Barbara Lee: “Let me just be very quick in terms of just laying out why I support this rule again. We provide $55 million for UNFPA…”

“Let me just be very quick in terms of just laying out why I support this rule again. We provide $55 million for UNFPA and $68 billion for SNAP, which is extremely important now, with so many people needing food security falling through the cracks. We provide $90 billion for veterans' health and more than a half billion to get lead out of drinking water, which really, in this country, should be no more. It is a shame and a disgrace. And as we consider this rule, I urge my colleagues to examine the appropriations bill through the lens of racial justice. These bills contain important provisions that respond to this moment in American history when people are marching in the streets to demand that our country dismantle systemic racism. So I ask that we look at these bills and understand that equity has got to be so much a part of our funding priorities. Madam Speaker, I support this rule, and I hope we adopt the important funding in this package. {time} 1200”