[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 130 (Thursday, July 23, 2020)] [House] [Pages H3708-H3715] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] {time} 1130 PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 7608, DEPARTMENT OF STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS, AND RELATED PROGRAMS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2021 Ms. SHALALA. Madam Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 1060 and ask for its immediate consideration. The Clerk read the resolution, as follows: H. Res. 1060 Resolved, That upon adoption of this resolution it shall be in order to consider in the House 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. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived. An amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 116-59 shall be considered as adopted. The bill, as amended, shall be considered as read. All points of order against provisions in the bill, as amended, are waived. Clause 2(e) of rule XXI shall not apply during consideration of the bill. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill, as amended, and on any further 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; (2) the further amendments described in section 2 of this resolution; (3) the amendments en bloc described in section 3 of this resolution; and (4) one motion to recommit with or without instructions. Sec. 2. After debate pursuant to the first section of this resolution, each further amendment printed in the report of the Committee on Rules not earlier considered as part of amendments en bloc pursuant to section 3 of this resolution 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debatable for the time specified in the report equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, may be withdrawn by the proponent at any time before the question is put thereon, shall not be subject to amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question. Sec. 3. It shall be in order at any time after debate pursuant to the first section of this resolution for the chair of the Committee on Appropriations or her designee to offer amendments en bloc consisting of further amendments printed in 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 30 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, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question. Sec. 4. All points of order against the further amendments printed in the report of the Committee on Rules or amendments en bloc described in section 3 of this resolution are waived. Sec. 5. During consideration of the amendments described in sections 2 and 3 of this resolution, it shall not be in order to consider an amendment proposing both a decrease in an appropriation designated pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 and an increase in an appropriation not so designated, or vice versa. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from Florida is recognized for 1 hour. Ms. SHALALA. Madam Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess), 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 Ms. SHALALA. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members be given 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from Florida? There was no objection. Ms. SHALALA. Madam Speaker, on Wednesday, the Rules Committee met and reported a rule, House Resolution 1060, providing for consideration of H.R. 7608, the State, Foreign Operations, Agriculture, Rural Development, Interior, Environment, Military Construction, and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2021, under a structured rule. The rule makes in order 132 amendments. The rule provides 1 hour of debate, equally divided and controlled by the chair and the ranking member of the Committee on Appropriations. The rule provides that the chair of the Committee on Appropriations or her designee may offer amendments en bloc, which will be debatable for 30 minutes. Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit, with or without instructions. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the bill in this rule. This appropriations package provides urgent and essential resources not only for the American people, but particularly for my fellow Floridians. Among its provisions, the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs bill provides emergency funding for coronavirus preparedness, response, and relief. There is much we do not know about this virus. The one thing we do know is that it respects no border. South Florida, which is now the epicenter of this pandemic, and as the capital of the Americas, knows all too well how diseases can spread. This emergency funding will save lives both at home and abroad. The SFOPS bill provides robust funding to advance our global priorities and strengthens the international partnerships that are critical to supporting American influence and effectiveness across the globe. This includes specifically restoring funding for the World Health Organization, which this administration has threatened and is trying to cut off. [[Page H3709]] Nearly 150,000 Americans have, tragically, died from COVID-19. It is more important than ever that we are able to share information, best practices, and our skill and deep knowledge with our international partners. Many of those international partners were trained at the Centers for Disease Control over the years, and we simply can't afford to play politics with WHO funding. Madam Speaker, I led the American delegation to WHO for 8 years. I am well aware of its limitations and its strengths. We need WHO more than ever. And, as I said, this virus knows no borders. Madam Speaker, this bill also supports the people of Venezuela in their fight to restore democracy to their country. It includes an amendment I filed with Representative Murphy that increases the funding made available for programs to promote democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela. I am also very proud that this legislation provides security assistance to our friends and ally Israel, fully funding our commitment to Israel's security. Madam Speaker, also in this package is the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies bill. In this country, no one should ever be hungry, especially children, as this pandemic has made it only harder for hardworking families in my district and across the country to put food on the table. This bill provides robust funding for food and nutrition programs, which have never been more important. The bill provides for more than $25 billion in mandatory funding for the child nutrition programs. This is an increase above the fiscal year 2020 enacted level, and the bill provides for $68 billion in required mandatory spending for SNAP. This includes $3 billion for the SNAP reserve fund. As my friend Marian Wright Edelman once said: ``If we don't stand up for children, then we don't stand for much.'' Madam Speaker, also in this package is the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies bill, which provides funding for meaningful action on climate change and protects our environment. I am particularly proud of the provisions that provide robust funding for the Department of the Interior bureaus working together to restore the Everglades, including the National Park Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the South Geographic Program. Lastly, among its most important provisions, this package upholds our commitment to our troops, investing in housing, in medical care, in programs to reduce veteran homelessness. Simply put, with this legislation, we are fulfilling our obligations to our planet, to our American values, to our veterans, and to our children. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I thank Ms. Shalala for yielding me the customary 30 minutes, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, the bill we are debating today, in some ways I am reminded of a Clint Eastwood movie. We have some good, some bad, and some really ugly. But this bill gives consideration for fiscal year 2021 appropriations, as the gentlewoman from Florida just outlined: State and Foreign Operations, Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, Interior, Environment, Military Construction, and Veterans Affairs Administration. It is appropriate that we are considering these bills. The fiscal year ends on September 30, and we need to provide funding for the next fiscal year; and without the appropriations bills, that doesn't occur. But we never did a budget this year, and since we never did a budget, House Democratic leadership decided to go without a budget. The only budgetary reference we can make is to the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019, which did include spending limits. But, unfortunately, today, many of those limits are going to be jettisoned. So division A of this bill appropriates $65 billion for State and Foreign Operations, including $8 billion in cap-exempt Overseas Contingency Operations funding and $10 billion in emergency coronavirus funding. Funding is continued for important global programs to support maternal and child health; combat AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria; contribute to vaccine administration; and for the PEPFAR program. Funding to the northern triangle countries of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras is provided to help those countries create economic opportunities for their citizens, reduce violence, and strengthen the rule of law. The Secretary of State is required to certify that these countries meet certain conditions before 50 percent of that funding can be obligated. The good news is they have made some recent progress, but we are obligated to continue the oversight of taxpayer-funded foreign assistance to ensure that the citizens of the recipient countries, the citizens, are benefiting and that we are effectively working to combat the drivers of illegal immigration. It is unfair to ask our taxpayers to have to subsidize this activity twice. However, this division also prohibits the use of funds to implement the Mexico City policy, which requires nongovernmental organizations to certify that they will not perform or actively promote abortion as a condition of receiving United States funds. It also removes conditions that promote transparency and accountability at international organizations, including the World Health Organization. We know that China withheld information from the World Health Organization. We know that that contributed to the excesses of the global pandemic, under which we now suffer. It is disappointing that these partisan provisions were included in this bill. We could have had a bipartisan bill to provide for the American people. The poison pill provisions virtually guarantee that that will not be the case. The Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration division appropriates nearly $24 billion in discretionary funding, $487 million over the fiscal year 2020 level. In the midst of a global pandemic, it is critical that our Food and Drug Administration be fully funded and staffed to stand at the ready to process applications for medical countermeasures as they are developed, things such as therapeutics and vaccines against this novel coronavirus. The bill continues to fund the FDA Innovation Account. This was part of the 21st Century Cures Act and the various user fee arrangements that have proven to be so successful. But, again, you have to have concerns about the attempts to include authorizing language in the appropriations bill, issues that authorizing committees have not yet debated. One of the issues is giving the FDA mandatory recall authority. Currently, manufacturers typically recall products if the FDA requests that they do so, because if they fail to act on a voluntary recall, guess what? Big liability for them. But the FDA also has other tools to keep a product off the market. The section of code that this appropriations bill seeks to amend is specific to controlled substances, which may not be an appropriate place to incorporate such a policy. Future considerations of such policies should happen within the committee of jurisdiction, which would be the Committee on Energy and Commerce. Agriculture is the lifeblood for many American families, especially in rural communities. This coronavirus pandemic has greatly impacted our Nation's food supply, and this bill works to strengthen food security and promote agricultural research. That is good. As communities continue to work through the ``new normal'' we are experiencing, with many people working from home and remote learning, efforts to bolster rural broadband are, indeed, critical. {time} 1145 Once more, rather than simply providing for the American people, this bill includes language that would permanently prevent any administration--Republican or Democrat--from making changes to the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program. This policy would result in working age, nondisabled adults without children not being required to seek employment in times of low unemployment in order to seek benefits. When we are in the [[Page H3710]] middle of a national emergency, flexibility is appropriate. However, the administration should not be permanently barred from making the program more beneficial to both the recipient and the taxpayer. Next, division C of this bill includes provisions that ensure that our Nation's environment and public lands are preserved for future generations. These funds will be used to combat invasive species, mitigate harmful algae blooms, stop the trafficking of endangered animals. They will also provide essential resources to maintain our Nation's national park system. Unfortunately, the bill threatens the advancement of fundamentally pro-business and pro-worker policies. It adds unnecessary barriers to administrative efforts to reduce regulation. Eliminating bureaucratic red tape will be the key to unlocking future economic growth, which I would submit is still important. Division C also threatens the continued development of America's energy resources, thus its energy independence and the thousands of jobs tied to the energy sector. Specifically, it prohibits Federal funds to be used for oil and gas sales on Federal lands and offshore leases in Federal waters. These projects are important to America's economic recovery, they are important to America's national security, and they are important to America's energy independence. We, in the House, should not be limiting the economic opportunities in the middle of a global recession. Division C of this bill contains many important provisions, but it is pro-regulation and anti-energy in ways that will harm our economy and thus hurt jobs throughout the country. I would last like to discuss the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs division. As a historically bipartisan committee, I am grateful for the support that the committee has provided for important veterans' programs, particularly in veterans' health and military construction, and for prioritizing military family housing. We have learned during the past couple of Congresses about the unacceptable condition of private military housing that is part of the military housing privatization initiative. Some reforms were included in last year's National Defense Authorization Act, and my hope is that we can continue the funding and the oversight necessary to ensure that our Armed Forces and their families feel safe in their homes on their bases. Although I agree with and support the veterans' healthcare programs, I am encouraged by the robust mental health programs and the opioid abuse prevention and treatment assistance included in the bill, it is also a time when we must be at least cognizant of where the Federal Congressional Budget Office estimates are taking us with the budget deficit exceeding over $3.7 trillion for this fiscal year. So I do share some of the other Members' concerns on designating the $12.5 billion as emergency funding and disregarding the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019. Again, we are functioning without a current congressional budget in this session of the House. Why do we even work on spending caps in the first place if we are only going to ultimately disregard them for partisan priorities? Furthermore, I have serious concerns regarding provisions which would restrict funds for military construction projects, specifically a prohibition on funding for any type of border barrier. These restrictions unfairly jeopardize our military's safety and well-being. We are in the middle of a global pandemic. Mexico agreed to limit border crossings with the United States. So legal and illegal entries have been significantly reduced, limiting unexpected coronavirus transmission to domestic cases. Despite our best hopes, coronavirus cases are increasing, particularly along our southern border and our southern States. Now is not the time to restrict the ability of the President to act to further protect the country. Last, I would like to note report language that presents pro-life concerns. The language grants flexibility to the VA without pro-life protections, thus including abortion referrals for those referred to outside care resources for services not provided by the Department. Again, this appropriations package incorporates many provisions that both Democrats and Republicans can agree on. But it disregards the Bipartisan Budget Act agreement and includes poison pill policy provisions that, frankly, I will find, and many Republicans will find difficult to support. I hope my Democratic colleagues will come to the table and negotiate so we don't abandon the American people as the end of the fiscal year approaches. With that, I urge opposition to the rule, and I will reserve the balance of my time. Ms. SHALALA. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Thompson), the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security. Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I would like to enter into a colloquy with the agriculture chair, Mr. Bishop of Georgia. Mr. Bishop, I have a concern about the eligibility of Piney Woods School and Farm in Piney Woods, Mississippi, which is the only African- American boarding school left in America to receive Community Facilities Grant funding. Currently, Piney Woods is ineligible to receive Community Facilities Grant funding because its geographic location is considered to be in a suburban area in Mississippi, when, in fact, the school's location should be designated as rural. The current designation is limiting Piney Woods from receiving much-needed funding. Can we work together to try and find a solution? I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Bishop), the subcommittee chair, for an answer. Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I appreciate my colleague's longtime interest in institutions such as Piney Woods. These institutions provide an opportunity to learn and to help these students go on to live extraordinary lives. As a matter of fact, my father's roots are in Mississippi. And about 60 years ago, when I was 13 years old, my parents were strongly considering sending me to Piney Woods to complete my high school education. Piney Woods has a strong reputation. I have worked with the gentleman on issues like this over the years. I, too, share your interest in preserving institutions like this for future generations. Congress has developed programs like the Community Facilities program to help institutions just like this. I look forward to working with my colleague to take steps toward making resources available to preserve historic institutions and facilities like the Piney Woods School in Mississippi. Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, reclaiming my time. I look forward to working with the gentleman from Georgia. There is no question that Piney Woods Country Life School is a model for helping shape minds for the future. Their record speaks for itself. The kids who are fortunate to matriculate there come out and actually do very well in society. And so it is with this spirit that I offer the opportunity for us to help Piney Woods be even better. I look forward to working on crafting a solution. Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Stauber). Mr. STAUBER. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for the opportunity to express my disappointment, once again, with being denied the opportunity to amend this harmful piece of legislation on the floor. The Interior appropriations bill was introduced by my colleague from St. Paul and produced by the subcommittee she chairs. Having anti- mining riders attached was no surprise, as Twin Cities Democrat politicians have leveled attacks at future mining projects multiple times this Congress. However, section 435 of division C is a new low. It directly attacks three existing iron ore operations: The Minntac mine, the Minorca Mine, and the Northshore mine, along with the Coldspring Mesabi Black quarry. Combined, this places more than 2,000 jobs in my district on the chopping block. These blue-collar jobs support families in my district, jobs we need, especially during this pandemic. Twin Cities anti-job environmentalists continue to level bolder and bolder attacks on our way of life in northern Minnesota by now putting iron mining squarely in the crosshairs. [[Page H3711]] China controls more than half the world's steel market with a cheap, low-quality product built with horrific and zero labor standards and environmental standards. In my district, reclaimed mines provide drinking water for entire communities. Northern Minnesota has the cleanest air and water in the world and much cleaner than the brown water in St. Paul. We all care for our environment, but this legislation is no longer about environmental protections. This is about ideology and our way of life. I will fight for northern Minnesota and our blue-collar jobs with every fiber in my body. Ms. SHALALA. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee). Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend, Congresswoman Shalala, for her tremendous work and support. Her leadership certainly is warranted and necessary and needed right at this moment in our country's history. Let me first take a moment to thank Congresswoman Nita Lowey for her years of leadership both on the full Committee on Appropriations as well as the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee. Over the years, the chairwoman has been a steadfast and effective advocate for a humane and generous American role in the world, especially through her work to expand education, especially for girls and women, focused on creating many opportunities for millions of girls around the world. I will miss Chairwoman Lowey, but I just want to say that her legacy as our chair is going to remain very close to all of us, and it will remind us of the work which we must continue for future generations. I serve as the vice chair of our State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs subcommittee and as a member of the Agriculture Committee. I rise to support this rule, which provides for the consideration---- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired. Ms. SHALALA. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from California. Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I rise to support this rule. It provides for the consideration of appropriations bill and contains the emergency funds to respond to the impact of COVID around the world and also to ensure that our diplomacy and development programs can sustain their efforts in the face of this pandemic. I am pleased that we provide almost $6 billion for PEPFAR, including $1.5 billion for the Global Fund. We provide $55 million for UNFPA, and, yes, we repeal the global gag rule. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has again expired. Ms. SHALALA. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California. Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, let me just be very quick in terms of just laying out why I support this rule again. We provide $55 million for UNFPA and $68 billion for SNAP, which is extremely important now, with so many people needing food security falling through the cracks. We provide $90 billion for veterans' health and more than a half billion to get lead out of drinking water, which really, in this country, should be no more. It is a shame and a disgrace. And as we consider this rule, I urge my colleagues to examine the appropriations bill through the lens of racial justice. These bills contain important provisions that respond to this moment in American history when people are marching in the streets to demand that our country dismantle systemic racism. So I ask that we look at these bills and understand that equity has got to be so much a part of our funding priorities. Madam Speaker, I support this rule, and I hope we adopt the important funding in this package. {time} 1200 Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Emmer), a valuable member of our Republican House leadership. Mr. EMMER. Madam Speaker, the conversation we are having here today does not need to be as divisive and destructive to hardworking Minnesotans as my Democrat colleagues from Minnesota are pushing. Today, I stand with the Representative of northern Minnesota, Pete Stauber, who is advocating for those Minnesotans who will be directly impacted by this shortsighted effort. We both firmly believe that American mining is the safest and environmentally responsible way to help America. We have been told, time and time again, not this mine, not this location. Unfortunately, the reality is, our Democrat colleagues want to ban all mining. They want to eliminate good-paying jobs in construction--labor--and allow countries like China and Russia to utilize child labor and environmentally disastrous practices to mine for the minerals our everyday items need, like cellphones and cars. This bill doesn't simply attack the future of mining. It impacts existing mines in operation today. This bill will decimate those jobs. I urge all of our colleagues to vote against this rule and the bill in order to preserve mining in our great State. It will also help secure America's mineral independence and give miners the opportunity to do what they do best, mine responsibly in our country for the benefit of all Americans. Ms. SHALALA. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Golden). Mr. GOLDEN. Madam Speaker, the purpose of my amendment is to call attention to the shortage of VA mental health and substance use disorder facilities. For example, veterans in my home State of Maine must travel hundreds of miles out of State to access long-term treatment facilities. That is just unacceptable. A proposed residential unit at the Togus VA hospital in Maine would provide treatment beds to 24 veterans. But until VA approves this new construction project, veterans in Maine have few options. VA needs to ensure long-term inpatient mental healthcare and substance use disorder services are provided as close to each veteran's home as possible. That is why I am proud to have worked with you, Madam Chair, to secure $20 million above the budget request in the MILCON-VA bill for medical facilities. I thank the gentlewoman for her strong leadership on this and also other critically important issues for our Nation's veterans. In addition to the extra funding, the bill directs VA to prioritize construction that expands access to overnight bed space for veterans seeking mental healthcare. Moving forward, I ask that the committee continue to push VA for answers on progress toward boosting inpatient capacity, prioritizing construction for these lifesaving services. Ms. SHALALA. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), the Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies chairwoman. Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Golden for his extraordinary military service to our country and for his leadership on this urgent issue. Madam Speaker, no veteran should be forced to choose between seeking care away from loved ones or forgoing treatment altogether. I applaud my friend for his tireless advocacy for local mental health services for veterans in the VA appropriations bill. I look forward to continuing to work together to prioritize greater accessibility to these vital mental health services to veterans. Madam Speaker, I wish the gentleman a happy birthday this Saturday. Ms. SHALALA. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Golden). Mr. GOLDEN. Madam Speaker, I am not sure who outed me on the birthday, but I appreciate the well wishes. Madam Speaker, I thank the subcommittee chairwoman for her strong support on this issue. This is the second year in a row that the chairwoman and her committee and the committee staff have supported an increase like this for inpatient facilities for veterans who are struggling with mental health [[Page H3712]] or substance use issues and need treatment, and I appreciate their advocacy very much. Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar), chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus. Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the rule and the underlying bill. The underlying bill contains a wish list of provisions from far-left environmentalists that prevent job creation and energy development in rural communities. One in particular is the proposed buffer zone around the Chaco Canyon national park. This provision is an assault on the private property rights of hundreds of Navajo allottees who own oil and gas rights in the area surrounding the park. This buffer expansion in this bill would make these assets worthless, taking away valuable royalty payments from these impoverished communities. To put this in perspective, in 2015 alone, the Federal Indian Minerals Office distributed $96 million to 20,835 allottees around the country. Instead of listening to all voices, the proponents of this provision have only listened to environmental groups who claim to represent all the relevant stakeholders on this matter but clearly do not. Allottees in the Chaco region have consistently expressed opposition to this proposed withdrawal. Any uncertainty amongst the oil and gas industry when it comes to the ability to extract oil and gas from this region has negative consequences for them and the local economy. In my role as the ranking member of the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, I sent two of my staff to meet with Navajo allottees in New Mexico. The response from these allottees was overwhelming, as hundreds and hundreds of people showed up to express their opposition to a proposed buffer zone around Chaco Canyon national park. The facts are, Mr. Speaker, there are already laws on the books to protect Chaco national park and the pristine artifacts that may lay outside of its borders. The oil and gas industry has both a legal and moral obligation to protect the artifacts of the Chaco people, as well as avoiding impacts on newly discovered artifacts, which has always been done. This provision is clearly unnecessary, and I would urge that it be removed in conference if this bill is passed by the House. It would also be remiss of me not to mention the equally egregious provision in the legislation that prevents copper, nickel, and iron mining in northern Minnesota. Copper, nickel, and iron mining is the historic lifeblood of the economy in northern Minnesota and has the potential to create thousands of good-paying jobs that can be done in an environmentally safe way. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Carson of Indiana). The time of the gentleman has expired. Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Arizona. Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, we, as Congress, need to wake up and stop talking out of both sides of our mouth. In fact, we cannot continue to rely on foreign adversaries to take care of our mineral needs. We can take care of our own needs with our own domestic resources in the most environmentally safe way. We do it better than anyone in the world, and yes, we do it without slave child labor like they do in the Congo with cobalt as China does. Mr. Speaker, I, once again, urge my colleagues to oppose the previous question, the rule, and the underlying bill. Ms. SHALALA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum). Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, the Interior and Environment division of this bill makes many critical investments in protecting our natural resources and contains several provisions designated to stop the Trump administration from moving forward on disastrous environmental policies. This bill puts a halt on the use of funds in the next fiscal year to review approved mine plans within the watershed in the Nation's most visited wilderness, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. This provision does not--does not--impact the operations of current mines that already have their plans approved and are operating. There is no iron ore mine plan under review within the watershed or anywhere in the Superior National Forest. Sulfide-ore mines are toxic. They produce acid mine drainage, which includes heavy metals like lead and cadmium. This poses a significant risk to surface waters and ground waters. The Trump administration cannot be trusted to conduct an environmental review of sulfide-ore mining that could devastate this wilderness. They have already shown a lack of transparency and a willingness not to be guided by science. Multiple Cabinet members have pledged to members of the Appropriations Committee in congressional hearings that they would complete a mineral withdrawal study within this very watershed. Instead, they abandoned this review 20 months into a 24-month plan, and they have refused to release any of the information. Mr. Speaker, I would submit the report that they did finally show me, but I have no idea how the good people who work at this front desk could put in 60 pages of redacted material, 60 blank pages of a taxpayer-funded report. This is a 1-year halt on a mine plan in a wilderness area from an administration that has shown a total lack of transparency and respect for science. Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith). Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, someday, future generations of Americans will look back on us and wonder how and why a society that prided itself on the commitment to human rights precluded virtually all protections to the weakest and most vulnerable--unborn children. I believe they will demand to know why dismembering a child with razor-sharp knives, pulverizing an infant with powerful suction devices, or chemically poisoning a baby with any number of toxic chemicals failed to elicit empathy for victim babies. The bill before us today reverses several modest but important pro- life policies, including the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance policy, which is a reiteration and expansion of President Ronald Reagan's Mexico City policy. Announced by Ronald Reagan at the UN conference on population growth in Mexico City in 1984, hence, its name, the policy was and is designed to ensure that U.S. taxpayer money is not funneled to foreign NGOs that perform or promote abortion as a method of family planning. After Reagan announced that policy, Mr. Speaker, I offered the first amendment in 1985 to protect that policy, and we won. We lost in the Senate, but since it was an executive order, the policy did survive. And I have done it many, many times since. The policy established pro-life safeguards, benign, humane conditions, on the $8.8 billion in annual global health assistance. For years, Mr. Speaker, foreign NGOs have been empowered by taxpayer funds, grant money, to weaken, undermine, or reverse pro-life laws in other nations, especially in Africa, and to destroy the precious lives of unborn children. The Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance policy, which was put into effect by President Trump, mitigates U.S. taxpayer complicity in global abortion. U.S. foreign assistance, Mr. Speaker, and the foreign entities that we fund with billions of dollars of grant money should consistently affirm, care for, and tangibly assist women and all children--all children regardless of age or condition of dependency. I have authored many laws in this body, including the PEPFAR reauthorization, the 5-year reauthorization of the President's emergency plan for AIDS relief. When Henry Hyde, taking his cue from George W. Bush, authored that important legislation, I, and many others, joined in. We were strong supporters, but Henry Hyde was the leader. That legislation has saved the lives of some 17 million people with ARVs, as well as with prevention strategies. And it has made all the difference in the world in the area of malaria as well as tuberculosis. Mr. Speaker, I believe we must increase access to maternal and prenatal care and ensure access to safe blood [[Page H3713]] and better nutrition. We must also expand essential obstetrical services, including skilled birth attendants, while improving transportation to emergency care facilities to significantly reduce maternal mortality and morbidity, including obstetric fistula. The law or the policy on the books with regard to obstetric fistula, I offered the bill on that. It passed the House. It did not pass the Senate. But then I got USAID to adopt it administratively. I have been to the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia, where many women have gotten their lives back because of reparative surgery. No one is expendable or a throwaway, Mr. Speaker. Birth is merely an event, albeit an important one, but only an event. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired. Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from New Jersey. Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, birth is really just an event. Ultrasound has shattered the myth that an unborn child is anything but human and alive and growing. It really is up to us to do all we can to make that life as healthy as humanly possible. Victim babies, like their mothers, absolutely deserve respect, protection, and an abundance of compassion. {time} 1215 Ms. SHALALA. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, if we defeat the previous question, I will offer an amendment to the rule to sanction any senior foreign official who conceals information about the outbreak of a pandemic, including this current coronavirus pandemic. We know that China delayed reporting what they knew about this coronavirus. They withheld information from the World Health Organization and attempted to silence doctors, silence researchers who had alerted local health authorities. China's continued attempts to avoid national humiliation resulted in a pandemic that has killed well more than 600,000 people globally. It is unacceptable, and we must hold China accountable. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert the text of this amendment into the Record, along with extraneous material, immediately prior to the vote on the previous question. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Texas? There was no objection. Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Curtis), my good friend, to speak on the amendment. Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my legislation, the Li Wenliang Global Health Public Accountability Act that would sanction any senior foreign official who conceals information dealing with the outbreak of a pandemic, including COVID-19. On December 30, 2019, Li Wenliang warned his medical school classmates of an outbreak of a SARS-like virus over WeChat. Wuhan's Public Security Bureau detained, questioned, and forced Dr. Li to sign a letter confessing he made false comments that severely disturbed the social order. Tragically, ironically, 5 weeks later on February 7, 2020, Dr. Li died of a severe case of COVID-19. A study published in March indicated that if Chinese authorities had acted just 3 weeks earlier, the number of coronavirus cases could have been reduced by 95 percent and its geographic spread limited. By suppressing critical public health information, officials abroad have demonstrated they care more about maintaining their grip on power than the health and wellbeing of the world population. This bill will change that by ensuring these cronies will not see the perks created by their corruption. By passing this bill today, we will honor Dr. Li, set the global standard for transparency, and crack down on corruption and human rights abuses. I respectfully ask my colleagues to support this legislation and urge my colleagues to defeat the previous question, so that we can consider my bill. Ms. SHALALA. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, we really do not have time to waste. Not only must we provide for the American people, but we have the added responsibility of continuing to fight and recover from the coronavirus pandemic. I hope my colleagues on the other side of the aisle will see the futility of passing purely partisan appropriations bills. That being said, there are provisions included in this bill where we can all agree, and I hope we can sit down and negotiate with the other side so we can prevent a disruption at the end of the fiscal year for the American people. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote on the previous question, ``no'' on the rule, ``no'' on the underlying measure, and I yield back the balance of my time. Ms. SHALALA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. With this appropriations bill we are responding to the crisis of today while preparing for tomorrow. Americans are out of work, struggling to make ends meet as this virus wreaks havoc on our health, on our healthcare system, and on our economy. The American people deserve a funding bill that makes smart investments, and this bill does just that. It addresses the hunger that is plaguing working families. It increases broadband access. It strengthens our international alliances. It combats climate change. It increases funding to provide healthcare for veterans. This bill invests in America and our collective future. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on the rule and the previous question. The text of the material previously referred to by Mr. Burgess is as follows: Amendment to House Resolution 1060 At the end of the resolution, add the following: Sec. 6. Immediately upon adoption of this resolution, the House shall resolve into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for consideration of the bill (H.R. 7733) to authorize the imposition of sanctions with respect to the deliberate concealment or distortion of information about public health emergencies of international concern, and for other purposes. 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 Foreign Affairs. After general debate the bill shall be considered for amendment under the five-minute rule. All points of order against provisions in the bill are waived. When the committee rises and reports the bill back to the House with a recommendation that the bill do pass, 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 with or without instructions. If the Committee of the Whole rises and reports that it has come to no resolution on the bill, then on the next legislative day the House shall, immediately after the third daily order of business under clause 1 of rule XIV, resolve into the Committee of the Whole for further consideration of the bill. Sec. 7. Clause 1(c) of rule XIX shall not apply to the consideration of H.R. 7733. Ms. SHALALA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on ordering the previous question. The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that the noes appeared to have it. Ms. SHALALA. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3 of House Resolution 965, the yeas and nays are ordered. The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 230, nays 189, not voting 11, as follows: [Roll No. 157] YEAS--230 Adams Aguilar Allred Axne Barragan Bass Beatty Bera Beyer Bishop (GA) Blumenauer Blunt Rochester Bonamici Boyle, Brendan F. Brindisi Brown (MD) Brownley (CA) Bustos Butterfield Carbajal Cardenas Carson (IN) Cartwright Case Casten (IL) Castor (FL) Castro (TX) Chu, Judy Cicilline Cisneros Clark (MA) Clarke (NY) Clay Cleaver Clyburn Cohen Connolly Cooper Correa Costa Courtney Cox (CA) Craig Crist Crow Cuellar Cunningham [[Page H3714]] Davids (KS) Davis (CA) Davis, Danny K. Dean DeFazio DeGette DeLauro DelBene Delgado Demings DeSaulnier Deutch Dingell Doggett Doyle, Michael F. Engel Escobar Eshoo Espaillat Evans Finkenauer Fletcher Foster Frankel Fudge Gabbard Gallego Garamendi Garcia (IL) Garcia (TX) Golden Gomez Gonzalez (TX) Gottheimer Green, Al (TX) Grijalva Haaland Harder (CA) Hastings Hayes Heck Higgins (NY) Himes Horn, Kendra S. Horsford Houlahan Hoyer Huffman Jackson Lee Jayapal Jeffries Johnson (GA) Johnson (TX) Kaptur Keating Kelly (IL) Kennedy Khanna Kildee Kilmer Kim Kind Kirkpatrick Krishnamoorthi Kuster (NH) Lamb Langevin Larsen (WA) Larson (CT) Lawrence Lawson (FL) Lee (CA) Lee (NV) Levin (CA) Levin (MI) Lieu, Ted Lipinski Loebsack Lofgren Lowenthal Lowey Lujan Luria Lynch Malinowski Maloney, Carolyn B. Maloney, Sean Matsui McAdams McBath McCollum McEachin McGovern McNerney Meeks Meng Mfume Moore Morelle Moulton Mucarsel-Powell Murphy (FL) Nadler Napolitano Neal Neguse Norcross O'Halleran Ocasio-Cortez Omar Pallone Panetta Pappas Pascrell Payne Perlmutter Peters Peterson Phillips Pingree Pocan Porter Pressley Price (NC) Quigley Raskin Rice (NY) Richmond Rose (NY) Rouda Roybal-Allard Ruiz Ruppersberger Rush Ryan Sanchez Sarbanes Scanlon Schakowsky Schiff Schneider Schrader Schrier Scott (VA) Scott, David Serrano Sewell (AL) Shalala Sherman Sherrill Sires Slotkin Smith (WA) Soto Spanberger Speier Stanton Stevens Swalwell (CA) Takano Thompson (CA) Thompson (MS) Titus Tlaib Tonko Torres (CA) Torres Small (NM) Trahan Trone Underwood Vargas Veasey Vela Velazquez Visclosky Wasserman Schultz Waters Watson Coleman Welch Wexton Wild Wilson (FL) Yarmuth NAYS--189 Aderholt Allen Amash Amodei Armstrong Arrington Babin Bacon Baird Balderson Banks Barr Bergman Biggs Bilirakis Bishop (NC) Bishop (UT) Bost Brady Brooks (AL) Brooks (IN) Buchanan Buck Bucshon Budd Burchett Burgess Calvert Carter (GA) Carter (TX) Chabot Cheney Cline Cloud Cole Collins (GA) Comer Conaway Crawford Crenshaw Curtis Davidson (OH) Davis, Rodney DesJarlais Diaz-Balart Duncan Emmer Estes Ferguson Fitzpatrick Fleischmann Flores Fortenberry Foxx (NC) Fulcher Gaetz Gallagher Garcia (CA) Gianforte Gibbs Gohmert Gonzalez (OH) Gooden Gosar Granger Graves (GA) Graves (LA) Graves (MO) Green (TN) Griffith Grothman Guest Guthrie Hagedorn Harris Hartzler Hern, Kevin Herrera Beutler Hice (GA) Higgins (LA) Hill (AR) Holding Hollingsworth Hudson Huizenga Hurd (TX) Jacobs Johnson (LA) Johnson (OH) Johnson (SD) Jordan Joyce (OH) Joyce (PA) Katko Keller Kelly (MS) Kelly (PA) King (IA) King (NY) Kinzinger Kustoff (TN) LaHood LaMalfa Lamborn Latta Lesko Long Lucas Luetkemeyer Marchant Marshall Massie Mast McCarthy McCaul McClintock McHenry McKinley Meuser Miller Mitchell Moolenaar Mooney (WV) Murphy (NC) Newhouse Norman Nunes Olson Palazzo Palmer Pence Perry Posey Reed Reschenthaler Rice (SC) Rodgers (WA) Roe, David P. Rogers (AL) Rogers (KY) Rose, John W. Rouzer Roy Rutherford Scalise Schweikert Scott, Austin Sensenbrenner Shimkus Simpson Smith (MO) Smith (NE) Smith (NJ) Smucker Spano Stauber Stefanik Steil Steube Stewart Stivers Taylor Thompson (PA) Thornberry Tiffany Tipton Turner Upton Van Drew Wagner Walberg Walden Walker Walorski Waltz Watkins Weber (TX) Webster (FL) Wenstrup Westerman Williams Wilson (SC) Wittman Womack Woodall Wright Yoho Young Zeldin NOT VOTING--11 Abraham Byrne Cook Dunn Loudermilk Mullin Riggleman Roby Rooney (FL) Suozzi Timmons {time} 1307 So the previous question was ordered. The result of the vote was announced as above recorded. MEMBERS RECORDED PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 965, 116TH CONGRESS Clay (Grijalva) DeSaulnier (Matsui) Deutch (Rice (NY)) Frankel (Clark (MA)) Garamendi (Boyle, Brendan F.) Gomez (Gallego) Hastings (Wasserman Schultz) Horsford (Kildee) Johnson (TX) (Jeffries) Khanna (Sherman) Kirkpatrick (Gallego) Kuster (NH) (Brownley (CA)) Lawson (FL) (Evans) Lieu, Ted (Beyer) Lipinski (Cooper) Lofgren (Boyle, Brendan F.) Lowenthal (Beyer) Moore (Beyer) Napolitano (Correa) Pascrell (Sires) Payne (Wasserman Schultz) Pingree (Cicilline) Porter (Wexton) Price (NC) (Butterfield) Rush (Underwood) Serrano (Jeffries) Sewell (AL) (DelBene) Watson Coleman (Pallone) Welch (McGovern) Wilson (FL) (Hayes) The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the resolution. The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that the ayes appeared to have it. Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3 of House Resolution 965, the yeas and nays are ordered. The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 230, nays 188, not voting 12, as follows: [Roll No. 158] YEAS--230 Adams Aguilar Allred Axne Barragan Bass Beatty Bera Beyer Bishop (GA) Blumenauer Blunt Rochester Bonamici Boyle, Brendan F. Brindisi Brown (MD) Brownley (CA) Bustos Butterfield Carbajal Cardenas Carson (IN) Cartwright Case Casten (IL) Castor (FL) Castro (TX) Chu, Judy Cicilline Cisneros Clark (MA) Clarke (NY) Clay Cleaver Clyburn Cohen Connolly Cooper Correa Costa Courtney Cox (CA) Craig Crist Crow Cuellar Cunningham Davids (KS) Davis (CA) Davis, Danny K. Dean DeFazio DeGette DeLauro DelBene Delgado Demings DeSaulnier Deutch Dingell Doggett Doyle, Michael F. Engel Escobar Eshoo Espaillat Evans Finkenauer Fletcher Foster Frankel Fudge Gabbard Gallego Garamendi Garcia (IL) Garcia (TX) Golden Gomez Gonzalez (TX) Gottheimer Green, Al (TX) Grijalva Haaland Harder (CA) Hastings Hayes Heck Higgins (NY) Himes Horn, Kendra S. Horsford Houlahan Hoyer Huffman Jackson Lee Jayapal Jeffries Johnson (GA) Johnson (TX) Kaptur Keating Kelly (IL) Kennedy Khanna Kildee Kilmer Kim Kind Kirkpatrick Krishnamoorthi Kuster (NH) Lamb Langevin Larsen (WA) Larson (CT) Lawrence Lawson (FL) Lee (CA) Lee (NV) Levin (CA) Levin (MI) Lieu, Ted Lipinski Loebsack Lofgren Lowenthal Lowey Lujan Luria Lynch Malinowski Maloney, Carolyn B. Maloney, Sean Matsui McAdams McBath McCollum McEachin McGovern McNerney Meeks Meng Mfume Moore Morelle Moulton Mucarsel-Powell Murphy (FL) Nadler Napolitano Neal Neguse Norcross O'Halleran Ocasio-Cortez Omar Pallone Panetta Pappas Pascrell Payne Perlmutter Peters Peterson Phillips Pingree Pocan Porter Pressley Price (NC) Quigley Raskin Rice (NY) Richmond Rose (NY) Rouda Roybal-Allard Ruiz Ruppersberger Rush Ryan Sanchez Sarbanes Scanlon Schakowsky Schiff Schneider Schrader Schrier Scott (VA) Scott, David Serrano Sewell (AL) Shalala Sherman Sherrill Sires Slotkin Smith (WA) Soto Spanberger Speier Stanton Stevens Swalwell (CA) Takano Thompson (CA) Thompson (MS) Titus Tlaib Tonko Torres (CA) Torres Small (NM) Trahan Trone Underwood Vargas Veasey Vela Velazquez Visclosky Wasserman Schultz Waters Watson Coleman Welch Wexton Wild Wilson (FL) Yarmuth NAYS--188 Aderholt Allen Amash Amodei Arrington Babin Bacon Baird Balderson Banks Barr Bergman Biggs Bilirakis Bishop (NC) Bishop (UT) Bost Brady Brooks (AL) Brooks (IN) Buchanan Buck Bucshon Budd Burchett Burgess Calvert Carter (GA) Carter (TX) Chabot Cheney Cline Cloud Cole Collins (GA) Comer Conaway Crawford Crenshaw Curtis Davidson (OH) Davis, Rodney DesJarlais Diaz-Balart Duncan Emmer Estes Ferguson Fitzpatrick Fleischmann Flores Fortenberry Foxx (NC) Fulcher Gaetz Gallagher Garcia (CA) Gianforte Gibbs Gohmert Gonzalez (OH) Gooden Gosar Granger Graves (GA) Graves (LA) Graves (MO) Green (TN) Griffith Grothman Guest Guthrie Hagedorn Harris Hartzler Hern, Kevin Herrera Beutler Hice (GA) Higgins (LA) Hill (AR) Holding Hollingsworth Hudson Huizenga Hurd (TX) Jacobs Johnson (LA) Johnson (OH) Johnson (SD) Jordan Joyce (OH) Joyce (PA) Katko Keller Kelly (MS) Kelly (PA) [[Page H3715]] King (IA) King (NY) Kinzinger Kustoff (TN) LaHood LaMalfa Lamborn Latta Lesko Long Lucas Luetkemeyer Marchant Marshall Massie Mast McCarthy McCaul McClintock McHenry McKinley Meuser Miller Mitchell Moolenaar Mooney (WV) Murphy (NC) Newhouse Norman Nunes Olson Palazzo Palmer Pence Perry Posey Reed Reschenthaler Rice (SC) Rodgers (WA) Roe, David P. Rogers (AL) Rogers (KY) Rose, John W. Rouzer Roy Rutherford Scalise Schweikert Scott, Austin Sensenbrenner Shimkus Simpson Smith (MO) Smith (NE) Smith (NJ) Smucker Spano Stauber Stefanik Steil Steube Stewart Stivers Taylor Thompson (PA) Thornberry Tiffany Tipton Turner Upton Van Drew Wagner Walberg Walden Walker Walorski Waltz Watkins Weber (TX) Webster (FL) Wenstrup Westerman Williams Wilson (SC) Wittman Womack Woodall Wright Yoho Young Zeldin NOT VOTING--12 Abraham Armstrong Byrne Cook Dunn Loudermilk Mullin Riggleman Roby Rooney (FL) Suozzi Timmons {time} 1348 So the resolution was agreed to. The result of the vote was announced as above recorded. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table. Members Recorded Pursuant to House Resolution 965, 116th Congress Clay (Grijalva) DeSaulnier (Matsui) Deutch (Rice (NY)) Frankel (Clark (MA)) Garamendi (Boyle, Brendan F.) Gomez (Gallego) Hastings (Wasserman Schultz) Horsford (Kildee) Johnson (TX) (Jeffries) Khanna (Sherman) Kirkpatrick (Gallego) Kuster (NH) (Brownley (CA)) Lawson (FL) (Evans) Lieu, Ted (Beyer) Lipinski (Cooper) Lofgren (Boyle, Brendan F.) Lowenthal (Beyer) Moore (Beyer) Napolitano (Correa) Pascrell (Sires) Payne (Wasserman Schultz) Pingree (Cicilline) Porter (Wexton) Price (NC) (Butterfield) Rush (Underwood) Serrano (Jeffries) Sewell (AL) (DelBene) Watson Coleman (Pallone) Welch (McGovern) Wilson (FL) (Hayes) ____________________