Marine le pen of the national front. At 2 55 p. M. Eastern. This afternoon, the House Rules Committee met to set the parameters for debate for the fivemonth spending measure to fund the government for the remainder of the fiscal year. Current funding expires friday. We will hear from the chair and Ranking Member of the House Appropriations committee, to discuss the budgetary process, and some of the provisions in the legislation, and other house members who offered amendments. This is about 90 minutes. Come to order and good afternoon, and thank you for joining us this afternoon. Today, the committee will consider hr244 fiscal year 2017 appropriations bill. And i want to welcome both of our very special guests from the Appropriations Committee, the Committee Chairman and the Ranking Member. We met last week and asked that you please do your very best. And it looks like both of you have completed your work, and were delighted that you are here. Rep. Sessions this bill includes well, i think before that, i didnt know whether that was a yes or no over there, we didnt ask for a vote yet, judge. This bill includes full appropriations legislation funding for the remaining 11 annual appropriations bill through the end of the fiscal year which ends september 30th, 2017. This bill includes full appropriations legislation from funding for the remaining 11 annual appropriation bill through the end of fiscal year which ends september 30th, 2017. The funding level contained in the bill meets the base to script Discretionary Spending provided by the bipartisan budget act of 15 and provides additional funding for National DefenseBorder Security and other emergency needs. Specifically, this legislation represents a 25 billiondollar increase in National Defense funding over current levels, which i believe is a first major step to restoring our military strength not only to our Homeland Security, not only to our men and women around the globe, but perhaps most importantly the individuals the sons and daughters, aunts, uncles, mothers, fathers represent the United States of america. They represent them in their uniforms and represent the heroes of this great nation and comes with our things. This legislation also includes additional 1. 5 billion to bolster Border Security. I think this is increasingly important event as we focus on the new administration and the attorney general who is addressing this issue along with Homeland Security. Id like to welcome the gentleman from new jersey, my very dear friend, the young chairman. Thank you for taking time for coming in your great work in providing not only for the nation but in particular the committee that has worked so hard at this. Also, the young lady my dear friend from new york, gentlewoman, mrs. Lowy. Before i turn to you both id like to defer to the Ranking Member, the young gentleman from massachusetts for the opening comments and remarks. I like to welcome our two witnesses. Thank you for coming to the rules committee. Mr. Chairman, this is probably a whole lot i can say about how i feel about this deeply long process. While it might be good therapy, i think i will refrain from any comments other than the urge the committee to move forward. Let us do our work and let us keep the government running. I yelled back thank you. I do think the gentleman in the key here is that one week ago we heard both of you not only respectfully approach the committee on the converse but you said would come back bearing gifts of a longer tail to be told and were delighted. I recognize. Thank you, mr. Mcgovern. Thank you for having me before the committee today to present the house and menaced for hr 244 final appropriations package for fiscal year 2017. Its a pleasure to be here. Im here before the committee today to seek an appropriate rule with the prompt duration of this important measure. The bill includes fullyear funding for the remaining 11 annual appropriation bill for the end of fiscal year on september 30th. As well as emergency and supplemental funding it provides a total of 1. 163 trillion in the base and overseas contingency operations, global war on terror funding meeting the basic discretionary cap provided by the bipartisan budget act of 2015. In providing additional funding for critical National Defense, Border Security and emergencies. The bill is product of well over a years worth of careful, committed efforts by every effort on member in this body in the congress as well as members of the appropriation committee. It reflects our common values, to help move our nation forward. First and foremost, the bill makes america safer and stronger the bill makes a down payment on rebuilding our military. By increasing overall defense funding by over 25 million above the fiscal year 2015 levels. This includes funding to feed iso, to counter radical extremism around the world and to support our allies. It also includes 1. 6 billion with an additional 36000 troops above the Previous Administration budget requests. To support our men and women in uniform all volunteers it fully fund the Largest Military pay raise in six years providing for their training and support for their families. Final package also includes 1. 5 billion funding to strengthen our borders the largest increase in Border Security technologies and interceptor in more than ten years. Law enforcement and the health and safety of our American People are top priority. Funding for the fbi, us marshals , customs and border control, are increased and critical dollars are targeted towards vital and effective programs within the National Institute of health and the centers for Disease Control and towards programs that battle the opioid abuse epidemic across the nation. Legislation also includes provisions for other Key National Priorities like Disaster Relief, important transportation interceptor, support for education and local communities like the Dc School Vouchers and fully offset Permanent Health benefits for retired homeowners. Just as important, this bill uses back there dollars wisely and effectively the bill streamlines the government by freezing, cutting or eliminating dozens of programs throughout all of our federal agencies and departments. This includes the Environmental Protection agencys executive overreach and cutting of funding by 81 million, freezing the irs at current levels and prohibiting the funding with a Green Climate fund of the un Climate Change panel. Strong oversight is implemented at every level of government to ensure that no taxpayer dollar is misused or goes to waste. We make every dollar count. In sum, this is a solid builder affects the most important need of the American People. This ensures the future prosperity and security of our nation. As you know, the current continuing resolution expires friday and our time is limited. We must complete our work of the fiscal year 2017 that we can address for 2018 parties. Id like again, to think mrs. Lowy for her hard work beside me and all of our members on the bills in this package. This package reflects shared american values, this bill moves our country in the right school direction and i asked my colleagues in the house and senate to support it, vote on it and send it to the president s desk. Thank you for the time, mr. Chairman. Thank you. Mrs. Lowy, we recognize you. Thank you to my friend chairman sessions, to our Vice President and very able chair of the labor has subcommittee, well leave it at that. To our Ranking Member mr. Mcgovern and all the other members of the committee im very pleased to be here today with chairman to discuss the fiscal year, 2017 omnibus appropriations bill. Bipartisan negotiation resulted in a bill that i would not have written, is a product of compromise makes it an important investment. Such as increased Biomedical Research at nih by civilian, making college more affordable by increasing programs and making them available yearround and investing in transportation, education and providing our military with the tools to deter and defeat threats abroad. I am pleased we have reached agreement, we shouldnt really 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 acr until late april. This unnecessary and costly delay combined with the president s proposed cuts to the fy 17 and 18 spending bills which are in direct prevention to priorities that members on both sides of the aisle did not bode well for our work in the coming months. So, i support this bill, im under no illusion that this president will try again to insist on faculty and cuts that will harm hardworking families and will attempt to interfere in our ability to negotiate. Just today, in fact, the president tweeted 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 and i hope the president is watching and he will learn that good things happen when we Work Together as we did when we Work Together for the American People i yield back. Thank you. Thank you very much. Mr. Chairman, the responsibility that both of you have is not so much policy, although you carried the policy before you but its making sure you find that policy and making sure that policy is funded properly and follow through. With that said, as you know, there are lots of controversial issues, so to speak, that are in our domain that we deal with. One of those issues that i would like for you to as best as you would choose to speak about and that is there is at least an amendment that is on this issue but sanctuary cities, defunding century city and the issue that relates across the country on sanctuary cities became an issue as you know several years ago, in particular with the outside of san francisco. I know theres been a lot said about this. What is the bill that is before us today how does it address the funding of things for cities. The bill has no money in their four sanctuary cities, no language that relates to sanctuary cities. Thank you. Another issue that is always difficult and it has been an issue every year ive been on this committee and it has come up before funding is the viewpoint on the funding for womens health, planned parenthood and other issues related to that. As i recall, congress does not specify in its funding mechanisms, people or places or things that would be decisions that reside by the administrator is there anything in this bill that is funding for planned parenthood, money set aside for planned parenthood or can you discuss any of the issues related to womens health. No funding in our bill for planned parenthood. The department of health and Human Services does have Family Planning funds and those determination as to where those funds go lay that responsibility lays with the secretary. There are no funds in our bill for planned parenthood no plan print funds for planned parenthood in the focus. The issues also related to directly related to, issues on the border theres money, additional money, to my understanding but id like you to clarify that this continues the effort that really this administration is after two further not only develop their plan but to make available Many Technology and important updates along the border fixing fencing, fixing things that might be weaknesses in the border right now. Could you please discuss what you believe that money is smack 1. 4. 1. 5 million is included. As i said in my opening remarks, weve had in over a decade this funding is for improvements maintenance of existing infra structure, Technology Investments and increased Border Patrol and agent hiring. It specifically for those purposes. Would it be your idea that you believe in the 2018 budget cycle you would be entertaining not only from Homeland Security but probably an appropriations of request by the administration that would be vetted, understood and agreed to if you so chose on any additional provisions. We would expect the white house and theyve indicated they would request additional money to help bolster the southwest border and enforce immigration laws. Thats a strong likelihood. This is the first step in the fact is one in 3 billion, we scrub those numbers and felt that the investments we make, we put in here in terms of infrastructure, border fence, it would probably be a good First Step Towards fulfilling the president s objectives. Thank you. Last point id make in reference to my statement about the follow within the budget camps, do you have any statement that you would make, traditionally, meaning in the last year, year and a half we could have made the statement that we were not only falling in line with the budget caps but that were equal to about the spending Discretionary Spending levels for the year that we had in 2008 , do you believe that is still the case with mark. In some of those departments we are back at the 2008 spending levels. I think thats pretty positive. We been able to, sat without too much damage and too many repercussions. I think every committee chair, were talking about our committee having responsibility for the discretionary pot, not the entitlement, group of entitlements. I think every member of every chair and every ranking has been working very closely to reduce, certainly keep the Discretionary Spending level and in many cases substantially reduce it. I know energy and water which i chair the committee is down to 2009 levels so its not without a lot of consternation and hard work. I think those spending levels have been reduced substantially in just about all departments. With the exception to veterans and defense. And of course we recognize that was an aggregate total that you gave and yet you whittled that down increasingly. We have. We also know you have a constant demand on mr. Cole to get things done at mih, our dear friends at nih. I believe they are effectively using the wisdom, the dollars that youve given them, these heroes of our country from the medical community and research and development. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. I want to congratulate my chair and Ranking Member on a terrific job. When you were here less than a week ago we asked for your closing to get it done and you said you would and you could and you have. I think you are both to be commended. I know how much work went into this and how much giveandtake you are both involved in. In a goodfaith effort to find common ground. I think this is actually a much more consequential bill in some ways then just quote unquote on running the government. Although thats consequential enough. This is actually the first bipartisan, bicameral compromise working with a new administration. This is actual real legislation across the floor that both parties have participated in and have come to a common agreement on. Its my hope that your good work becomes foundation for other similar efforts and certainly for next year. I dont have any illusions, my good friend and Ranking Member is precisely correct when she tells us that next year will be very difficult. Certainly, looking at the 18 fiscal year budget will have a truncated amount of time as i know the three of us agree, we wish this had been done earlier. I do think a lot of good things came out of it. President youll be very pleased with what he achieved in the areas of defense and i think more poorly, our men in uniform will have certainty of funding there and getting out from acr as the chairman pointed out what was done on the border is the most significant thing weve done in a decade and it was done together, i might add. Both sides consented to and im obviously most familiar with the labor eight portion of the bill and that is very bipartisan, quite frankly. We probably squeezed it a little more than my democratic side would like but its a 2. 8 billion less then president obama requested and this should of been effectively his last set of appropriation bill and its about a billion dollars less that we spent last year. My prioritizing and by focusing on areas that we have in common like the nih, center for Disease Control, like programs like era and all of them impact aid, all those areas got modest or significant increases. To do that we terminated nine programs saving over a billion dollars. Again, that had to be done by parts away or it could have been done at all. It really was, i think, congress is working well. I would hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle follow the example of chairman and Ranking Member and dont let the [inaudible] date certainly didnt agree on everything in here and each of them had to leave on the cutting floor things they would have preferred to have in the bill. Welcome to legislation. Welcome to actually making a product work. Again, i dont need to ask a lot of questions and i dont n