News
March 12, 2020
"Let me be clear: Our nation’s security cannot afford a budget that does not adequately fund our diplomatic and development programs, or life-saving humanitarian assistance. Diplomacy and development programs are our best hope to tackle the difficult issues facing the world, making the draconian cuts proposed by this administration irresponsible. For as long as I have been a part of this Subcommittee, we have had bipartisan agreement that foreign assistance is critical to our national security and to maintaining America’s leadership role in the world. As Chairwoman, I have every expectation that we will produce a bill that maximizes each taxpayer dollar while responding to today’s many needs."
Issues:State, Foreign Operations
March 11, 2020
WASHINGTON — House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita M. Lowey today delivered the following remarks to the House Rules Committee in support of an appropriate rule for the House to consider H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act:
Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member Cole, and Members of the Rules Committee:
While the $8.3 billion coronavirus supplemental enacted into law last week provided crucial resources to our public health system, more support is needed to address the impacts on American families.
The legislation before you is appropriately titled the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.
My fellow Committee Chairs will tell you how this bill meets the needs of the American people by:
March 11, 2020
House Democrats today introduced the Families First Coronavirus Response Act to bolster the federal government’s response to the coronavirus outbreak and address the severe impacts of the coronavirus on Americans’ personal safety and financial security.
March 11, 2020
Download the fact sheet here.
March 11, 2020
"GPO is now distributing more and more information by digital means, such as through its upgraded and steadily growing website now called 'GovInfo.' GPO’s fundamental function is making information about the operations of government—particularly the Congress— readily available to the public. That’s a crucial function in a democracy."
Issues:Legislative Branch
March 11, 2020
"Our country’s energy future depends on DOE’s vital investments to solve our toughest energy challenges. The Trump budget request harms America’s energy future, our competitiveness, our workforce, our consumers, and our economy. The Trump budget also falls short in meeting our obligations to the communities that have sacrificed, and still bear the brunt of environmental costs borne from winning World War II."
Issues:Energy and Water
March 11, 2020
"This is an issue that directly affects our military readiness. Ensuring the health and wellbeing of our men and women in uniform, and their families, is vital to developing a strong fighting force that can face the world’s threats. Unfortunately, just like we highlighted last week in our hearing on the failures of privatized housing, our servicemembers are facing threats of a more widespread and insidious nature. In this case, it’s the threat from dangerous, long-lasting chemicals that are far, far too present on and around our military bases."
Issues:Military Construction, VA
March 11, 2020
"You arrive as the AOC faces a backlog of substantial facility renovation needs, both immediate and long-term; new construction projects requiring design and implementation; and continuing turmoil in the AOC workforce regarding discrimination in the workplace. You will have our subcommittee’s support as you tackle these issues. A smoothly functioning AOC is important to all Members and staff."
Issues:Legislative Branch
March 11, 2020
"I will have further questions on the administration’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak. I should also note that we continue to actively monitor your efforts related to youth use of vaping products. The deadline for companies to submit premarket application is just two months away. Preserving the ability of adults to use vaping devices as an offramp from smoking while preventing bad actors and youth-appealing flavors from remaining on the market is a delicate balancing act."
Issues:Agriculture
March 11, 2020
"It is in this environment of uncertainty that the Committee must review the Administration’s budget request for Afghanistan, which is dated. General, we need your best assessment of the situation as it is today. With respect to plans for U.S. troop withdrawal, the Committee needs to understand which bases are closing, which of our units are coming out, and when. We need to know the costs attributable to the drawdown and where the money would come from. This is made more problematic since the Administration has used of nearly all of its transfer authority to build the border wall."
Issues:Defense