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

Floor Speech

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Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chair, first, I thank my friend, Chairman Price, for working with me to include a number of provisions important to Members on both sides of the aisle.

Mr. Chair, I congratulate Mr. Meadows for his amendment to help unmanned aircraft manufacturers, one of our most important and innovative transportation sectors.

I also thank Mr. Graves and Mr. Scalise on their tireless work on behalf of their constituents to help them recover from devastating hurricanes and floods.

Mr. Burchett has a great amendment that increases funding for highway and bridge infrastructure.

Also, Mr. Chair, I want to mention Mr. Calvert and Mr. Cook. They have cosponsored an amendment to address an issue that is critical to Amtrak employees in their districts.

Finally, I congratulate Mr. Smith of New Jersey for his tireless advocacy for veterans housing, as he always does.

Mr. Chair, I urge a ``yes'' vote on this, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chairman, liquefied natural gas is a major component of domestic U.S. energy growth, and it is facilitating the export of U.S. natural gas around the world.

Railroads have been successfully moving flammable gases for 100 years. As a matter of fact, Transport Canada already allows LNG on rail and tank cars. So this provision would put us at a huge disadvantage with our largest trading partner.

Furthermore, DOT always conducts a thorough, comprehensive, and transparent safety evaluation, accounting for public input and, again, before allowing for transportation of any hazardous material.

This amendment would block a proven process at DOT and would inhibit U.S. LNG from meeting growing markets, the demand from growing markets for cleaner--again, cleaner--and more affordable energy.

And again, Mr. Chairman, this is another important point. Currently, this is moved by trucks. They are all over the country, trucks moving LNG. And so, obviously, the question is: Are rails less safe than moving this on trucks? Obviously, the answer, I would say, is no.

Mr. Chairman, I urge a ``no'' vote, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Chair, I find it ironic that some of the same folks who are concerned about climate change and global warming want to make it so difficult to transport things that actually lower emissions compared to other sources of energy.

Mr. Chair, I ask for a ``yes'' vote on the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chair, again, I want to first thank Mr. Vargas, not for this amendment, but for his leadership and for his support of immigrants. He has done that for many, many years, and I thank him for that. But I want to make some things clear.

There is no DACA policy related to FHA-backed mortgages. As a matter of fact, there has been no change in policy. FHA's published policy states that non-U.S. citizens without formal lawful residency are not eligible for FHA-insured loans.

Again, this is not a new policy. This was the policy during the previous administration. This was the policy when Secretary Castro was Secretary of HUD. It has been in place since the previous administration. There has been no change.

Mr. Chair, obviously, I don't question the motives of the gentleman, whom I have great respect for, and I once again thank him for his concern on this issue. If I have some concern, it is the fact that this may let some people believe, those folks out there who are DACA recipients, that, all of a sudden, they have this new protection, which this amendment does not give them.

Mr. Chair, I have no real objection other than to the fact that this really doesn't do anything. But I do appreciate my friend for his years of leadership and of care. Again, I don't have a real objection. This amendment just doesn't do anything.

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Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chairman, first, I understand what the gentleman is trying to do, and I respect him for that. But I think Chairman Price has set the right threshold for BUILD planning grants.

More money going to planning could potentially, frankly, mean less money for infrastructure for actual projects. That is particularly true if, as I fear, when there is a top-line number agreed to by the House, Senate, and the White House, the number that Chairman Price is going to have to work with might be less than what he is working with today, making his job a lot more difficult.

Again, I understand what the gentleman is trying to do. I have said it publicly and I have said it privately: I think Chairman Price has done a great job and has got a good balance. Therefore, even though I understand what the gentleman is trying to do, I respectfully have to oppose this amendment.

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Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chairman, again, after hearing the chairman, who is always willing to work with colleagues--again, I just understand the difficult task that he has ahead of him, but it is an issue that, as the chairman himself has said, he will continue to work on and with that--I understand where Mr. Garcia is coming from. Also, I know that he understands that this is a very difficult balance that the chairman has to deal with. I look forward to continuing to work with the chairman.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

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Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chairman, I don't object at all to the program that the gentleman is supporting with an increase. I think he has mentioned why, and I would agree with what he has stated.

The problem that I have is not with the program he is trying to increase.

We have had a lot of Members who were supporting funding for transit bus and bus facilities. I believe it is over a dozen Members who have actually written support letters for that program that this amendment, unfortunately, reduces funding from. That provides vital resources and mobility in urban areas. It is crucial to a number of urban areas around the country.

So, as I said before in other amendments, I think Chairman Price has struck the right balance in determining funding for this program. I think what the gentleman is trying to do in his amendment is meritorious. I would, however, say that taking it out of transit bus money and bus facility money is not the place to do it. Obviously, I know that Chairman Price will continue to work with the gentleman as the process goes along, regardless of what happens with this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

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