The g. D. P. By over 3 trillion. In june of 2017, President Trump announced he will withdraw from the Paris Agreement stating, and i quote, the Paris Climate Accord is simply the latest example of washington entering into an agreement that disadvantages the United States to the exclusionive benefit of other countries exclusive benefit of other countries, costing jobs, shuttered factories,nd vastly diminished economic production, end of quote. The u. N. Convention on climat change has been a mechanism for executive overreach. For example, when President Trump signed us up in the Paris Agreement he did not consult congress in any way. This was a direct assault on Congress Constitutional duty to approve any treaties signed onto by the United States. Mr. Chairman, the best way to improve our environment and ensure our Economic Prosperity is to allow Energy Innovations in ts country, not by sending millionsf dollars to some transnational organization. We estimate new innovations being implemented in our Energy Sector as we speak every day. From Carbon Sequestration coal plants in texas to the shale revolution in the midwest to solarer facilities in my home state of arizona. Locally driven solutions are creating thousands of jobs and benefiting our environment. The people who deupon our Energy Resources understand those resources best. States and new miss palities are best suited to deal with local issues than are the distant outoftouch washington bureaucrats. The facts are clear. The u. S. Has had one of the largest absolute decreases in Carbon Emissions of any country in the world. Rom 2005 to 2017, the u. S. Cut 862 million tons of carbon, a 14 decline. Over the same period global emissions increased by 26 . China increased emissions by four billion tons and indian increased by 1. 3 billion tons. 70 increase. Americas Energy Renaissance is the backbone of our economy. The story of the United Nations convention on Climate Change is a much different one. One that is characterized by a one size fits all policy that gives special preferences to some of the worlds worst polluters like china and india. This is about doing whats right for america and protecting freedom and opportunity for our children and grandchildren. I urge all members on both sides of the aisle to support my amendment. With with that i reserve the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman from. Izona reserves the gentlewoman from new york is recognized. Mrs. Lowey i rise to claim time in opposition and i yield myself such time as i may consume. The u. N. Framework convention and Climate Change brings together critical multilateral partners so the United States does not have to combat Climate Change alone. By supporting the unfccc we are signaling tote world to the world we are committed and serious about combating this threat. The United States has been a 1992. O the unfccc since as chairwoman of the House Appropriations committee, i will never support efforts that jeopardize our treaty based obligations and i urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment and i reserve the balance of my time. The chair the gentlewoman from new york reserves. Once again we hear the same lame excuse, mr. Chairman, over and over again. Doing the same thing over and own we are going to get a different result. Mr. Gosar that doesnt work anymore. Trust is a series of promises kept. Why dont we set by example and thats what we are proposing. The United States by our technology, by our innovation has shown the way ahead in regards to combating Climate Change. Thats exactly the way that we ought to handle it. Not by some failed multinational bureaucracy that uses the United States as a slush fund. With that i reserve. The chair the gentleman reserves. The gentlelady from new york is recognized. Mrs. Lowey the United States must remain committed to our Global Partners because clow mat change just cannot be fought alone. I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment. I yield back. The chair the gentlewoman from new york yields back. The gentleman from a arizona virginia tech. Mr. Gosar once again, mr. Chairman, doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result, is insanity. Once again we have seen the ineptness of the United Nations in regards to this. We have seen the misuse of money to develop nations like china and india. And we allow them to continue to pollute. When we set the example, i like the idea of setting the example for everybody else to follow. We are the innovators, leaders, we ought to establish that. With that i ask everybody to vote for this amendment. With that i yield back. The chair the gentleman from arizona yields back. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from arizona. So many as are in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, the noes have it. He amendment is not agreed to. For what purpose does the gentleman from georgia seek recognition . I thank the chairman. I ask for a recorded vote. The chair it is now in order clause 6 of rule 18, further proceedings on this amendment are postponed. It is now in order to consider amendment number 84 prints the in house report 116109. For what purpose does the gentlewoman from california seek recognition . Ms. Speier i have an amendment at the desk. The chair the clerk will designate the amendment. The clerk amendment number 84, printed in part b of house report number 116109, offered by ms. Speier of california. The chair pursuant to House Resolution 431, the gentlewoman from california, ms. Speier, and a member posed, each will control five minutes. The chair opposed, each will control five minutes. The chair recognizes the gentlewoman from california. Ms. Speier i rise with great enthusiasm this morning to support a an amendment that would designate 40 million from the assistance for europe andure asia fun to the armenia democracy assistance. This amendment is cosponsored by the other democratic chairs of the caucus on armenian issues here in congress. In the last year armenia has undergone a breathtaking transformation. From a stagnant awe tock acy to a very vibrant democracy. The image as of armenia as velvet revolution bring a smile to my face every time i think of it. Having people dancing in the streets. Having a blockade but a blockade of small toys by children in the town square. The amazing part of all of this is that this democracy occurred with not one drop of blood being shed. So it is very important at this point in time that we do everything in our power to support this new democracy. Since the revolution armenia has held fair and free emocratic elections that swept him to power. He signed an agreement with the United States providing up to 60 million up to through to three years to promote Economic Growth and Good Governance in armenia. All those these efforts are welcome, they are not enough. Armenia has a rare and potentially fleeting window of opportunity to consolidate and build upon its democratic gains. Fundamental changes to its constitution, electoral code, and governance institutions cannot be achieved by repackages existing and under a new leader. Armenia has earned a clear signal that the United States supports its democratic transformation and resources will be brought to them to carry out that transformation. This amendment would provide 40 million in one year to supercharge armenias democratic progress. Armenia would continue to lead the process, but the u. S. Expertise and assistance would serve as a true catalyst. So this particular fund is filled with over 700 million. We are already giving 250 to ukraine. Over 50 million to moldova. And 83 million to georgia. So at 40 million commitment to a country that is on its own delivered democracy is a small gift. I urge that we support that. I reserve the balance of my time. The chair the gentlewoman from california reserves. The gentleman from kentucky is recognized. Mr. Rogers mr. Chairman, i rise to claim time in opposition and i reserve the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman is recognized. The gentleman reserves. The gentlewoman from california is recognized. Ms. Speier i am mrs. Lowey would the gentlewoman yield . Ms. Speier delighted to. Mrs. Lowey while this amendment does not have a budgetary effect i would like to thank my friend for raising such an important issue. The progress made in armenias transition to democracy and the velvet revolution is a refreshing development at a time when so many other countries are headed in the opposite direction. This account funds critical programs to counterer russian aggression and counterer russian aggression and influence in europe and asia and support to key partners like ukraine and georgia. Im prepared to o work to provide the necessary to work to provide the necessary resources to encourage continued progress in armenia and willing to accept the amendment. I reserve the balance of my time. Ms. Speier i thank the gentlelady and leader of our Appropriations Committee for her support. Im grateful beyond words. I yield back the balance of my time. The chair the gentlewoman from california yields back. The gentleman from kentucky is recognized. Mr. Rogers mr. Chairman, the funding directed in this amendment is a significant increase above current levels. It could result in funds being cut from important partners in europe facing russian aggression. For this reason i urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment and i yield back. The chair the gentleman from kentucky yields back. The with question is on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from california. So many as are in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it. The amendment is not agreed to. Mr. Chairman. The chair for what purpose does the representative from georgia seek recognition . I ask for a recorded vote. The chair pursuant to clause of rule 18, from the proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from alifornia will be postponed. For what purpose does the gentlewoman from new york seek recognition . Mrs. Lowey mr. Chairman, morph to strike the last word. The chair the gentleman is recognized for five minutes. Mrs. Lowey 00 im pleased to yield to the the gentlewoman from california, ms. Speier. The chair the gentlewoman is recognized. Ms. Speier i thank the gentlelady from new york, my good friend. I rise to engage in a colloquy with the chairwoman of the state foreign ops appropriations subcommittee. I rise today to discuss the immense value to the american taxpayer and congress provided by the special Inspector General for afghanistan reconstruction. Since 2002, the u. S. Government has spent over 126 billion, thats a b, billion dollars building the Afghan Security forces, promoting Good Governance, and conducting development assistance. Created in 2008 National Defense authorization act, the cigar, has helped to oversee the effectiveness of these programs and guarded against waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagementment. It has alert the congress to programs timeyed by corruption, flawed leadership, poor design, while also providing implementing agencies with Lessons Learned that have improved their efforts. I believe that this Program Provides immense value to the American Public and their efforts should continue so longs the United States continues to al he locate significant sums of money to the afghan reconstruction. I want to ask the chair woman to chairwoman to clarify no language in the bill, the bills house report, should be construed as creating an end date for the cigr. Mrs. Lowey i thank my friend for bringing this issue to our attention. The Committee Takes seriously oversight of taxpayer dollars. I concur with the gentlewomans remarks. The cigr continues to serve american taxpayers by reporting on instances of waste, fraud, and abuse in afghanistan. The language included in the house report was not intended to suggest that the committee expects or is directing cigr to cease operations by september 30, 2021. Rather the requirement in the house report is for them to provide a plan on its future state consideration the administrations proposing drawdown in afghanistan. We must protect american taxpayer funds from waste, fraud, and abuse. I look forward to working with cigr on effectively achieving this Important Mission as the u. S. Engagement with afghanistan continues to evolve. Mr. Chair, i yield back the balance of my time. The chair the gentlewoman from yields back. The committee will rise informally to receive a message. The speaker pro tempore the house will be in order to receive a message. The messenger madam speaker, a message from the president. The secretary madam speaker. The speaker pro tempore mr. Secretary. The secretary im directed by the president of the United States to deliver to the house of representatives a message in writing. The committee will resume its sitting. The chair it is now in order to consider amendment number 85 printed in part b of house report 116109. For what purpose does the gentleman from North Carolina seek recognition . Mr. Meadows i have an amendment at the desk. The clerk amendment number 85 printed in part b of house report 116109 offered by mr. Meadows of North Carolina. The chair the gentleman from North Carolina, mr. Med meadows and a member opposed each will control five minutes. Mr. Meadows this amendment withholds 33 million from pakistan. In addition to the 33 million that is currently being withheld. This seems like it should not be necessary, but, indeed, it is. Shak ell you that dr. Inch l has been in prison for his role in helping the United States government locate osama bin laden. And the message, mr. Chairman, needs to be clear. That imprisonment and the violation of human rights of this fine doctor needs to cease. I can tell you, mr. Chairman, you probably find the same thing back home, many of our constituents why we are sending money to pakistan any way, let alone if they are going to violate the human rights of someone who has helped bring justice to a terrorist. In 2011, the doctor was almost entirely restricted and he was prevented from meeting with his lawyers and indeed his previous lawyer was murdered. He has been reportedly tortured. He has been described as now looking like a skeleton. This body needs to stand together and send a clear messages that we will not tolerate this kind of behavior and this violation of human rights. We need to stand with his wife. We need to stand for freedom. We appreciate the support of Freedom House in supporting this amendment. And i would like to yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from kentucky, someone i fondly refer to as mr. Chairman, who has been a leader on so many of these issues, the gentleman from kentucky, mr. Rogers. The chair the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Rogers i thank the gentleman for the time. I rise in support. This amount would double withheld from pakistan until the doctor has been released from in and cleared all charges of the assistance he provided to the United States in locating osama bin laden. Aid to pakistan has substantially decreased, including the assistance security funding because of insufficient cooperation on counterterrorism. Similarly, the 2020 economic request for assistance has been reduced from 200 million to 48 million. Remaining u. S. Programs helped combat violent extremism, support the rule of law and counter narcotics including along the border. Nonetheless, this amendment sends a strong signal that the United States views the charges ainst dr. Afridi as baseless and will continue to press for his release. I urge support of this gentlemans amendment. Mr. Meadows i thank the gentleman for his passion. And in the interest of time, i encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to stand for freedom to make sure that what we do is actually send a clear message to those that will stop stomp out those who are freedomloving across the globe. And i yield back. The chair the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentlewoman from new york is recognized. Mrs. Lowey i claim time in opposition, although i am not opposed. I share the gentlemans frustration that the current withholding of restriction that has been in place since 2014 that has withheld 165 million to date has not yet compelled the government of pakistan to release dr. Afridi from prison. It has been reported after being held for eight years by the pakistani government, the Doctors Health has begun to deteriorate. We must increase pressure on the government of pakistan to release the doctor. I support this amendment. And i reserve the balance of my time. I yield become. The chair the gentlewoman from new york yields back. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from North Carolina. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed