Providing for Consideration of Senate Amendment to H.R. Haiti Development, Accountability, and Institutional Transparency Initiative Act; Providing for Consideration of H.J. Res. Extension of Continuing Appropriations Act, Providing for Consideration of H.R. Suspending Energy Imports From Russia Act; and Providing for Consideration of H.R. Covid Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022
Floor Speech
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, I want to thank my good friend, the distinguished gentleman from Massachusetts, Chairman McGovern, for yielding me the customary 30 minutes, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, our second rule of the day now covers four items. As we discussed earlier, the first item is a bill to ban imports of Russian oil into the United States and to impose additional sanctions following Russia's unprovoked and unjust invasion of Ukraine.
Although I will be supporting this bill, it is a missed opportunity to exhibit unified support for the immediate steps to confront Vladimir Putin's evil empire. A much stronger bill has been introduced in the Senate that was negotiated over the weekend by Republicans and Democrats in the House and Senate. Why the majority would forgo taking yes for an answer and instead introduce a much weaker, watered-down bill is beyond me.
Our second bill is an omnibus appropriations bill covering the remainder of fiscal year 2022. Our third bill is a short-term continuing resolution to ensure the continuity of government funding while Congress finishes the larger bill. And our fourth bill is a $15 billion standalone COVID supplemental.
The omnibus appropriations bill was a long time in coming. Indeed, we are over 5 months into fiscal year 2022, and it is more than a little frustrating that it has taken us this long to get here. But we are here now, and the bill before us represents a realistic compromise between the House and the Senate and between Democrats and Republicans.
The omnibus bill is far, far better than the partisan bills the House passed last summer. This bill preserves the historic legacy of bipartisan pro-life riders like the Hyde amendment and the Weldon amendment, both of which absolutely had to be in this package in order to become law. It omits new partisan policy riders on which there is no consensus. It increases defense spending by more than $25 billion over last year, which is clearly necessary in the wake of Vladimir Putin's unprovoked aggression against Ukraine. And it provides for an appropriate, measured increase in nondefense spending, which will allow for continued investments in programs like the National Institutes of Health, ARPA-H, TRIO, and GEAR UP. The limited increase in nondefense spending allows us to make responsible investments in key programs while being good stewards of taxpayer dollars.
While it spends more than I would have preferred, it is still a very reasonable compromise.
Before I conclude, Madam Speaker, I want to, once again, congratulate Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro and Ranking Member Kay Granger of the Appropriations Committee on today's bill and thank them for their hard work.
On the new addition, the $15 billion COVID supplemental, I think there are serious concerns with this additional unpaid-for increase. According to the CBO, there is currently more than $340 billion in unobligated funds available for repurposing and appropriation. Indeed, instead of providing new resources like this bill does, we should rescind or repurpose existing COVID resources for these purposes, as the bill we considered earlier today would have done.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, I have more remarks.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, if we defeat the previous question, I will offer an amendment to the rule to bring up H.R. 6858, the American Energy Independence from Russia Act, for immediate consideration.
Over the past few weeks, we have seen the clear consequences of President Biden's war on the oil and gas industry. Emboldened by Russia's role as the key source of energy for much of Europe, Vladimir Putin launched an unprovoked invasion of his neighbor, Ukraine. Gas prices are soaring, with the pressures of unchecked inflation and Putin's threats to cut off oil and gas exports pushing them ever higher. Indeed, Mr. Putin has begun to deploy his most potent weapon, which is to threaten to cut off Europe's energy supply right in the dead of winter.
Madam Speaker, this was all avoidable. The United States has the capacity to be energy independent if only we choose to be. We can stand on our own two feet, confident in the knowledge that we can meet all of our domestic energy needs right here at home, and we can provide assistance to our allies to ensure their protection against Russian threats.
Unfortunately, President Biden's actions since taking office have made this impossible. On day one of his Presidency, he terminated the Keystone XL pipeline, and he subsequently froze oil and gas leasing on Federal lands. In lieu of the U.S. producing oil and gas that we need, he is instead asking every other oil producing country but the United States to step up. Many of these are hardly friends of our country or, frankly, humanity. It is simply astonishing.
The American Energy Independence from Russia Act would address this challenge and ensure American energy self-sufficiency. It would immediately approve the Keystone XL pipeline; it would restart oil and gas leasing on Federal lands and waters; and it would expand liquid natural gas exports at the moment Europe needs them most. It would free the United States and our allies to act in opposition to Vladimir Putin's brutal and barbarous assault on his neighbor without fear.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, I advise my friend I am prepared to close.
Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Madam Speaker, before I go to my formal remarks, my friend and I will have a discussion about energy.
I am a big believer in renewables. My own State gets 42 percent of its electricity from wind power, and we are number two in the country. I would put our record up against anybody.
We really do believe in ``all of the above.'' But we are very proud of having produced energy for over 100 years for this country in abundance, far beyond our needs, and exported at reasonable prices.
I would also remind my friend, whatever the prices are--and I wish they were lower--they are cheaper here than just about anyplace else in the world, and we can thank, literally, the thousands of people I am privileged to represent.
Many of us represent over 10 million of the men and women who actually produce the energy this country needs and, frankly, the rest of the world needs right now. I don't think they ought to be demeaned. I don't think their motives ought to be questioned. They are an extraordinary group of people, and they are patriotic and step forward whenever we need them. When times are bad, nobody seems to care what happens to them. When times get tougher, everybody wants them to step forward, invest more, and do more, and they do. They will continue to do that in this time of crisis. So, I don't think we need to be divided on this.
There is no question we need more oil and gas now; Europe needs more oil and gas now; and we have been taught a serious lesson about the dangers of becoming reliant on people like Mr. Putin when they have the ability to impact world prices.
Madam Speaker, in closing, although I oppose the rule, I am greatly encouraged by the underlying appropriations measure. While it is not perfect--no bill ever is--and could always be better, it does represent a good compromise between Democrats and Republicans that will ensure full-year funding for fiscal year 2022.
The bill before us continues Congress' policy of increasing our investments in defense spending, which is of critical importance at this time of global crisis. It provides for needed investments in health, including increasing funding for combating future pandemics and research into diseases like cancer. It funds education, infrastructure, energy production, roads, and care for our Nation's veterans.
It includes also--and I want to thank my friend for doing this--his proposal for a much-needed White House conference on hunger, and it is an area we work together on. I am proud to acknowledge his leadership in that.
It is, in sum, a bill Congress can collectively be proud of, and it is a bill that does the right thing for the American people.
On the Russia oil ban, I am disappointed. The Democrats walked away from a strong bipartisan, bicameral deal that could have united us as a Congress and led to swift passage in the Senate. As it currently stands, it is unclear what fate awaits this legislation in the Senate. I am hopeful that my friends on the other side will reflect on this missed opportunity and work with Republicans to not only stand up against Russian aggression abroad but also for homegrown American energy resources that are critical to achieving our goals and checking Vladimir Putin.
On the new $15 billion unpaid-for COVID supplemental, the data is clear that there are already adequate resources available. These could be fully utilized before additional funds are provided.
Madam Speaker, while I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the previous question and ``no'' on the rule, I encourage all Members to support the bipartisan and bicameral omnibus appropriations bill.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. COLE. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Source