Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, I thank the chair for her strong leadership in bringing the CR to the floor, but also for her relentless work in negotiating the omnibus, what this is all about.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the CR that will keep government open, meet the needs of the American people, and honor the values of our Nation.

This short-term measure will ensure that we have the time we need to finalize negotiations on a strong, bipartisan omnibus to fund the government through the end of the year.

As I commend the gracious madam chair, Rosa DeLauro, the chair of the Appropriations Committee, I want to also commend Ranking Member Granger for her leadership as well.

This legislation extends government funding at current levels through March 11. To be clear, this bill keeps government open while making virtually no changes to existing funding policy. The CR does, however, include urgently needed emergency funding to help clean up contaminated drinking water leaking from the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in Hawaii. In doing so, we deliver a crucial downpayment to help the Navy meet immediate needs and keep families safe.

In order to advance our priorities for our country and our communities in the long term, Congress must enact an omnibus funding package.

For families, a new full-year spending package means strengthening public schools, protecting clean air and clean water, improving public health, and ensuring food and consumer safety.

For workers, it means creating new jobs and supporting small businesses.

For our veterans, it means funding for benefits, reducing backlogs for veterans and their families seeking assistance, and meeting the needs of the VA's healthcare system.

For our national security, it means support for our troops, improvements to defense readiness and modernization, the securing of our cyber infrastructure, and stronger leadership abroad.

Now that President Biden has proudly signed our bipartisan infrastructure bill, it is essential that we enact an omnibus in order to unlock billions in more Federal dollars for infrastructure projects. While they were in the infrastructure bill, the money cannot be spent unless we pass the omnibus.

This will help us rebuild our Nation while reinvigorating our middle class, creating millions of good-paying jobs improving roads and bridges, ports and airports, water systems, broadband, and more.

As the preamble to our Constitution states: It is our duty as lawmakers to ``establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.''

Today, we uphold this sacred responsibility in the short term with this continuing resolution. With our omnibus legislation, which we hope to bring to the floor soon, we will take an important step to honor the vision of our Founders.

Madam Speaker, I urge a strong bipartisan ``aye'' vote.

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