Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2021

Floor Speech

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Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1060, I call up the bill (H.R. 7608) making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

This minibus combines four bills: State and Foreign Operations; Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA; Interior, Environment; and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs.

The package 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 circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This appropriations package addresses urgent national priorities. I would like to highlight a few of our key successes that our cardinals have secured: strong funding and protections to help put nutritious food on people's tables during this time of economic crisis and rising food insecurity; increased investments in broadband to connect more Americans to work, school, healthcare, and family; robust funding to protect the environment and build resilience to climate change; and $12.5 billion in emergency funding to address sharply rising veterans' healthcare costs.

I am proud that the package also includes strong emergency appropriations to confront coronavirus and support economic recovery, with investments in critical infrastructure and coronavirus preparedness, response, and relief domestically and globally.

Turning to the State and Foreign Operations division, it is bittersweet to bring my last State and Foreign Operations bill to the floor before I retire. As subcommittee chairwoman or ranking member for two of my three decades here, I am honored to have been entrusted with this responsibility on this bill that has been a key component of United States foreign policy since World War II.

The work of the subcommittee has been marked historically by bipartisanship, and I thank former Chair and Ranking Member Hal Rogers and former Chair and Ranking Member Kay Granger for their partnership to advance this vital legislation each year.

Pivotal moments, from September 11th to the devastation the coronavirus pandemic continues to cause, underscore the significant value of foreign aid. It promotes freedom and democracy and supports global development and security, all of which increase stability and mitigate threats to Americans here at home.

Indeed, our own children and grandchildren are more secure as a result of the United States' foreign assistance that has made the world better, safer, and healthier for generations, efforts that are continued in the fiscal year 2021 State and Foreign Operations bill we consider today.

With a total of $65.87 billion, it rejects the President's go-it- alone approach to foreign policy. The bill includes $47.85 billion in base funding, $8 billion in Overseas Contingency Operations funds for base requirements that otherwise would not be funded by the President's budget request, and $10.018 billion in urgently needed coronavirus emergency funding to mitigate COVID-19's impact on our health and economy.

To ensure this pandemic does not derail decades of development gains, this bill provides $3.8 billion in base funding for development assistance. This includes $975 million to increase access to basic education, of which not less than $150 million shall be spent on girls' education in areas of conflict.

It effectively addresses food insecurity, poor water and sanitation services, trafficking in persons, and other long-term development objectives.

The bill's holistic approach to global health seeks to bolster low- and middle-income countries' management of health threats and communicable diseases.

It would sustain progress against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria with $5.93 billion for global HIV/AIDS activities, including $1.56 billion for the Global Fund, for which it clarifies the United States' commitment to our 33 percent share.

It also reverses the President's global gag rule, stops counterproductive restrictions on family planning and health funding, and includes $805.5 million for family planning services, of which $55.5 million is for the United Nations Population Fund.

The bill provides restoration of funds for the World Health Organization to ensure American influence in an organization critical to the development and distribution of vaccines.

To address policies of the administration that harm our neighbors and drive migration, the bill amends prior-year appropriations acts to significantly limit the President's ability to redirect assistance outside of the region.

It also maintains robust funding for counternarcotics and law enforcement efforts in Colombia, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean; includes $68 million to address international organized crime; and maintains funding to combat cybercrime.

The bill provides $9 billion for security assistance to key allies and partners with support for programs in Eastern Europe, Jordan, and Tunisia. It keeps the commitments of the United States at Camp David to promote peace in the Middle East by providing $3.3 billion in aid for Israel's security as well as assistance for Egypt.

It restores humanitarian and development assistance to Palestinians with resources to organizations working in the West Bank and Gaza, and it advances a bipartisan priority, with $50 million to fund a new partnership for peace that would strengthen economic development and engagement between Palestinians and Israelis. It includes $7.83 billion in refugee and disaster assistance, including to Latin America, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.

Additionally, the bill prioritizes the security of diplomatic and development staff and facilities with $6.071 billion for embassy security, which is $692.2 million above the President's request.

To effectively engage allies and reclaim our leadership role, this bill reaffirms our support for international partners and multilateral organizations, which extends the impact of our assistance, and facilitates delivery of urgent aid to mitigate human suffering.

Lastly, to combat the destabilizing and persistent threats posed by climate change, the bill provides funds in this and prior acts to support multilateral efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It also strengthens conservation and environment programs and continues funding for adaptation and renewable energy programs at prior-year levels.

This bill reflects our common belief in the absolute necessity of effective diplomacy, global engagement, and robust development assistance to protect our own national security even as we address moral imperatives beyond our own borders.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my subcommittee staff who have worked in difficult circumstances to prepare the bill, including Majority Clerk Steve Marchese; staff Craig Higgins, Erin Kolodjeski, Dean Koulouris, Jason Wheelock, Marin Stein, Jean Kwon, Clelia Alvarado; Minority Clerk Susan Adams; Jamie McCormick; Austin Gage of Ranking Member Rogers' congressional staff; and finally, Wendy Coursen, Kelly Healton, Dana Acton, and Elizabeth Stanley in my congressional office.

Mr. Speaker, I express my gratitude to more past staff members and fellows than we have time to name today who have supported my work on the subcommittee. They are:

Matthew Traub, Beth Tritter, Howard Wolfson, Clare Coleman, Jean Doyle, Jenny Luray, Scott Fleming, Mark Isaac, Heather Howard, Jim Townsend, Chris Bigelow, Lucy Heenan, Ann Vaughn, Talia Dubovi, Liz Leibowitz, Sonali Korde, Joe Weinstein, Brigid Otieno, Mark Carrato, Mark Lopes, Barbara Feinstein, Dennis Vega, Cortney Dunn, Megan Oates, Jennifer Munoz, Karen Larson, Ashley Quarcoo, Ralph Falzone, Mark Murray, Nisha Biswal, Michele Sumilas, and Michael Marek.

Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, I urge support for the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mrs. LOWEY. I yield the gentleman from Georgia an additional 30 seconds.
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Mrs. LOWEY. McCollum), who is the distinguished chair of the Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies.

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Mrs. LOWEY. Wasserman Schultz), chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies.

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Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

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Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

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Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, this package of appropriations bills will help make our Nations stronger at home and respected again in the world.

Together, we can bolster food security, combat climate change, protect our environment, aid the world's most vulnerable people, and meet our commitments to our veterans.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this important legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I claim time in opposition to the gentleman's amendment.

Mr. Speaker, our committee has worked hard on a bipartisan basis to craft a bill that provides the necessary tools to the Secretary of State and the USAID administrator to advance United States foreign policy.

Mr. Speaker, I have long opposed amendments that indiscriminately apply across-the-board cuts to the carefully considered funding in this bill, which addressed many of the requests brought to the committee from both Democrats and Republicans in the House.

Such amendments make no provision for protecting high-priority programs and activities. For example, this amendment would cut $165 million from security assistance for Israel. It would cut $457 million from global health programs, including $296 million less for HIV/AIDS activity. This amendment would cut $391 million from lifesaving humanitarian assistance and $305 million from funds made available to protect our diplomats and development personnel and the facilities in which they work and live overseas.

In addition to assistance for our ally Israel, cuts would also impact funding for other key allies, such as Jordan, Egypt, Ukraine, Colombia, and countries in Eastern Europe that are battling Russian aggression and disinformation.

I strongly urge a ``no'' vote on the gentleman's amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, our national security is strongest when development, diplomacy, and defense are equally prioritized. This amendment undermines U.S. leadership and diminishes our engagement in the world.

Yes, I do think of my eight grandchildren when I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment.

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Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1060, I offer amendments en bloc.

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Mrs. LOWEY. Craig).
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Mrs. LOWEY. Titus).

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Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 45 seconds to the gentleman from California (Mr. Ruiz).
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Mrs. LOWEY. Sherrill).

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Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1060, I offer amendments en bloc.

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Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, before I introduce the next speaker, I just want to say a few words about SESAME, because it is an extraordinary project, and I thank the gentleman for bringing it to this body's attention.

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Mrs. LOWEY. Jackson Lee).

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Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1060, I offer amendments en bloc.

There are many things in this en bloc that I oppose, and I could speak to each issue, but I want to reserve my comments for the attack on climate change.

Most of us, even my friends across the aisle, agree that climate change is a real global threat. Our military also believes this.

I cannot emphasize enough that climate change is exacerbating the root causes of conflict. We will see an increasing demand on our humanitarian aid and other resources if we do not address it now.

Prohibiting U.S. contributions to the multilaterals that combat climate change is a shortsighted, harmful policy that does not prepare our country to face this threat.

We cannot afford to stand idly by while others address climate change. We already feel its effects. We should not be alienating multilateral partners. We need to join the fight.
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Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), the chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies.

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Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Tlaib). Welcome to her children, too.

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Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

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