Providing for Consideration of H.R. Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, Providing for Consideration of H.R. Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, and Providing for Consideration of H.R. Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024

Floor Speech

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Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 838 and ask for its immediate consideration.

The Clerk read the resolution, as follows: H. Res. 838

Resolved, That at any time after adoption of this resolution the Speaker may, pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XVIII, declare the House resolved into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4821) making appropriations for the Department of the Interior, environment, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes. The first reading of the bill shall be dispensed with. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived. General debate shall be confined to the bill and shall not exceed one hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations or their respective designees. After general debate the bill shall be considered for amendment under the five-minute rule. The bill shall be considered as read. All points of order against provisions in the bill are waived.

Sec. 2. (a) No amendment to H.R. 4821 shall be in order except those printed in part A of the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution, amendments en bloc described in section 3 of this resolution, and pro forma amendments described in section 4 of this resolution.

(b) Each amendment printed in part A of the report of the Committee on Rules shall be considered only in the order printed in the report, may be offered only by a Member designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time specified in the report equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to amendment except as provided by section 4 of this resolution, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole.

(c) All points of order against amendments printed in part A of the report of the Committee on Rules or against amendments en bloc described in section 3 of this resolution are waived.

Sec. 3. It shall be in order at any time for the chair of the Committee on Appropriations or her designee to offer amendments en bloc consisting of amendments printed in part A of the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution not earlier disposed of. Amendments en bloc offered pursuant to this section shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for 20 minutes equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations or their respective designees, shall not be subject to amendment except as provided by section 4 of this resolution, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole.

Sec. 4. During consideration of H.R. 4821 for amendment, the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations or their respective designees may offer up to 10 pro forma amendments each at any point for the purpose of debate.

Sec. 5. At the conclusion of consideration of H.R. 4821 for amendment the Committee shall rise and report the bill to the House with such amendments as may have been adopted. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and amendments thereto to final passage without intervening motion except one motion to recommit.

Sec. 6. At any time after adoption of this resolution the Speaker may, pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XVIII, declare the House resolved into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4820) making appropriations for the Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes. The first reading of the bill shall be dispensed with. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived. General debate shall be confined to the bill and shall not exceed one hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations or their respective designees. After general debate the bill shall be considered for amendment under the five-minute rule. The bill shall be considered as read. All points of order against provisions in the bill are waived.

Sec. 7. (a) No amendment to H.R. 4820 shall be in order except those printed in part B of the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution, amendments en bloc described in section 8 of this resolution, and pro forma amendments described in section 9 of this resolution.

(b) Each amendment printed in part B of the report of the Committee on Rules shall be considered only in the order printed in the report, may be offered only by a Member designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time specified in the report equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to amendment except as provided by section 9 of this resolution, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole.

(c) All points of order against amendments printed in part B of the report of the Committee on Rules or against amendments en bloc described in section 8 of this resolution are waived.

Sec. 8. It shall be in order at any time for the chair of the Committee on Appropriations or her designee to offer amendments en bloc consisting of amendments printed in part B of the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution not earlier disposed of. Amendments en bloc offered pursuant to this section shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for 20 minutes equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations or their respective designees, shall not be subject to amendment except as provided by section 9 of this resolution, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole.

Sec. 9. During consideration of H.R. 4820 for amendment, the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations or their respective designees may offer up to 10 pro forma amendments each at any point for the purpose of debate.

Sec. 10. At the conclusion of consideration of H.R. 4820 for amendment the Committee shall rise and report the bill to the House with such amendments as may have been adopted. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and amendments thereto to final passage without intervening motion except one motion to recommit.

Sec. 11. Upon adoption of this resolution it shall be in order to consider in the House the bill (H.R. 6126) making emergency supplemental appropriations to respond to the attacks in Israel for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived. The bill shall be considered as read. All points of order against provisions in the bill are waived. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and on any amendment thereto to final passage without intervening motion except: (1) one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations or their respective designees; and (2) one motion to recommit.

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Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. General Leave
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Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 838 provides for consideration of H.R. 4820 and H.R. 4821 under a structured rule and makes in order Democratic as well as Republican amendments. The rule further provides for consideration of H.R. 6126 under a closed rule and provides one motion to recommit.

Mr. Speaker, House Republicans have made a promise to the American people. We promised to deliver single-subject appropriations bills that responsibly fund government by cutting wasteful spending and investing in necessary services. We have passed six such bills so far, which is nearly three-quarters of overall discretionary spending. I am proud to say that we are keeping that promise here again today as we work to pass two more.

H.R. 4820 and H.R. 4821 will cut billions in unnecessary government spending and prevent overreaching regulations while prioritizing vital programs. The Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies appropriations bill reduces funding for Department of Transportation grant programs by over $6.6 billion and the Department of Housing and Urban Development by over $1.7 billion.

The Appropriations Committee made these cuts by rejecting the administration's request to increase bureaucracy and their request to increase wasteful climate and equity initiatives. It rejects their request for additional program initiatives, including one to make the DOT's Federal vehicle fleet electric to the tune of $26 million and $300 million for Green New Deal grants promoting environmental justice priorities in public housing of all places.

It cuts all this and more while funding key programs. It will strengthen our infrastructure; prioritize transportation safety, including funding the training of 1,800 new air traffic controllers; and focus on housing assistance for vulnerable Americans, including the elderly, the disabled, and veterans.

The Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill rightsizes agency funding levels while expanding access to critical minerals. It also repeals this administration's waters of the United States regulation, something so important to States like Minnesota that know full well how to manage their waters and do not need the government telling them how to do their job.

Can you imagine having to go through the Federal Government when your field floods because now those waters fall under WOTUS authority? WOTUS is just another example of unnecessary government overreach.

The bill also limits the abuse of the Endangered Species Act. This also impacts States like Minnesota where the gray wolf population is not just maintained but is actually thriving. Because in California the gray wolf population is dwindling, the administration would force Minnesota to follow the same regulations as California. Complete nonsense.

I am proud to support this legislation that prioritizes public safety while trusting the States to do what is right for them.

Mr. Speaker, finally, I stand here today in full support of our ally Israel. The supplemental package we are debating today will provide critical aid to our friend, as they defend themselves against terrorists, while respecting taxpayer dollars.

On October 7, our allies in the Middle East were attacked by Hamas terrorists, murdering 1,400 people. The victims include women, children, innocent bystanders, and even American citizens since the attacks started.

Israel and the U.S. enjoy a unique and longstanding relationship as one of our closest non-NATO allies. We have, for decades, provided assistance to help Israel defend itself, and House Republicans are continuing that tradition today.

The Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act provides $14 billion for Israel to defend itself against foreign terrorists. This includes funds for Iron Dome and David's Sling defense systems and further development of the Iron Beam defense system.

Perhaps more significantly, this bill is offset through rescissions of the Democrats' IRS army funding provided under the Inflation Reduction Act. This rescission represents an important effort to respect the taxpayer and the dollars they entrust in us. America's support for Israel is unwavering, but there is simply no reason why the funds we provide should be placed on the backs of future generations by furthering our debt crisis.

This is a commonsense solution, and I commend Speaker Johnson and Chairwoman Granger in putting forth this bill at such a timely juncture. I look forward to supporting this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support the rule and the underlying legislation, and I urge all Members to do so.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring the focus back to the discussions in front of us.

It is worth reminding everyone that while we may have had a delay, we have still passed six appropriations bills this Congress. The Senate has just passed their first three appropriations bills this week. The House has passed bills representing the majority of the Federal discretionary spending, which is roughly three-quarters of the budget, and the Senate has passed just 17 percent.

Make no mistake: we still have a lot of work to do, but Speaker Johnson and the House Republicans will continue to work towards passing every bill individually before our November 17 deadline. I do invite my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to join us.

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Mrs. FISCHBACH. Madam Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mrs. FISCHBACH. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I will bring the discussion back to the real issues at hand and talk about the fact that the American people and my constituents sent me to Washington to responsibly fund government and to stop overregulation and unnecessary interference from Washington. Overturning WOTUS, reining in the EPA, and investing in transportation safety, these bills do exactly that.

The appropriations bills we are debating today cut unnecessary programming and prioritize the programs that serve the American people while allocating critical funding for vulnerable populations.

I am proud of the work that my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee have done to take an honest look at government spending and make the sometimes hard decisions about where realistic cuts can be made. It is especially important because the national debt continues to rise and burden the next generation.

I support the rule and the underlying bills, and I encourage Members to do the same to make sure that we are responding responsibly to the national debt and the crisis that we are facing.

The material previously referred to by Mr. McGovern is as follows:

An Amendment to H. Res. 838 Offered by Mr. McGovern of Massachusetts

At the end of the resolution, add the following:

Sec. 12. Immediately upon adoption of this resolution, the House shall proceed to the consideration in the House of the resolution (H. Res. 178) affirming the House of Representatives' commitment to protect and strengthen Social Security and Medicare. The resolution shall be considered as read. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the resolution and preamble to adoption without intervening motion or demand for division of the question except one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Ways and Means or their respective designees.

Sec. 13. Clause 1(c) of rule XIX shall not apply to the consideration of H. Res. 178.

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Mrs. FISCHBACH. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

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