Dec. 21, 2017: Congressional Record publishes “DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY BLUE CAMPAIGN AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2017”

Volume 163, No. 209 covering the 1st Session of the 115th Congress (2017 - 2018) was published by the Congressional Record.

The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.

“DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY BLUE CAMPAIGN AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2017” mentioning the Environmental Protection Agency was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H10394-H10403 on Dec. 21, 2017.

More than half of the Agency's employees are engineers, scientists and protection specialists. The Climate Reality Project, a global climate activist organization, accused Agency leadership in the last five years of undermining its main mission.

The publication is reproduced in full below:

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY BLUE CAMPAIGN AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2017

General Leave

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1370.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from New Jersey?

There was no objection.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 670, I call up the bill (H.R. 1370) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to issue Department of Homeland Security-wide guidance and develop training programs as part of the Department of Homeland Security Blue Campaign, and for other purposes, with the Senate amendment thereto, and ask for its immediate consideration.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will designate the Senate amendment.

Senate amendment:

Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Department of Homeland Security Blue Campaign Authorization Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. ENHANCED DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY COORDINATION

THROUGH THE BLUE CAMPAIGN.

(a) In General.--Subtitle C of title IV of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 231 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 434. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY BLUE CAMPAIGN.

``(a) Definition.--In this section, the term `human trafficking' means an act or practice described in paragraph

(9) or (10) of section 103 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102).

``(b) Establishment.--There is established within the Department a program, which shall be known as the `Blue Campaign'. The Blue Campaign shall be headed by a Director, who shall be appointed by the Secretary.

``(c) Purpose.--The purpose of the Blue Campaign shall be to unify and coordinate Department efforts to address human trafficking.

``(d) Responsibilities.--The Secretary, working through the Director, shall, in accordance with subsection (e)--

``(1) issue Department-wide guidance to appropriate Department personnel;

``(2) develop training programs for such personnel;

``(3) coordinate departmental efforts, including training for such personnel; and

``(4) provide guidance and training on trauma-informed practices to ensure that human trafficking victims are afforded prompt access to victim support service providers, in addition to the government assistance required under section 107 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000

(22 U.S.C. 7105), to address their immediate and long-term needs.

``(e) Guidance and Training.--The Blue Campaign shall provide guidance and training to appropriate Department personnel and other Federal, State, tribal, and law enforcement personnel, as appropriate regarding--

``(1) programs to help identify instances of human trafficking;

``(2) the types of information that should be collected and recorded in information technology systems utilized by the Department to help identify individuals suspected or convicted of human trafficking;

``(3) systematic and routine information sharing within the Department and among Federal, State, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies regarding--

``(A) individuals suspected or convicted of human trafficking; and

``(B) patterns and practices of human trafficking;

``(4) techniques to identify suspected victims of trafficking along the United States border and at airport security checkpoints;

``(5) methods to be used by the Transportation Security Administration and personnel from other appropriate agencies--

``(A) to train employees of the Transportation Security Administration to identify suspected victims of trafficking; and

``(B) to serve as a liaison and resource regarding human trafficking prevention to appropriate State, local, and private sector aviation workers and the traveling public;

``(6) utilizing resources, such as indicator cards, fact sheets, pamphlets, posters, brochures, and radio and television campaigns--

``(A) to educate partners and stakeholders; and

``(B) to increase public awareness of human trafficking;

``(7) leveraging partnerships with State and local governmental, nongovernmental, and private sector organizations to raise public awareness of human trafficking; and

``(8) any other activities the Secretary determines necessary to carry out the Blue Campaign.''.

(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-296) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 433 the following:

``Sec. 434. Department of Homeland Security Blue Campaign.''.

SEC. 3. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS.

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure, in accordance with the Department of Homeland Security-wide guidance required under section 434(d) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as added by section 2, the integration of information technology systems utilized within the Department to record and track information regarding individuals suspected or convicted of human trafficking.

SEC. 4. REPORT.

Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit a report to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives that--

(1) describes the status and effectiveness of the Department of Homeland Security Blue Campaign; and

(2) provides a recommendation regarding the appropriate office within the Department of Homeland Security for the Blue Campaign.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There is authorized to be appropriated $819,000 to carry out section 434 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as added by section 2.

Motion to Concur

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion at the desk.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will designate the motion.

The text of the motion is as follows:

Mr. Frelinghuysen moves that the House concur in the Senate amendment to H.R. 1370 with an amendment consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 115-52.

The text of the House amendment to the Senate amendment to the text is as follows:

In lieu of the matter proposed to be inserted by the Senate amendment, insert the following

DIVISION A--FURTHER ADDITIONAL CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2018

Sec. 1001. The Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018

(division D of Public Law 115-56) is further amended--

(1) by striking the date specified in section 106(3) and inserting ``January 19, 2018''; and

(2) by adding after section 142 the following:

``Sec. 143. Notwithstanding section 104, amounts made available by section 111 for `Department of Homeland Security--Coast Guard--Retired Pay' may be obligated to carry out Retired Pay Reform, as authorized by part 1 of subtitle D of title VI of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114-92, as amended), and the matter under such heading in division F of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-31; 131 Stat. 409) shall be applied during the period covered by this Act by inserting `payment of continuation pay under section 356 of title 37, United States Code,' after `payment for career status bonuses,'.

``Sec. 144. In addition to amounts provided by section 101, amounts are provided for `Department of Health and Human Services--Indian Health Service--Indian Health Services' at a rate for operations of $11,761,000 and amounts are provided for `Department of Health and Human Services--Indian Health Service--Indian Health Facilities' at a rate for operations of $1,104,000, for an additional amount for costs of staffing and operating newly constructed facilities; and such amounts may be apportioned up to the rate for operations necessary to staff and operate newly constructed facilities.

``Sec. 145. Amounts made available by section 101 for

`Department of Health and Human Services--Administration for Children and Families--Refugee and Entrant Assistance' may be apportioned up to the rate for operations necessary to maintain program operations for carrying out section 235 of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (8 U.S.C. 1232) and section 462 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 279) at the level provided in fiscal year 2017.

``Sec. 146. Notwithstanding section 101, amounts are provided for the purposes described in the third paragraph under the heading `Department of Health and Human Services--Office of the Secretary--Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund' at a rate for operations of $112,000,000; and such amounts may be apportioned up to the rate for operations necessary to prepare for or respond to an influenza pandemic.

``Sec. 147. Notwithstanding section 251(a)(1) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 and the timetable in section 254(a) of such Act, the final sequestration report for fiscal year 2018 pursuant to section 254(f)(1) of such Act and any order for fiscal year 2018 pursuant to section 254(f)(5) of such Act shall be issued, for the Congressional Budget Office, 10 days after the date specified in section 106(3), and for the Office of Management and Budget, 15 days after the date specified in section 106(3).''.

Sec. 1002. (a) Notwithstanding the dates specified in section 403(b) of the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-261; 122 Stat. 2474), the amendments made by such section shall not take effect until the date specified in section 106(3) of the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (division D of Public Law 115-56), as amended.

(b) If during the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on the date specified in section 106(3) of the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018

(division D of Public Law 115-56), as amended, any Act amending the dates specified in section 403(b) of the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-261; 122 Stat. 2474) is enacted, this section shall be repealed.

This division may be cited as the ``Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018''.

DIVISION B--MISSILE DEFENSE

The following sums are appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, and for other purposes, namely:

TITLE I--MISSILE DEFEAT AND DEFENSE ENHANCEMENTS

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

Operation and Maintenance, Navy

For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance, Navy'' for necessary costs to repair damage to the U.S.S. John S. McCain and the U.S.S. Fitzgerald, $673,500,000: Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

Operation and Maintenance, Air Force

For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance, Air Force'' for necessary costs to detect, defeat, and defend against the use of ballistic missiles, $18,750,000: Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide

For an additional amount for ``Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide'' for necessary costs to detect, defeat, and defend against the use of ballistic missiles, $23,735,000: Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

PROCUREMENT

Missile Procurement, Army

For an additional amount for ``Missile Procurement, Army'' for necessary costs to detect, defeat, and defend against the use of ballistic missiles, $884,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2020: Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

Missile Procurement, Air Force

For an additional amount for ``Missile Procurement, Air Force'' for necessary costs to detect, defeat, and defend against the use of ballistic missiles, $12,000,000 to remain available until September 30, 2020: Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

Other Procurement, Air Force

For an additional amount for ``Other Procurement, Air Force'' for necessary costs to detect, defeat, and defend against the use of ballistic missiles, $288,055,000 to remain available until September 30, 2020: Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

Procurement, Defense-Wide

For an additional amount for ``Procurement, Defense-Wide'' for necessary costs to detect, defeat, and defend against the use of ballistic missiles, $1,239,140,000 to remain available until September 30, 2020: Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST AND EVALUATION

Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Army

For an additional amount for ``Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Army'' for necessary costs to detect, defeat, and defend against the use of ballistic missiles, $20,700,000 to remain available until September 30, 2019: Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Navy

For an additional amount for ``Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Navy'' for necessary costs to detect, defeat, and defend against the use of ballistic missiles, $60,000,000 to remain available until September 30, 2019: Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Air Force

For an additional amount for ``Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Air Force'' for necessary costs to detect, defeat, and defend against the use of ballistic missiles,

$255,744,000 to remain available until September 30, 2019: Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Defense-Wide

For an additional amount for ``Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Defense- Wide'' for necessary costs to detect, defeat, and defend against the use of ballistic missiles, $1,010,220,000 to remain available until September 30, 2019: Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

TITLE II--MISSILE CONSTRUCTION ENHANCEMENTS

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, DEFENSE-WIDE

For an additional amount for ``Military Construction, Defense-Wide'', $200,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2022, to carry out construction of a missile field in Alaska: Provided, That such funds may be obligated or expended for planning and design and military construction projects not otherwise authorized by law: Provided further, That such amount is designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

TITLE III--GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 2001. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds made available in this division are in addition to amounts appropriated or otherwise made available for the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2018.

Sec. 2002. (a) Funds made available in title I of this division shall be allocated to programs, projects, and activities in accordance with the detailed congressional budget justifications submitted by the Department of Defense to accompany the Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Amendments requested by the President on November 6, 2017: Provided, That changes to the allocation of such funds shall be subject to the reprogramming requirements set forth in the annual appropriations Act.

(b) Funds made available in this division may be obligated and expended notwithstanding sections 102 and 104 of division D of Public Law 115-56.

Sec. 2003. Each amount designated in this division by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 shall be available only if the President subsequently so designates all such amounts and transmits such designations to the Congress.

This division may be cited as the ``Department of Defense Missile Defeat and Defense Enhancements Appropriations Act, 2018''.

DIVISION C--HEALTH PROVISIONS

TITLE I--PUBLIC HEALTH EXTENDERS

SEC. 3101. EXTENSION FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS, THE

NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE CORPS, AND TEACHING

HEALTH CENTERS THAT OPERATE GME PROGRAMS.

(a) Community Health Centers Funding.--Section 10503(b)(1) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 254b-2(b)(1)) is amended--

(1) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``and'' at the end; and

(2) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following:

``(F) $550,000,000 for the period of the first and second quarters of fiscal year 2018; and''.

(b) National Health Service Corps.--Section 10503(b)(2) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 254b-2(b)(2)) is amended--

(1) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``and'' at the end;

(2) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and

(3) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following:

``(F) $65,000,000 for period of the first and second quarters of fiscal year 2018.''.

(c) Teaching Health Centers That Operate Graduate Medical Education Programs.--Subsection (g) of section 340H of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 256h) is amended--

(1) by striking ``To carry out'' and inserting the following:

``(1) In general.--To carry out'';

(2) by striking ``and $15,000,000 for the first quarter of fiscal year 2018'' and inserting ``and $30,000,000 for the period of the first and second quarters of fiscal year 2018, to remain available until expended''; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

``(2) Administrative expenses.--Of the amount made available to carry out this section for any fiscal year, the Secretary may not use more than 5 percent of such amount for the expenses of administering this section.''.

(d) Application.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to this section are subject to the requirements contained in Public Law 115-31 for funds for programs authorized under sections 330 through 340 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b-256).

(e) Conforming Amendments.--Section 3014(h) of title 18, United States Code, is amended--

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``section 10503(b)(1)(E) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 254b-2(b)(1)(E)), as amended by section 221 of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015'' and inserting

``subparagraphs (E) and (F) of section 10503(b)(1) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 254b-2(b)(1))''; and

(2) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``and section 3101(d) of the CHIP and Public Health Funding Extension Act'' after

``section 221(c) of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015''.

SEC. 3102. EXTENSION FOR SPECIAL DIABETES PROGRAMS.

(a) Special Diabetes Program for Type I Diabetes.--Section 330B(b)(2) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254c-2(b)(2)) is amended--

(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the end;

(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and

(3) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following:

``(D) $37,500,000 for the period of the first and second quarters of fiscal year 2018, to remain available until expended.''.

(b) Special Diabetes Program for Indians.--Subparagraph (D) of section 330C(c)(2) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254c-3(c)(2)) is amended by inserting ``and

$37,500,000 for the second quarter of fiscal year 2018'' before the period at the end.

SEC. 3103. PREVENTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH FUND.

Section 4002(b) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 300u-11(b)) is amended--

(1) in paragraph (3), by striking ``each of fiscal years 2018 and 2019'' and inserting ``fiscal year 2018'';

(2) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (8) as paragraphs (5) through (9);

(3) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new paragraph:

``(4) for fiscal year 2019, $800,000,000;'';

(4) in paragraph (5), as so redesignated, by striking

``$1,000,000,000'' and inserting ``$800,000,000''; and

(5) in paragraph (6), as so redesignated, by striking

``$1,500,000,000'' and inserting ``$1,250,000,000''.

TITLE II--CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM (CHIP)

SEC. 3201. FUNDING EXTENSION OF THE CHILDREN'S HEALTH

INSURANCE PROGRAM.

(a) Appropriation; Total Allotment.--Section 2104(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397dd(a)) is amended--

(1) in paragraph (19), by striking ``and'';

(2) in paragraph (20), by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and

(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

``(21) for fiscal year 2018, for purposes of making 1 semi-annual allotment--

``(A) $2,850,000,000 for the period beginning on October 1, 2017, and ending on March 31, 2018.''.

(b) Allotments.--

(1) In general.--Section 2104(m) of the Social Security Act

(42 U.S.C. 1397dd(m)) is amended--

(A) in paragraph (2)(B)(ii), in the matter preceding subclause (I), by inserting ``and paragraph (10)'' after

``clauses (iii) and (iv)'';

(B) in paragraph (5)--

(i) by striking ``or (4)'' and inserting ``(4), or (10)''; and

(ii) by striking ``or 2017'' and inserting ``, 2017, or 2018'';

(C) in paragraph (9)--

(i) in the heading, by striking ``fiscal years 2015 and 2017'' and inserting ``certain fiscal years'';

(ii) by striking ``or (4)'' and inserting ``, (4), or

(10)''; and

(iii) by striking ``or fiscal year 2017'' and inserting ``, 2017, or 2018''; and

(D) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

``(10) For fiscal year 2018.--

``(A) First half.--

``(i) In general.--Subject to paragraphs (5) and (7), from the amount made available under subparagraph (A) of paragraph

(21) of subsection (a) for the semi-annual period described in such subparagraph, the Secretary shall compute a State allotment for each State (including the District of Columbia and each commonwealth and territory) for such semi-annual period in an amount equal to \1/2\ of the amount described in clause (ii) for the State.

``(ii) Full year amount based on growth factor updated amount.--The amount described in this clause for a State is equal to the sum of--

``(I) the sum of the 2 semi-annual allotments made to the State under paragraph (4) for fiscal year 2017; and

``(II) the amount of any payments made to the State under subsection (n) for fiscal year 2017,

multiplied by the allotment increase factor under paragraph

(6) for fiscal year 2018.''.

(2) Conforming amendments.--Section 2104(m)(2) of such Act

(42 U.S.C. 1397dd(m)(2)) is amended--

(A) in the paragraph heading, by striking ``2010 through 2016'' and inserting ``beginning with fiscal year 2010''; and

(B) by striking ``the allotment increase factor under paragraph (5)'' each place it appears and inserting ``the allotment increase factor under paragraph (6)''.

(3) Application of regular expenditure rules.--Amounts allotted to a State under section 2104(m)(10)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397dd(m)(10)(A)) (as added by paragraph (1)) shall be subject to the same requirements of title XXI of such Act and applicable regulations of the Secretary of Health and Human Services as apply to other allotments made to States for a fiscal year under section 2104 of such Act.

(c) Extension of CHIP Allocation Redistribution Special Rule for Certain Shortfall States.--

(1) In general.--Section 2104(f)(2)(B)(ii) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397dd(f)(2)(B)), as amended by section 201 of Public Law 115-90, is amended--

(A) in the clause heading, by striking ``first quarter'' and inserting ``first half'';

(B) by redesignating subclause (III) as subclause (VI); and

(C) by striking subclauses (I) and (II) and inserting the following:

``(I) In general.--For each month beginning during the period beginning on October 1, 2017, and ending March 31, 2018, subject to the succeeding subclauses of this clause, the Secretary shall redistribute any amounts available for redistribution under paragraph (1) for fiscal year 2018, to each State that is an emergency shortfall State for the month

(as defined in subclause (II)) such amount as the Secretary determines will eliminate the estimated shortfall described in subclause (II) for such State for the month (as may be adjusted under subparagraph (C)) before the Secretary may redistribute such amounts to any shortfall State that is not an emergency shortfall State. In the case of any amounts redistributed under this subclause to a State that is not an emergency shortfall State, such amounts shall be determined in accordance with clause (i).

``(II) Emergency shortfall state defined.--For purposes of this clause, the term `emergency shortfall State' means, with respect to a month beginning during the period beginning October 1, 2017, and ending March 31, 2018, a shortfall State for which the Secretary estimates, in accordance with subparagraph (A) (unless otherwise specified in this subclause) and on a monthly basis using the most recent data available to the Secretary as of such month, that the projected expenditures under the State child health plan and under section 2105(g) (calculated as if the reference under section 2105(g)(4)(A) to `2017' were a reference to `2018' and insofar as the allotments are available to the State under this subsection or subsection (e) or (m)) for such month will exceed the sum of the amounts described in clauses

(i) through (iii) of subparagraph (A) for such month, including after application of any amount redistributed under paragraph (1) for a previous month for fiscal year 2018 in accordance with this clause, to such State. A shortfall State may be an emergency shortfall State under the previous sentence without regard to whether any amounts were redistributed to such State under paragraph (1) for a previous month in fiscal year 2018.

``(III) Funds redistributed in the order in which states realize funding shortfalls.--The Secretary shall redistribute the amounts available for redistribution under paragraph (1) to emergency shortfall States described in subclause (II) in the order in which such States realize monthly funding shortfalls under this title for fiscal year 2018. The Secretary shall only make redistributions under this clause to the extent that such amounts are available for such redistributions.

``(IV) Proration rule.--If the amounts available for redistribution under paragraph (1) for a month during the period described in subclause (I) are less than the total amounts of the estimated shortfalls determined for the month for emergency shortfall States described in subclause (II), the amount computed under subclause (I) for each emergency shortfall State shall be reduced proportionally.

``(V) Unobligated redistributed funds.--The Secretary shall withhold any funds redistributed under paragraph (1) for fiscal year 2018 before January 1, 2018, but which have not been obligated for amounts expended by a State as of that date, and shall redistribute such funds in accordance with the preceding subclauses of this clause.''.

(2) Rule of construction.--Nothing in the amendments made by paragraph (1) shall be construed as authorizing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to de-obligate any funds redistributed under clause (ii) of section 2104(f)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397dd(f)(2)(B)) that have been obligated for amounts expended by an emergency shortfall State described in such clause as of January 1, 2018.

This division may be cited as the ``CHIP and Public Health Funding Extension Act''.

DIVISION D--OTHER MATTERS

SEC. 4001. VA CHOICE.

There is appropriated, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $2,100,000,000, to remain available until expended, to be deposited in the Veterans Choice Fund under section 802 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note).

DIVISION E--BUDGETARY EFFECTS

SEC. 5001. BUDGETARY EFFECTS.

(a) In General.--The budgetary effects of division C and each succeeding division shall not be entered on either PAYGO scorecard maintained pursuant to section 4(d) of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010.

(b) Senate PAYGO Scorecards.--The budgetary effects of division C and each succeeding division shall not be entered on any PAYGO scorecard maintained for purposes of section 4106 of H. Con. Res. 71 (115th Congress).

(c) Classification of Budgetary Effects.--Notwithstanding Rule 3 of the Budget Scorekeeping Guidelines set forth in the joint explanatory statement of the committee of conference accompanying Conference Report 105-217 and section 250(c)(8) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, the budgetary effects of division C and each succeeding division shall not be estimated--

(1) for purposes of section 251 of such Act; and

(2) for purposes of paragraph (4)(C) of section 3 of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 as being included in an appropriation Act.

SEC. 5002. BUDGETARY EFFECTS OF RECONCILIATION ACT.

(a) Definition of Reconciliation Act.--In this section, the term ``reconciliation Act'' means an Act enacted into law before, on, or after the date of enactment of this Act that was considered pursuant to the reconciliation instructions in H. Con. Res. 71 (115th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018.

(b) PAYGO Scorecard.--The budgetary effects of the reconciliation Act shall not be entered on either PAYGO scorecard maintained pursuant to section 4(d) of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (2 U.S.C. 933(d)).

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 670, the motion shall be debatable for 1 hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations.

The gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Frelinghuysen) and the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey) each will control 30 minutes.

The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 1370.

This legislation keeps the government fully open, funds important national security priorities, and temporarily extends critical government programs like the Children's Health Insurance Program, the National Flood Insurance Program, and section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

Our duty to the American people is to keep them secure and to ensure they have access to the government programs and services they depend on.

The House must pass this bill now, today.

Without acting on this bill, existing government funding will expire tomorrow, and the government will shut down. This legislation provides a simple, clean extension of current funding levels through January of 2018.

This additional time will allow House and Senate leadership to complete their negotiations on overall spending levels. Once that is determined, my committee will complete negotiations with the Senate on all 12 appropriations bills for the rest of fiscal year 2018.

In the meantime, it is essential that Congress maintain government programs and services--for our Nation's stability, the stability of our economy, and for the security and well-being of the American people.

This bill also supports national security by providing an additional

$4.7 billion in emergency funding to bolster missile defense, to protect against growing threats, and to repair damaged Navy ships.

In addition, the bill also includes $2.1 billion in mandatory funding for the VA Choice Program. This funding will guarantee that our veterans continue to have access to the medical care they need and deserve.

Along with important funding for our Armed Forces and veterans, this bill contains temporary extensions of several critical programs that millions of Americans rely on. These include the Children's Health Insurance Program, the National Flood Insurance Program, and section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

Mr. Speaker, before I close, again, I would like to thank the 12 Appropriations chairs, our 12 clerks, and the very professional staff of the Appropriations Committee for working overtime to bring this bill and others before the House today.

We cannot delay on passing this critical legislation, funding the government, protecting our Nation, and extending essential programs that hardworking Americans rely on every day.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this epic failure of governing.

Nearly 3 months into the fiscal year, the Republican majority is advancing its third temporary continuing resolution with no foreseeable path forward on enacting full-year appropriations and no evident urgency to address priorities that are critical to American families and communities.

Completely preoccupied with showering tax breaks on corporations and the wealthiest Americans, the majority has failed to clear the extremely low bar of charting a course to keep the government open and meet deadlines they have set for themselves.

In short, the Republican majority has made a complete mess of the very basics of governing. Now they want Democrats to bail them out by carrying a bill that neglects our priorities.

This continuing resolution should include the bipartisan Dream Act, protecting from deportation young people who were brought to this country as small children and only know the United States as home. But this bill tells those facing deportation that their plight is not our concern.

It should include a bipartisan reauthorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program, providing long-term certainty for 9 million children and families who depend on the program. Instead, this bill tells children and families their medical needs are not our priority.

It should include an agreement to raise caps for defense and nondefense spending with parity so that appropriators can get to work on a full-year spending package that keeps America secure and prosperous. Instead, the bill tries to make an end run around solely the defense cap by slipping in nearly $5 billion in new spending for the Pentagon.

It should not clean up the mess the majority made triggering automatic reductions to Medicare because of their deficit-busting tax bill.

The majority wants to pass this bill and go home for the holidays, somehow content with its performance on behalf of the Americans they represent. In every sense, this bill fails to live up to our responsibilities as legislators and as Representatives. Given these failures, I urge a ``no'' vote.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden), the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague, the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Mr. Frelinghuysen, for his incredible and tenacious work to bring us this legislation.

By the way, all 12 appropriations bills have already been passed by the House individually and sent to the Senate.

A vote against the CR is a vote to shut down the government. It is that simple. Today is the day we keep the government operating. We are not going to take the irresponsible path of voting to shut it down.

I stand here in support of the continuing resolution. This legislation before us today not only keeps the doors of the Federal Government open and the services to our constituents available, but also provides short-term funding for the State Children's Health Insurance Program, also known as CHIP.

This program provides vital health coverage for approximately 9 million children nationwide. So, when my colleagues on other side vote

``no,'' know that they are also voting against these 9 million children who need access to this health insurance.

While I am glad we have this short-term funding, I, too, am disappointed to stand here today without Congress having completed its work to fully fund CHIP for the next 5 years. We did that in the House on a bipartisan basis.

This bill also provides critical short-term funding for community health centers. They are essential. In my district, 63 different facilities take care of men, women, and children in the community health center network. It takes care of teaching health center graduate medical education and special diabetes programs as well. So a ``no'' vote today is against all of those programs.

It is worth noting yet again that the House passed a comprehensive bill, the CHAMPIONING HEALTHY KIDS Act, in November. It was a bipartisan vote. It will fund the CHIP program for a full 5 years. Community health centers will be funded for 2 years, and the other public health programs will be funded for 2 years.

It would also prevent billions of dollars of cuts to our safety net hospitals. Those cuts will be triggered in January because of inaction in the Senate.

Unfortunately, our friends on the other side of the Capitol have yet to move our bill or reach full agreement on some different combination of offsets to pay for extending these important programs. This is disappointing since it means Congress has not yet been able to provide certainty to families across Oregon and the country who rely on these vital programs.

The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hultgren). The time of the gentleman has expired.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.

Mr. WALDEN. We are well past the time in which we should have had this done. The Energy and Commerce Committee has acted. The U.S. House of Representatives has acted. The Senate Finance Committee has acted. But the full Senate has yet to do so.

I know that Chairman Hatch and Ranking Member Pallone believe this must be done as soon as possible. We have been working closely together, along with my fellow Oregonian, Senator Ron Wyden, to figure out how to get a bill to fund CHIP and public health extenders across the finish line. So, while we are frustrated we will not complete our work today, we are determined to continue to work with my colleagues to get this done early in January.

I urge my colleagues to support the CR and these necessary funding extensions.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum), the ranking member of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this continuing resolution.

The Federal Government's fiscal year started 3 months ago. The Republican Congress still hasn't passed a full year of Federal spending. Rather than protecting our Nation and meeting the needs of the American people, we are now debating a third continuing resolution to kick the can into January.

Republicans control this House, the Senate, and the White House, but, clearly, they do not take their responsibility to fund the Federal Government seriously. Frankly, they should be embarrassed.

For the past 3 months, Democrats have sought to work with Republicans to secure a budget agreement and responsibly pass appropriations bills, but Republicans have been too busy to meet this basic responsibility. Instead, they have spent months working in secret on their deficit-

busting tax scam.

Let's be clear: the Republican tax scam is part of this CR as well. The CR contains language to exempt the Republican's lavish tax cuts for big corporations and billionaires from the statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act.

Republicans passed their tax scam knowing it was fiscally irresponsible and that it would trigger cuts to Medicare, the Crime Victims Fund, and other vital programs, and trigger an increase in Federal student loans. Now they are asking Democrats to help bail them out.

While I didn't vote for the Republican tax scam and I am not going to paper over their mistakes so that President Trump can sign it into law, here is what I will do, Mr. Speaker.

As the ranking member of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, I know Republican appropriators are as frustrated I am. I want to work with them to find common ground and to responsibly fund our government. It is time for appropriators to do our jobs and for Republicans and Democrats to work together. It is time for us to get back to work and fund the Federal Government responsibly.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur), the ranking member of the Energy and Water Subcommittee.

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Lowey for yielding, and I rise in opposition to this continuing resolution that some might consider ridiculous.

No matter how you look at it, Republicans have control of all of the reins of the Federal Government; yet we find ourselves, again, locked in an artificial crisis of their own creation on the third punt to try to run this government for another couple of weeks.

First in September, then again 2 weeks ago, and now here again today, the government will be set on automatic pilot because President Trump and his fellow Republicans refuse to pass a real budget under regular order so the Appropriations Committee can get its work done within strict budget parameters. These last 3 months, Congress has been left to twiddle its thumbs while the list of unmet priorities for Americans has steadily grown.

Most notably, let me address the Children's Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, that covers over 9 million children in our country and more than 220,000 in Ohio. In fact, that insurance program expired 81 days ago. It covers half the children in my district.

How do you think it makes those families feel? What are they going to do after the end of March?

Unfortunately, this spending bill only provides enough funding for the CHIP program through March 31, again kicking the can down the road.

Let me mention, too, the budgets for community health centers, which also expired last September 30. They serve more than 25 million patients and are the Nation's largest source of primary comprehensive care for people in need. Don't they deserve full respect from this Congress for the life-giving work they do?

Mr. Speaker, I will close with this. Up to 10 million private pensions are at risk across our country through no fault of the workers. Congress must act. But where is the leadership? Our solution is the Butch Lewis Act, which ensures America's private pensioners receive the benefits they earned.

So whether it is helping our retirees or caring for our children, time and again Republicans are ignoring real middle class Americans.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentlewoman from Ohio an additional 15 seconds.

Ms. KAPTUR. Yet, the Republicans had no problem finding trillions for billionaires who end up funding their campaigns, too.

This prescription simply is bad medicine for America, and I ask my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Roe), the chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the provision within this legislation that would authorize and appropriate $2.1 billion for the Veterans Choice Program.

Choice was created by Congress in 2014, following a nationwide Department of Veterans Affairs access and accountability crisis. Make no mistake about it: Choice has certainly not been without its faults in the last 3 years; however, the program has also resulted in millions of veterans receiving care they otherwise would have had to wait longer or travel further for--or maybe not receive at all.

Absent passage of this provision, the Choice Program is expected to run out of money in early 2018, which could jeopardize the care that veterans across the country are receiving in their communities. This is totally unacceptable.

The committee has been working diligently to create a permanent care in the community program to replace and improve upon Choice. In fact, I was proud to introduce H.R. 4242, the VA Care in the Community Act, last month. That legislation was favorably reported out of my committee just this week, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on community care reform. In the meantime, we cannot allow the care our veterans receive in the community through the Choice Program to be jeopardized by lack of funding.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter Secretary Shulkin sent me earlier this month.

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs,

Washington, DC, December 12, 2017.Hon. David P. Roe, M.D.,Chairman, Committee on Veterans' Affairs,House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: I write to raise issues for your consideration regarding the financial status of the Veterans Choice Program (VCP), established by the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014, Public Law 113-146, as amended (Choice Act). Current projections indicate that VCP could be unable to create new referrals or authorizations within several weeks. Without additional funding before the end of the year, there will be a dramatic impact on the ability of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide care to Veterans.

As of December 7, 2017, VA has approximately $490 million in VCP funds remaining, once December obligations of approximately $300 million and reserve funding of approximately $300 million are accounted for. The average spend rate of VCP funds ranges from $200-$400 million per month, with the possibility that unexpected obligations would push this above and beyond the reserves. As a result, we believe we have 3 to 5 weeks of funds left, which could change based on Veteran utilization.

Nearly 1.9 million unique Veterans have sought care through VCP since its implementation. VA has focused on improving VCP through streamlined business processes, contract modifications and implementation of statutory changes. Unless additional funds are provided, Veterans utilizing the current VCP will be less able to access timely health care as close to their homes as possible. The Veteran Coordinated Access & Rewarding Experiences (CARE) Act, proposed by VA to Congress, would satisfy the funding requirements if passed.

The challenges of the transition from VCP to a new Community Care program should not be underestimated, and VA will need to take steps soon to responsibly prepare for the termination date. If no action is taken by Congress in the next 3 to 5 weeks, VA could have to discontinue authorizing VCP care and transition Veterans to VA or other community care programs. VA's other community care programs will not have the capacity to handle all of the patients who will transition from VCP, and the wait time for appointments at VA facilities will rise if large numbers of Veterans return to VA to seek care. Taking these actions would have a number of negative consequences, including decreased access to care, damaged community partnerships and interrupted care continuity for Veterans.

Should you have any questions, please have a member of your staff contact Mr. David Brant, Congressional Relations Officer.

Sincerely,

David J. Shulkin, M.D.

Mr. ROE of Tennessee. In this letter, Secretary Shulkin explicitly stated: ``Without additional funding before the end of the year, there will be a dramatic impact on the ability of the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide care to veterans.''

A vote against the continuing resolution is a vote against funding medical care for our Nation's heroes. The Secretary's message is clear, Mr. Speaker.

I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting an additional

$2.1 billion for the Choice Program.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), a member of the Appropriations Committee.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding and for her tremendous leadership on so many issues as a ranking member.

As a member of the Appropriations and Budget Committees, I rise in strong opposition to this continuing resolution, which really could be called the ``Failure to Govern Resolution.''

This bill, as my colleague from Ohio said, shamefully kicks the can down the road once again, this time until January 19.

Why? Republicans have been too busy passing the greatest tax scam in history rather than responsibly funding the government.

This reckless, short-term resolution ignores our critical year-end priorities like passing a bipartisan, long-term reauthorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program or a DACA program.

Every day, 122, DACA recipients are losing their protections. They are afraid. They are fearful. There is so much anxiety. We should not do this today without protecting them.

This continuing resolution does not honor the temporary protected status for immigrants. It does not raise the budget caps equally for defense and nondefense spending. Much-needed funding for the opioid epidemic, community health centers, and our veterans is also not included.

I could go on and on about the problems with the CR, but I just have to tell you that the reality is this bill, like the tax giveaway, underscores the majority's complete lack of regard for everyday Americans and struggling families.

Continuing resolutions leave the American people out on a limb, with no confidence in their Federal Government.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentlewoman from California an additional 30 seconds.

Ms. LEE. I guess we should not be surprised by this approach, since the playbook for this administration from day one has been, as Steve Bannon said early on, that their goal was deconstruction of the administrative state. That is exactly what is happening with this CR. This is unacceptable.

By passing a short-term spending bill that entirely neglects urgent and vital needs and underfunds job training, affordable housing, and education, we really are selling the American people short.

Unfortunately, this is another effort to disregard the lives of millions of people. It is totally irresponsible, and it does nothing to help create jobs, better wages, or a better future for our children and their families.

I urge a ``no'' vote on this bill. We need to begin to try to do our job here.

{time} 1615

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), the ranking member of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this continuing resolution, which is, yet again, a complete abdication of our responsibilities as Members of Congress.

What we have before us today is evidence that the so-called Republican leadership simply cannot deliver on the promises they have made to the American people. Instead, this Congress has decided to continue taking the ludicrous approach of funding the government for just a few weeks at a time, while ignoring the pressing issues that demand our attention.

Over the last few weeks, Republicans in this Congress have decided to focus only on pushing through legislation designed to further enrich giant corporations, while adding $1.5 trillion to the deficit.

Yet, to the DREAMers who teach our children, care for our sick, and serve our Nation, Republicans continue to say: You just have to wait.

For millions of our most vulnerable--young kids suffering from illness and debilitating disease, who are reliant on the Children's Health Insurance Program--Republicans have made it clear their priorities lie elsewhere.

And to those who have served our country with dignity and pride, the Republican majority has failed to provide urgently needed resources to address the dire shortfalls at the VA.

Well, Mr. Speaker, the DREAMers cannot wait. The threat of deportation looms over these courageous individuals every single day. Sick children deserve our attention now. They should not be used as bargaining chips in this reckless debate. And our Nation's veterans need to know we have got their backs without delay. We cannot deny them the healthcare that they have earned.

Don't tell me that we don't have the funds to support those who need us the most, when this Congress just gave a handout to those who need it the least.

This pathetic continuing resolution fails to address the needs of the people who sent us here. It doesn't even come close.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in voting ``no.''

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), the ranking member of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I strongly oppose this continuing resolution. Yet again we are punting one of our core obligations as Members of Congress: funding government programs.

The Republican majority has failed to respond to the needs of the American people. They put services and investments that are critical to our families and our communities at risk: from apprenticeships to education for students with disabilities, child care, afterschool programs that help working families make ends meet, and financial aid for students attending college.

We should be negotiating spending levels for 2018 for both defense and nondefense spending. We should have spent the last 2 months fulfilling our responsibility as legislators by writing bipartisan bills to fund programs that help the middle class and the vulnerable, support evidence-based scientific research, and help working people get the skills that they need to find good jobs with good wages.

Instead, the Republican majority squandered the last 2 months focused on their tax scam, rewarding big corporations, millionaires, and billionaires who wrote the rules to make government work for them. Our Republican colleagues were their comrades in arms in rigging the game against the middle class.

I am horrified by the majority's decision to put the future of the Children's Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, in jeopardy: kids' checkups, shots, prescriptions, dental and vision care, hospital care, and the list goes on.

States are beginning to cut children off because of the majority's delay--my own State of Connecticut. The hardworking families that depend on CHIP deserve to know that it will be there for their children for the long term.

How can the majority go on vacation while millions of children worry about losing their health insurance?

This is a disgrace. This bill also cuts $750 million from the Prevention and Public Health Fund, which supports programs such as heart disease and stroke prevention, diabetes prevention, immunization and vaccination programs.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Connecticut.

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it was only yesterday that our Republican colleagues voted to spend $1.5 trillion of taxpayers' money on tax cuts for millionaires. Eighty-three percent of the tax cuts go to 1 percent of the people in this Nation. Instead, they are cutting nearly $1 billion from public health programs that protect them and their family.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to reject this continuing resolution because it fails to meet the obligations that we are entrusted with, the moral responsibility that we have to the American people.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the Democratic whip.

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mrs. Lowey for yielding.

Here we are again, Mr. Speaker. Two weeks ago, the Republican majority asked for another 2 weeks to write an appropriations package to fund the government, yet now they are asking to kick the can down the road one more time.

We all knew that those 2 weeks were a pretense for getting the votes to pass their tax bill. We didn't make any progress on a bipartisan appropriations bill.

Before that, Republicans asked for an additional 12 weeks in September. We all voted to give that 12 weeks.

All of us know exactly why the can keeps being kicked farther and farther down the road. It is because the majority cannot muster a majority of their own Members to support bipartisan funding bills. Because the governing party, which controls the House, the Senate, and the White House, has not been able to govern.

Senate Republican Whip John Cornyn said on Sunday: ``The can always seems to be kicked down the road.''

Yet here we are again with Republicans doing exactly that.

Mr. Speaker, let's call the CR for what it is: a chaotic retreat from rational, regular, and fiscal responsibility. We have alongside it a supplemental funding bill that provides some additional emergency relief to those affected by natural disasters, but it ought to do more, in my opinion, to help those in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

It has been 3 months since Hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and since Hurricane Harvey visited so much water on Houston.

Many still do not have electricity or running water in Puerto Rico. These are our fellow Americans. We owe it to them and to ourselves to help them in their time of need.

Mr. Speaker, Congress can do better, and it should do better. We should act in a bipartisan way.

I was on the Appropriations Committee as an active member for 23 years. I was a member of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee. I told people that you could take the 13 of us--we were eight Democrats and five Republicans--

and thrown us up in the air, we would have come down in random seats, had a markup, and you would have been hard-pressed to identify the Democrat or the Republican, because we believed our responsibility was to fund the priorities of this country.

Now, I know that we passed 12 bills.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland.

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, the Appropriations Committee used to be an extraordinarily bipartisan committee where we worked together, not on a partisan basis, but on a basis of trying to determine which priorities were important for our country, what funds were needed so that agencies could operate in an effective way. That, unfortunately, is not happening the way it did.

So, Mr. Speaker, I urge my Republican friends, who control this House, and all the levers of government, to work with Democrats on making sure that all those who need emergency disaster relief, as well as those who need funds to operate their government agencies in a way that serves America best--I urge us to work together toward that end. I urge us because nobody believes these CRs are good policy, but they, unfortunately, are becoming regular, if not regular order.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, once again, this is an epic failure of governing.

How many more times will we have to pass a continuing resolution, which not only denies certainty to men and women in uniform and all Federal employees, but is an inefficient waste of taxpayer dollars?

How many more times would the majority stumble from crisis to crisis, narrowly averting a shutdown?

It is long past time that the majority work with Democrats to increase the budget caps and write full-year spending bills. The Appropriations Committee stands ready to do our job. I hope that Republican leadership finally does its job and agrees to permit reasonable spending bills that invest in America's future.

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

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote

``yes'' to keep the government open for business, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this Continuing Resolution because we can't keep kicking the can down the road, and that is all this CR will do.

Since Republicans took control of the House in 2011, their approach to governing has been to pass short term extensions and Continuing Resolutions that merely delay the hard work of making decisions on the big issues facing our country.

Eventually, after not completing their work on time, Republicans regularly force through an extension in order to deal with another crisis of their own making. This has happened over . . . and over . . . and over.

And here we go again. We passed a CR in September and another one two weeks ago, and now we are being asked to give Republicans even more time to get the job done.

Governing by repeated CRs means federal agencies can't plan for the future or begin new initiatives. This undermines our national security; endangers our homeland security, restricts investments in groundbreaking research to treat and cure diseases, and threatens the accuracy of the next decennial Census.

This repeated inaction means we must now worry about keeping our government open at the same time we are trying to address several other large national challenges. For example, we are about to hit the nation's debt limit; Americans need help recovering from the hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Florida, and Texas and the wildfires that have ravaged California; people who depend on community health centers and the Children's Health Insurance Program are about to lose their healthcare; and we must protect the hundreds of thousands of Dreamers whose immigration status has been thrown into question.

President Trump himself created this particular crisis for the millions of Dreamers living in this country. These young men and women are American in every way but their citizenship, and due to the President's actions, nearly 13 thousand of them have lost their DACA protections, an average of 122 per day. Tens of thousands more Dreamers will eventually lose their jobs and their protection against deportation if we do not take action.

As the author of the Dream Act in the House, I believe it is inhumane to force Dreamers to live in fear and uncertainty for longer than absolutely necessary. We must act now. We can't afford to wait until the last minute for a solution, as Republicans have done so often while running Congress.

We cannot keep kicking the can down the road. I oppose this CR and urge my colleagues to vote no so we can get the job done now.

Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the continuing resolution before us today.

First, I'd like to acknowledge the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Chairman Frelinghuysen.

Under his leadership, the Committee reported, and the whole House considered and passed, all twelve appropriations bills for fiscal year 2018. That doesn't happen very often anymore, and the fact that we did it this year is a credit to our Chairman.

We've heard complaints about considering another CR rather than full appropriations bills. And I agree that continuing resolutions aren't an ideal solution to funding our government. Ideally, all twelve appropriations bills would be enacted by October 1st.

That process provides the Congress with its best opportunity to set priorities across government programs, and it provides the most stability for agencies to carry out those programs in an efficient and effective manner.

But sometimes we need more time to complete those negotiations. For example, in 2010, the Democrats controlled both the House, the Senate, and the White House. Guess what happened when they hadn't completed the appropriations process on time?

They passed a CR until the end of September. When they hadn't completed their work yet, they passed another CR until December 2nd. When they hadn't completed their work--they passed another CR until December 22.

Then, when we took the majority, we ended up finishing the appropriations process.

So while CR's aren't ideal, supporting a CR to keep our government functioning is the only responsible vote today--for national security, for our economy, and for the general welfare of the American people.

As Chairman of the Energy and Water subcommittee, I am very familiar with the positive impacts the federal government has in each of these areas--whether it's the Department of Energy maintaining our nuclear weapons stockpile, the Corps of Engineers dredging our ports and waterways so goods and materials can move freely, or the Bureau of Reclamation providing tens of millions of people with water.

We must avoid disruptions to these vital activities by passing the continuing resolution before us today and then working towards completing our work on final appropriations bills as quickly as possible.

Will we get all our work done by the end of this next CR? I don't know.

But one thing I can guarantee is that we will not get it done by tomorrow, and a vote against this resolution is a vote to shut down the government.

I urge my colleagues to vote yes on the continuing resolution.

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, Republicans have moved on from doing nothing to help middle-class America, to actively undoing everything America's middle class relies on. First, they cut taxes for corporations and the wealthy, instead of lifting up the middle class. And they did it twice. Now they're kicking the can down the road while millions of Americans suffer through the holidays. They've left millions of kids in the lurch for months by letting the Children's Health Insurance Program expire instead of protecting sick children in need of care. They have woefully underfunded recovery efforts in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Florida and Texas instead of guaranteeing clean water and electricity to our fellow Americans. And the icing on the cake: Republicans would leave 800,000 DREAMers-- Americans in every way but on paper--wondering whether their Christmas gift will be deportation papers. I cannot support Republicans' heartlessness. I cannot support Republicans' recklessness. I cannot support this bill without a fix for DREAMers.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak about H.R. 1370,

``Department of Homeland Security Blue Campaign Authorization Act of 2017'' [Further Continuing Resolution].

This resolution is an imperfect vehicle for appropriations for FY 2018, because it does not reflect an effort to include bipartisan solutions to remaining Democratic priorities.

H.R. 1370 not only fails to address remaining unsolved issues, but it also fails to fund the government through the end of FY 2018.

Republicans have not consulted Democrats on anything that is included in this year-end legislation, accordingly the majority should not expect Democrats to vote on a bill that does not include the following priorities:

A bipartisan, long-term reauthorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP):

CHIP, which provides health coverage to 9 million children, expired nearly three months ago.

Republicans have only put forward legislation that cuts other critical health programs, an unacceptable trade-off.

States have already begun taking steps to shut down their CHIP programs, and I will not vote for a Continuing Resolution (CR) that prevents children from obtaining health coverage.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program:

According to a report by the Center for American Progress, 122 DREAMers are losing their protection every single day that Congress fails to act.

Disaster aid:

My district--Houston, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands are short-changed in the supplemental proposed by the majority.

Among other glaring omissions, the Republican supplemental fails to include funding for their Medicaid programs, which are facing unprecedented demands following these ruinous hurricanes.

An agreement to lift the Budget Control Act (BCA) spending caps:

In the three months since a CR was passed in September, Republicans have not worked on a budget agreement that ensures Congress can adequately fund defense and nondefense priorities and adhere to the principle of parity between defense and non-defense spending.

H.R. 1370 would provide $4.5 billion in emergency funding for the Department of Defense, as requested by the Trump administration on November 6.

Most of that money is allocated for missile defense programs primarily targeting North Korea, an area that President Trump has failed to approach diplomatically and instead, has resorted to inflammatory threats, tweets, and other non-presidential approaches typical of this administration.

In contrast, H.R. 1370 would provide a mere four-week extension of current funding for domestic needs.

This continuing resolution would force both parties to revisit the domestic programs in January.

Mr. Speaker, I will not accept this scheme and I highlight the importance of parity between defense and domestic programs in order to provide adequate funds for veterans' health, a pension bailout, opioid-

fighting programs, and medical research.

Another major concern of this bill includes the unrevised extension of government surveillance powers; Congress has yet to agree on a proper revision of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

Section 702 of FISA was intended to be revised this month; however, the majority has failed to address that issue, adding one more unresolved priority to the list of neglected legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I am disappointed that we have again been placed in the position of having to fund the government through the device of a continuing resolution rather than through the normal appropriations process of considering and voting on separate spending bills usually reported by the Committee on Appropriations.

The reason for this last minute resolution is due to the Republican leadership being solely focused on cutting taxes on the wealthy rather than coming up with a plan to keep the government open and serving its citizens.

Republicans control the House, Senate, and the White House--they should have the votes to pass a CR on their own if they refuse to compromise with Democrats.

The government shutdown of 2013, which was manufactured by the Republican majority lasted 16 days and cost taxpayers $24 billion.

The enormous harm and disruption of the lives of federal employees and the people they serve, however, was irreparable.

As I stated, Mr. Speaker, this Continuing Resolution is not perfect and it only funds the government until January 19, 2018.

As seasoned Members of Congress, we have been in this challenging position before.

But working together in a spirit of goodwill, bipartisanship, and realism, I believe we can reach a long-term agreement that will avert a shutdown of government operations and the disruption a shutdown causes to the lives of millions of Americans who depend upon federal programs to do their jobs, educate their kids, care for their parents, and contribute to their communities.

Our constituents look to the Congress and the President to make responsible choices and decisions to keep the nation safe, the economy prosperous, and to make necessary and prudent investments in education, healthcare and research, transportation and infrastructure, economic development, science, the arts and humanities, and the environment.

This is, after all, just another way of saying that the American people expect their leaders in Washington be guided by the Constitution's Preamble and pursue policies and provide the resources that will:

establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty.

The funding priorities that have been floated by the Trump Administration fail this essential test of leadership because they are irresponsible, impracticable, unrealistic, and, in many respects, insensitive or indifferent to the deleterious impact they will have on the lives of real people living in the real world.

They do not command majority support in the Congress or of the public.

To win such support, I believe that it is essential that any subsequent continuing resolution or omnibus appropriations bill achieves the following goals and objectives:

``To establish justice'' and ``To promote the general welfare'':

1. Full funding for the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and the Department of Education Office of Civil Rights so that they have funds needed to enforce laws protecting civil rights, voting rights, and prosecuting hate crimes.

2. Fully funds community development block grants and low income housing programs in urban and rural communities.

3. Fully funds the Legal Services Corporation so that working and low-income persons who lack an army of lobbyists to represent them in Washington will at least have the assistance of counsel to defend their legal rights in courts of law.

4. Fully funds programs providing food assistance to housebound seniors, such as Meals on Wheels.

5. Fully funds programs that provide students from low and moderate-

income families access to affordable access to higher education and provides students with special needs the support needed to receive the free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE) guaranteed by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA Act).

6. Fully funds before and after school programs and other student enrichment programs that help students succeed.

7. Fully funds programs that make federal housing safer through energy efficient heating and cooling systems.

8. Preserves tax credit programs that help revitalize low income communities.

9. Fully funds the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy programs developing the next generation of clean energy and transportation technologies.

``Provide for the common defense'':

1. Provides robust funding for the Department of State and USAID to advance national security interests in places like Iraq and Afghanistan and to end violent conflicts in trouble spots which could threaten the security interests of the United States.

2. Provides adequate funding for United Nations peacekeeping missions throughout the world and distribution of food aid to people in developing and famine stricken countries, such as South Sudan, Somalia, Yemen, and Nigeria.

``To ensure domestic tranquility'':

1. Fully funds cost-sharing reduction subsidies, or CSRs, to compensate insurers for reducing deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums for low-income customers on the Affordable Care Act exchanges.

2. Protects the adequacy, solvency, and integrity of the Medicare and Medicaid programs, which provide health sustaining support for 70 million Americans.

3. Fully funds the National Institutes of Health research programs so that patient access to lifesaving treatments is not delayed.

4. Does not convert funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention into block grants which would hindering the nation's ability to respond swiftly and effectively to public health crises like Ebola, Zika, and HIV/AIDS.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that if all members of the House and Senate work together, we can reach agreement on an appropriate budget framework that that invests in the American people, preserves our national security, and keeps faith with the values that have served our nation well and made the United States the leading nation on earth.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. All time for debate has expired.

Pursuant to House Resolution 670, the previous question is ordered.

The question is on the motion by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Frelinghuysen).

The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that the ayes appeared to have it.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

The yeas and nays were ordered.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, this 15-

minute vote on the motion will be followed by 5-minute votes on:

Passage of H.R. 4667;

The motion to suspend the rules and pass S. 1532; and

The motion to suspend the rules and pass S. 1766, if ordered.

The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 231, nays 188, not voting 13, as follows:

YEAS--231

AbrahamAderholtAllenAmodeiArringtonBabinBaconBanks (IN)BarlettaBarrBartonBergmanBilirakisBishop (GA)Bishop (MI)Bishop (UT)BlackBlackburnBlumBostBrady (TX)BratBrooks (IN)BuchananBuckBucshonBuddBurgessBustosByrneCalvertCarter (GA)Carter (TX)ChabotCheneyCoffmanColeCollins (GA)Collins (NY)ComerComstockConawayCookCostaCostello (PA)CramerCrawfordCristCulbersonCurtisDavidsonDavis, RodneyDelaneyDenhamDentDeSantisDesJarlaisDiaz-BalartDonovanDuffyDuncan (SC)Duncan (TN)DunnEmmerEstes (KS)FarentholdFasoFergusonFitzpatrickFleischmannFloresFortenberryFoxxFrelinghuysenGallagherGarrettGianforteGibbsGohmertGoodlatteGottheimerGowdyGraves (GA)Graves (LA)Graves (MO)GriffithGrothmanGuthrieHandelHarperHarrisHartzlerHensarlingHerrera BeutlerHice, Jody B.Higgins (LA)HillHoldingHudsonHuizengaHultgrenHurdIssaJenkins (KS)Jenkins (WV)Johnson (LA)Johnson (OH)Johnson, SamJoyce (OH)KatkoKelly (MS)Kelly (PA)King (IA)King (NY)KinzingerKnightKustoff (TN)LaHoodLaMalfaLambornLanceLattaLawson (FL)Lewis (MN)LoBiondoLoebsackLongLoudermilkLoveLucasLuetkemeyerMacArthurMarchantMarinoMarshallMastMcCarthyMcCaulMcClintockMcHenryMcKinleyMcMorris RodgersMcSallyMeadowsMeehanMesserMitchellMoolenaarMullinMurphy (FL)NewhouseNoemNormanNunesO'HalleranOlsonPalazzoPalmerPaulsenPearcePittengerPoe (TX)PoliquinPoseyRatcliffeReedReichertRice (SC)RobyRoe (TN)Rogers (AL)Rogers (KY)RohrabacherRokitaRooney, FrancisRoskamRothfusRouzerRoyce (CA)RuizRussellRutherfordRyan (WI)SanfordScaliseSchneiderSchweikertScott, AustinSensenbrennerSessionsSewell (AL)ShimkusShusterSimpsonSinemaSmith (MO)Smith (NE)Smith (NJ)SmuckerStefanikStewartStiversTaylorTenneyThompson (PA)ThornberryTiberiTiptonTrottTurnerUptonValadaoWagnerWalbergWaldenWalkerWalorskiWalters, MimiWeber (TX)Webster (FL)WenstrupWestermanWilliamsWilson (SC)WomackWoodallYoderYohoYoung (AK)Young (IA)Zeldin

NAYS--188

AdamsAguilarAmashBarraganBassBeattyBeraBeyerBiggsBlumenauerBlunt RochesterBonamiciBoyle, Brendan F.Brady (PA)Brown (MD)Brownley (CA)ButterfieldCapuanoCarbajalCardenasCarson (IN)CartwrightCastor (FL)Castro (TX)Chu, JudyCicillineClark (MA)Clarke (NY)ClayCleaverClyburnCohenConnollyCooperCorreaCourtneyCrowleyCuellarCummingsCurbelo (FL)Davis (CA)Davis, DannyDeFazioDeGetteDeLauroDelBeneDemingsDeSaulnierDeutchDingellDoggettDoyle, Michael F.EllisonEngelEshooEspaillatEsty (CT)EvansFudgeGabbardGaetzGallegoGaramendiGomezGonzalez (TX)GosarGreen, AlGrijalvaGutierrezHanabusaHastingsHeckHiggins (NY)HimesHollingsworthHoyerHuffmanHunterJackson LeeJayapalJeffriesJohnson (GA)Johnson, E. B.JordanKapturKeatingKelly (IL)KhannaKihuenKildeeKilmerKindKrishnamoorthiKuster (NH)LabradorLangevinLarsen (WA)Larson (CT)LawrenceLeeLevinLewis (GA)Lieu, TedLipinskiLofgrenLowenthalLoweyLujan Grisham, M.Lujan, Ben RayLynchMaloney, Carolyn B.Maloney, SeanMassieMatsuiMcCollumMcEachinMcGovernMcNerneyMeeksMengMooney (WV)MooreMoultonNadlerNealNolanNorcrossO'RourkePallonePanettaPascrellPaynePelosiPerlmutterPerryPetersPetersonPingreePolisPrice (NC)QuigleyRaskinRice (NY)RichmondRooney, Thomas J.Ros-LehtinenRosenRossRoybal-AllardRuppersbergerRushRyan (OH)SanchezSarbanesSchakowskySchiffSchraderScott (VA)Scott, DavidSerranoShea-PorterShermanSiresSlaughterSmith (WA)SotoSpeierSwalwell (CA)TakanoThompson (CA)Thompson (MS)TitusTonkoTorresTsongasVargasVeaseyVelaVelazquezViscloskyWalzWasserman SchultzWaters, MaxineWatson ColemanWelchWilson (FL)WittmanYarmuth

NOT VOTING--13

BridenstineBrooks (AL)FosterFrankel (FL)GrangerGreen, GeneJonesKennedyNapolitanoPocanRenacciSmith (TX)Suozzi

{time} 1653

Messrs. HOLLINGSWORTH, McNERNEY, PETERSON, and ROSS changed their vote from ``yea'' to ``nay.''

Mr. GOHMERT, Ms. SEWELL of Alabama, Messrs. LAWSON of Florida, and DELANEY changed their vote from ``nay'' to ``yea.''

So the motion to concur was agreed to.

The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.

A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

Stated against:

Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``Nay'' on rollcall No. 708.

____________________

SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 163, No. 209