Preparations committee worked on 2021 spending today, earlier they debated interior and Environmental Department spending which included several amendments, your congresswoman chairs the committee. Good morning. I called a meeting on appropriations to order. And before we begin, they require me to remind you we have set up an email address to which members can send anything they wish to submit in writing at any of our hearings or markups. The email address has been provided to your staff. First, consideration of the interior environment appropriations bill, fiscal year 2021. I will now recognize ms. Mccowan to present the bill. Good morning. I want to thank Ranking Member, for his strong collaboration of partnership throughout this entire process. Been a great partner from the great lakes and a little geography being social studies teacher, it borders with the great state of ohio, lake erie and in minnesota, we border on lake superior. Id like to thank all members of our subcommittee for all contributions and especially the way in which continue our tradition of nonpartisan work, to Work Together on issues that affect Indian Country. Im also grateful for the leadership of chairwoman and Ranking Member ranger, superior. This is chairwomans last markup and i am particularly want to extend my gratitude to her for her outstanding leadership shes provided on this committee and her understanding heritage areas in the full subcommittee for that we do. Shes preserving our nations parks and public lands, Environmental Protections, clean air and clean water for generations to come. I wish you all the best in the years ahead and i know we all do. Fiscal year 2021, subcommittee is recommending a total of 36. 8 billion in discretionary funding, this is an increase of 771 Million Dollars over last years level. In addition to our regular appropriations, the bill includes 2. 4 billion and adjusted funds for suppression operations. This brings the total funding for Fire Management to 5. 7 billion. Thank you, again for all your work on this issue. This bill includes an additional 15 million in emergency designated Infrastructure Investment for the bureau of Indian Education, Indian Health services, the Environmental Protection agency. These investments will increase access to quality healthcare, education to clean up contaminated land, would an unhealthy air. As a result the impending enactment of the Great American doors act in fiscal year 21, the land and Water Conservation fund will be fully funded 900 billion for the first time in 40 years. This bill allocates distribution of those funds, once the committee receives the list from agencies, which is required, we will reflect the final decisions in the enacted bill. Last year, House Democrats secured significant new investments in Environmental Protection and land conservation. Fiscal year 2021, this bill builds upon the successes and advances the priorities of american families, ensuring we have clean air and water to protect our chickens health. Protecting almost special places and endangered species by taking meaningful actions to address Climate Change. Bill is a rejection of dangerous policies and funding cuts proposed by the Trump Administration. Instead, this bill moves us forward by investing in resources in ways that keep our Community Safe and healthy. This bill and protection and preservation of our landscapes and biodiversity. The covid19 pandemic is affecting our entire nation but there pronounced Racial Disparities in its impact with africanamericans, hispanic latinos, native americans, expanding higher rates of infection and higher rates of death. Tribal communities are disproportionately feeling the effects of the endemic while our work to provide covid19 relief is ongoing, this bill invests in the health and safety and welfare of Indian Country. This bill provides 3. 5 billion to Indian Affairs bureau of Indian Education and the office of special trustee and 6. 5 billion to the Indian Health service. As a nation, we have more work to do to ensure we provide the health and Safety Education of our brothers and sisters working together on our subcommittee, this bill is another step in the right direction towards upholding federal government cost and treaty obligation. This bill contains 102 million for the problem of population to think our question colleagues for keeping the committee focused on this work. Thank you mr. Stewart. I want to know this bill provides provisions that protect our environment now and future generations. Given the circumstances, find ourselves facing with covid19 and the fact that many of these provisions passed overwhelmingly with support in the house last year, ive included in the bill. We know how this movie ends so here are provisions included. A provision to block off the coast of florida, california and maine which passed on the house for about 252 to 178, a provision to protect the pristine wilderness of the alaska force house for about a 2432188 and a provision and the importation of sports at the elephants and line trophies in tanzania, zimbabwe and zambia. Passed on the house floor by about 2392192. Before i conclude, id like to address the issue. Consider legs memorials have long been simple question and discrimination in our nation. My first year Ranking Member along with chair calvert, this bill was brought down on the house floor by a Confederate Flag issue. Five years later, as chair, i continue and at times, outrage that we as a nation, not made more progress to address racism and to end the cruel legacy of the confederacy. I am committed to do everything i to help our country confront and heal his legacy of Racial Justice. Thats why in this bill, i am including in which requiring National Parks service to remove all confederate commemorative works. Furthermore, this bill includes language authored by representative jeffries, that prohibits for the purchase of the display of Confederate Flags in our National Parks. With one exception. I am a social studies teacher. That exception is in special circumstances to provide historical content. Gettysburg. This is not about erasing our history or denigrating anyone heritage. This is about whether or not we are willing to do the hard work, confronting the truth of our history and to work. In order to do that, that means ending the use of confederate symbols which continues to be used today to intimidate and terrorize millions of our fellow americans. I hope every member of this committee, and this body will. Finally, i want to thank the staff on both sides of the aisle including hunt, merchant, erickson, peter and donna. Rebecca taylor also. For all the hard work on the legislation and the work they together with the republican staff so we can be here today. I urge members to support this bill, its great bill. Adam schiff, i yelled back. [applause] its clear your statement is very appreciated. I want to find for me thank you like to recognize subcommittee Ranking Member mr. Joyce. Thank you. Congrats on reaching another important milestone in the fiscal year 2021 interior environment and related agencies appropriations bill. Before it started, going to graduate you, chairwoman on your retirement. We wish you all and thank you for your longstanding dedication to this is like to think the Ranking Member steadfast leadership. I like to thank you for the judicious way you lead this committee during this president. More than a dozen budget hearings and briefings to address challenges cost by this virus, something all members are grateful for no matter side of the aisle we are on. Among difficult circumstances, you continue to show even when we disagree, we can do so without being disagreeable. What do we agree more restoration of the great lakes. The largest freshwater system in the world and its crucial we continue to protect and preserve them to the full extent possible. Thats why grateful for the work is done in this bill for support the Restoration Initiative, continue robust investment eradicating agents and addressing coastline erosion. Another area we strongly agree is Indian Country. The complement you on the nonpartisan approach to programs for American Indians and alaska natives on more than one quarter of the bill. Covid19 has hit Indian Country products in any other area in the nation. Culture of the Bipartisan Task force, is pleased to see the recommendation include 3 million to intimate violence against women in american Indian Country and additional 3. 2 Million Dollars operation lady justice to address missing indigenous people, Human Trafficking and other violent crimes. Grateful even in this Environment Congress finds themselves subcommittee continues to work on behalf of Indian Country. I appreciate our members that the bill provides full funding for the payment and taxes program and continues to include significant funding for the wildfire suppression and hazardous field activities. It could be especially challenging year, the funds are critical to protecting communities across the country and preventing devastation weve seen in recent years. Im pleased to see the bill provides 55 million for the final phase of national air and Space Museum Renovation enclosed with increased funding world water Technical Assistance. They provide Additional Support for fish and Wildlife Services north america was conservation act to work with partners to restore wetlands and other pets. How to think chair and staff for making sincere effort to accommodate bipartisan priorities the bill alongside republican requests. We appreciate the truth, regardless of party so thank you. However, i want to applaud bipartisan priorities included the bill, several problems that need to be addressed before the bill can become law. First, it adds several controversial policy writers, administrator of precision and report directive. These provisions are aimed at stopping administrations reducing regulatory and curbing Energy Development. Positive strives for Renewable EnergyDevelopment Taking steps back on the energy. Our economy continues to depend on the Energy Strategy in several provisions in the bill undermine our ability to do so. One of the many lessons weve learned from the pandemic is we cannot rely on other countries for critical resources. We cannot protect american jobs if we cannot power them. Renewable energy is not ready to carry a load on its own. Important bipartisan bill language provisions weve agreed to for several years that have fallen out of this draft. It will be essential to reaching a bipartisan agreement. On the level proposed in this bill, bill benefits from off budget emergency funding provided in other bills, instead of using savings for the Great American outdoors act and Going National debt, reallocate the funds. The bill includes a new title with 15 billion in spending for additional infrastructure. No doubt infrastructure programs in this bill that needs the funds more but that doesnt if the federal government license to get to know about any overarching plan fiscal responsibility. Policy and funding reasons i cannot support this bill at this time in its current form but am committed to working with you that im sure along with chairman and Ranking Member and the rest of our colleagues in this committee as we move through fiscal 21 year process. Multiple can work across the aisle to craft a bill receives bipartisan support, the government operating and reserve the Environmental Resources we need. [laughter] would now like to recognize myself for opening remarks. Thank Ranking Member joyce for your work on this bill as well as the staff for your efforts to review member requests for us. House democrats reject the Trump Administration pandering to the fossil fuel industry at the expense of the environment and public lands. Instead, we will promote solutions that preserve our landscape, protect endangered species and help prevent the worst impact of Climate Change. The fiscal year 2021 interior appropriations bill, will fulfill his obligations by investing 9. 37 billion for epa and increase 318 million including an increase of 13 million, 2 billion and increase 55 million for the National Parks service and 170 million for both National Endowment to the arts and endowment for the humanities. Epa Geographic Program served to protect the health of the American Public as well as the most important ecosystem which enables both enhanced recreational and business opportunity. I promised to clean up the long island, im proud to serve funding to rehabilitate the Precious Resource in the lower hudson valley. Including 30. 4 million for the long island regional program. I look forward to moving this bill to the floor of the house of representatives, i urge all members to support it and i would now like to recognize Ranking Member granger for her opening remarks. Thank you. Thank you for the work theyve done on many programs supported by the interior bill. Priorities and concerns of members on both sides of the aisle as many as good things of Natural Resources. In addition, the bill helps local communities across the country with education and safety needs, particularly in Indian Country. Even though the bill funds many share priorities, several policies that have concern. Provisions that have had bipartisan support for many years. Instead, the bill as many directors would limit energy and mineral production and prevent the administration from producing regulatory burdens. Additionally, im concerned about fiscal year 2021 appropriations bill and in particular, funding levels proposed in this bill. The bill includes 18 billion in emergency spending including components of the infrastructure built pushed through the house lastly republican involvement. I did not support that bill because it was a departure from years of bipartisan work on infrastructure priorities and i cant support this additional spending today. You must find ways to rein in spending by addressing our nations most pressing need. I hope we can resolve these funding differences, in closing, i want to recognize all subcommittee members for their dedication for the important programs in the bill and the staff for their hard work. Thank you and i yield back. At any other members wishing to make general comments about the bill . Member granger as well as chair betty and Ranking Member david for the leadership of this committee. The bill prioritizes Environmental Protection and conservation by making strong investments to provide for the protection of public lands to ensure clean air and Safe Drinking Water for all americans as cochair of the long island caucus, i would like to thank the chair for the 9. 4 million increase will only island your god which represents electric funding levels of 31 million. Island caucus is a bipartisan effort and the National Treasure worship covers all states and 25 citizens within an hour drive of the shores and contributing estimated 31 billion annually for the regional economy from commercial and recreational fishing, tourism and other water dependencies. Provided by this bill for conservation, ownership management activities that protect and restore the environmentally and economically vital endorsing of long island. We say thank you to the chair for prioritizing additional funding of 12. 5 million to address the president presence of contamination in our community. These chemicals are linked to Health Effects including the growth and development of children. The funding will support the important work of establishing standards for contaminated Drinking Water and clean up the Environmental Protection