Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2019

Floor Speech

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Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of this essential emergency supplemental appropriations bill.

H.R. 268 totals $12.14 billion in emergency disaster appropriations funding to provide relief and recovery assistance for Americans affected by recent hurricanes, typhoons, wildfires, and other natural disasters, especially in my home State of Florida.

The MILCON-VA portion of the bill provides $860.4 million for Department of Defense military construction needs and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Specifically, the bill includes $115 million for the Marine Corps to begin planning for construction projects related to the devastation left behind by Hurricanes Florence and Michael on Marine Corps facilities in North Carolina at New River, Cherry Point, and Lejeune.

The Marine Corps is planning facility consolidation efforts as a result of the severe damage, and this funding represents the first step in a vital rebuilding process for the Marine Corps.

Mr. Chair, the bill also includes $700 million to begin the rebuilding of Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida's Panhandle. This funding will support the relocation of the F-22 mission and the bed- down of F-35s, along with the planning for new facilities there.

This funding is a crucial first step to begin the necessary rebuilding of Tyndall, which we will rebuild.

Mr. Chair, I also want to point out that this funding for Tyndall and North Carolina is just a down payment. Congress is going to need to provide much more support to get these locations back on their feet, and this administration should take the time to address these real emergencies and not the ones they have manufactured.

Finally, this bill includes a continuing resolution to reopen our government, which is now in its 26th day of being shut down. Mr. Chair, as I said just yesterday, the Trump shutdown is continuing to inflict serious financial pain and anxiety on families, businesses, and communities across the United States.

Opening the government is not a poison pill. It is our duty. This legislation will enable the areas affected by the hurricanes to begin to rebuild the communities and military installations that are vital to our national defense and those local economies, as well as provide relief to 800,000 Federal workers and their families who are living under a cloud of economic insecurity right now.

Mr. Chair, I urge all Members of this body to cast a yes vote.

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