Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016

Floor Speech

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Mr. Speaker, once again, this Congress has abandoned its responsibility to provide a full-year appropriation. Months of hard work were thrown away, pushing important funding decisions down the road. I have heard from families and business leaders in my district who are worried about the uncertainty that continuing resolutions create in their daily lives. It is not a good way to govern. It is not a good way forward for our country.

As the ranking member of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, I am disappointed that this bill only provides 5 months of funding for priorities like clean air, clean water, national parks, and our treaty obligations.

We need to secure funding for hospitals and for schools in Indian Country, and it should be for a full year. We need to manage our national forests and parks and the Environmental Protection Agency's monitoring of toxins
that threaten the health of our families. The decision that we have before us today only allows these programs to continue for 5 months and be in jeopardy again in April. This bill does take one important step, however, to assist with the lead poisoning crisis in Flint; although, it is less than what is needed and it comes far too late.
I thank, however, Chairman Calvert and Chairman Rogers, and I thank Ranking Member Lowey for their work to ensure that this bill does not contain any new policy riders that would impact the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee's jurisdiction.

My biggest concern with this legislation, however, is not interior- related, but, instead, involves the fundamental principle of our democracy. The decision by Republican leadership to include language that would limit a full public debate on Senate confirmation for the nominee of Secretary of Defense is alarming. Civilian control of our military has been a cornerstone of American democracy since our country's founding. When the Secretary of Defense position was created in 1947, this principle was enshrined into law. I think the decision moving forward in this bill is deeply concerning to all Americans.

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