Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2019

Floor Speech

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Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, I rise in support of this funding package, and I am pleased that, within the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee's jurisdiction, the bill provides more than $2 billion for recovery from devastating natural disasters.

This includes $849 million to rebuild drinking water and wastewater systems to a state of resiliency against future storms, $50 million for coastal resiliency projects to reduce ecosystem and community vulnerability to help with sea level rise and with the flooding and erosion caused by storms.

The bill provides funds to repair Federal facilities that were destroyed or damaged, such as the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, funds for historic preservation grants to repair culturally significant sites and properties, and funds to clean up hazardous and solid waste sites.

A critical provision in this bill provides $720 million to fully repay the U.S. Forest Service for funds it was forced to borrow in the last fiscal year to cover the cost of wildland fire suppression. An additional $103 million will help the Forest Service to address damage to national forests and treat hazardous fuel loads.

This emergency funding is in sharp contrast to the President's threats to block disaster response funds to Californians who are struggling to restore their lives and to return to their homes after the devastating fires of last year.

I have just heard from a friend that he is being evacuated now because of potential mudslides because of the burnt area in the Malibu part of California.

Americans in all of our States and territories deserve Federal support so they can recover from natural disasters, and our government agencies have to be open in order to ensure the delivery of these important emergency funds.

Democrats are proud to bring this bill to the floor to help our communities who have suffered from these natural disasters and want to begin to rebuild and heal in their lives.

Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

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Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman for the time.

As I pointed out earlier, the supplemental includes $824 million to the U.S. Forest Service to help California and those who have been impacted by wildfires and Hurricanes Florence and Michael to recover.

While the funding includes $27 million for hazardous fuel, I support the gentleman's proposal to increase this amount because we know we have a lot of work to do in fuel reduction. I would like to point out to the gentleman, I also support the continuing resolution portion of this legislation in front of us today because we need to reopen the Forest Service so we can use these funds.

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Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Chair, the supplemental appropriation that we are discussing today includes $8.24 million for the U.S. Forestry Service to work on disaster relief, and it includes $2 million for State and private forestry. As I have told the Members here, I totally support the gentleman's proposal to increase the amount, and they have done an excellent job describing why it is so important.

As wildfires continue to increase in both frequency and intensity as a result of climate change, we need to do more to prevent them. The State private forestry programs bring together States, Tribes, and local governments and gives them the tools they need to protect communities and our environment from wildfires. I have seen firsthand. I have spoken to people who have used these programs, and it is money well spent to prevent wildland fires.

However, in order for the Forestry Service to be able to use these critical funds, I will be supporting the CR portion of this bill to reopen the government, because without this continuing resolution the agencies won't be able to receive funds to get to work immediately.

Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

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