Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2020

Floor Speech

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Chair, pursuant to House Resolution 445, I offer amendments en bloc.

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

The amendments included in the en bloc were made in order by the rule, and they have been agreed to by both sides. They improve the bill. I support the amendment, and I urge its adoption.

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Alabama (Ms. Sewell).

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Trone).

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Chair, at this time, I ask my colleagues to join me in support of this amendment.

Madam Chair, we have no more speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Chair, I rise in strong opposition to the amendment.

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Chair, I understand the gentleman's intention, but I could not disagree more.

The agriculture bill funds a variety of national priorities from food safety, to agriculture research, to drug approval, to rural development, to nutrition programs for our children.

Reducing spending by 14 percent would hurt our farmers, who are already suffering terribly from retaliatory tariffs, and it would hurt small communities who are still in need of adequate broadband. It would hurt those who are waiting for cures to rare cancers. It would jeopardize America's status as a leader of global agricultural science. It would slow our response to foodborne illness outbreaks. It would harm children and families who rely on these programs to put food on their tables.

The bill already rejected the administration's draconian cuts to programs that assist our rural communities and vulnerable populations.

Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Chair, I urge that this amendment be rejected.

Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Chair, I rise in support of this amendment.

The Distance Learning and Telemedicine program offers grants to rural areas to provide access to education, to training, and to healthcare. These resources are critical in providing funding to acquire audio, video, and other advanced technology equipment to extend educational and medical services, including those seeking opioid treatment.

I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Madam Chair, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Fortenberry).

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Chair, the amendment would bring the total funding for the program to $75 million in our bill. This program provides grants to encourage and improve telemedicine and distance learning services in rural areas through telecommunications and other technologies, and I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. I thank the gentleman for offering it. It enhances the bill.

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

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Chair, I rise in strong support of this amendment.

There is wide support and recognition as to the need for investing in broadband infrastructure. As a necessity for modern life, we must continue our efforts to bridge the broadband divide to ensure that as many rural Americans as possible receive fast and reliable broadband service and the multitude of benefits that are associated with it.

Madam Chair, the gentlewoman's amendment, if adopted, would bring broadband funding to the highest level since 2009, with the Recovery Act. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. It will certainly enhance this bill.

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

Madam Chair, I rise in support of this amendment. As I have said before, Congress' oversight role is one of the most important functions. That function extends to preserving the integrity of science.

The academics, economists, and researchers at USDA produce top-notch scientific reports characterizing the state of the farm economy, the agricultural industry at large, and analyzing future impacts. It is clear that one of the most important stressors on agriculture today and in the coming years will be the effects of climate change.

We cannot prevent the effects of climate change by simply removing any reference to it in the Department's scientific publications. We must allow the science community to do its work, free from political influence.

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Chair, I rise as the designee of Chairwoman Lowey, and I move to strike the last word.

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Chair, I yield to my colleague from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur).

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Chair, I appreciate my colleague's longtime support for fair trade practices for our livestock and for our poultry farmers.

I have worked on this issue over the years with the gentlewoman, and I, too, share her concerns regarding the GIPSA rules and the administration's past history in such rulemakings.

I look forward to working with my colleague from Ohio as the administration takes steps toward complying with the farm bill requirements from 2008.

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Chair, as the designee of Chair Lowey, I move to strike the last word.

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Chair, I yield to the gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Moore).

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. I yield back the balance of my time.

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