Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act
Floor Speech
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Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 667, I call up the bill (H.R. 5305) making continuing appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, and for providing emergency assistance, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
With the COVID-19 pandemic still raging, amid many other serious challenges, this bill provides tens of billions of dollars to support the working middle-class families who live paycheck-to-paycheck. It supports them through investments in education, health, housing, and public safety programs, and it ensures that we can continue to help the most vulnerable.
Through investments in our schools, high-quality job training programs, and early childhood education, this bill will grow opportunity and uplift hardworking American families. It will put food on the table for those who are hungry and provide a roof over the head for those who are unhoused. Finally, it will protect public health and safeguard our consumers from dangerous products and unsafe food.
But let me be clear. This is not a long-term solution. It simply allows additional time for bicameral, bipartisan negotiations on a final year bill for fiscal year 2022. The House has advanced our process, and we are ready to begin negotiations with the Senate as soon as we complete work on this legislation.
As this bill provides critical support for our families and communities it also addresses recent emergencies that require Federal resources and incorporates feedback from Members on both sides of the aisle. It provides emergency supplemental appropriations to respond to the recent disasters caused by climate change and to address needs created by the end of more than 20 years of war in Afghanistan.
The climate crisis gave us the devastation of Hurricane Ida and last year's hurricanes, recent wildfires, severe droughts, extreme heat, and winter storms. As a result, thousands of Americans across the United States are still in great need of assistance and support. I am proud that this bill provides $28.6 billion in desperately needed Federal aid, including $7.5 billion for Hurricane Ida, so that survivors, small businesses, and hard-hit communities can rebuild and put struggling families back on their feet. We provide this relief to virtually all corners of the Nation, because all corners of the Nation need our help.
As we respond to these disasters in the United States, we must address humanitarian needs resulting from the end of the war in Afghanistan. This bill delivers $6.3 billion for urgent humanitarian assistance in the region and honors our commitment to our Afghan allies and their families who are now in the United States. It provides funding to support temporary housing, security screenings, and long- term resettlement of these Afghan evacuees. These people risked their lives to serve our Nation, and it is our moral imperative to protect them and to help them get back on their feet.
Finally, the legislation suspends the statutory debt limit through December 2022.
Mr. Speaker, with this bill we are doing what is right: supporting working families and this country.
I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
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Ms. DeLAURO. Kaptur), the chairwoman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies.
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Ms. DeLAURO. Lee), the chairwoman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations.
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Ms. DeLAURO. Wasserman Schultz), the chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, if we don't pass this CR and disaster relief supplemental, we will have a cascade of nightmare occurrences.
The Federal Government and so many programs that help our constituents will simply shut down. The United States will default on its debt, causing widespread economic catastrophe, and leave us a ``permanently weaker Nation,'' as Secretary Yellen said.
Millions of Americans will not receive emergency assistance to help rebuild from recent hurricanes, wildfires, droughts, and blizzards.
Afghan evacuees will not receive urgent humanitarian assistance.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology will not receive the $22 million in this bill to investigate the Surfside building collapse that happened in my district.
We cannot abandon all these must-pass priorities for the American people. Republicans voted for a debt ceiling three times under Trump, and this proposed increase would pay for debts that his administration incurred.
Americans have been through enough in the last 18 months. Now is not the time to hold our economy hostage and tear vital strands from our safety net. Too many children, seniors, and working families are counting on the stability we have begun to secure in recent months.
Republicans must not play politics with our Nation's fiscal stability. Too many Americans would get hurt. We must pass this CR. The alternative is catastrophic.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairwoman DeLauro, Speaker Pelosi, and Mr. Hoyer for committing to bring the Iron Dome stand-alone suspension bill to make sure that we can stand by our ally Israel and replenish the vital Iron Dome missile defense system funding that Israel must have in order to be able make sure that she can defend herself by herself.
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Ms. DeLAURO. Pelosi), the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
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Ms. DeLAURO. Pingree), the chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies.
Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5305, the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act. This important piece of legislation will achieve two vital goals: keeping our government funded through December 3 and providing much-needed relief to areas impacted by natural disasters this year.
The emergency assistance is vital for my constituents who were heavily impacted by Hurricane Ida, which caused historic flooding across central Jersey. This assistance will ensure that townships and individuals in my district can fully recover and repair from the damages of the storm.
Along with this funding, I am pleased to see the inclusion of canceling the outstanding balances of FEMA's community disaster loans.
This will lift a financial burden that New Jersey, as well as other States and territories, have struggled with in the wake of recovering from multiple disasters dating back to Hurricane Sandy. I have been fighting for this relief with my New Jersey colleagues for years, and I thank the chairwoman from the bottom of my heart for working with me to get it included in the text.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill and its quick passage towards the President's desk.
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Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
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