Administrations disrespect for the legislative process is an important first step. All immigration policies should serve the interest of the people of the United States, lawful, immigrant and native born alike. Congress should carefully and thoughtfully pursue the types of reforms that are right for the American People. Our nation is comprised of good and decent people the state of texas and also for the people who are First Responders and volunteers and people across this country who have offered not only their prayers of support, but a bunch of people who brought their boats with them to help at a time our nation was in trouble. I would also like to say that the heroism that we witnessed shows i think the very best of this country and everybody pitched in together. I just walked in from watching that this new storm that is out in the atlantic is the largest storm in the history ever recorded at that point and it hasnt even hit warmer water yet. It is aiming for the United States of america, i would hate to say any one state because we dont know, its going to hit america,s a ameri america, and the things that we do today are in honor of the things we do know and the things we pray for, we also pray for the people of san juan and the people who are in the caribbean, and i know that mrs. Slaughter and i spoke very clearly about anguish thats on all of our heart, but with resolve and the resolve is that we care about people. Weve begun the process, and ive had a number of conversations all week including with chairman highsen, and mr. Mulvaney, the head of office and management and budget as well as members of the texas delegation and with our colleagues, at least the gentleman and the senator from tks tex and mr. Cornyn and each of these discussions have been for the safety of people, but its also been about the necessary and correct help, and i know and you know that the texas delegation is hoping that we have bills that actually address only the storm and that we have a Public Comment and conversations going on all around this country, and i know about an unprecedented size, but we are going to work with everybody to address that issue, and i want to thank each of you. Chairman, thank you for your recognition of this issue and working hard and the Committee Time that youve taken. Today well dollar the hhr 354 and the appropriations act of 2018. This important legislation ensures that we here in the house are doing our job and in funding not only our military, but also essential government programs. We are delighted to hear directly from not only the chairman, but also really one of my favorite members who is the Ranking Member from new york on the merits of not only this legislation, but addressing overall the needs of the country. Well also be addressing amendment testimony on transportation, housing and urban Development Section of the bill. Amendment testimony on agriculture, Rural Development, food and Drug Administration related in agencies section of the bill and amendments that with the testimony of the state and foreign operations and the related section of the bill. I want to be clear as officers are listening of what were trying to communicate and i want to be clear that any member with amendment testimony to the divisions b, g or h should come before the rules committee this evening and the rules committee will be hearing testimony on the divisions b, e, g and h. Members are advised that they can submit their amendment testimony in writing and this is not a requirement that you come up and speak about your amendment, but it is to say thats the work were going to do this evening and well stay up all night if thats what it takes and i would suggest that if you would only like to have your words and the things which you have provided testimony, well take those also. So that is what were attempting to do. Weve set aside this week. Mrs. Slaughter was aware of this and the rules committee had a discussion before we left and we advised them to sleep fast and weve done that. Without further ado, i would like to welcome the chairman of the full committee. Before i promise to do that to the underlying legislation as well as chairman rogers and Ranking Member allard to speak on state and foreign ops division. Well also include my dear friend from georgetown, texas, or round rock, texas, which is it . Round rock, texas, i was in georgetown this last weekend, thats why i didnt see you, to speak on the Homeland Division of the bill and i know each of you have put a lot of time in on this and looking forward to your testimony and anything you have will be entered without further objection and before i go further i would like to thank the Ranking Member of the committee for any comments you would like to make. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I want to say to our texas friends and all of the other members of the house that what we witnessed was what was happening in texas was deeply hurtful to all of us, and i dont think ive ever seen such bravery. I saw nobody crying, weeping, wailing why me. The thing that worried me, though, and i was just talking to pete about it, the children, even the smallest ones and 2 and 3 years old and not a whimper out of them. They came in on those boats and rescues and just as strong as they could be. Almost too strong. Im a little bit worrieded about it because there was a lot of ptsd from children left over from katrina, and we have to be careful whatever we have to do to survive this that happened. My hope, too, and obviously we want to be as generous as we can be. We want to do what we need to do, but my hope would be that texas would take the opportunity with houston as they rebuild that beautiful city that they would leave the flood plains alone. There was no question, i think, i know you may not want to believe in Global Warming which i do think the permafirst that melted in alaska has some bearing on this case, but in any case, the ability for the sponge, the natural sponges by building the flood mains youve taken that away. So get the best advice, texas, before you rebuild there and do the best job we can with this money and maybe with hope you wont have to go through that suffering again. I want to say how pleased we were as we watched those rescues and see those helicopters marked with new york and they were there as well as our national guard. So were proud of them as well as everybody else in america who really came together and who said were all in this with you and thats very important for us to recall. Thank you very much, mr. Chairman. Thank you very much. I would like to address, if i can, the cities at least of fort worth, dallas, austin and san antonio are pitching in to help thousands of people, and in fact, as you speak, dr. Richard snyder who was one of the attending physicians who was there last night spoke to me about the need to make sure that we are providing good counseling for the children and people who were stressed out and the cities are very aware of this, but dr. Snyder did address that and recognized it. Successly, i think that we are looking at Houston Texas that have three years in a row of five once in a 500year floods. Thats an indication that we Better Change the modelling. Yes. And that modeling as you can i talked about is not rebuilding on flood plains that we know that exist three times and by doubling that space for the Flood Control would lessen the ability for more flood. So its a really twosided equation and its very, very important. Let me say one of the thicng thats been on my mind, one was a daca supporter and a young man who stands to be deported and he was out there doing his best for his fellow americans. A number of them. Yes. Thank you. I want to talk about the bill, and ill wait for my turn. Okay. Okay. We need to make sure i forgot, its birthday. Oh, my god judge, happy birthday some good news judge, i hope i make it. Happy birthday, and well find a way to celebrate. Well find a way to celebrate. Thank you very much. Okay. I inadvertently made a mistake and lucille, youre a homeland Ranking Member and i got that wrong and for that, i apologize. Okay. Chairman, Ranking Member, we are so glad that youre here and the chairman is recognized. Members of the rules committee, thank you for having us back. Thank you for letting us testify on the make america secure and prosperous appropriations act. May all of us extend our deepest sympathies the residents and victims of texas and louisiana. I think all 50 states contributed to the volunteer, fort and may i give a hats off to task force one, search and rescue from new jersey who were down there as they were on 9 11 in lower manhattan. We are awful low proud of the human spirit and endeavor that will help tecxas and louisiana recover. I am here in regarding to the prop legislation which includes 12 of the appropriations bill. In total this bill provides 400 and National Security programs that support our economy, keep americans safe and healthy and preserve our position as a global leader. As you are well aware, because weve been here before on the earlier package, this is a product that worked with months of hard work and input of every member and i thank all of the chairman and the Ranking Members but especially the Ranking Member for great cooperations hes given me so we can expedite these bills. Let me say in addition an amendment that has been offered in this package that will address an issue with the underlying bill to ensure that all funds with in the Disaster Relief fund continue to be available for ongoing disaster recovery. I think thats important to all of us. So mr. Chairman, the bill before you does fulfill our constitutional duty that we adequately and responsibly fund the entire federal government for each fiscal year, the legislation invested in Important National priorities by respecting budgetary realities and it is a good, solid bill and i would like to thank my colleagues for their hard work in putting it together and thank them in advance for their presentations before your committee both ranking and chairs. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Chairman, thank you very much. Miss louie . Thank you, mr. Chairman, and thank you for always giving us such a gracious welcome. Its a pleasure for me to be here before the rules committee. We need to advise you need to come up here on your birthday, also. Well take better care for you on your birthday. I dont know when that is. Well keep that a secret, but you can wish me good wishes every day of the week. Every day you can say happy birthday to me. Pr [ inaudible ] my pleasure. Any you know, when you i have to just say when you see the pain and the suffering on the one hand and on the other i was just glued to the bravery on the part not just of First Responders, but all of the people, rescuing the babies and the children and the seniors from Nursing Homes so i think its time whether we cook or we dont cook its time to celebrate those extraordinary men and women. I was glued to it and i feel proud, and i know well talk about numbers at some point, but i came home and said to my husband, i feel proud to be a citizen of the United States of america and to know when there is a catastrophe like this, we can do something to help people and im very proud to be here today to talk about it and thank again all those brave people who were there with their kneehigh, waisthigh boots. It was really quite a sight. So on the one hand, you saw the pain and suffering and on the other hand, you saw really heroism at its very best. So for me, im happy to be here with you all today. Okay. Thank you for the opportunity to testify and let me first say that the bill we will consider on the suspension calendar tomorrow i know will be a down payment to help families and communities recover from Hurricane Harvey, and as we were saying no amount of money can possibly replace loved ones homes when you saw them taking out every bit of carpet and furniture and clothes and pictures and not only thoughts and prayers. I know what a responsibility we have to not just the victims and the loved ones who were lost, but to provide assistance. So on the bill, we are here to consider im going to be brief. We have our subcommittee rankings here today to discuss their relevant divisions and most of my concerns during my last appearance in july remained for the eight appropriation bills we consider today. These bills are written, unfortunately, to partisan levels that undercut Economic Growth and priorities in which families rely. The nondefense bills are below sequestration levels set in law, beyond the funding levels and they are chock full of writers to which my side of the aisle as i know you know, has deeprooted opposition like cutting funding for planned parenthood. If members of the majority are serious about governing, loading must pass spending bills is a sure way to fail and while not surprising, it is nonetheless shocking that this package callously removes a bipartisan amendment from a committeepassed bill that would allow d. R. E. A. M. Ers to work for the federal government. I just want to make sure that all soaks in because this was bipartisan, it passed the committee and it is so callous and so cruel its hard for me to see that this is part of this bill. Chairman sessions was clear last meeting that leadership has the authority to overturn the clear will of another committee by arbitrarily, the leading language adopted through regular order, but, my friends and i would say this to my friends on both sides of the aisle, just because you can do something doesnt mean you should. Its an affront to the democrats and republicans to the idea of regular order and to this entire institution. This appropriation bill should be considered in the house separately under an open rule to allow members of both parties the opportunity to have their constituents voices heard. Yet, the rules committee took the highly unusual route of requiring amendments be submitted during the district work period in order to produce a structured rule that restricts the ability of members of both parties to offer amendments. Both parties have employed restrictive processes before, but it is not a tool that should be used without first trying to use an open process and when the republicans were in the minority my friends on the other side of the aisle, and i do remember complained bitterly about structured rules for appropriation bills. This process shuts down not only the minority, but also members of the majority whose amend wants are opposed by their leadership. Members should have every opportunity to amend the bills. To that end, i hope the committee will make an order and several amendments that i sub committed including the one to strike the expang of the global gag rule and the United NationsPopulation Fund. The expanded global gag rule is particularly, greejous as it would apply for Health Assistance tying up 8. 8 billion in funding for programs such as lifesaving nutrition programs and efforts to prevent malaria, tb and hiv. Prohibiting support to unfpa, expanding the global gag rule severely erode the progress weve made on both maternal and child health and access to Family Planning services. My other amendments would offer democratic alternatives to the state and Foreign Operations Division of the bill to rectify the most egregious cuts and strip out writers in the current version of the bill. As currently written it is wholly inadequate to meet the many challenges facing the world unless the plan is to employ the military instead of diplomacy. The allocation makes chairman rodgers job impossible. Extremely difficult, but impossible by allowing the house to work its will through amendments addressing the policy on the global gag rule, unfpa, Climate Change and an allocation of resources, we can make real improvements to that division. In addition, i respectfully request the rules committee make an order other amendments i have submitted for consideration including amendments that would prohibit the department of justice from using funds to obstruct special counsel Robert Muellers investigation. I want to make sure thats heard. That would prohibit funds to block the release of the reports for whit supremacy and provide 1 million to support federal Fitness Standards for safety personnel on interstate railways, eliminate a policy rider and maintain current funding for title 10 Family Planning. Protect contraceptive excuse me, coverage for millions of american women and provide funding to the cdc for firearm injury prevention recess research. In conclusion, my final point before i conclude is to say what we all know, to enact appropriation bills, you will need democratic votes and unfortunately, rather than ackack knowledak acknowledge that fact, we only have 11 legislative days until we must sign appropriation bills into law or shut down the government. To meet our deadline it is past time to engage the senate and the white house to pass legislation that can actually be enacted, yet the majority is once again catering to the far right, putting our economy and our reputation on the line again. So thank you again to all my friends especially our chairman. I hope you will take these remarks very seriously. We all have an interest, certainly on appropriations in moving these bills and we know that there are changes that can be made, must be made to move the process over. So thank you for giving me an opportunity to share my thought, mr. Chairman. Thank you very much. As always, your words do matter. Thank you. Your ideas are powerful. Thank you. Thank you very much. Chairman rogers, we are glad that youre here. The gentleman is recognized. Mr. Chairman, thank you for hearing us today and like the others, let me pass along our condolences to your colleagues and neighbors in texas. Houston has proven to be a city of good samaritans. Its amazing, as others have said, to watch neighbors taking care of neighbors, strangers taking care of strangers. The First Responders including the national guardsmen, as well and other First Responders. Its truly an amazing story. I think perhaps the most amazing story to come out of this hurricane. In kentucky, the people are wanting to help and you are helping. In fact, our university of kentucky basketball coach John Calipari just used his team and they did a telethon. You have to know how much kentucky basketball is revered in the state, but he raised a million bucks in that telethon just for texas. Mr. Chairman, the Appropriations Committee has worked hard. Indeed, i think it sets a record for the brevity of considering all of these bills in the past few weeks, and i want to recognize chairman freeling especially for his leadership and Ranking Member louie for her partnership. Its been a truly remarkable performance, mr. Chairman, that you let us through. Let me say a couple of words about the funding for the department of state, foreign operations and related programs and this portion of the bill reduces International Diplomatic and Development Programs of 10 billion, reduces 17 cut from fiscal 17. In a tough budget environment the bill strikes a balance twraen fiscal responsibility and support for continued United States leadership, diplomatic engagement and foreign assistance. The socalled soft power of the United States. Extremely important in this world in which we find ourselves. It does so first by providing over 6 billion for embassy security. This funding will allow the state department to address the security needs of more than 275 United States diplomatic facilities embassies, residences and other things, consulates and embassies in line with the recommendations of the benghazi accountability review board. I just had a chance over the last ten days to visit several of our embassies, and truly, these are dedicated americans that work there and they are patriotic to the nth degree and it is our obligation, mr. Chairman, to be sure they can work in safety rather than suffer as they did in benghazi. Second, the bill contains 8. 4 billion for Security Assistance and maintains support for key u. S. Allies and partners. 3. 1 billion is provided for israel fully funding the last year of the current memorandum of understanding. It also maintains Foreign Military financing for egypt, jordan and tunisia. The bill includes increased Security Assistance for ukraine and supports other countries facing russian aggression including the ruth influence fund in the bill. In fact, i was just at the Ukraine Embassy a few days ago as they faced the russian invasion of the eastern half of their country. Theyre asking that they be allowed to have defensive weapons to defend themselves against the russian aggression. We, so far, have not agreed to that. I certainly hope that we do. The same is almost true in georgia where the russians have seized two of the provinces of that country with military occupation. We went to the checkpoint and looked down on the russian encampment and that is imprisoning the people of those two provinces of this free country. Theyre not letting kids go to their schools. Farmers cant get across the checkpoint to their cattle and any number of inconveniences that they can impress upon them. Our soft power is important, mr. Chairman, just as person as the military power. Third, the bill promotes American Values around the world. Maintaining funding for democracy programs including through the National Endowment for democracy and the democrat see fund account. Fourth, the bill includes 8. 3 billion for Global Health programs and over 5. 9 billion for humanitarian assistance continuing our countrys strong tradition of providing humanitarian aid and helping the most vulnerable. These investments also make us better prepared to prevent detect and respond to emerging health crises, and ifth, at a time when we must remain focused on balancing federal spending, this bill, limb nates many programs, focuses on improving oversight and management and takes steps to make our government more accountable to the congress and the American People. No funds are provided for President Trumps global Climate Change initiative. Funding for the u. N. Is reduced by 900 million and International Banks and Financial Institutions are cut by over 800 billion. Finally, the bill protects and preserves life by embracing the president s expanded mexico city policy. Prohibiting funding for the Population Fund and continuing all prolife writers. Mr. Chairman, both our national and economic interests by reducing spending i think it deserves our support. I would be happy to answer. Mr. Chairman, thank you very much. I believe you had the other side of the young chairman on youre trying to do your very best here. You know, how, when you would show up tom would remind me about his favorite chairman and now that rodney is here, tom reminds me who his favorite chairman is so these things happen. You are recognized. Well, i think i addressed my responsibilities as Ranking Member. I know you included some of those comments and i included comments considering the subcommittee so given all of the work ahead of this committee i will defer to a chair and ranking of a committee. Thank you. Carter . Thank you, mr. Chairman. Let me thank everybody for everything you had to say about houston and the gulf coast of texas. Its as bad as you think it is. I saw this on cnn when i was excuse me, with miss rogers overseas and two dallas boys sitting around doing nothing and someone said, put it up on houston. They had nowhere to go, and just went to put their boats in and they came up on a house and it looked like it was bad, and it was armpitdeep water outside, and waistdeep water when we got in the house and there was an old man, 88 years old, sitting on a bed and the water was up to the edge of his mattress. He said i didnt think anybody was going to come because i couldnt make any noise, and i figured i was okay as long as that water didnt get over the top of my mattress and you boys timing is perfect. And so the one guy said we waded through the snakes the snakes and picked him up and carried him out. It is a lot of heroes doing that work. Im a native houstonian born in houston and raised outside and i can tell you the problem houstons got is its as flat as this table. If this is level and you poured a glass of water on this table that water would just sit here. It wouldnt run off. It would just sit there and the only elevation theyve got at 50 feet above sea level is the bayous. The bayou rises and lowers with the tide. Theyre not really bayous and theyre really a ditch, but bayous sounds better, and when they fill up theres nowhere for the water to go. Period. Whether youre in the flood plain or not in the flood plain, the waters going to rise. Its a real tragedy. Its a lot better than it used to be when i was a kid and theyll continue engineering it to get better, but im proud of my state, and im proud of my fellow texans. Please forgive my laryngitis. Excuse me. Now, mr. Chairman and Ranking Member, i would like to address the Homeland Security bill. Thank you. The department of Homeland Security appropriation bill for fiscal year 2017, this includes a total of 51 billion to include 44 billion in discretionary funding and 6. 8 billion for major disasters. This includes the 1. 6 billion that was previously included to make america secure act that was passed in july. The cbp, the funding the border wall was passed in congress in july and 1. 6 billion for 74 miles more construction was included. This bill was under the associated technology, infrastructure and assets that are needed for our Border Security to include to include additional ened education, training and exercise. Request disastrous. Funds to secret service, cyber security, acquisition requirements at the requested levels. In conclusion, my colleagues, this bill is focussed on Homeland Security and Law Enforcement. It sends a powerful message that if you break our nations laws or cross our border illegally, you will suffer the consequen s consequences. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Im happy to answer any questions. Thank you, not only for the update on houston, but as chairman rogers and others suggested all of the work that was done by the subcommittee chairs and rankers all across the Appropriations Committee as each and every subcommittee contributed so that we are taking all 12 of the funding bills done over these i appreciate your help and i hope that helps you out a little bit with your cough. Thank you. Before i make my statement, i would like to associate myself with the comments that were made by previous speakers about the tremendous pride that we have in not only the response of those who were impacted by the tragedy of this natural disaster, but by the tremendous response and the ability for people to put aside their differences and come together as americans to help each other. That was a site to behold and i know you are very proud, as we all are, of that response. Chairman, Ranking Member and members of the economy tecommit pleased to testify before you with the distinguished chairman, chairman rogers. The chairman and i agree on many things, but even when we must disagree, we do it with respect for one another and respect for the institution in which we are honored to serve. The funding bill addresses many bipartisan priorities, including maintaining funding for First Responder and antiterrorism grants and the emergency food and shelter program. It provides increases above the requests of the offices of civil rights and civil liberty programs. Funding for science and Technology Centers of excellence. I particularly want to note that the bill restores flooding for flood mapping, discretionary grants, which the Trump Administration proposed to litigate and funding for predisaster grants which the Administration Proposed to cut. These are precisely the kinds of program that help communities mitigate and prepare for the impacts of natural disasters like Hurricane Harvey, and we should, in fact, be investing even more. There is much in this bill that democrats can support. We cannot support the bill 705 million increase for Immigration Enforcement in the interior of the United States. The increase of detention beds, which is 10,000 beds above fiscal year 2016, and the hiring of 1,000 additional ice officers and agents. The administration claims it is more aggressive enforcement approach is critically important to National Security and public safety. But ice is now arresting people with no criminal infractions who have lived, worked and paid taxes in this country for years. These arrests are not required for National Security or public safety. Serious crimes and witnesses to crimes are less willing to come forward. Teachers tell us children are afraid to school for fear their parents will be gone when we return home. The trauma being inflicted throughout our country cannot be overstated. To those who assist the law, we must enforce it without discretion, this is a moral question as much as a legal one. Congress has discretion in prioritizing how to spend taxpayer dollars. Instead of overly aggressive enforcement, we should be investing more on cyber security, Human Trafficking investigations, coast guard vessels and aircraft, flood mapping and predisaster mitigation. We should restore funding for research and laboratory and for tsas Law Enforcement officer reimbursement program. Many of our colleagues have submitted amendments, and i strongly encourage the committee to make them in order. I, too, have submitted amendments. Mine would reduce ice detention and removal funding by 850 million and use the savings to support the acquisition of a coast guard heavy ice breaker. Russia has 41 ice breakers focussed on the art tick that are active or under construction, four of which are heavy ice breakers. The u. S. Has only two active ice breakers. Only one of which is a heavy ice breaker, and it is nearing the end of its operational life. Our countrys lack of ice breakers puts our nation as a serious disadvantage and makes us more vulnerable because we are unable to patrol parts of the arctic ocean for months at a time. Combined with 150 million provided in the fy 17 defense bill, the additional 850 million from my amendment would be sufficient to purchase the first new ice breaker and put the United States on a solid path towards securing our sovereign interest in the arctic region. I thank you again for the opportunity to testify, and i am happy to answer any questions. Thank you. Thank you very much not only for your thoughtful observations but also your success to the general package. And i appreciate that. I going to go to the gentleman from wyoming for the first rounds of questions. Thank you, mr. Chairman and thank you to the chairman and Ranking Member and the subCommittee Chairman as well and i want to also associate myself with all the comments that have been made about houston, about the resilient and strength we have seen of the people affected and also how moving the stories of the d. R. E. A. M. Ers have been who have been affected there. I believe what president obama did was unconstitutional. I think it is time for congress to act. As we do that we shouldnt hold children responsible for the crimes committed by their parents as we go forward here. I also want to say thank you in particular to the chairman and the Ranking Member of the committee. I know its been said before here, but it has been historic what you have all done in terms of the speed with which we have put together. One of the things i heard repeatedly is the republicans have control of the house and control of the senate and control of the white house, so why are you voting on spending bills like the omnibus that didnt seem to reflect republican priorities. So i applaud this process and this effort to make clear that we are laying out what their priorities are and you have done that in a time of very difficult financial and physical constraints and it is very much appreciated by the rest of us. Chairman rogers, i wanted to ask you a questions about the state and foreign ops package. One thing i hear repeatedly, which i think is inaccurate and i say this having worked at usid during bush 41s administration as well as at state department. And this notion that because were cutting funding for our foreign aid programs for the state department that means we are reducing the importance of those efforts. One of the things i saw consistency was a real failure to measure results and a failure to say are we getting our taxpayers money worth from these programs. Mr. Chairman, can you comment on the extend to which, even though we are seeing significant cuts, that doesnt mean any kind of diminishment in recognition on how important diplomacy is and how important it can be to our foreign affairs. I thank the gentle lady for that question. Does the gentleman have his mike on . You might want to move that a little closer. Thank you for the question. Let me use this. As an example of this socalled soft power of the u. S. , in georgia, which we were just in, we were entertained by the new speaker of the house, the new Prime Minister of the country. They depend upon assistance, which i remind you is bordered on the north by russia, on the south by armenia and turkey. Between the casspi yan sea and the black sea. It is not a nice neighborhood. But they rely upon u. S. Aid to help the governments of those countries protect themselves. And i remind you again in georgia of the some 18 provinces. Russia now has occupied two of them and prohibit the citizens there of from leaving their protector, for example. And but for the u. S. Presence there, i have no doubt that georgia would not even exist. So american aid is a bull work for democracy and a protector of people who have values similar to ours. And so its a fairly small part of the federal budget. More than most people realize. But its very important. It pays off in great dividends. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Yes. Thank you. I would like to just add to what our distinguished chairman has said because in addition to my responsibilities of working with chairman, i have had the privilege of working with ch chairman rogers. And i appreciate your question and i would like to elaborate. We have had very important meetings and i thought informative meeting with secretary tillerson. It is now nine months since, and i respect the fact that the secretary is an engineer and he felt that he wanted to take apart the analysis of the whole department before he put it together, but as i understand it, im not sure which way i should look here. You can look straight ahead here. But as i understand it, there are desks empty all over the state department. We are living in such a complicated world today. And again i respect the fact that secretary tillerson is an engineer and hes doing some careful analysis. But when hes traveling and hes on the go and dealing with the complicated challenges we have today, not to have backup, to have empty desks at the state department, as i understand, is really problematic. So i appreciate your questions, and i do hope that the review of the state department and its function will be completed nine months and that secretary tillerson could have some professional people in addition to the people that he had there to assist him in analyzing the challenges he had in moving forward. So i just wanted to add that comment because ive been working on these issues a long time, and i have such incredible respect for the professionals we have in the field and here working with the secretary in trying to resolve very, very complicated challenges. Thank you. Mr. Chairman, let me add briefly to that. The secretary has submitted names to the white house and several key hosts have been now appointed, including the deputy secretary of management, which is key, john sullivan. And there is a new head of usaid, who is also a great appointment. So hes beginning to fill these essential posts. Now, in our bill, we mandate that before the new reorganization is put in place that it must be submitted to this congress, to this committee for our review. So i appreciate your question and mrs. Lewiss remarks. Im still waiting. Well, thank you both very much. And i do think it is important that we have people in key positions. I think secretary tillerson is doing a tremendous job. I think this Foreign Policy team is first rate. And i think that there are some positions that are more important than others. And one of the things that can be extremely frustrating when you are at the state department is watching sort of the people doing the same thing over and over and over again and in particular when you are talking about taxpayer money and these programs are money is basically pushed out the door at the end of the fiscal year and no real measurement of effectiveness and i think taxpayers deserve better. I think the oversight in this bill will help us to get at that and i applaud the committees efforts in that regard. I also applaud their efforts to removing the anticoal regulations. So thank you very much for that. And with that, id like to yield back the balance of my time. Thank you very much. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I too want to associate myself with remarks that have been made about remarkable people in texas and how moving it has been to watch as they have responded so her rowically and frankly in a manner that really does credit to the state. Also be remiss not to point out what the officials have done. Its been really a masterful performance in all three levels of government. I want to give the president a lot of credit for going to texas twice as well. I think those were visits that helped focus the attention of the government and broader public. I saw exactly this kind of response to sandy when our friends in the northeast had it pretty tough and i see it pretty routine any in tornadoes and across the different parts of the country. We saw it spectacularly on 9 11 and we saw it spectacularly in the Oklahoma City bombings. This is an american response, just who we are as a people and how we do, and we may have our differences on occasion. But nothing reminds you how fortunate you are to be an american like a disaster because all the resources and ingenuity of a great and generous people are immediately at your disposal. I am proud of america and particularly those enormously able people in texas. Weve gotten help many, many times from our friends in texas when weve had a bad go of it and were real proud to be i know we spent over two does search and rescue unites. We have elements of our guard there. Every power team in several states is down there now trying to help the folks in texas get the power back up and running. So it really is a agaproud mome. With all the difficulties we sometimes and differences we point so, we forget the great underlying unit and the strength of this country. I dont need to ask a lot of questions to my friends because believe me i sat through every minute of their pibills going through and while people may complaint aboutthe restricted amendment process, there certainly wasnt a Restricted Committee and we had a vigorous debate on that level. Im glad to see its going on. I actually share some of my friends concern about process. But i also know where we were when the former chairman of our committee took over and we were doing yearlong crs and not doing open rules or anything else. We werent doing anything. And its been first chairman rogers and my good friends work with both of them that have begun to restore the process. And if we are successful in getting this to the floor and we will be, all 12 bills will have gotten in one form or another for the first time in many years. I would prefer that they all arrive individually. And i like the open rule process, quite frankly. But that was done away with by our friends when they were in the majority. We tried to restore it and we failed and i regret that because to me i think thats a congressional failure really across the board. A lot of my friends are afraid of casting tough votes. Thats why they want structured rules. If you are on the Appropriations Committee, you are going to get a chance to cast those tough votes. But it doesnt hurt to cast some tough votes. When you limit the ability of anybody to come down and offer an amendment, you lessen the power because not all these amendments will be made in order. But i still want to mark progress, and this is progress, mr. Chairman. Getting all 12 bills through in record time through the committee as we got the bgt very, very late from the administration. Thats not unusual. All administrations are late getting you the budget. Thats hard for them to do when theyre setting up shop. We made a decision at our leadership level that we could have got the 17 bill done earlier. We would have had more time as a committee to focus on our task for fiscal year 18. But im still amazed we got it done in the manner we did. That wouldnt have been possible without the chairmans leadership and the cooperation of the Ranking Member as well. I know she has our differences and shes labeled them well and we listen to them with a great deal of respect because theyre based on many years of experience. But again the fact you moved them all through committee, all 12 bills, our friends in the senate are still struggling to get one through. All 12 are through. Four across the floor and now eight more are getting ready to come. It will at least be an opportunity for the first time in many years for members not on the Appropriations Committee to offer amendments. Not all will be made in order but they will at least get to do it on every single bill. And we have not had that. I think that says something about the leadership of the committee that they worked toward that. I just hope that the only thing id say speaking collectively about the bills and my friend the Ranking Member, we dont also agree on every issue, but we dont the end to disagree on process issues very much. And i dont disagree with some of our comments. I will say this, though. While this exercise at certain points is a partisan exercise, and thats the way its always been, it becomes a bipartisan exercise at a later point in the process. Thats what we had to do to get the fiscal year 15, 16 and 17 budgets and our approapriations done in a omnibus form. While i would expect that this is the houses position that we have here in these eight bills and, you know, that arms our leadership and our chairman to go into negotiations with bills that have passed the floor, my friend is right. At the end of the day, there will be a bipartisan agreement or a yearlong cr, and we should all not want a yearlong cr. That is really bad for the government. So i just hope my friends on my side of the aisle, you know, support these bills. They reflect their values and their views. They do not reflect the values and views in many ways of my friends on the other side of the aisle. But at the end of the day, it will be a bipartisan negotiation. And some of these issues will be resolved in ways that we wont lose every fight. Well win more than our share. Were the majority. But we wont win every fight either. There will be an effort to arrive at an accomodation. If there is not, my friends that want a major defense build up, arent going to get it. You know, the budget control act is the law, and it will require both parties working together to revise that law. So absent by paipartisan cooperation, we could have a yearlong cr. That would be a travesty. And i would hope the Administration Knows that. Again, the administration did play an Important Role in the fy 17 bill. And there were some big victories from their standpoint on defense spending and Border Security. But there were some big bipartisan wins. So we know how to do this. Were at a particular point in the process and, so, i want to commend my friends for this couldnt have happened if all those bills hadnt gotten written in subcommittee, if they all hadnt been rewritten in full committee. If they hadnt been moved out of there and now across the floor and i look forward to working with each and every one of you as we go forward because i do want a major bipartisan deal negotiated probably in november december. My guess is well get to the end of the month. We wont be able to meet the deadline because our friends on the senate wont be able to meet the deadline. But we can negotiate a deal. And then with all the work that we have done, there is no greater work than just keeping the government running. Thats actually job number one for congress. These other things are great, but that needs to get done. And, so, im hopeful we can sit down and get it done. We did it in 15 and 16 and 17. The fact we have done three years in a row, along with the president of one party and the president of another party tells me maybe were a little better at this. Mr. Chairman, i want to take a half minute here to thank the gentleman. He has been and is an sintegral part of the process were going through now. He chairs one of the 12 subcommittees, the biggest one, except for defense. The labor hhs bill has more money in it than anything else we do, except the defense bill. Not only on the committee, but he brings that wisdom hes noted for to this committee as vice chairman and he also serves on the Budget Committee and is one of the leading voices in that committee. Frankly, i dont know when he sleeps and im a bit worried about him because he does so much and is such an sbi cal part of this process and somebody we all turn to for advice late at night. So i thank the gentle man. If it ever cuts into my cigar smoking time with you, ill reconsider the burden. With that i yield back. Thank you very much. I want to join with you. I have engaged the gentleman as he wears his other hat and have found not only his desire to listen but also to tame appropriately a number of times. In particular, he is helping the national eye institute. The National Eye Institution is attempting to not only build an i, which is difficult, but the doctor thats out there, our director, they are they are really working with tom, myself for sure, on this important process. This is just one of many areas that tom has to stay up with and he still reports here, clocks in and the only difference between you and us is we get paid that overtime when were up here late at night. Okay. Well maybe not. But tom puts in his hours and is a very important person. So thank you for noting the strength that we receive from the chairman. Cant resist, mr. Chairman, since this is an i love tom cole moment, happy birthday. But i do want to say one thing, but ill keep it to a couple of seconds. When i got on appropriations a while ago, i was told there are democrats, republicans and approach ya tors. It has been an honor to serve on this committee and i feel confidence that although at this point in the process we may have strong disagreements, we have to pass these Appropriations Bills and the 2017 process was an example, really. One of the best examples of how we Work Together and we passed a really good bill. So i look forward to getting to that point somehow in between we have to move to the right, to the left, to the center. But i feel confidence and i thank you for your very thoughtful lead r ship and your thoughtful comments. I just want to say to my friend very quickly, i dont expect well be voting the same way on this bill, but i expect we will be voting the same way on the final bill. And its worked out that way three years in a row and i hope it does again. I agree. Thank you. Thank you very much. All right. Thank you. Okay. I want to and im going to have questions for the panel. But i do have a statement i want to make about the process, which is something we talk about a lot. Were going to put a lot of time in here this week considering these bills. We may be here all night, on the floor as well. But unfortunately, i think most of us know that this bill is twothirds of the federal government is a waste of time because they dont have the votes to pass the senate and it wont become law. There are lots of provisions in this bill that are deeply troubling to a lot of us. They contain antiwomen provisions and take this unprecedented assault on Womens Health to a whole new level, eliminating funding for planned parenthood is included here. It is outrageous and it is women in this country, the only group that congress decides to take control of their health, that they could not be trusted to make their own decisions on Family Planning. This is going to create such an outcry in the country that i dont think any of you are prepared for it. Were also cutting 876 million cut to fema, which weve just seen is critically important in this time of disaster. And that cut was to help the fund the president s border wall. Now, following Hurricane Harvey, it is Crystal Clear just how devastating the cut would be, especially with Hurricane Irma on the horizon. But beyond that, putting any money in this border bill, we all just know, is foolish. Now, we really have an opportunity. We were kind of going through a charade here. But theres an amendment thats been mentioned before to limit special council Robert Muellers russia investigation. It would limit the scope of the investigation. The amendment caused my office here and in rochester to get over 300 calls in two days. In fact, we were unable to do anything but answer the calls. Once again, on top of what you are doing to Womens Health, you are going to really make people mad. We may have to try to pass these bills, but i dont think thats going to work. It boggles the mind while were going through this pointless exercise with so many deadlines staring us in the face. Everybody knows we went through the debt limit. The debt limit happened in march. So weve been way outside the debt limit since march. That isnt the reason why were in a rush to do this. Funding for the Childrens HealthInsurance Program ends and i dont know if this is in the bills or not or you are doing something different. The National FloodInsurance Program, which is 25 billion in the hole, also expires at the end of this month, as does the federal Aviation Administration authorization on september 30th as well. We know the senate is not going to get 60 votes on. So weve got 12 days in september and today the president moves in 800,000 people, many of them doing important work in the United States. This despite the pleas from millions of americans. Obviously these people had good jobs. So it means we are going to have to consider Immigration Reform some time over the next six months. And only 12 legislative days left in this month. We have a lot to do and not a lot of time to do it. I wish we would be addressing the major deadlines we face. And this will not become law in my opinion. I yield back, mr. Chair. Thank you very much. Both you and mrs. Lowe referred to money that would be related to the investigation from the former director of the fbi. I can find no money that was appropriated for that in the bills that were talking about that came out of some [ inaudible ]. I am aware of that, but i do not believe that the committee we dont have to make it an order. What im suggesting to you is i cannot find the money that hes speaking about. What hes saying is after six months it is over with. But the money came from a source within the department of justice that so you can ask you can ask the chairman. But what im suggesting is im not sure that would be made in order as a result. Well, lets hope not. Thats what im trying to hope you work through here. And i would really hope that you wouldnt go after Womens Health as well. Were not going back to the last century for health care for women. And i do appreciate. And i am on this issue. Im just as a matter of fact mr. Co coles bill to report looking at page 68 of that right now. Thank you very much. Youve got my full attention. Thank you. Good. The gentleman from georgia is recognized. I do not have anything to urgent that it cannot wait until hour six or seven or eight. But i would like to ask unanimous consent that the Administration Policy will be include ted in record. Does the table need a copy of that, mr. Chairman . As long as youve got a copy. The clerk would please make available five copies of that to the to those people that are here at the front table. You will find in that, mr. Chairman, words of congratulations and some words of constructive counsel, as you might imagine. I yield back, mr. Chairman. Thank you very much. Rob, good to see you. I missed you. I can say that. I would say that also. I wasnt sure after the first four or five minutes we were togeth together. Im going to try to be brief because its his birthday and he should be able to go and celebrate, not be here at midnight doing this. But let me echo what everybody has said here and say that the people of texas are in our prayers and that we pray for a speedy recovery and reconstruction and i hope all the money that they need to rebuild is going to be there and i hope and pray that it will i trust that people in this chamber will vote hopefully unanimously to give texas what it needs and we wont see the difficulties we saw unfortunately with relief aid to hurricane sandy, which i thought was a disgrace. But this is important. And we all need to be together on that. I wanted to say i was happy to hear her say that shes moved by the stories of the dreamers and i think all of us should be because theyre an important part of our community and has been mentioned there doing incredible work. Some of them are serving in armed forces and some are involved in this relief effort and i disagree with her though on whether president obamas executive order was unconstitutional. But we did try to legislate on this issue back in 2010, you may recall. We actually passed the dream act here in the house. Unfortunately, we couldnt get it through the senate because we couldnt get 60 votes. Members of your portacaarty opp it. I think what President Trump did really is quite nasty, no matter how you want to look at it. Playing politics with peoples lives. During the campaign he said he was against protecting the dreamers. He wanted to repeal it. Thats what hes going to do it. We now put it back in our lap and i hope that we will actually step up and protect them. But there was nothing that prevented us from legislating on this yesterday or last year or the year before. And, you know, i want to ask unanimous consent to admit an article of a dreamer who drove 100 miles south from his home to help victims of Hurricane Harvey and unfortunately he lost his live when his boat capsized on wednesday. I saw that. And he and other dreamers, many of whom dedicated their lives to serving deserved better than what they got from the president of the United States today. Quite frankly, better than what the rules committee did to representative bipartisan amendment. You know, i mean, i dont know what the future is here, and i hope that we can come together on the dreamers and i hope we dont use the dreamers as a political ploy to try to pass this ugly border wall or some other one of the many misguided priorities of this administration. These people have given a great deal to our country and they deserve better than they are getting. And i just say finally i want to amyself with the remarks of the Ranking Member. I mean, we all know we are going to have to do a continuing resolution in a couple of weeks. And nothing in terms of what were doing in this amendment process will be reflected in that cr. And then we have no idea whats going to happen after that, whether there will be a series of crs or one long time continuing resolution. And it just seems to me that going through this exercise where i think 1,000 amendments have been offered and going through all this floor time when we have to deal with the issue of the dreamers and we have to deal with Hurricane Relief efforts and the debt ceiling and keeping our government open, it would seem to me that we would want to make sure that this was, in fact, real, that this process meant something. Im not convinced it is. This is an exercise that i guess somebody could go home and say we did all our appropriations bill in a veryoluted and unprecedented process. But it doesnt mean anything. And look it, i want to say i know you read the op ed by senate mccain, but his calls to go back to order should resonate. From what i can tell, regular order is dead and im not sure it is going to be resuscitated under the current leadership. But it is dead. And this process is something we cannot take pride in. And i appreciate all the work that the approach ya tors are done and you have done in your committee. Unfortunately i wish it was more bipartisan. But regular order, for all intents and purposes is dead and i regret that very much. Thank you very much. I would encourage the gentleman to know that regular order does also include work that is done in committees, and i think that this committee would not krakt rise it being dead. I think they would advise us that they did a lot of work that was done that was described as being important and looking at the issues and ideas from a new perspective also of an administration. But mostly i think if you go through these, youll see where we very clearly delineated the differences we may have had maybe with article two from the skinny budget that was spoke about. So i think dead refers to an object that does not move. I think the i appreciate the work that was done in the committee. Although, this committee, obviously doesnt respect the regular order. Now that might be the point youd like to make. Otherwise, how do you explain stripping of the ago lar amendment without any dig cushion or any debate. But beyond that, were going to bring this bill to the floor in a restricted process and convoluted process and at the end of the day, this is probably not going to go anywhere. Regular order in this house is dead. Thank you, gentlemen. I appreciate the gentlemen. I also stood up and took complete responsibility and discussed it in detail last month. But i think part of the process is what this committee thats before us right now, the Appropriations Committee and i want to thank them for the hard work that they did and i want to thank them for the long hours and the viewpoint they could take tough votes, they could issue tough arguments back and forth with each other to get closer to an understanding. So the gentleman may have a disagreement with the things which are done necessarily up here, but i think the Appropriations Committee, and i dont want you to leave here thinks thing that you dont hav somebody that at least respects what you kdid. By the way, mr. Chairman, the gentleman from lewisville, texas serves as the vice chairman of commerce for health. Hes had his hands full. Still shows up here every meeting, does it homework and this whether you go up and down the line, badly burned, these people show up and do their work late at night and i am proud of the work we do also. So im going to stand up for us. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I too want to acknowledge the work that was done by the Appropriations Committee on the members of the subcommittee bringing this product to us today. I think it is a significant work product. Mr. Chairman, i want to thank you for your open process here at the rules committee. Of course people come testify before the rules committee sometimes remark about the fact that we have no clock in the rules committee and any one of us is free to talk for as long as we want. The witnesses can speak aswant. They can answer questions as long as they want. So the rules committee is an open process and every member of this house of representatives can bring an amendment to the rules committee and get a very fair hearing in front of our Committee Chairman and our committee on rules. But again, mr. Chairman, i do want to thank you for the work that you have put in. I know this has been a significant work product on your part and im deeply appreciative. Chairman carter, like you, i lived in houston for a while. Very familiar with the topography of that part of the world. I wasnt born in houston, but i know the people of houston to be very strong and very resilient. They have been through a tough situation. Chairman rogers, let me just ask you a question because you brought up about the ukraine and, you know, when you were speaking, i couldnt help but reflect i think its been about two years ago that the president came here and addressed a joint session of the congress and he very pointedly pointed out that you cant win a war with blankets and he made an appeal for at least defensive weapons to be made available, and i believe he went down to the white house the following day and made a similar request of president obama. But where does that stand . Obviously, we have a task on the appropriations side. But from the administration standpoint, are they more likely to adhere to his request than a Previous Administration . Or are we at a stand off there . We met with the president for an hour or so, very impressive man. And we talked about his speech to the congress a couple of years ago. Secretary mattis was just there about three weeks ago now and met on this issue of weaponry in defense of themselves and secretary mattis said something to the effect that hes reflecting on it. So the administration apparently is considering it, whether or not theyre going to do it or not i dont know or when. I certainly hope they do. Weve learned surely, from all of the lessons we have had in confronting soviet military power that you dont go into a fight with the russians with a bb gun. Or take a knife to a gunfight. So im hoping that we will see our way clear to make that happen. So to be sure that i understand, our appropriations bill that we have in front of us would allow for additional defensive aid to be made available in ukraine . It is in the description of the administration. Yes, the bill would support that, if thats the decision they make. Well, again, i think all of you i know you put in a lot of work on this, and weve got a long evening ahead of us. So, mr. Chairman, im going to yield back in the interest of moving things along in the committee. Thank you very much. The gentleman the birthday young man, the gentleman is recognized. Thank you very much. Thank you very much and happy birthday. 81 years ago, im certain, that my mom didnt think that i would be sitting up in the rules committee at the very same time, im sure, that she understood that a time would come that i would have opportunities to make presentations to my colleagues. First let me association myself with the remarks of everyone that has spoken here about the Ongoing Events in texas. And i heard the word houston often. I did not hear beaumont once and i could go on and on and on. I did hear chairman rogers refer to the gulf coast, as rightly it should have been. There are a lot of people in texas that are suffering along that gulf coast. I also heard the chairman mention louisiana that seemingly doesnt attract as much. But let me Say Something to you thats needed in this congress. And for 25 years, i have brought this to the attention of members. We all know that disasters are going to continue to happen. As we speak, fire is raging in california. My good friend on the committee from montana area is on fire. Oregon is experiencing a fight. First off, in japan, i learned they have a disaster committee. And its constituted of all of the chairs of the jurisdiction similar to our own at an appointment by their leader as the chair of that committee. We really need to do Something Like that. We also need to make sure that their shared sacrifice with reference of two of these measures and where taxes meet our responsibility to call upon those that are better off in our society to be more forthcoming in helping. I was real proud of the football player, j. J. , he now raised nearly 20 million. But we all know thats going to be a small amount of money by comparison of whats needed. While we speak about the havoc that harvey has brought, on the heels of that, as we speak, there is a category five hurricane, if it stays at that level, we will i hope be back here to do the things that are necessary for the territories that we are likely to experience in the next two or three days with Virgin Islands and puerto rico, not to mention what may happen along the coast, including my home state of florida. So, then, isnt it rich, ironic that when we, tomorrow, take up the science bill, that the provision also advised your party, mr. Chairman, is going to put 709. 8 million less for noah. It was pointed out to us there is a 19 cut to noah and their comet research. It is almost as if we dont even acknowledge these kinds of things. There are some measures that are pleasing, but it contains a significant cut to their overall operations, research and faci facilities budget, including the elimination of the regional coastal resilience grant p program. To my way of thinking, thats being penny wise and a pound foolish. Let me tell you where all of this is going to go. 26 minutes ago i was handed the statement of Administration Policy. Mr. Chairman, i ask unanimous consent to include in the record the statement of the administration. Thank you. It has been entered into the record. Thank you very much. All right. I dont recall that it was, but i take your word, mr. Chairman, that it is in the record and i am delighted that it is. You and i, as well as other members of this committee have seen lots of statements of Administration Policy and a lot of times they conclude by saying whether or not the president would veto or support a measure. This one is alarming. It ought to be for all of us. Inside the 12 pages of this statement of the administration are references to constitutional concerns. Section 403 and 409 of the bill is a concern of the administration from a constitutional standpoint. 702, 706, 717 and 727 and other provisions raise separation of powers concern according to the administration and section 719 would interfere with the president s taking Care Authority to supervise the executive branch. He goes on to have kons tugal concerns in sections 101, 118, 119, 122, 201, 302, 511, 520, 608, 609 and on and on and on. And then section 509 of the bill raises separation of powers concerns and he concludes or at least the administration does, not by saying what they will do, but they say certain provisions continue these concerns and then they highlight sections 221, 230, 287 and 406. And then says the administration looks forward to working with the congress as the fiscal year 2018 appropriations process moves forward. That ignores in many respects the extraordinary work that the five individuals that our colleagues here have put forward. But then it would be remiss if i did not follow on the comments, the majority set an amendment deadline, these things right here, all of this stuff, all 970 amendments, 1,305 pages of these eight bills, and i ask anybody in here, other than the five members, whether any of them, perhaps mr. Cole, have read all of these pages or had the time to do so. The amendment process was offered after the deadline, after the recess and the deadline is before the five members return. This puts strain on members and this body, also the staff that supports congress and the legislative council. Thats another arena i have argued for that needs an increase if we are going to continue the pattern that we are, then those persons need appropriate people in order to put forward the necessary legislation in its proper form. I can assure everybody in here that this process, this chaotic process, is going to result in some poor decisions and some destructive outcomes. It was said, and i repeat werks need to get back to the same orderly and thoughtful processes in this congress. Abandon legislating by chaos and thats exactly what this is. Twothirds of all Discretionary Spending is going to be considered in a week. That is absurd and irresponsible. Some of the policy writers, ms. Loi mentioned them a moment ago. She didnt go into detail. I shall. Among the policy riders that are being offered, delays the epa smog standards for ten years, prevents the epa from ensuring Mining Companies can afford to clean up toxic waste. I wish i had a lot more time to talk about that provision. Undermines the Tobacco Control act for unregulated tobacco products. It blocks funding for implementing, administering or enforcing the Affordable Care act. Footnote right there, enough already about the death spiral of the Affordable Care act. Its as if republicans didnt have anything to do with the failure of that measure, and we voted right here 61 different times that were intended to repeal rather than doing all the things that all of us know we could do. Ive maintained that the public ought to lock all 435 of us up here until we get an appropriate health care measure. We should not continue down this path. It blocks funding for planned parenthood. What part of the fact that planned parenthood does as much good as can be imagined in areas that are not touched by Community Services in health care or by hospitals. It prohibits funding for gun violence prevention. I guess yall are going to ask people like me to vote for that. I aint going to vote for it, largely for the reason that we are killing people every day. The argument is by the nra that guns do not kill people, people kill people. Well, i got news for you, theres a whole lot of guns killing a whole lot of people in this country that are virtually unnecessary. It was pointed out, it expands the global gag rule to all Global Health programs. Thats crazy. It prohibits using funds and user fees to implement the Affordable Care acts individual mandate, and weve seen the reductions in the number of people that may be helping people to get on health care. Their numbers are going to be decreas decreased. It repeals the doddfrank consumer protection. People, did you not go through the same thing that all of us went through when we had this last run that caused people to lose their houses and for wealth to vanish overnight . Did you all not see that . Then youll tell me that doddfrank didnt do something about that . Im curious to know. It prevents the department of justice from tracking multiple sales of semiautomatic long guns favored by drug cartels in the border states. And dont forget now, september 30th is when jim pointed out a minute ago were going to have to do a continuing resolution because you aint going to be able to get any of this done. You dont even have a budget. Then were up against the debt limit which we blew through in march, and now were told by the treasury secretary that we need to be about the business of doing something by september 29. Otherwise were going to face a downgrade of our nations credit, of sending our Financial Markets into chaos. Then one thats dear to me and dear to all of you, the Childrens HealthInsurance Program has to be done by september 30th. Isnt it interesting and also very rich that Flood Insurance is on the line. Im curious for some of my colleagues who have argued that we shouldnt be involved and it should be in the private hands of everybody. In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, its absolutely critical that we reauthorize this program and in the face of ongoing and i might add right behind ir ma is anothr hurricane, jose, so there are going to be other examples of this. We can continue down this path, people, but we do ourselves a terrible disservice. And among the things that i dont understand, is any money in here for something called a border wall that the president of this country told us was going to be paid for by mexico. Most of us in here then knew that that was not the case. If were going to be about the business of providing 1. 6 billion for Border Security, then we need to take into consideration our own sanity about something and to know, among other things, let me remind you that no one that came in here and blew down the twin towers came through mexico. Those people were here in this country, living, some of them training in the district that im privileged to serve. Somehow or another we seem to ignore that. Its also as if canada doesnt exist and nobody can come in from there, and i might add that too is crazy. And then the most ridiculous thing that we are doing is putting the d. R. E. A. M. Ers in peril. There are doctors that are d. R. E. A. M. Ers in this country, teachers that are d. R. E. A. M. Ers in this country. There are people in our military that are protected by this particular provision. So then, when the speaker of this house says that he hopes that congress will take it up, i remind him, its his job to make it happen so that we will not only protect those persons but assure ourselves that we are about the business of the kind of democracy that we hope for the world, we certainly ought to be able to provide it among ourselves. And remember that everybody here came here from somewhere else other than native america. Until such time as we come to grips with that, were going to continue down this path. If i made any of you mad, its deliberate. The gentleman from georgia. No questions. Gentleman from alabama . I just want to take this opportunity to thank the committee. You worked really hard under difficult circumstances, and the rest of us owe you a great debt for what you did. We appreciate you, and i yield back. The gentleman from washington . Thank you, mr. Chairman. Ill echo those comments from my colleague from alabama. Being a new member of the Appropriations Committee, i had no idea, i think that Committee Puts in more time and hours than the rules committee, at least certain seasons of the year. I want to express my appreciation to every member, both republican and democrat, for the hard work, the long debates and discussions, and i think the productive results that we are beginning to see in front of us in the rules committee today. Chairman freelinghighsen and everybody here as well, thank you for your hard work and i look forward to the debate over the next couple of days. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank the gentleman. The gentleman from colorado, no questions, and im always willing to give the gentle lady from wyoming extra time. I just feel the need to wish mr. Hastings happy birthday once again. Youre welcome. Its liz. I want to thank all of you and youre dismissed. Thank you for your testimony. Thank you. If we could, well have our next panel start moving to the table. If i could have chairman di diaz bill lart. For housing and urban development, chairman adderholt and Ranking Member bishop for ag division as well. Mr. Diaz billart, for any testimony and then the Ranking Member and well go to agriculture next. Before i say anything i would like to add a word of obviously all of us who are looking and it is the best in the country when you see how texans are demonstrating what theyre made of. Hoping that this next storm doesnt head in our direction. With that, mr. Chairman, ill aga again. We also made some hard choices, mr. Chairman and members of the committee. We targeted cuts to nonessential programs and were scaling back administrative accounts for example. The department of transportation, for the department of transportation, the bill includes 17. 8 billion in discretionary appropriations and 7 billion in total resources. That includes the fast act limitations. The federal Aviation Administration is funded at 16. 6 billion, an increase of 435 million above the budget request. We provided this increase to keep advancing next generation programs with over 1 billion. To continue to, again, the safe operation of the worlds most complex, the most advanced air Traffic Control system on the planet. The bill reflects the fast act priorities for highways and rail and transit. It includes 45 billion in road and bridge funding from the Highway Trust Fund which is almost 1 billion above the fiscal year 2017, mr. Chairman. This funding will provide much needed improvements to americas highways and bridges. The bill provides 2. 2 billion to the federal Railroad Administration to continue our commitment to rail safety and to make Critical Infrastructure investments. This includes fast act Rail Infrastructure investments to address the state of good repair backlog which had been a real issue. As a reflection of tough choices, members and mr. Chairman, our funding level for transit Capital Investment grants is 660 million below the 2017 level. We have included funding and direction to keep upcoming projects in the pipeline. For housing programs we worked to ensure that we continue assistance to our most vulnerable populations. This bill includes 38. 3 billion for the department of housing and urban development. The bill includes significant increases to keep pace with inflation, almost 1 billion above last year for direct rental assistance, to maintain housing for those who are currently served. Homeless assistance remains a top priority in this bill. With funding at the enact level and well above the budget requested by the administration, again, to serve our most vulnerable citizens including veterans. These programs are often carried out by faithbased organizations in our communities that bring out the best, the best of our neighborhoods and of our communities. The bill restores a number of community Development Programs that were proposed for elimination in the administrations budget request. Cdbg, home and Capital Building for example, we listened to members from both sides of the aisles, both republicans and democrats, who made very sure that we knew that these were priorities for them. These programs support decisionmaking where it should happen, at the local level. Mr. Chairman, members of this committee, thank you for the time for your time, and i would hope a favorable consideration, and i urge the support of each and every one in this committee. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I yield back. Thank you for your testimony. Well go next to mr. Price, the Ranking Member. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Like everyone whos appeared here today, i also want to express condolences to the people of texas, louisiana, and others who might yet be in harms way. Admiration for the way people pulled together to reach out to those in need and determination that we in this body will do our part to offer the assistance for recovery, rebuilding, and i understand were going to be do that this week and probably weeks to come, and i certainly pledge my support for that effort. Im happy to join my friend, the chairman, in testifying on our transportation housing and urban Development Appropriations bill. I want to thank the chairman for, as always, being a cooperative and collegial partner and leading an open and collaborative process. Thats the way hes run the subcommittee and it has benefitted us all around, i think, and this time has been no exception, although this time we have faced some unique challenges. And that is going to pose a problem in terms of support of this bill, but hopefully not for support eventually of a budget agreement and a collaborative work on another day, on another omni bus that will let us do what we need to do in the key departments that we oversee. This years mark at this point includes 56. 5 billion for Vital Transportation and housing and community Development Programs. This represents a funding decrease of more than 1. 1 billion compared to the enact level. Our submcommittee was dealt a very difficult hand and as a result were not investing enough in our housing and transportation infrastructure to maintain it, let alone expand it. At dot, funding for the highly competitive and popular Tiger Program in fact, i, during the august time at home was able to visit raleighs union station, a wonderful multimodal project that simply would not be under way were it not for the tiger grants that we were fortunate enough to receive. Were well aware, 5 of merit or yus profiles are being funded under tiger and this will eliminate even that, zeroing it out. Despite the overwhelming need we see right in front of our eyes for additional infrastructure investment. The federal transit administrations Capital Investment grants program, new starts, receives a cut of 659 million. I am appreciative that the chairman has included bill language to ensure that fda continues to rate and review projects in the new starts pipeline. Im grateful that we didnt do what the trump budget asked that we do in terms of elimination of this program, but a cut of 659 million is devastating. There are communities all over this country who have gone through all the processes, cleared all the hurdles, so we shouldnt be letting them down and i hope in the end we wont let them down as they get transit projects under way. At hud the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative that was transformed dozens of developments into thriving mixed income communities would only receive 20 million. I realize thats a place holder. Weve got to do better than that. Even this years appropriation which was not lavish, 137 million, were falling far short of that at this stage in the process. Additionally, the Community Government block grant and home programs are each cut by 100 million despite calls for local elected officials across the country to preserve these important funding streams. Were in the midst of a National Housing crises. I dont think its too much to call it that. Only one in four people eligible for federal rental assistance can now receive it. We still have a Massive PublicHousing Capital backlog. Our infrastructure continues to crumble resulting in decaying highways and bridges, congested roads and airports. We should be increasing our commitment to these housing and transportation programs, not making cuts. Instead, we have returned again and again and again to appropriations, especially domestic appropriations, to bear the whole brunt of deficit reduction. What a bankrupt strategy. The result is a disaster for our economy and for the work of our the work of most of our appropriations subcommittees. It truly gives us the worst of both worlds. We dont address the real drivers of the deficit, and yet we do untold damage to Critical National investments. Finally, im strongly opposed to several controversial policy riders that were attached to this bill that unnecessarily attack high speed rail. They roll back Transportation Safety for the traveling public. They harm labor rights. These riders have no place in this bill. I do remain hopeful as others have expressed here today, and mr. Cole, im happy to hear what he has said particularly along these lines about the need for a multiyear bipartisan budget agreement, just like weve had the last four years. Thats whats kept us in business. I dont think any of us would claim that its let us do everything that we need to do but its at least its done its kept the lights on and it has let us meet our obligations in the cooperative way that appropriations the exercise of the power of the purse in this institution works best. If we can get that kind of bipartisan budget agreement, it will allow this bill and others to be vastly improved and the chairman, to his credit, has provided a framework of a bill here that can be revisited in exactly that way. So i look forward to continued collaboration with colleagues to achieve the goal of Adequate Funding for the next year. Many tests await us in the weeks and months ahead. Thank you. Thank my friend. We go to the distinguished gentleman from alabama. Thank you, mr. Chairman. As it has been noted, our hearts and thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of from harvey and as has been noted those who may be in harms way in the t future. We certainly want to get to our work this weekend in the supplemental. Thanks for allowing us to have the opportunity to discuss the fy 2018 appropriations bill. Also included in it is the food and Drug Administration and the farm credit administration. What id like to do is sort of hit the high points. I know that yall the rules committee has been here for quite some time and will be here for quite some time so ill try to be mindful of that. So ill hit the high points. If you have any questions ill be happy to get those answers to you. The bill totals 20 billion in discretionary funding, cuts Discretionary Spending below the fy 2017 level by 876 million, represents a cut of 5. 3 compared to last year. We had a very tough allocation but we tried to responsibly target funds to the National Programs that provide the most benefit to the American People and benefit the u. S. Economy. There are reductions in funding to nearly every agency in the bill with five line items receiving minimal increases for critical activity. The bill reduces federal Staffing Levels through attrition and efficiency at several agencies. We provide pay increases for only one single program, the food Safety Inspection service, and require all other agencies to pay from the appropriated funds. And the bill does not fund any new program. We provide support for rural communities, Rural Housing and business programs. The bill provides regulatory relief in regard to school mills, premium cigars, tobacco products, financial end users and National Ocean policy. We address Critical Research needs in both terms of current and future challenges. Also we support programs that combat animal and plant disease, and there is support for food safety and medical product safety included. The bottom line is we believe this is a responsible bill that receives bipartisan praise and was crafted through an open and transparent process. Its been a real pleasure working with my Ranking Member, mr. Bishop, on this bill. He has certainly been a great partner as weve moved forward with this legislation. And we look forward to moving this bill to the floor. So with that, i yield back. Thank the gentleman. Now go to my good friend from georgia, distinguished Ranking Member, mr. Bishop. Thank you very much. [inaudible] support to the people of georgia in 1994, 1998 when we suffered devastating floods and later multiple tornados. So please know that as texas suffers, our entire nation suffers, and we are committed today to do all that we can to heal texas and to heal our nation. I want to start off again by thanking chairman adderholt, chairman frelinghuysen and all the members of the committee and agriculture submcommittee to ge us to where we are today in this process. While the fy 18 agriculture bill remains, 1. 126 billion or 5 below the fy 17 number, i am pleased that the bill represents a bipartisan effort to keep our country moving forward despite being presented with the president s draconian budget request. The resulting funding reductions were spread across several programs to make them less painful in the end, but let me be clear here. Our communities that make up this great nation need these programs to be robustly funded in order to keep us competitive in the global marketplace. On the positive side, the bill provides 830. 4 million for research and education activities which includes approximately 161 million in funding, consistent with 2017 for the 1890 historically black land grant institutions as well as the hispanic and native American Travel control land grant institutions. These funds will continue to assist in increasing minority participation and the multidisciplinary community in fields of research, as well as farming and ranching. Its quite unfortunate that this bill does not maintain the total fy 17 funding for the food for peace program. However, the government doll is at the 2017 level. The bill cuts the Commodity Futures Trading Commission by 2 million below fy 17 despite the fact that the chairman requested an increase. While depriving the agency of the funds needed to protect u. S. Customers from nefarious trade activities, the bill also contains unprecedented language, allowing the cfdc chairman to reduce the pay and benefits of his employees if he deems it necessary to avoid a risk or furlough whether or not it aggregates established collective bargaining agreements. Ive submitted an amendment, mr. Chairman, to strike that provision which i hope that you will make an order. While funding for a Rural Development is a great improvement over the president s budget, i would not caharacterie the resources as robust. This is indeed a missed opportunity. Funding for the food and Drug Administration is flat which is no mean seat considering that the trump budget sought to cut it by more than 900 million. Still, funding for the agency that oversees the safety of our food, our drugs, medical devices will not grow despite our significant dependance on the activities and the increased workload that comes each and every year. I mentioned just a few of our collective successes because unfortunately, if we do not continue and expand this collegial and team work trend, it will be more difficult to ever get back to regular order. With the end of the fiscal year drawing near, we are in dangerous cross hairs because neither the house nor the Senate Majority have passed a budget resolution. Its troubling that weve not started drafting the continuing resolution that would prevent a government shutdown, nor have we tackled the debt limit. All these items have been addressed by the end of the month, but thats not where we find ourselves today. Instead, were going to the floor with a package which inadequately funds federal agencies and does not completely meet the needs of the citizens of this great nation. As a proud appropriator, i and my Appropriations Committee colleagues will continue keeping our eye on the ball and working together as best we can to make progress. Again, id like to thank mr. Add aholt for his work and mr mr. Frelinghuysen for conducting the Appropriation Committee fairly. I want to thank the Ranking Member for our continued leadership. But we have our work cut out for us. We are only here for a season. Members of Congress Come and go. But while we are here, we have a charge to keep for the people of this great nation. Im reminded of the poem by the anonymous poet, i have only just a minute, only 60 seconds in it, forced upon me, cant refuse it, didnt seek it, didnt choose it. I must suffer if i lose it, account if i abuse it. Just a tiny little minute, but eternity is in it. We have an obligation to use this opportunity, this time that we have serving the American People to make a difference and to do their work. We have a charge to keep, and i look forward for a lively debate on the floor, but more importantly, i look forward for our coming together as a congress on behalf of this great nation on a bipartisan basis to do what the people have sent us to do and to make gods will will done on earth as it is in heaven through our work, his hands, our hands, and our hands are his hands. Lets do our job. I yield back. Appreciate that very much. I wont take a lot of time for questions because ive heard from all of you at great length during the course of our Committee Meetings on appropriations and i want to thank all of you for the work that youve done. I dont know if were the most powerful or effective committee but were the politest committee in congress. I got to tell you, you never get people coming up here, my good friend this and that. The nice thing is it works out that way on the committee. At the end of the day we Work Together and we get there. That was a wonderful closing from my friend from georgia. I want to ask you quickly, mr. Chairman and mr. Dia mr. Diazbilllart. Im not asking you to predict the future but how do you see that investment unfolding in the years ahead . I think this is a very important first step, very welcome answer to some of the questions about whether or not were capable of making these investments in a sustained way and getting the air Traffic Control system the way we want. Thank you, mr. Chairman. The subcommittee and the Appropriations Committee in particular in the last number of years has i think done a really good job in making sure that we fund a next gen and making sure that we are dealing and funding that responsibility. Now, we have the most advanced, the most complex and the safest air system in the entire world and our aim is to make sure that we do everything we can to keep it that way. Theres a whole debate that the authorizers are going through right now. I dont know where that will fall. I will tell you that the subskmsu subcommittee and the full committee is absolutely committed and were putting it in real dollars to make sure that not only are we going to continue to have the safest, the most efficient, the most advanced air traffic system in the world, but that we will continue to lead in those efforts, and i think the investment that we have in this bill will allow us to continue to do so. I would agree with that. We have essentially no differences on this item in the appropriations bill which is to say that we share a commitment to moving ahead with next gen. We know that years ago, years ago there were some legitimate criticisms about the pace at which this got going. Its going very, very well now. Weve had convincing testimony as to the progress were making, the promise of this system, and so fortunately that is not an issue in the bill going forward. The chairman and we on a bipartisan basis have made sure that this appropriation amount is adequate. I appreciate that. I think its very important time. During the break i actually had the opportunity to visit the Aeronautical Center which trains all the air Traffic Controllers where a lot of this work is done. They were exceptionally pleased with this kind of commitment and joint effort, and they saw this as a very important thing. They also made the time, made the point which is worth noting, we dont need all this money at once. We really it takes time to implement these programs and they showed me as they were laying out how they were integrating the technology into their existing system. So what we need is predictability and pace and we think were starting to get that now. Again, i think it was a first class piece of work. I just want to thank both of you for doing that. I dont have any questions for you, mr. Chairman, but i want to thank you. I want to thank my good friend, the Ranking Member, mr. Bishop, for you working with both of us on the issue you mentioned on deeming regulation. That was extremely helpful and my friend did great work and its a nice sign there are bipartisan pieces of this thing, we can Work Together and get some things done, so thank you very much. With that, let me go to the gentleman from texas i think is next and then the gentle lady after that. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I couldnt find my microphone under all the copies of the bills and the amendments. Chairman and Ranking Member bishop, let me ask you a question about the food and Drug Administration. Mr. Bishop, you said the funding was flat. We just completed in the energy and Commerce Committee the user Fee Agreements that the president signed in the early part of august, and i think the user Fee Agreements for this under this reauthorization have significantly increased. Then my question is how is the budget flat if the user fees were in the report that i have the user fees for the 2017 appropriation were 1. 8 million and 3. 16 million now. That looks like an increase to me. The appropriation did diminish but the overall fda appropriation when you combine the user fees and the appropriated dollars which is as it should be of public and private contributions is still an increase. Am i reading that correctly . Let me just the total funding for fda if you include the user fees is 5. 2 billion but the bill does not adopt the proposal for new food safety user fees in the legislation itself. The nuance is included in the bill, so it includes language and funding related to several of these programs but they are included in the over all funding of the bill. If we can yeah, my understanding is that the demands for food safety are so great and every year we in congress have added more responsibilities. Of course, we have not fully responded with requests for additional user fees and i beg your pardon, i didnt realize you were talking about just food safety user fees. We didnt spend a lot of time on user Fee Agreements for prescription drugs, medical devices and i think in the cures bill last december we added an additional 500 million, half a billion dollars, to the overall fda budget. So its yes, i recognize that everybodys in a resource con trained environment, but the fda has received attention from this congress in the form of supplemental appropriation in the cures bill plus user Fee Agreements for medical devices, generic drugs, prescription drugs that were in the user Fee Agreement that the president signed in august. That was the only point i wanted to make. Let me just add about you mentioned the 24th century cures act. The bill includes 60 million from funds that are made available by the 21st sent are you cures act and that represents a 40 million increase over fy 17. The language is also provided that allows for transfer of funds to fda for the fdas Ecology Center for excellence. I wanted to add that in there since you did mention that. Very well. Thank you for your work. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you. My friend, the gentle lady from new york. For transportation, i had a very serious interest in high speed rail, but do you anticipate that at any time in the future of the United States you might consider whether they would like to do high speed rail . Has it ever come up . Weve rail is we had actually some hearings about what the future holds, right, with new technology, and while i think that and i think we heard that we probably wont recognize in essence our surroundings in 10 to 20 years, i always think that theres going to be a need for rail. Now, the question is high speed rail and the cost of high speed rail, i dont have a crystal ball. We are funding, obviously. There were some requests by the administration to, for example, eliminate some programs which we decided not to do, even though we have had to make some tough choices. So what the future holds, i dont know. Technology, some folks, were having that discussion back home locally in our area. Some people think that rail in general will be an obsolete technology. I dont think were there. I dont think were there. I dont think so either. Im concerned because we have very poor were doing heavy work to try to rebuild our economy. We have a lot of high tech businesses coming in and doing some work. And we literally cannot go west from rochester. Every time when i fly down here on southwest, there are people on the plane going to seattle who have to fly to baltimore to be able to do it. It doesnt make a bit of sense to me and never has. And i would just it would be so much better i think if we had a well rounded transportation system. I remember 9 11 when suddenly we were faced with all the airlines shut down and we tried to get trains if we could or catch rides. We shouldnt be doing that in ny. Almost every other industrial country gets their goods and people where they need to go and have good rail service, high speed rail. I just think speed is something that the United States has never even considered as a possibility. Mr. Chairman, our colleague races an excellent point, i think, and shes done excellent work herself as a leader of the high speed rail caucus in this house. I believe its true that the last direct appropriations we provided for Rail Development of the sort were describing here was 8 billion in the recovery act. Thats certainly the last money we got in North Carolina and we put it to good use, i mean, going from raleigh to charlotte and back these days is the way to go. Three full trains each way each day, and its a great way to travel and its an investment in the future that i believe weve got to revisit in future appropriations. But this administration, unlike the obama administration, this administration requested no funding for high speed rail and so as i say, our committee hasnt funded it for years. There is amtrak money here which is important and which is an item that i think we will if and when we get a budget agreement were going to have to look again at those numbers and hopefully make them more robust. The problem up there, the buffalo, rochester and syracuse are the second, third and fourth largest state in new york. We have the train service, csx owns the track. Great. Side track is amtrak. Every chance it gets, you have absolutely no idea when you leave rochester, when the heck youre going to get to albany. Its so primitive, it really it makes no sense. We have to be serious about whether were meeting the needs, Economic Needs for people who are elderly, who dont want to drive anymore, because thats all we have left if we need to go to albany. So i really i would like to see us try to move ahead a little bit on trying to do that. There are parts of the country that would really benefit enormously. The northeast absolutely would. Csx is a little bit difficult. They were given the track of course and there was a right of way for four trains, so all the overpasses and everything to accommodate four tracks. They only use two. Ive been trying to get the use of those other two tracks for about five years from them and its like playing whack a mole. The governor said he would see if he could try to help out a little. This is really a critical issue for us. Its not a flrivolous thing at all. When you cant get to your state capitol, that gives you an idea of how bad the transportation is. Thank you very much. The gentleman from alabama. Mr. Chairman, i want to reiterate what i said to the last panel. I appreciate the very, very hard work of this committee. It means a lot to the rest of us in the house. Thank you for what you do and i yield back. Thank you very much. The gentleman from massachusetts. Im going to try to make it possible that they dont have to come back. I want to insert something in the record. In his staff, President Trump outlined his opposition to the mcgovern doll program which is in the appropriations bill, and the opposition made no sense. The person, whoever wrote it, totally uninformed. But if that should be a surprise but i would like to insert into a record a bipartisan letter and support of the funding of the mcgovern doldoll doel, a Child Nutrition Program which is 201 million. Thankfully they recognize the importance of the program and included full funding in this bill. I hope any final appropriations agreement includes at least this level of funding. Without objection. I yield back. The gentleman from washington. I have no questions for the panelists but i just want to again point out that the work that is represented by the product that they present to us today is tremendous. Theres a lot of effort that goes into these products and i just want to express my appreciation to all of you and your subcommittees as well for putting in the time and bringing us something that it sounds like theres a lot of agreement in the room about and some finer points to work out but i appreciate very much what youve done. Thank you. The gentleman from colorado. No questions. With that, the committee will stand in recess and reconvene. I want to thank all you gentlemen coming up and youre mercifully free. You dont have to come back. So you can see this house rules Markup Committee session has gone for a break to go vote on the floor of the house. We expect them to resume this meeting after the vote break, so well stick around and bring the rest of it to you. Could go late into the evening, were told, and we will have live coverage here on cspan 3 and the cspan networks. In the meantime, something from this mornings washington journal. Senior fellow joins us on the day that