Best use of every single taxpayer dollar, assuring more reliability and predictibility that than a government operating under a continuing resolution. In short it moves our nation forward in the right direction. The bill includes full year funding for the remaining 11 annual Appropriations Bills for defense, infrastructure, health and safety programs through the end of the fiscal year on september 30. As well as critical emergency and defense and Border Security funding requested by the president. In total it provides 1 1. 63 trillion in base and overseas Contingency Operations funding. These levels meet the caps provided by the bipartisan budget act of 2015. This bill makes the senator decisions investing funding where its needed most. Rebuilding our military, securing our borders, and bolstering Economic Growth, getting people back to work. First and foremost and most importantly, this bill prioritizes funding for national defense, restoring the strength and capacity of our armed forces. Overall defense funding has increased by 25 billion above fiscal year 2016 levels. This funding will help assure our military has proper training. The best weapons and equipment needed to defeat isis. Battle radical extremism around the world, and support our allies in critical regions around the world against threats from russia, china, iran, and north korea, and other sources. To rebuild our strength this bill includes 1st6 billion for additional 36,000 troops above the previous administrations request. Most importantly this bill supports our men and women in uniform. All volunteers. And provides them with a 2. 1 pay raise, the largest in six years, and it takes care of their families. To help secure our borders and protect our homeland, the bill provides customs and Border Protection with a total of 12. 2 billion, nearly 1 bill increase 1 billion increase over fiscal year 2016. In fact, this is the largest increase in Border Security technology and infrastructure in a decade. A down payment on stronger, more effective systems and barriers. Funding is also prioritized to tackle gang and drug crime, combat terrorism, and support Law Enforcement. With agencies like the f. B. I. , the u. S. Marshals, the d. E. A. , and immigrations and customs enforcement, all receiving funding boosts. Other Domestic Fund something directed to proven, effective programs that improve the health and safety of all americans. That includes increases from the National Institutes of health and the c. D. C. Significantly we have increased funding to battle the opioid 781 mic abuse situation by million from last year. This fund will go provide treatment, education enforcement, and help unacceptably high numbers of communities that have been devastated by this crisis. Lastly, this legislation funds Important National priorities like Critical Infrastructure and essential Disaster Relief and supports our local communities, including renewing the d. C. Opportunity Scholarship Program and giving choice in the district to parents. This bill also should also be noted for what it doesnt do. Our legislation cuts, freezes, and eliminates funding for dozens of programs that have been wasteful, ineffective, or just plain unnecessary. We reined in the Regulatory Program to prevent overreach. We froze i. R. S. Funding at current levels and directing money to improve services to taxpayers and to make sure the money is well spent, we have accountability at every level of government. Mr. Speaker, im proud to support this bill as it reflects the needs of the American People and our common values. We are investing in the security and success of our nation, and for that this bill deserves solid bipartisan support. Mr. Speaker, there are many people to thank for their help in bringing this bill to the floor today. First and foremost, i want to thank my colleagues in the house, each and every member contributed to this effort, and as a result, its a better bill. I especially want to thank my committee chairman. They are stewards of these bills, and i appreciate all the hard work theyve done to get us here today with their Committee Members. Id also like to thank my counterpart, Ranking Member of the Appropriations Committee, mrs. Lowey, for her dedication to bringing this bill to the floor today, as well as our colleagues in the senate for their partnership. Lastly, i must thank the hardworking staff of the House Appropriations committee. They put in months of nonstop work to bring this bill before the house today. We shouldnt be we wouldnt be here without the leadership of the full Committee Staff led by nancy fox and jim on the majority side and shlanda and chris on the minority side. In the front office we have also working hard steven, shannon, carol, jennifer, marta, tammy, rachel, david and brad. I thank all of you. I also want to thank our hardworking clerks in the democratic and the democratic counterparts all deserve our gratitude. E clerks, jennifer, donna, ina, valerie, dave, susan, liz, marin, doug. Lastly, i want to thank katie, my chief of staff, and my personal staff. Our subcommittees as well as our minority i yield myself an additional minute. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Frelinghuysen the minority staff worked night and day to get the fiscal year 2017 behind us, these bills, and to get ahead and move ahead to the 2018 process. I appreciate all of them and their hard work. Before i close, id like to take a moment to acknowledge one special member of the committee, dale oak, who will retire this week. He has deindicated more than 20 years to the committee. He tacked one extra week on sticking around to help us complete this bill. His commitment is true to form for him and were immensely grateful for it. Dale, we thank you for your years of service, and we wish you the best of luck in the future. Mr. Speaker, its now seven months into the 2017 fiscal year. We must complete our work today. Its time to look ahead and begin work on the 2018 priorities. I urge my colleagues to support the bill and i thank you and i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves his time. The chair recognizes the gentlelady from new york. Mr. Speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady may proceed. Mrs. Lowey i am pleased to be here with chairman frelinghuysen to complete the fiscal year 2017 appropriations process. Bipartisan negotiations resulted in the bill. The product of compromise makes important investments such as increasing Biomedical Research at the n. I. H. By 2 billion, increasing investments in Early Childhood and Education Programs such as head start, title 1, idea and afterschool programs, making college more affordable by increasing pell grants and making them available year round, providing robust funding for public broadcasting and community service, and investing in transportation, housing, First Responders and providing our military with the tools to deter and defeat threats abroad. It would also ensure american citizens in puerto rico continue to have access to health care. Permanently extend Health Insurance benefits for retired mine workers. Increase funding to combat the opioid epidemic. Preserve planned parenthoods eligibility for federal funds. Rovide 1. 1 billion in Disaster Assistance for regions affected by storms and flooding including north carolina, california, louisiana, West Virginia and more. It is imperative to note what this bill does not contain. Not one cent for President Trumps border wall or additional fencing. No poison pill riders that would have prevented socalled sanctuary cities from receiving federal grants. Undermine the Affordable Care act or harm the f. D. A. s ability to regulate tobacco products. While i am pleased we reach this agreement, we should not celebrate coming to a fullyear agreement in may for a fiscal year that began seven months ago. Last year, our committee was negotiating in good faith until the Trump Transition Team interfered insisting on a c. R. Until late april. This unnecessary and costly delay, combined with the president s proposed cuts for the f. Y. 2017 and f. Y. 2018 spending bills, do not bode well for our work in the coming months. So while i support this bill, i am under no illusions and expect this president will again insist on draconian cuts that will harm hardworking families and interfere with our ability to negotiate. Just yesterday, the president irresponsibly tweeted that, quote, our country needs a good shutdown in september. Perhaps the president needs a history lesson. The constitution grants congress the power of the purse. I hope the president is watching and that he will learn that good things happen when we Work Together for the American People. Of course our good bipartisan work on this bill would not have been possible without our excellent staff, and i want to personally thank all the minority and majority appropriations Committee Staffers, especially our democratic staff director, shalanda young, and deputy staff director chris big low and their majority counter bigalow, and their majority counterparts. And, again, i appreciate the opportunity to work with chairman frelinghuysen and i appreciate the work of all our Committee Members, all our Ranking Members and their personal staff as well. And i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady reserves the balance of her time. The gentleman from new jersey. Mr. Frelinghuysen i yield four minutes to my predecessor, the gentleman from kentucky, mr. Rogers. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized for four minutes. Mr. Rogers mr. Speaker, im pleased to support this legislation. I want to commend chairman frelinghuysen and mrs. Lowey for a job well done. Mr. Speaker, the most important point i could make for many in this chamber is that if you reject this omnibus spending bill that you all put together during the year, the alternative is a continuing resolution for the balance of the year, which will put into effect the Spending Priorities of the previous administration. The obama plan will still be in effect if you reject the this omnibus bill. For many of us, thats the most important point that we could make. Now, mr. Speaker, this comprehensive bill responsibly funds key Government Programs through the rest of the fiscal year. As the battle against isis continues, funding for both defense and diplomacy must be a part of our National Security framework. Along with strategic increases for the department of defense, the omnibus includes critical funding for the department of state and foreign operations. Protecting our diplomats abroad is a top priority, and the bill provides 6. 1 billion to carry out that mission. The legislation also upholds our commitments to Key International allies like israel and jordan, and establishes a new 100 million fund to support nations facing russian aggression. We continue funding for both Global Health and humanitarian aid and famine relief, including a new Rapid Response und for infectious diseases. And the bill dead indicates significant resources to stop Drug Trafficking along our southern border with robust counternarcotic and Law Enforcement efforts in mexico, Central America and colombia. No funds are provided for either the Green Climate fund or the u. N. Panel on climatic change and funding for the u. N. S reduced by 640 million. While National Security is a key tenant to this legislation, the omnibus also promotes Economic Growth at home, particularly in my kentucky district. Coal country came under siege under president obama with an onslaught of jobkilling regulations. Our communities are working hard to recover after losing nearly 12,000 mining jobs. In addition to rolling back several anticoal regulations, the bill permanently provides Health Care Benefits to retired coal miners and their families. This gives the people who powered our nation for generations the peace of mind that they deserve. The bill also provides kentucky with 25 million to continue the abandon mine land pilot program, which creates jobs by reclaiming abandoned mine land for economic development. The Appalachian Regional Commission receives historic funding with 152 million appropriated, 10 million is dedicated to highspeed brought to you by cable in broadband cable in our area. And in addition to creating jobs, this bill builds on our progress to combat drug abuse. Like operation unite in my district, we take a wholeistic approach to fund a holistic approach to fund a comprehensive federal response. 187 million is provided for fighting the opioid epidemic, including treatment and prevention and Law Enforcement. This bill, mr. Speaker, will save lives. Mr. Speaker, i urge a yes vote. I commend the chairman and the Ranking Member for the great work they have put together in passing whats important to this nation. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back his time. The chair recognizes the gentlelady from new york. Mrs. Lowey mr. Speaker, i am very pleased to yield 2. 5 minutes to the very gentlelady from ohio, ms. Kaptur, Ranking Member of the subcommittee on energy and water. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady is recognized for 2 1 2 minutes. Ms. Kaptur i want to thank my dear colleague, mrs. Lowey, the Ranking Member of the committee, for yielding and thank chairman frelinghuysen, rogers and Ranking Member lowey again, for the hard work they did to push this bill across the finish line. Yet, today, i rise with frustration that it has taken us so long to finish doing our job. There is simply no good reason why over seven months into the 2017 fiscal year we are only now taking a vote to fund this years government operations. The American People deserve so much better. There are many things in this bill with which i disagree, but i am pleased to see that the bill before us represents a bipartisan compromise. It also includes a lot of positive aspects for ohio. The agreement brings welcome news to coal industry pension years. It also provides an important 600 million to fight the National Opioid epidemic, which has devastated our communities. And it also provides 300 million for the great lakes restoration initiative, assuring our critical work to improve Water Quality in our great lakes. As Ranking Member of the energy and water subcommittee, i am well aware we have more work to do, but this bill continues our commitment to Nuclear Nonproliferation and provides a modest increase for innovative science as well as Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy for americas future and for our global leadership. Once again, i believe it is democrats who are getting the job done for america and leading the charge of bipartisan negotiations and compromise to avoid a government shutdown. Our side of the aisle continues to focus on making progress, moving the ball forward inch by inch and making progress, advancing progress for our country a step at a time. A recent poll reported this is what 77 of the American People want, compromising, working together, moving forward, and i hope this agreement will be a beach head in our efforts to fulfill their wishes. This bill demonstrates congress can Work Together collegially for the fiscal 2018 fiscal year appropriations to follow to benefit our nations future. Thank you, again, to chairman rodney frelinghuysen, Ranking Member nita lowey and all of our dedicated staff on appropriations on both sides of the aisle for the hard bipartisan work they put in putting this bill Forward Together for americas sake. With that i yield back and i thank the gentlelady for the time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady yields back her time. The chair recognizes the gentleman from new jersey mr. Frelinghuysen im pleased to yield two minutes to the chairman of the defense Appropriations Committee, kay granger. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady is recognized for two minutes. Miss granger this bill is the first step to rhine gin rebuildin