IN SUPPORT OF THE DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020 (H.R. 2740); Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 107
(Extensions of Remarks - June 25, 2019)
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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E833-E834]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
IN SUPPORT OF THE DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND
EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020 (H.R. 2740)
______
HON. BETTY McCOLLUM
of minnesota
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, June 25, 2019
Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2740, the
first Fiscal Year 2020 appropriations package that includes funding for
the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education,
Defense, State, and Energy.
The Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
bill includes $189.9 billion, $11.8 billion over FY19 levels, in
critical investments in medical research, public health, workforce
training, and education for the next generation of Americans. Among the
important provisions in this bill are $41.1 billion for the National
Institutes of Health (NIH) for lifesaving medical and disease research,
and $760 million for Community Service Block Grants (CSBG) that will go
directly to Community Action Agencies to help low-income families rise
out of poverty. The bill also contains a provision that will enable
states to develop best practices to identify and treat newborns with a
Congenital Heart Defect. This is an issue that I have worked on since I
served in the Minnesota State House, and I am pleased to see its
inclusion.
The Defense bill includes $690.2 billion in funding, $15.8 billion
above FY19 levels, improves our national security, and ensures that our
servicemen and women will have the equipment and training necessary to
complete their missions and come home safe. The bill includes a 3.1
percent military pay raise and funds the Sexual Assault Prevention and
Response programs for the services at $297 million, a significant
increase over FY19 levels. As the Vice Chair of the Defense
Appropriations Subcommittee, I am particularly pleased that the bill
includes $1.26 billion for defense environmental remediation
activities, $14.8 million above FY19 levels. This funding will continue
Department of Defense efforts to remediate contaminated soil, ground
and drinking water at formerly used and current defense installations.
This includes $13 million to study and assess the levels of PFOS/PFOA
contamination at domestic military facilities. The bill also makes a
$33.4 billion investment in Defense Health Programs, including
increased funding for medical research that will help save the lives of
our service members and veterans.
The State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs bill includes
$56.4 billion in funding, $2.2 billion above FY19 levels, and is a
robust investment in global health and nutrition programs, national
security, and diplomacy. Important provisions in this bill include $2.6
billion for maternal child health and infectious disease programs, $750
million for family planning services, and $5.9 billion for PEPFAR to
combat HIV/AIDS. I am also pleased to see strong levels of funding for
the Global Food Security Act, a critical piece of U.S. foreign
assistance in reducing global hunger, improving child nutrition, and
finally achieving food security around the world.
The Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies bill includes
$46.4 billion, an increase of $1.8 billion over FY19, and makes needed
investments in water infrastructure projects that impact every state in
our nation. That is why robust funding for the Army Corps of Engineers,
the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the
water resources projects in this legislation are so important. My
district is home to the St. Croix River and the Mississippi River. My
constituents know that the Mississippi River is a working river, and
failures in our infrastructure can significantly impact the overall
economy by hurting our transportation, agriculture, and recreation
industries.
Madam Speaker, as the appropriations process moves forward on the
floor, it is clear that Democrats are making critical investments for
the people. Democrats will continue to be loud and clear about the
importance of quality healthcare for all, education for our children
and grandchildren, investments in infrastructure, and ensuring our
national security. H.R. 2740 is a down payment on all of these
important priorities for our constituents.
I strongly encourage my colleagues to support this legislation.
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