Dhs Cyber Incident Response Teams Act of 2019

Floor Speech

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Mr. MOOLENAAR. Madam Speaker, I thank Chair Lowey and Ranking Member Granger for this opportunity to speak today on this appropriations legislation.

The bill before us right now provides crucial funding for our Nation's military, giving our soldiers their biggest pay raise in a decade and providing resources they need to win on the battlefield.

It is a strong complement to the next bill coming up today, where we will fund the Army Corps of Engineers and pass through Congress historic progress at the Soo Locks, funding the construction of a new lock that will be vital to shipping on the Great Lakes and for American manufacturing.

American manufacturing is responsible for millions of jobs, and this legislation also supports hardworking men and women across our Nation with the Manufacturing Extension Partnership.

Constituents across my district have told me how this program does crucial work to support the production of Michigan-made goods.

Another issue I know my constituents are concerned about is the opioid crisis and the threat of fentanyl to our communities. This legislation funds efforts at our Nation's borders, where officials have already stopped thousands of pounds of fentanyl and heroin from entering our country. The opioid epidemic requires a robust effort from all levels of government, as well as law enforcement and medical professionals.

The next bill also helps in this fight, with record funding for the NIH, which will support research into nonaddictive treatments for pain, as well as the fight against cancer and Alzheimer's.

Finally, this bill funds Great Lakes monitoring at NOAA in the Commerce Department, which, along with the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, does outstanding work to protect our Great Lakes. The GLRI works with State and local government, conservation groups and research universities, including Central Michigan University in my district. This year, the GLRI is receiving $320 million in the legislation that is coming up next, and I know it will help protect the Great Lakes for future generations.

I am grateful for the support for many of these priorities from our colleagues on the House Appropriations Committee, including leadership on both sides and, particularly, for my friend from Ohio, Marcy Kaptur, who visited the Soo Locks with me and officials from the Army Corps this summer.

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