar attacks.
(E) An assessment of the ensuing treatment and displacement of the survivors of the massacre in La Saline.
(3) Consultation.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consult with nongovernmental organizations in Haiti and the United States.
SEC. 5. PROMOTING FREEDOM OF THE PRESS AND ASSEMBLY IN HAITI.
The Secretary of State shall prioritize the promotion of freedom of the press and freedom of assembly and the protection of journalists in Haiti through the following methods:
(1) Advocating to Haitian authorities for increased protection for journalists and the press and for the freedom to peacefully assemble or protest in Haiti.
(2) Collaborating with officials of the Government of Haiti and representatives of civil society to increase legal protections for journalists in Haiti.
(3) Supporting efforts to strengthen transparency in the public and private sectors in Haiti and access to information in Haiti.
(4) Using United States foreign assistance for programs to strengthen capacity for independent journalists and increase support for investigative journalism in Haiti.
SEC. 6. SUPPORTING POST-EARTHQUAKE, POST-HURRICANE, AND POST-
COVID-19 RECOVERY AND DEVELOPMENT IN HAITI.
The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, shall prioritize post-earthquake, post- hurricane, and post-COVID-19 recovery and development efforts in Haiti through the following methods:
(1) Collaborating with the Government of Haiti on a detailed and transparent development plan that includes clear objectives and benchmarks.
(2) Building the capacity of Haitian-led public, private, and nongovernmental sector institutions in Haiti through post-earthquake and post-hurricane recovery and development planning.
(3) Assessing the impact of the recovery efforts of the United States and the international community in Haiti since January 2010.
(4) Supporting disaster resilience and reconstruction efforts.
(5) Addressing the underlying causes of poverty and inequality.
(6) Improving access to--
(A) health resources;
(B) public health technical assistance; and
(C) clean water, food, and shelter.
(7) Assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on post- disaster recovery efforts and evaluating United States support needed to help with the pandemic response in Haiti.
(8) Supporting--
(A) the export of additional United States-produced COVID- 19 vaccine doses to Haiti; and
(B) the safe storage, transport, and end-to-end distribution of United States-produced COVID-19 vaccines throughout Haiti, in light of ongoing humanitarian access challenges presented by Haiti's security environment.
SEC. 7. REPORT ON DEVELOPMENTS IN HAITI.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (in this section referred to as the ``Administrator'') and other relevant agencies and departments, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on developments in Haiti.
(b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include the following:
(1) A strategy for carrying out sections 4(a), 5, and 6, including established baselines, benchmarks, and indicators to measure outcomes and impact.
(2) An assessment of major corruption committed among the public and private sectors in Haiti, including identification of any individual or entity that financed corruption activities, and all corruption prosecutions investigated by the judiciary of Haiti since January 2015.
(3) An overview of efforts of the Government of Haiti to address corruption, including the Petrocaribe scandal, and corrective measures to strengthen and restore trust in the public institutions of Haiti.
(4) A description of efforts of the United States Government to consult and engage with officials of the Government of Haiti and independent civil society groups focused on monitoring corruption and human rights abuses and promoting democracy and press freedom in Haiti since January 2015.
(5) A description of the response by the Government of Haiti to civic protests that have taken place since July 2018 and any allegations of human rights abuses, including attacks on journalists.
(6) An assessment of United States security assistance to Haiti, including United States support to the Haitian National Police and an assessment of compliance with section 620M of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2378d) and section 362 of title 10, United States Code (commonly referred to as the ``Leahy Laws'').
(7) A description of the efforts of the Government of Haiti to support displaced survivors of urban and gang violence.
(8) An assessment of United States interagency efforts to counter kidnapping and armed violence in Haiti.
(9) An assessment of the impact of presidential decrees on the health of Haiti's democratic institutions and the safeguarding of human rights, including decrees relating to--
(A) reducing the authority of the Superior Court of Accounts and Administrative Litigation;
(B) promulgating an antiterrorism law;
(C) establishing the National Intelligence Agency; and
(D) retiring and subsequently appointing judges to the Supreme Court of Haiti.
(10) A review of the alleged coup against President Moise on February 7, 2021, and subsequent arrest and jailings of alleged perpetrators.
(11) An analysis, conducted in collaboration with the Government of Haiti, of efforts to support development goals in Haiti since January 2015, including steps taken--
(A) to strengthen institutions at the national and local levels; and
(B) to strengthen democratic governance at the national and local levels.
(12) An analysis of the effectiveness and sustainability of development projects financed by the United States, including the Caracol Industrial Park and supporting infrastructure.
(13) A description of procurement from Haitian small- and medium-sized businesses and nongovernmental organizations by the Government of the United States and the Government of Haiti for development and humanitarian activities, disaggregated by year since 2015, and a description of efforts to increase local procurement, including food aid.
(14) A description of United States efforts since January 2015 to assist the Haitian people in their pursuits for free, fair, and timely democratic elections.
(15) An overview of United States efforts to cooperate with diplomatic partners in Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada, and Europe to engage with political leaders, civil society, the private sector, and underrepresented populations in Haiti to support a stable environment conducive to holding free and fair elections.
(16) Quantitative and qualitative indicators to assess progress and benchmarks for United States initiatives focused on sustainable development in Haiti, including democracy assistance, economic revitalization, natural disaster recovery, pandemic response, resilience, energy and infrastructure, health, and food security.
(c) Consultation.--In preparing the report required by subsection (a), the Secretary and the Administrator shall consult, as appropriate, with--
(1) nongovernmental organizations and civil society groups in Haiti and the United States; and
(2) the Government of Haiti.
(d) Public Availability.--The Secretary shall make the report required by subsection (a) publicly available on the website of the Department of State.
SEC. 8. REPORT ON THE ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT JOVENEL
MOISE.
(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the July 7, 2021, assassination of former President of Haiti Jovenel Moise.
(b) Updated Report.--Not later than 180 days after the submission of the report required by subsection (a), the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives an updated version of the report that includes any significant developments related to the assassination of former President of Haiti Jovenel Moise.
(c) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) and the report required by subsection (b) shall each include the following elements:
(1) A detailed description of the events leading up to the assassination of former President Jovenel Moise and the subsequent investigation of the assassination, including a description and identification of key dates and the names of foreign persons related to the assassination and the investigation of the assassination.
(2) A description of United States support for the efforts of Haitian authorities to investigate the assassination of former President Jovenel Moise.
(3) An assessment of the independence and capacity of Haitian authorities to investigate the assassination of former President Jovenel Moise, including analysis of significant advances and deficiencies of the investigation.
(4) A description of any threats and acts of intimidation against Haitian law enforcement and judicial authorities involved in the investigation of the assassination of former President Jovenel Moise, including the identification of foreign persons involved in such threats and acts of intimidation.
(5) A description of any efforts to interfere in or undermine the independence and integrity of the investigation of the assassination of former President Jovenel Moise.
(6) A description of whether any foreign persons previously employed by or who served as a contractor or informant for the United States Government were involved in the assassination of former President Jovenel Moise.
(7) A description and the identification of foreign persons involved in the execution and planning of the assassination of former President Jovenel Moise and an assessment of the intentions of such foreign persons.
(d) Form of Report.--The report required by subsection (a) and the updated report required by subsection (b) shall each be submitted in an unclassified form, but each may include a classified annex.
(e) Publication.--The Secretary of State shall post on the public website of the Department of State--
(1) the unclassified version of the report required by subsection (a) not later than 15 days after the date on which the report is submitted under such subsection; and
(2) the unclassified version of the report required by subsection (b) not later than 15 days after the date on which the report is submitted under such subsection.
(f) Briefing Requirement.--The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, shall brief the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives on--
(1) the contents of the report required by subsection (a) not later than 15 days after the date on which the report is submitted under such subsection; and
(2) the contents of the report required by subsection (b) not later than 15 days after the date on which the report is submitted under such subsection.
SEC. 9. REPEAL.
The Assessing Progress in Haiti Act of 2014 (22 U.S.C. 2151 note; Public Law 113-162) is repealed.
SEC. 10. TERMINATION.
This Act shall terminate on December 31, 2025.
Motion to Concur
Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion at the desk.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will designate the motion.
The text of the motion is as follows:
Ms. DeLauro of Connecticut moves that the House concur in the Senate amendment to H.R. 2471 with an amendment consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 117-35 modified by the amendment printed in House Report 117-269.
(For text of the House amendment to the Senate amendment, see Book II of this Record.)
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 973, the motion shall be debatable for 1 hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations.
The gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro) and the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Granger) each will control 30 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Connecticut.
General Leave
Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 2471.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from Connecticut?
There was no objection.
Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of our 2022 government funding legislation.
This package makes historic investments in the middle class and people who are living paycheck to paycheck. They deserve a government that, instead of catering to the wealthy and big corporations, bends over backwards to support them. By providing a 6.7 percent increase for nondefense funding, the largest increase in 4 years, that is exactly what we are doing.
What a marker we have put down. That is translated into funding for agriculture, increased by 6 percent; energy and water, increased by 6.6 percent; 5.7 percent increase for financial services and general government; 5.2 percent increase for interior and environment; a 7.5 percent increase for transportation and housing; 11.8 percent increase for legislative branch, which includes support for the Capitol Police who put their lives on the line defending this body; and a 7.5 percent increase for labor, health, and human services, and education to support Americans at every stage of their lives. That is what this bill represents after years of stalled investment in each area.
With the funding included in this package, we are helping working families with the cost of living; we are helping students pay for the high cost of education; we are giving hardworking families a better chance to own their own homes; and we are connecting rural communities to the internet so that they can reach their full potential.
We are putting Americans back to work by creating jobs here in America, helping small businesses, supporting job training, rebuilding our infrastructure, including unlocking the full funding provided by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
We are supporting the vulnerable by feeding the hungry and the food insecure through nutrition assistance, making housing more affordable, and addressing gender-based violence.
And we are tackling our toughest challenges. We are confronting climate change through environmental enforcement. We are supporting environmental justice with $100 million, an $83 million increase over last year. We are making historic investments in clean energy and climate science.
By rebuilding our public health infrastructure, investing in lifesaving biomedical research, with $3.2 billion, an increase of $104 million, for HIV/AIDS research, and confronting urgent health crises, we are making healthcare more affordable for more Americans.
And we are going to ensure that big corporations and the wealthy pay their fair share to support these investments by increasing funding for the IRS to $12.6 billion.
Think about the leaders that we hoped to emulate as we entered public life, all of us, leaders like Frances Perkins, the first woman to serve as the U.S. Secretary of Labor and one of the principal architects of the New Deal. She once said, ``I came to Washington to work for God, FDR and the millions of forgotten, plain common workingmen,'' and I add women.
She, as well as my parents, told me to battle for working people, never to take no for an answer. They said work for the everyday citizen.
With this government funding legislation, we are here tonight as well to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine. As the world watches in horror, civilians--including children, the ill, expectant mothers--
are being targeted by Russia's unprovoked and utterly inhumane attacks.
We are becoming witness to one of the worst humanitarian crises we have seen in generations, which is why this bill provides $13.6 billion in humanitarian assistance, defense support, and economic aid to help the Ukrainian people in their most desperate hour of need.
We care for our servicemembers and our veterans by providing $224 million for the military's child development centers; strengthening the VA with $598 million for suicide prevention outreach of veterans; and
$840 million for gender-specific care and programmatic efforts for women.
At the Labor, Health, and Human Services and Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, which I am honored to chair, we go even further to expand access to education, Head Start, childcare, lifesaving biomedical research, public health, maternal health, mental health, job training, and worker protection; and we support workers and support the skills they need to succeed.
We deliver for our students by providing the largest increase to Pell grants since the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. By investing $14.5 billion for special education programs, $75 million for full-service community schools, $17.5 billion to support low-income students, we are giving millions of students a chance to access higher education and unlock a lifetime of opportunity.
We make healthcare more affordable and accessible; $8.5 billion for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We bolster the public health infrastructure. We confront pressing health crises with $1 billion for maternal and child health, $2 billion for mental health, and $3.9 billion for substance use treatment.
Finally, we are strengthening lifesaving biomedical research, accelerating the pace of scientific breakthroughs with $6.9 billion for the National Cancer Institute, $1 billion to establish the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, ARPA-H. Together we are accelerating the pace of scientific breakthroughs for diseases such as ALS, Alzheimer's, diabetes, and cancer.
I must, however, express my disappointment that the Hyde amendment remains in this bill. I am the first Appropriations chair since 1977 to remove it, because I understand that this is an offensive and discriminatory policy which has shut out countless women from the reproductive healthcare that they deserve for more than 40 years. While Republicans blocked our efforts, I will never stop fighting to ensure equal treatment for women.
The ten bills in this package include community projects funding, which meets the urgent needs in districts across the country and sends a clear message to the American people that Congress is working for them.
I conclude with this comment from Frances Perkins, who said in her farewell address:
There is always a large horizon, and it is up to us to contribute some small part to a program of human betterment for all time.
I believe that through this government funding package, we are proving that that horizon is not only large, but it is endless.
There is no limit to what we can achieve, and for the first time in a long time I believe we show just how government can work for working people once again and to achieve the betterment of humankind.
Mr. Speaker, I urge Members' support for this transformative investment in working families and I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2471, a bill that will provide funding for the Federal Government through the end of this fiscal year. While it has taken us far too long to get here, I am glad we were able to produce a bill that includes many funding priorities that I support.
Since last summer, I have made it clear that House Republicans would oppose Appropriations bills unless they increase defense spending, restrain nondefense spending, include all longstanding policy provisions, and do not include any poison pill riders.
After months of negotiations, we reached a deal that meets all four of these criteria. The bill before us increases defense spending by roughly 6 percent, which is $4.5 billion above the NDAA; rejects the President's proposed 16 percent increase in nondefense spending; includes the Hyde amendment and other critical pro-life policies; and drops other controversial language.
For defense, the bill provides our military and our troops with the resources they desperately need. The roughly $42 billion increase in defense spending across all the appropriations bills will improve military readiness, start key modernization initiatives, and support our brave warfighters and their families so they can improve their quality of life.
The package also contains an additional $1 billion for Israel's Iron Dome to allow Israel to replace the interceptors that were used in the most recent conflict.
The bill also ensures the safety and security of the American people by increasing overall funding for Homeland Security by 11 percent, including increases for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection.
New funding is also included to increase staff for the Border Patrol, which would address the crisis at our southwest border.
Because of this bill, President Trump's successful remain in Mexico program will continue, and President Biden's plan to cancel existing border wall funding will be rejected.
I am proud to say that this bill not only funds the police, it increases resources for law enforcement agencies to address the troubling nationwide increase in crime.
Also before us today is crucial assistance to help the Ukrainian people, the Ukrainian Government respond to Russia's invasion. I know we all share the feeling of shock and grief as we witness Russia's attack on the sovereign nation of Ukraine and its aggression across innocent people.
To close, I want to thank my colleagues, Chairwoman DeLauro, Senator Shelby, Senator Leahy, and the subcommittee chairs and ranking members for their work on this bill. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the items in this bill that enhance our national security, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur), the chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water.
Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, please let me thank Chair DeLauro for her persevering leadership on this critical bill, and I would like to thank Ranking Member Simpson for his productive partnership, as well as the Energy and Water Subcommittee staff and majority clerk, Jaime Shimek, for their work.
The Energy and Water division of this bill is a historic investment in American jobs, innovation, and competitiveness. It engages and advances all energy technologies to assure America's energy independence in perpetuity and for our security while sustaining life on Earth.
Our bill delivers for the American people by investing $8.3 billion in the Army Corps of Engineers to rebuild America's water infrastructure and prepare for increasing rainfall, rising sea levels, and desertification;
$1.92 billion in the Bureau of Reclamation for the West's water management;
$44.9 billion in the Department of Energy, including $3.2 billion for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs to spur good-paying jobs and lower costs for the middle class.
Importantly, our bill responsibly funds our nuclear deterrent and enhances nonproliferation efforts.
In sum, the energy and water division builds forward for America's critical goals. Our bill invests in the hardworking men and women who make, build, and grow America. Now more than ever, our bill is needed to unleash American progress in this new century.
Finally, as chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, I want to highlight the Congress' swift and essential support for Ukraine. On a bipartisan basis, it is this House, as Article 1 of the Constitution, that has always led on providing aid to Ukraine. The $13.6 billion in emergency funding includes vital resources for Ukraine and her brave people to meet their urgent economic and humanitarian needs.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this measure unanimously.
{time} 2030
Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers), the former chairman of the Committee on Appropriations and the ranking member of the Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs.
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for the introduction.
Mr. Speaker, I want to salute Chairman DeLauro and Ranking Member Granger of the full committee for putting together a final appropriations package for the year. It is a fair compromise that includes funding for many priorities here at home and abroad.
As ranking member of the Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, I want to highlight a few priorities included in the SFOPS section of the bill that provide critical funding to our allies and partners during a time of great angst around the globe.
Although essential military and economic aid for the brave people of Ukraine is included elsewhere in the bill as an emergency supplemental appropriation, base funding for State-Foreign Operations is essential to our national security.
Following the chaotic Afghan withdrawal by this administration, and a full-scale assault on Ukraine by President Putin, it is critically important that this Congress sends a signal to the rest of the world that the United States stands by its allies and partners.
We do so here by including $3.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing for Israel and robust, continued support for other key partners in the Middle East like Egypt and Jordan. Funding is also increased for our efforts to counter the malign influence of the Chinese Government.
In our own hemisphere, the bill increases funding for one of our most important partners in the region, Colombia, as they continue to work to thwart drug producers and traffickers. The bill also prioritizes funding to address the flow of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids into the United States from Mexico and China.
I am also pleased to report that the agreement restores all protections for the unborn that are in current law, including a prohibition on the use of funds to pay for abortion. At no time should U.S. taxpayer dollars be used to kill the unborn. We must always protect the sanctity of life.
Finally, this omnibus provides critical resources for southern and eastern Kentucky, I am proud to say. It continues our fight against the opioid epidemic, which is as important now as it has ever been.
It provides record funding for my Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization Program, which is creating new economic opportunities across Appalachia and throughout my district.
It includes my community project funding requests, which will provide important resources to our first responders, help protect Kentuckians from future floods, improve access to clean water, fight the scourge of opioids, improve medical care, and promote economic growth.
This bill is a substantial improvement on the House-passed bill, and I commend our chairwoman and ranking member for their hard work on this package.
Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote.
Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum), the chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Consolidated Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2022.
As chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, I want to thank Ranking Member Calvert for his partnership and Chair DeLauro and Ranking Member Granger for their leadership.
For fiscal year 2022, the Defense bill provides a total of $728.5 billion. That is $32.5 billion above the 2021 level. The House bill that I wrote was a much lower number, but this is the number I was instructed to mark up to.
We prioritized critical investments and our most important national security asset, our servicemen and -women and their families.
Here are a few examples: a 2.7 percent pay raise for over 2 million uniformed servicemembers and 750,000 DOD civilian employees; an additional $167 million so all DOD personnel can earn at least a $15 minimum wage; an additional $397 million for basic housing and subsistence allowances so that our servicemembers can feed their children properly; $97 million to enact the Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the Military; $37 billion for Defense Health and medical research programs, including $577 million for cancer research; historic levels of DOD investments in clean energy, climate adaptation, and facility resiliency; a $486 million increase of environmental restoration activities, including $210 million for PFOS/
PFOA cleanup; and an additional $686 million to respond to the Red Hill fuel spill in Hawaii.
This bill confronts Vladimir Putin's illegal and unjust invasion of Ukraine by providing robust funding for the Ukraine Security Initiative and NATO's partners and allies.
Mr. Speaker, this bill is long overdue. It is time for Congress to do our work to pass this omnibus bill and fund our government.
Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Simpson), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies.
Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in support of the fiscal year 2022 omnibus appropriations bill and particularly the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.
As ranking member of the subcommittee, I say to my colleagues: It is a strong bill and deserves bipartisan support.
There are, of course, things I would have done differently had I been the only one writing the bill. I am sure my chairwoman would be able to say the same thing. But that is the nature of bipartisan negotiations. Everyone has to give a little in order to get what each needs most.
First and foremost, this bill strongly supports our national nuclear security programs, providing $20.7 billion, which is an increase of almost $1 billion above fiscal year 2021 and above the Biden administration's budget request. This funding supports the maintenance and modernization of our nuclear weapons complex and supports the Navy's nuclear propulsion program.
Harbor maintenance trust fund activities at the Corps of Engineers are funded at more than $2 billion, in accordance with the Water Resources Development Act of 2020.
Efforts to guard our energy sector against cyberattacks are increased above last year and even above both House and Senate bills.
The bill continues investments in a wide array of energy sources, including fossil energy, hydropower, energy storage, and--one of my highest priorities--nuclear energy. The bill provides $1.65 billion for nuclear energy, including increased funding for the advanced small modular reactors program; continued support for the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program; and initiation of a new program to ensure a domestic supply of high-assay, low-enriched uranium that will be necessary for many of the advanced reactor designs currently under development.
Before I yield back, I would like to note the hard work of our full committee leadership, my ranking member, Kay Granger, as well as Chair DeLauro.
Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairwoman Kaptur and I again worked well together with our Senate partners, Senator Feinstein and Senator Kennedy.
Finally, I would like to thank the staff on both sides of the aisle for their hard work to help bring this bill to completion: on the majority staff, Jaime Shimek, Scott McKee, Brian Smith, Michael Brain, Will Ostertag, and Lauren Leuck; on the Republican side, Angie Giancarlo; and for my personal office, Sarah Cannon.
Mr. Speaker, the fiscal year 2022 energy and water bill is a good bill, and I urge my colleagues to support it.
Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), the chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to support this far-reaching spending bill that lowers costs, creates jobs, and rethreads our safety net.
As chair of the Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies, I am very proud of our funding for veterans, servicemembers, and their families.
We steer $14.9 billion to critical base infrastructure to add new barracks and childcare centers and rid military family housing of mold and lead. It also invests in climate change and energy resilience on bases, devoting $150 million to PFAS contamination cleanup.
It provides more to NATO and the European Deterrence Initiative, devoting $631 million to confront Russian aggression.
For Veterans Affairs, it provides $112 billion to tackle disability claim backlogs, boost medical research, fully fund veteran medical care, and make major investments in women's health and mental health and suicide and homelessness prevention.
I thank Ranking Member Carter and Ranking Member Granger for our close work together on this good bill, and I thank both the majority and minority staff.
I am very proud of what this bill delivers to Florida, like investing
$2 million into the Virginia Graeme Baker pool and spa safety grant program to curb drownings.
We also add a record $350 million to restore the Everglades, the lifeblood of south Florida. This is on top of the $1.1 billion President Biden just allocated to our River of Grass in the bipartisan infrastructure law.
Florida cities win, too, because we unleash infrastructure funds and provide local government formula funding and fund local community projects for the first time in more than a decade. For Dania Beach, that is $3 million to rebuild the C.W. Thomas Park Community Center. In Sunrise, it is $2 million for flood protection.
There is tons more, from increased breast cancer screenings and reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act to provide lifesaving funds to curb domestic violence and sexual assaults. We even create a cancer screening program for disadvantaged communities that honors our departed dear friend, Alcee Hastings.
Mr. Speaker, this bill helps every American every day. I urge my colleagues to support it.
Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Fleischmann), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Homeland Security.
Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for his hard work on this arduous project, this omnibus bill. I also want to extend my thanks to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, Chair DeLauro and Chair Roybal-Allard, for their hard work.
We disagree with many of the things that the majority has put forth in this, but we in the minority have gotten a lot of key wins for the American people in this bill.
Coming over, Mr. Speaker, tonight on a cold, damp Washington evening, I was thinking about what I would say. This is a job well done.
I rise in support of this bill. This is not the bill that I would have written. This is certainly not the bill that the majority would have written.
Within this beltway, within this town, we have a dialect. We have a Washington-speak sometimes that should and does befuddle the American people. So, tonight is time for straight talk. Straight talk means that the needs of our Nation, the needs of the United States of America, change on an annual basis. The world doesn't stay the same.
A few weeks ago, the world changed for the worse when Russia invaded the sovereign nation of Ukraine. Things change. Priorities change. Funding needs change.
That is why, as appropriators, we come together every year and, ideally, address the Nation's changing needs--whether in defense; education; Department of Energy; and, in my case, homeland security--to address the needs of the American people.
Now, this is an omnibus bill, ``omni'' from the Greek meaning
``all,'' not ``cromni'' meaning ``some,'' but ``all.''
Now, think about that. In one of the most partisan-charged times in American history, Republicans and Democrats, Senators and Members of the House, and the White House can come together and forge an agreement that gets all 12 bills done.
To the American people watching, this is an accomplishment. It is not perfect. Of course, it is not.
Now, the priorities that I champion in this bill, $1.9 billion to build the wall--very important. I know the majority doesn't like that. We got that in.
The Iron Dome, I stood in this Chamber a few months ago, and I bellowed at the majority for stripping that out. I was very upset that day, and I knew a lot of people in the majority wanted Iron Dome in there like all the Republicans did as well. We got that in this bill. Our beloved ally, Israel, will now be able to defend itself with the Iron Dome.
Our great United States Coast Guard will be getting more ships and more funding in the homeland bill. ICE beds will be funded.
There are a lot of key priorities. Yes, I respectfully and strongly disagreed with Chair DeLauro when she was talking about her opposition to the Hyde amendment, and she has a right to her opinion. That is what is great about this Chamber.
But we have the Hyde protections in this bill to protect the unborn. That is law in America, and that will remain law in America, those Hyde protections to make sure that the right to life, that sacred right to life--that abortions are never paid for by the American taxpayer.
{time} 2045
So it was a compromise. There were some things in this bill, obviously, that I don't particularly care for, but key missions through the Department of Energy in my beloved city of Oak Ridge--my goodness, when we vote for this, please know that in the Department of Energy, the NNSA, the National Nuclear Security Administration that is in the Department of Energy, funds to keep our Nation's nuclear arsenal safe and secure, the funding is there for the uranium processing facility,
$600 million.
So this is a compromise bill. There is no question about that. But think about this, my friends in the majority and in the minority, to all of the staff who worked tirelessly to get this bill done, this is not easy work because of the bona fide differences that exist between the parties.
We have gotten it done for the American people. No, it is not perfect. But, yes, it is good. It is going to help the people of Ukraine. It is going to help our country move forward.
Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Cartwright), the chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce Justice, Science, and Related Agencies.
Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
I rise in support of this omnibus bill, in particular, the Commerce-
Justice-Science title of the bill.
In commerce it makes smart investments that create good-paying American jobs with economic growth. It supports American manufacturing.
In justice, it makes funding increases for the police, creating better circumstances for public safety, for fighting crime, reducing gang and gun violence and in hate crime prevention.
And in science, it provides robust support for things Americans are proud of like NASA, the National Science Foundation, climate science research.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the staff for a lot of hard work on this bill. I thank Ranking Member Aderholt for working with me, and I urge support for this package.
Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert), the ranking member of the Defense Subcommittee.
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
I rise today in strong support of this omnibus appropriations package. As the ranking member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, I will outline why America's position in the world depends on the passage of this bipartisan bill.
But first I want to thank Chair DeLauro for her hard work and Ranking Member Granger for putting this together. I thank my partner and friend, Chair Betty McCollum, for the hard work that she has put into this bill to make it a reality, and certainly the staff on both sides who have been working day and night to put this together and certainly my clerk, Johnny Kaberlie, who has done a yeoman's job of getting this done.
Over the past several weeks, we have witnessed Russia invade a sovereign nation, indiscriminately killing civilians to the horror of the world. As a matter of fact, just a few hours ago a maternity ward was bombed by Russia, killing new mothers and babies just a few hours ago. And while this happens, President Xi, Kim Jong Un, and other autocrats are watching closely to see how the United States will respond.
I firmly believe that today we are closer to a large-scale conflict with a near-peer adversary than we have been in recent memory. We must get this bill to the President's desk as soon as possible to respond to these acts of aggression. Weakness is provocative, and a year-long continuing resolution would undoubtedly demonstrate weakness on a global stage.
Included in the defense portion of this bill are many priorities for Members of both parties that will strengthen our military. These include 13 new Navy ships, increased investment in next-generation capability, like hypersonics, full funding for our nuclear modernization, and investments in our servicemembers and their families.
And as ranking member, I fought hard to make sure this bill gets the DOD what it needs. We began hearings for the fiscal year 2022 saying that the Mattis national defense strategy is the correct strategy, that we need a 3 to 5 percent net real growth above inflation for fiscal years 2022 to 2025. Although nobody anticipated inflation at the levels we have seen, I am proud to say the Republicans secured a 6 percent funding increase over last year's funding level.
I am also proud to say that we worked closely with the Armed Services and Intelligence Committees to make sure all the priorities across national security were addressed.
Thanks to the bipartisan commitment of Chairwoman Betty McCollum, House Republicans were able to secure over 2,000 Member funding priorities on our side of the aisle like additional Strykers, C-130Js, F-35 modernization, and critical programs. I thank Chair McCollum for her staff and her hard work on this package.
Failing to pass this piece of legislation will only further extend the devastating effects of our military readiness, modernization, and lethality that we have witnessed over the last 6 months.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman from California.
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, as the world watches, we must send the message that this Congress stands ready to strengthen its military, to stand by its allies, and continue to make the world a safer and more prosperous place.
Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from New Jersey (Ms. Sherrill).
Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
I would like to engage in a colloquy with Chair DeLauro regarding the Strategic Long-Range Cannon.
I ask my friend from Connecticut, is it the intent of the committee that a portion of the funds provided under the Technology Maturation Initiatives line be used to invest in the development of the SLRC program, should the program supply a spend plan?
Ms. DeLAURO. Will the gentlewoman yield?
Ms. SHERRILL. I yield to the gentlewoman from Connecticut.
Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
The agreement permits the Army to use 2022 funds for the Strategic Long-Range Cannons so long as it produces a comprehensive funding plan and a detailed schedule of activities.
Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
I thank Ranking Member Granger, our Senate partners, Chairman Leahy, Vice Chairman Shelby, our cardinals, and all of our Members. I salute the staff on both sides of the aisle. I won't mention all their names in the interest of time, but these are the most unbelievably professional individuals I have ever met. They do the job every single day and night and they are up all night.
Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairwoman DeLauro, Ranking Member Granger, and all of the Members of the Appropriations Committee for their hard work to bring this bipartisan legislation together.
I want to highlight several important inclusions in this package that are noteworthy and that reflect our Majority's commitment to governing responsibly For the People.
First, this legislation includes a robust, emergency aid package to help the Ukrainian people and their military fight back against Vladimir Putin's criminal invasion, defend their freedom and their democracy, and address the humanitarian crisis resulting from this unprovoked attack while strengthening NATO's deterrence and defense.
Second, this package will provide strong funding for the essential safety-net programs that enable Americans to make better lives for themselves and their families and keep millions of Americans from falling into poverty.
I am particularly pleased that a number of key priorities for which I have been advocating were included in this package.
Among them is a 21 percent increase in office budgets to make allowance for competitive pay for our staff here on Capitol Hill. This will enable us to recruit and retain the best and brightest to help us serve the American people and better reflect our nation's diversity.
I am also glad that this bill funds the Department of Education's Full-Service, Community Schools program at $75 million.
We were able to come together as well to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, which the House passed last year.
Additionally, this omnibus includes $95 million for the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) and election grants to help states improve their voting systems.
Last summer, I offered--and the House adopted--a Floor amendment to the House's Financial Services and General Government title directing the EAC to set aside $4 million for the purpose of administering the program that encourages college students to volunteer as poll workers in their communities--a program created under my Help America Vote Act legislation in 2002. As this bill heads to the President's desk, it is my expectation that the EAC will allocate this funding to that program as directed.
I also want to thank appropriators for including language to direct the GSA to move forward expeditiously with the selection of a site for a new consolidated FBI headquarters at one of the three locations previously identified in Maryland or Virginia. This project has now been ongoing for fourteen years and needs to be concluded, and the decision to move forward needs to be made within six months.
This omnibus reauthorizes our intelligence programs as well, and it funds the replenishment and enhancement of Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system. Furthermore, it includes Rep. Brad Schneider's legislation directing the State Department to continue expanding and deepening the Abraham Accords and promoting the normalization of relations between Arab states and Israel.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Members as well for their efforts to identify and support requests for community project funding, which is back this year under strict rules to protect the process and ensure that it is ethical, transparent, and accountable. Members know our districts better than those working in the executive branch, which is why this facet of the appropriations process, derived from Congress's constitutional power of the purse, has always been very important and beneficial to our communities.
This is an omnibus that all of us can be proud to support. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for this legislation, and I hope the Senate will approve it swiftly as well so that President Biden can sign it without delay.
Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to speak on the FY 2022 appropriations package. I thank Ranking Member Granger for yielding me the time and for her outstanding leadership this year.
I also want to thank my counterpart, CJS Subcommittee Chairman Cartwright for his partnership over the last year.
Within the CJS title, we've been able to increase funding for the Space Launch System, the Exploration Upper Stage, and other space technologies. All are key in our efforts to establish a strategic presence on the Moon ahead of Russia and China.
There are increases provided to support our communities within agencies such as the DOJ and NOAA. We're investing millions of additional dollars to improve our ability to understand and forecast extreme weather, so that local leaders can help create more resilient communities, and Americans can get safely out of harm's way when dangerous weather strikes.
We're increasing funding for critical drug court programs and other vital initiatives that address the opioid epidemic, as well as DNA analysis programs that are helping to solve cold cases.
Even as we reflect on the spending priorities within this package for our own citizens, we must not turn our eyes away from the atrocities being committed by Vladimir Putin against the people of Ukraine.
Today, we stand in strong support of the people and forces of our ally. Putin's violent attempt to strip Ukrainians of their freedom will be met with an even stronger force because of our help.
American strength has long been a deterrent of global conflict. I take this responsibility seriously and will continue working to ensure adequate funding is provided to meet both the immediate and long-term security needs of this country.
I encourage my colleagues to support the security package within the omnibus appropriations bill and ensure the Ukrainians have the resources they need to defend themselves from these heinous acts.
Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill. As Chairman of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies subcommittee I am pleased to highlight the national priorities funded in our division which impacts the lives of all Americans from heartland to coast, farms to cities, and everything in between.
First, our bill makes important, USDA-wide investments to ensure equitable participation in USDA programs, address the impacts of climate change, and support staff and leadership offices at USDA.
The bill includes over $550 million for the expansion of broadband service, including $450 million for the Reconnect program.
Our bill fully funds all the domestic nutrition programs and includes a significant investment to increase the amounts of fruits and vegetables offered in the WIC program. Additionally, there is $2 billion for international food aid.
The bill provides $1.87 billion for farm programs, including $61 million in loan authority to address heirs property issues.
The bill includes $3.5 billion for agriculture research programs, including the Agricultural Research Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture to keep American agriculture the best and most bountiful in the world.
The bill includes a total of $3.3 billion for FDA and provides targeted increases to ensure Americans have access to the safest food and medicine.
This is a good bill and I urge my colleagues to support it.
I want to thank our Ranking Member, Andy Harris, and the majority and minority committee staff.
I also want to thank Chair DeLauro and Ranking Member Granger for their leadership through this process.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, as a senior member of the Committees on the Judiciary, Homeland Security, and the Budget, I rise in support of the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2471, the
``Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022'' which provides funding for federal government operations for the remainder of this fiscal year--
through September 30, 2022--and prevents a wasteful and irresponsible shutdown of the federal government.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act includes all 12 appropriations bills that fund the federal government through the end of Fiscal Year 2022, as well as urgently needed supplemental appropriations.
The legislation includes $13.6 billion in emergency funding for the courageous people of Ukraine, to support their security and humanitarian efforts as they struggle to survive and battle against the invading Russian army.
I am particularly pleased that the Consolidated Appropriations Act specifically includes $24,435,000 for Community Funding Projects in Houston that will directly help my constituents and enable all Houston-
area residents to benefit from quality-of-life improvements.
The provisions of the omnibus spending act that resulted from my requests for Community Funding Projects include:
$1,500,000 for the Port of Houston Authority to begin a sedimentation study concurrent with the deepening and widening of the Houston Ship Channel in coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
$975,000 for the City of Houston Police Department to enable employment of nine (9) crime victim advocates via the BYRNE Justice Assistance Grants Program who will help the department provide a trauma-informed response for victims of violent crimes.
$1,060,000 for the Houston Independent School District to construct
``The Vison'' Community Statue and Community Project on the historic Booker T. Washington High School campus.
$3,000,000 to the City of Houston for two revitalization projects of cultural assets: construction of the Bethune Empowerment Center and the East End Facility for Latino Arts (Talento Bilingue de Houston).
$9,950,000 to help Harris County prevent flooding by providing funds for the Stormwater Detention Basin and Culvert Improvement project, and its operations.
$1,950,000 for Jacinto City for Northeast Water Mains & Fire Hydrant Improvements, to replace aging water and delivery infrastructure to a large portion of Jacinto City's residential and business districts.
$1,000,000 for the Houston Independent School District for Project Engagement, an initiative to provide social and emotional learning services to high-needs students, including social and emotional learning supports.
$2,000,000 for Houston Community College to fund a Regional Resiliency Operations Center (RROC) for program development, training and certification of disaster and mitigation professionals.
$1,000,000 for community mental health treatment and support services to the Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation in Houston to establish a juvenile justice diversion program that identifies gaps in services and provides resources for families and their children who were involved in the criminal justice system.
$2,000,000 for Texas Southern University in Houston to fund facilities and equipment for its Urban Public Health Initiative--Health Professions Education and Workforce Development and Health Facilities Construction and Equipment Program.
I strongly support this legislation and urge all Members to join me in voting for the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2471, the ``Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022''.
Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the Fiscal Year 2022 omnibus bill.
I want to thank Chair DeLauro for her leadership and perseverance in bringing this omnibus to the finish line. It has been hard fought and I can confidently say that the American people will benefit from the investments made in this bill.
Thank you, Ranking Member Joyce, for your collaboration and partnership through this process. And thank you, Ranking Member Granger.
For fiscal year 2022, the Interior and Environment division provides
$38 billion.
This is an increase of almost $2 billion over last year's enacted level, which is a 5 percent increase.
This bill makes long-overdue investments to care for our planet, fight the climate emergency, and meet our trust obligations to tribal nations.
The bill prioritizes the protection and preservation of our landscapes and biodiversity, providing $14.4 billion for the Department of the Interior.
It supports the administration's initiatives on climate change and affirms the role of science as the foundation for decision making.
The bill provides necessary resources to deal with the threat of wildfires in the West, providing $5.5 billion for Wildland Fire Management and it invests in programs to improve the health of our forests and make them more resilient.
The bill also includes major investments to clean up pollution and protect human health and the environment. It invests heavily in environmental justice, and I am proud that we are providing an unprecedented $100 million for these efforts, which is a nearly 700 percent increase.
Additionally, the bill provides $3.3 billion for grant programs to make drinking water and sewer system improvements, remove lead from our taps, improve air quality, and strengthen our nation's recycling infrastructure.
These grants have profound impacts on public health and the environment, but they also are economic drivers that create good paying American jobs.
This bill supports the Arts and Humanities by providing the largest increase in twelve years to the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
And finally, this bill supports Native American families by investing in a strong and resilient Indian Country, including through education and health care programs.
The investments in this bill will improve the lives of Americans and I urge my colleagues to support the bill.
Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this omnibus appropriations bill. I want to thank Chair DeLauro, my fellow cardinals, and the Speaker for seeing this critical process through. Providing funding for the operation of our federal government is among our most important Constitutional duties. This package provides critical funding for health care, housing and human needs. It also includes specific community project funding important to my community in the East Bay as well as communities across the country. These are crucial investments in a more humane, equitable and sustainable future. I urge all my colleagues to support it.
As Chair of the subcommittee on the State Department and Foreign Operations, I have worked to ensure that this bill includes the support that our diplomats and development professionals need to contribute to a better, safer world. The State and Foreign Operations division of this bill provides $56.1 billion, which is $595 million above 2021.
In addition, it includes $6.8 billion in assistance to respond to the humanitarian and economic crisis caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Added to the resources in the base SFOPS bill, we will be better able to address the historic levels of global displacement and humanitarian need resulting from natural disasters, conflict, and the pandemic.
The bill includes $9.83 billion to support the health of families and communities around the world, a $634 million increase over last year. This includes $5.95 billion for PEPFAR to help them end the HIV pandemic by 2030, as well as increases for tuberculosis, global health security and maternal and child health.
I am very proud of the steps this bill takes to increase diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within the nation's diplomatic and development workforce. The bill includes $8 million for paid internships at the Department of State and robustly funds various workforce diversity initiatives at both the Department of State and USAID, including for the Pickering and Rangel Fellowships.
We also added new language about nondiscrimination in humanitarian operations stemming from disturbing reports of unfair treatment of people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine.
Unfortunately, a number of crucial investments and policy issues that I fought to include in this bill were not included in this final agreement. We should be doing more to confront the climate crisis, to protect women's health and reproductive rights, and pay America's debts to international organizations. The need to overcome the filibuster in the other chamber blocked progress on these critical priorities in this bill. It's past time to end the filibuster and get on with the people's work. I will not stop fighting to meet these challenges and support the rights of Americans and all people to live in a more just, humane, and sustainable world.
There is no question that this omnibus represents an important step forward to invest in America. Once again, I thank Chair DeLauro and the Speaker for leading this effort to make the critical investments in this omnibus bill, and I urge all my colleagues to support it.
Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in full support of H.R. 2471, the fiscal year 2022 appropriations bill.
Every Member has met with countless constituents who have pleaded for Congress to do more to address diseases that are currently death sentences . . . pancreatic cancer, Alzheimer's disease, glioblastoma, ALS.
Today's legislation delivers for those constituents by providing $1 billion to create an independent Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, ARPA-H.
ARPA-H will embody the nimble spirit of the esteemed Defense Advanced Research Project Agency to pursue large-scale, high-risk projects. It will break the mold for federal research agencies by being uniquely focused on solving the ``valley of death'' to deliver transformational cures. ARPA-H will correct the gap that currently exists between the basic research pursued by the National Institutes of Health and the development of commercial products by the private sector. With this mission, ARPA-H will drive scientific breakthroughs to improve our nation's health and will help fulfill President Bidens promise to end cancer as we know it.
I'm proud to have championed this bipartisan investment in this year's budget.
Our work is not yet done. As Health Subcommittee Chairwoman, I look forward to passing my ARPA-H bill to provide the agency the full authorities it needs to be successful from Day One.
I've worked on this legislation over the past year after President Biden convened a small group of bipartisan and bicameral members in the West Wing last March to describe his vision for the agency.
I came to Congress to solve problems and better the lives of the American people. It is with great pride and joy to vote for today's budget that will fund the beginning of ARPA-H. This is a momentous first step in creating an agency that will be a beacon of hope to the American people.
Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, in regards to Division P, Title III--Medicare, Subtitle A--Telehealth Flexibility Extensions, Sec 308. Reports on Telehealth Utilizations, an analysis of racial and ethnic minorities as well as dual Medicare and Medicaid eligible beneficiaries should be considered by the Commission. By not including racial and ethnic minorities in this study, Congress will be unable to identify potential health inequities that occur with regard to accessing telehealth services. Furthermore, the inclusion of dual eligible populations will allow Congress to account for differences in socio-
economic status with telehealth services. By including racial and ethnic minorities and dual eligible beneficiaries, we can ensure vulnerable populations have equitable access to telehealth services.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. All time for debate has expired.
Pursuant to House Resolution 973, the previous question is ordered. The question of adoption of the motion is divided.
The first portion of the divided question is: Will the House concur in the Senate amendment with the matter proposed to be inserted as Divisions B, C, F, X, and Z, and titles 2 and 3 of Division N of the amendment of the House?
The question is on the first portion of the divided question.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that the ayes appeared to have it.
Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this question are postponed.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule XIX, further consideration of the motion to concur in the Senate amendment to H.R. 2471 with an amendment is postponed.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 42(1), Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 42(2)
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