- 4 months ago
During a House Appropriations Committee markup meeting held before the Congressional recess, Rep. Lois Frankel (D-FL) spoke about an amendment proposed by a GOP lawmaker.
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00:00The gentlelady from Florida, Ms. Frankel, is recognized for an amendment.
00:06Thank you, Mr. Chair.
00:07I have an amendment at the desk, and I ask unanimous consent that the reading be dispensed with.
00:11Without objection, the reading of the amendment is dispensed with, and the gentlelady is recognized for remarks on her amendment.
00:19Mr. Chairman, I rise, say, to offer an amendment that would ensure that no less than 15% of the economic development funds in this bill are made available for programs in Africa.
00:29By 2050, Africa will become home to a quarter of the world's population, nearly half of the global youth.
00:38That's quite amazing.
00:40Some of the cities in Africa are booming.
00:43Startups are thriving, and across the continent, countries are leapfrogging traditional development paths through mobile banking, financial technology, and energy innovation.
00:54By 2030, Africa's consumer market is expected to top $2.5 trillion.
01:00This transformation is already visible.
01:03In Nigeria, financial technology startups are reshaping the economy and growing the middle class is driving consumer demand.
01:11Kenya, mobile banking platforms have brought millions of dollars into a formal financial system.
01:17South Africa and Egypt are home to some of the continent's most advanced tech hubs and industrial centers.
01:23While Ghana's stability and entrepreneurial energy are drawing investors from around the world, these countries and many others are building, innovating, and competing.
01:34The question is, will the United States be at the table, or will we let others like China steer the ship?
01:41I don't think that's at the table except that I don't know what that's called, the front of the boat.
01:45Anyway, at the same time, we must be clear-eyed.
01:50Diseases still ravage vulnerable communities.
01:54Young people need access to quality education, job training, and opportunities so that success is not reserved for elites alone.
02:03And while we weigh our options, China is not waiting.
02:06It's investing billions in African infrastructure, digital networks, mining operations, and military influence.
02:13China is writing the rules of the road, and we're at the real risk of being left behind.
02:18And we cannot afford to see ground because this is more than development assistance.
02:25It's about protecting our shared future.
02:28Pandemics, violent extremism, extreme weather events, they don't just stay contained within borders.
02:36Strategic, sustained U.S. engagement in Africa makes the world safer, more stable, more prosperous.
02:45And that means for us Americans, too.
02:48And if we care about resilient supply chains, if we care about the future of democracy,
02:53if we want American business to thrive in a competitive global economy,
02:58we must be present in Africa and committed to helping our African partners seize the opportunities ahead.
03:07Mr. Chairman, of course, I'm not really bragging, but I want to say this.
03:12This amendment is about vision.
03:15Vision, vision, correct?
03:19The vision of American leadership that is bold, forward-looking, and grounded in real partnership,
03:27not transactional deals or one-time handouts.
03:31We can be Africa's partner of choice, or we can watch others fill the void.
03:36Let's make the smart choices.
03:38I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.
03:41And I yield back.
03:43I thank the gentlelady for explanation of her amendment.
03:48I now yield to myself on the amendment.
03:51Again, I thank her for her amendment.
03:54Africa remains a key focus for our national security interests.
03:58Our strategic competitors, whether it's China, the PRC, Russia,
04:02including, by the way, the rebranded Wagner Group,
04:05are aggressively expanding influence across the continent,
04:09undermining democracies, destabilizing markets,
04:12and also cutting United States' access to critical mineral supplies.
04:18Funding from the National Security Investment Program accounts help ensure
04:23that America remains economically and politically competitive on the continent.
04:28It helps deter our adversaries, and it keeps us secure.
04:33Power Africa really is the backbone of sustainable growth, creating reliable power solutions
04:39that foster economic self-sufficiency, and open new markets for the United States.
04:47Supporting faith-based organizations and trusted local partners creates stability.
04:52It counters extremism, recruitment for extremist groups, and builds goodwill towards the United States.
05:01Targeted assistance for Nigeria addresses growing Christian persecution,
05:08and strengthens the rule of law in Africa's most populous nation,
05:13and a key regional ally of the United States, a security ally.
05:18In Africa's critical minerals, cobalt, lithium, and rare earths are essential for our,
05:25the United States, defense and technology.
05:27Securing those resources is a direct national security priority.
05:32And this funding supports Global Fragility Act initiatives in West Africa,
05:36advancing stability in fragile states while reducing future costs to the United States
05:43and helping our national security.
05:45Which is why I commend the ranking member for her amendment,
05:50and I would urge my colleagues to support this fine amendment.
05:55Okay.
05:56One for two.
05:58One for two.
05:59One for two.
06:00One for two.
06:03Is there further debate on this amendment?
06:10Seeing no further debate, the question, well, no, yeah.
06:16Seeing no further debate, the ranking member of the subcommittee is recognized to close for one minute.
06:22I'll just say one for two, not bad, but no, thank you.
06:26Listen, thank you.
06:28You know what, Mr. Chair, I think a lot of us in this room,
06:32we have some very common thoughts that we agree on.
06:36I'm glad this is one of them, and I yield back.
06:39Thank you, gentlemen.
06:40The question is now on the amendment offered by the general leader from Florida.
06:43All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
06:45Aye.
06:46All those opposed, no.
06:48Okay, the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it.
06:51The ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted.
06:56I like turning the keys over to your kid and finding out he drives better than you do.
07:18I now recognize Chairman Diaz-Billard to offer a Republican en bloc amendment.
07:25Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
07:27I have an amendment on the desk, and I would ask and I must consent that the clerk dispense with the reading of the amendment.
07:32Without objection, the reading of the amendment is dispensed with, and the gentleman is recognized to explain his amendment.
07:40Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
07:41This en bloc amendment includes several changes to the bill and report.
07:46The en bloc adds bill language withholding a portion of funds from the UN and other international organizations if they deny Taiwan observer status.
07:55This is a longstanding and inexcusable problem at the UN, among so many others, and this amendment begins to address it.
08:04It adds language to the bill prohibiting the use of funds in contravention of Executive Order 14127 relating to restoring names that honor American greatness, including to create, procure, or display any map that inaccurately depicts the Gulf of America.
08:22It adds language preventing discrimination based on a person's religious belief around marriage.
08:28It increases funds for the American Section's International Commission account, with a corresponding offset for unobligated balances from the economic support fund account.
08:40The en bloc also includes additional report language, increasing the funding directive for the North American Development Bank,
08:48encouraging the State Department's Bureau of Medical Services to support telemedicine platforms to increase cost efficiencies and timely healthcare to Chief of Mission personnel.
09:02Directing the Secretary of State to use funds to counter the threats posed by PRC-linked scam centers,
09:08and to implement the visa restriction policy announced by the Secretary on May 28, 2025, related to targeting of foreign nationals, those, again, who censor Americans.
09:23Directing $2 million above the prior year for the State Department to implement, enforce, and renew sanctions against Iran.
09:31Directing a report describing the policies the State Department is implementing to address the threat posed
09:37by the Muslim Brotherhood, and directing the State Department to provide to members of Congress information regarding grants by non-United States donors to organizations funded by the United States in the European Union.
09:55And encouraging the Secretary of State to reexamine the potentially negative impacts that altering, suspending, or eliminating established income tax treaties has on NATO allies.
10:08Mr. Chairman, that is the explanation. I would urge for a yes vote on the amendment. And I yield back.
10:16Thanks, gentlemen. The gentlelady from Florida, Ms. Frankel, is recognized to address the amendment.
10:22Thank you, Ms. Jarrah. And I strongly oppose this amendment, and there's an additional extreme provision in it.
10:29The world faces serious challenges from great power competition, diseases which have no respect for international borders and the climate crisis.
10:39But instead of discussing these critical issues, we're talking about policies that have no place in the bill, dictating names on maps and the definition of marriage.
10:48I mean, really. Don't we have other things to talk about? I think so.
10:53So we should be focused on global problems that affect our constituents, not extreme provisions that we know will go nowhere.
11:00Although, who knows with this group. I, with that said, I urge, I urge my colleagues to reject this amendment.
11:08And just, let me just, I want to add one more thing. There was one more thing added to this, which is striking the additional availability in case of a pocket rescission.
11:21And I would just say this is shameful. We have to, if we don't stand up for our constitutional responsibility and the power of the purse, I don't know who's going to stand up for us.
11:32So, with that, reject it. I yield back.
11:38Thank you, General Lady. The General Lady from Connecticut, of the ranking member, is recognized for her response to the amendment.
11:47Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I rise in opposition to this amendment, which, among other things, strikes Section 7065, which concerns unlawful impoundment, and as well as a matter of accountability.
11:59I must speak out today against the pattern of unlawful impoundment. It's being led by the OMB director, Russ Vogt.
12:06He insists that there is somehow a loophole in the Empowerment Control Act that permits the executive branch to unilaterally cancel appropriations that otherwise expire under current law at the end of the fiscal year,
12:18by transmitting a special message proposing rescissions late in the fiscal year and withholding the amounts until they can no longer be used.
12:26I'm going to quote the late Justice Scalia. The Congress, quote, does not, one might say, hide elephants in mouse holes, end quote.
12:34Indeed, unilateral actions by executive branch that would impound congressionally passed duly enacted appropriations is the very thing the Empowerment Control Act prohibits.
12:43And Director Vogt refers to this unlawful maneuver as a pocket rescission, quote, which is another name for an unlawful impoundment.
12:50December 2018, Government Accountability Office legal opinion, which was requested jointly by my friend House Budget Committee Chair at the time, Chairman Womack,
13:02Ranking Member Yarmouth, is exactly right, though, and confirms that the Empowerment Control Act bars this maneuver. It bars freezing the money until it expires.
13:15The GAO stated unequivocally that the interpretation would infect the president power to amend, repeal previously enacted appropriations merely by calibrating the timing of the submission of a special message and that withholding of this nature would be an aversion to both the constitutional process for enacting federal law and to Congress's constitutional power of the purse, end quote.
13:41End quote. These are quotes. Senator Lindsey Graham and Dean of our House, my friend, Representative Rogers, they wrote in 2019 to President Trump about their concerns with the reports of a plan to pursue pocket rescissions of foreign assistant funds.
13:58And, you know, they were very clear in what they stated. Preventing agencies from obligating such large sums seems an abdication of this bipartisan agreement.
14:09And Congress has expressed strong opposition to this exercise last year.
14:15So we're at it again. Russ's vote is at it again. Look, Republicans and Democrats alike should reject the ploy for what it is, which is a direct assault to Congress's Article I power, allowing the administration to erase duly enacted funding through procedural delays that amount to unlawful empowerment, would destabilize the appropriations process,
14:42corrode the separation of powers that the empowerment control act was enacted to defend and section 7065 of this bill drafted by my friend Chair Diaz-Balart is a clear check on agency overreach and accountability and is intended to ensure that this committee, that the Congress remains at the center of appropriations decisions and is intended to deter unlawful empowerment through so-called
15:11quote, quote, quote, quote, pocket rescissions. Striking this section, as this amendment would do, as the intended amendment would do, undermines the clear message we need to send, that we will defend the critical and important role of this committee, of the Congress, of the separation of powers enshrined in our Constitution.
15:36And for that reason, I ask my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I yield back.
15:45Thank you, gentlelady. The gentlelady from Minnesota, Ms. McCollum, is recognized to address the amendment.
15:52It's a problem that I have that I read the amendments and I read the bill.
15:57Folks, the bill is on our desk. If you want, open up to page 230 to the chair of the subcommittee.
16:12There weren't a lot of things in this bill that I liked, but I applauded and I appreciated section 7065.
16:22And now it's gone. If we vote for this amendment, it's gone.
16:28And as ranking member Delora pointed out, this was our check, our balance, our reasserting to the executive branch,
16:37hey, we have a role here. I hear all the time the president has a mandate.
16:41Well, guess what? Each one of us, with our voting card, we have a mandate.
16:47Our mandate is to protect and to honor the Constitution, Article 1 of the Constitution.
16:53That's our mandate. And, you know, there's supposed to be tension between the executive branch and the congressional branch.
17:00And, you know, then things go to the judicial branch.
17:02And sometimes we like the way they rule. Sometimes we don't like the way that they rule.
17:06But this is our job. And we have up here, no money shall be drawn from the Treasury,
17:13but in the consequence of appropriations made by law.
17:17I just talked earlier about four months ago, we all voted to have some money go to the State Department
17:25to do things that we all agreed on that were good.
17:28And then the administration just said, nope, we're not going to distribute the food.
17:31No, we're not going to distribute the river blindness.
17:33We're just going to let those things be destroyed that could have saved lives.
17:38So I'm here to take a stand.
17:41And I did not come here to, as a social studies teacher in particular,
17:49to turn my back on what my mandate is with my election certificate,
17:55with my voting card, to stand up for the House of Representatives.
17:59And then I just have to mention two other things.
18:02You're probably all tired of hearing it.
18:04You probably wouldn't have been your favorite teacher of head.
18:07I've been your social studies teacher.
18:10Let me just say something about the maps.
18:14Here we go again.
18:16You know, it's been called the Gulf of Mexico for how long?
18:19I didn't know when you ran for president, you were running for naming rights.
18:26Changing what we call things unilaterally, not asking Congress to come change them,
18:33unilaterally, you know, changing a room at the Kennedy Center.
18:37Now the president deciding what he wants, the Gulf of Mexico to be called, the Gulf of America.
18:44I mean, what's next?
18:45Is the president going to tell the state of New Mexico that they have to change their name now, too?
18:51This is beyond comprehension for me that we're getting into what maps need to look like,
18:58what they don't need to look like, and naming rights.
19:01And then the last comment I'm going to make.
19:03Really, you missed a few things in the tax bill, so you're going to put them in this bill.
19:08To the subcommittee chairman, I realize that you have some challenges on your side,
19:17and we're going to go to conference and do some other things.
19:20But I cannot idly stand back and not speak to the fine provision that you put in the bill,
19:30that for whatever reason, and you'll explain it to me later, I know with great passion,
19:34that you've changed.
19:36You had a great idea.
19:38I wish you would have stuck with it.
19:40I yield back.
19:43Thank you, gentlelady.
19:44Are there others wishing to address the amendment?
19:47Gentleman from Maryland is recognized to address the amendment.
19:50I won't go into it at great length.
19:57But I want to say something and follow up on what Ms. McCollum said.
20:07America is a great country.
20:13And those who are great don't have to go around telling people,
20:16I'm great.
20:17I'm powerful.
20:19I'm big.
20:23It's the weak and small who have to do that.
20:27And America is neither weak nor small.
20:31And in my view, while not perfect,
20:35one of the best nations on earth
20:37in terms of what it has done through the last century.
20:48The President wants to rename the football team as well.
20:53He really is into names.
20:54Do we have no self-respect
20:59that we have to tell the rest of the world
21:01that we need the Gulf,
21:03which has been for 400 plus years
21:05called the Gulf of Mexico?
21:08Do you think anybody looks at the map
21:10and says Gulf of Mexico?
21:11Gee whiz, Mexico must be more important
21:13than the United States.
21:15If you think that,
21:16you lack a lot of self-confidence.
21:18There's name stuff.
21:26Big, beautiful bill.
21:29It could have been called the
21:30Make America Greater bill.
21:32I would have understood that,
21:34but the big, beautiful bill.
21:35That's a child's name.
21:40And why do you perpetuate it?
21:42Not to mention the fact
21:46you do want to give up
21:48the authority of this committee
21:50to be not a committee
21:53that passes laws,
21:55but passes suggestions to Mr. Vote.
21:59The chairman got up
22:03and argued about the 15% to Africa.
22:07What if a vote says tomorrow,
22:08I don't like Africa.
22:10You know, you got a lot of those countries
22:11that the Trump referred to as,
22:15I'm not going to repeat it.
22:21And says, no,
22:22I'm not going to do that.
22:24We just passed an amendment
22:25in a bipartisan way that said
22:27we ought to do that, why,
22:28for the best interests
22:29of the United States of America.
22:32And then we pass an amendment
22:34that says the Gulf of Mexico
22:37shall be the Gulf of America.
22:42How lacking in confidence,
22:44self-respect, and integrity
22:46do we have?
22:53Stand up for America.
22:55Stand up for the committee.
22:57Stand up for the Congress.
22:59Stand up for the Constitution.
23:14Do any other members
23:15seek recognition
23:16and speak on the amendment?
23:19Seeing none,
23:20the gentleman is recognized
23:21for one minute to close.
23:23Mr. Chairman, thank you very much.
23:24I want to thank the members
23:25for their input and recommendations
23:27for strengthening the elements
23:28of this bill and the report.
23:31I do have one observation, however,
23:33that it would seem like
23:35no administration
23:37has ever changed a name before.
23:40This is a novel concept.
23:43Everybody's so offended by it.
23:45Just, it's amazing
23:48how short our memories
23:49can be in this place.
23:50But, Mr. Chairman, again,
23:52I think it's a good amendment.
23:53I would urge a yes vote
23:54and I yield back.
23:57He didn't mention it.
23:58He's answered.
24:02The question is now
24:04on the amendment
24:05proposed by the gentleman
24:06from Florida.
24:07All those in favor
24:07say aye.
24:08Aye.
24:09All those opposed
24:10say no.
24:11No.
24:12The opinion of the chair,
24:14the ayes have it.
24:15Recorded vote.
24:17Recorded vote
24:17has been requested.
24:18Sufficient number of hands
24:20have been raised.
24:21The clerk will call the roll.
24:22Mr. Adderholt.
24:23Aye.
24:24Mr. Adderholt, aye.
24:25Mr. Aguilar.
24:26Mr. Aguilar, no.
24:28Mr. Alford.
24:29Mr. Alford, aye.
24:30Mr. Amadei.
24:32Mr. Amadei, aye.
24:33Mrs. Bice.
24:34Mrs. Bice, aye.
24:36Mr. Bishop.
24:38Mr. Bishop, no.
24:39Mr. Calvert.
24:40Aye.
24:40Mr. Calvert, aye.
24:42Mr. Carter.
24:43Aye.
24:43Mr. Carter, aye.
24:44Mr. Case.
24:45No.
24:46Mr. Case, no.
24:47Mr. Siskimani.
24:49Mr. Siskimani, aye.
24:51Mr. Kline.
24:54Mr. Cloud.
24:55Aye.
24:55Mr. Cloud, aye.
24:57Mr. Clyburn.
24:58No.
24:59Mr. Clyburn, no.
25:00Mr. Clyde.
25:01Aye.
25:01Mr. Clyde, aye.
25:03Mr. Cole.
25:04Aye.
25:04Mr. Cole, aye.
25:05Mr. Cuellar.
25:08Ms. Dean.
25:10Ms. DeLauro.
25:11No.
25:11Ms. DeLauro, no.
25:13Mr. Diaz-Balart.
25:14Aye.
25:14Mr. Diaz-Balart, aye.
25:16Mr. Edwards.
25:18Mr. Elzey.
25:21Ms. Escobar.
25:22Yes.
25:23Ms. Escobar, no.
25:24Mr. Espayat.
25:25Mr. Espayat, no.
25:27Mr. Fleischman.
25:28Aye.
25:29Mr. Fleischman, aye.
25:30Ms. Frankel, no.
25:31Mr. Sanctioned.
25:31Ms. Frankel, no.
25:32Mr. Franklin.
25:34Mr. Franklin, aye.
25:35Mr. Gonzalez.
25:36Mr. Gonzalez, aye.
25:38Mr. Guest.
25:39Mr. Guest, aye.
25:40Mr. Harder.
25:42Mr. Harder, no.
25:43Dr. Harris.
25:44Dr. Harris, aye.
25:46Mrs. Henson.
25:47Mrs. Henson, aye.
25:49Mr. Hoyer.
25:51No.
25:52Mr. Hoyer, no.
25:53Mr. Ivey.
25:54Mr. Ivey, no.
25:56Mr. Joyce.
25:57Mr. Joyce.
26:02Mr. Joyce.
26:06Mr. Joyce, aye.
26:07Ms. Kaptor.
26:08No.
26:09Ms. Kaptor, no.
26:10Mr. Lalota.
26:13Ms. Lee.
26:16Ms. Lee, aye.
26:17Ms. Letlow.
26:19Ms. Letlow, aye.
26:20Mr. Levin.
26:21Mr. Levin, no.
26:23Ms. Malloy.
26:24Ms. Malloy, aye.
26:26Ms. McCollum.
26:27No.
26:28Ms. McCollum, no.
26:30Ms. Ming.
26:30Ms. Ming, no.
26:32Mr. Molinar.
26:33Aye.
26:33Mr. Molinar, aye.
26:35Mr. Moore.
26:38Mr. Morelli.
26:39No.
26:40Mr. Morelli, no.
26:41Mr. Mervan.
26:42No.
26:43Mr. Mervan, no.
26:44Mr. Newhouse.
26:45Mr. Newhouse, aye.
26:46Ms. Perez.
26:48Ms. Perez, no.
26:49Ms. Pingree.
26:50Ms. Pingree, no.
26:52Mr. Pocan.
26:53No.
26:53Mr. Pocan, no.
26:54Mr. Quigley.
26:55Mr. Quigley, no.
26:57Mr. Reschenthaler.
26:58Mr. Reschenthaler, aye.
27:00Mr. Rogers.
27:01Mr. Rogers, aye.
27:02Mr. Rutherford.
27:04Mr. Rutherford, aye.
27:05Mr. Simpson.
27:06Aye.
27:06Mr. Simpson, aye.
27:08Mr. Strong.
27:10Mr. Strong.
27:13Mr. Strong.
27:15Mr. Strong, aye.
27:16Mrs. Torres.
27:18Mrs. Torres, no.
27:20Ms. Underwood.
27:21Ms. Underwood, no.
27:22Mr. Valadeo.
27:23Mr. Valadeo, aye.
27:26Ms. Wasserman-Schultz.
27:28Ms. Wasserman-Schultz, no.
27:29Mrs. Watson-Coleman.
27:30Mrs. Watson-Coleman, no.
27:32Mr. Womack.
27:33Mr. Womack, aye.
27:35Mr. Zinke.
27:36Aye.
27:37Mr. Zinke, aye.
27:39Does any member wish to record their vote or change their vote?
27:44Gentleman from Virginia.
27:48Mr. Klein, aye.
27:49Gentleman from Texas.
27:50Aye, sir.
27:51Mr. Elzey, aye.
27:53Gentleman from North Carolina.
27:54Aye.
27:55Mr. Edwards, aye.
27:56Gentleman from Pennsylvania.
27:58Ms. Dean, no.
28:00Gentleman from West Virginia.
28:03Mr. Moore, aye.
28:05Are there other members wishing to record or change their vote?
28:10Gentleman from Nevada.
28:13Recorded as an aye.
28:14Gentleman from Nevada.
28:15Recorded as an aye.
28:17Afea no, Ms. Lee.
28:18Are there others wishing to record or change their vote?
28:31Clerk will tally.
28:49On this vote, the ayes are 34.
29:19The noes are 27.
29:20The amendment is adopted.
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