Nita Lowey: “This minibus combines four bills: State and Foreign Operations; Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA; Interior…”

“This minibus combines four bills: State and Foreign Operations; Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA; Interior, Environment; and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs. The package is the product of months of thoughtful deliberation and input from Members on both sides of the aisle. I am proud of the work we have completed under the incredibly difficult circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic. This appropriations package addresses urgent national priorities. I would like to highlight a few of our key successes that our cardinals have secured: strong funding and protections to help put nutritious food on people's tables during this time of economic crisis and rising food insecurity; increased investments in broadband to connect more Americans to work, school, healthcare, and family; robust funding to protect the environment and build resilience to climate change; and $12.5 billion in emergency funding to address sharply rising veterans' healthcare costs. I am proud that the package also includes strong emergency appropriations to confront coronavirus and support economic recovery, with investments in critical infrastructure and coronavirus preparedness, response, and relief domestically and globally. Turning to the State and Foreign Operations division, it is bittersweet to bring my last State and Foreign Operations bill to the floor before I retire.…”