On the recordFebruary 8, 2022
I reserve the balance of my time. Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum), the chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, it is unfortunate that we are here again today to pass another continuing resolution. I know that the appropriators on both sides of the aisle want to get a full fiscal year 2022 omnibus done as soon as possible. Madam Speaker, I want to thank Chairwoman DeLauro for her tireless efforts to negotiate a bipartisan agreement with the Senate. We have to pass this CR today because America simply cannot afford a shutdown. A shutdown would have a disastrous impact on our continuing economic recovery. It would diminish our ability to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. And Europe is facing one of the greatest threats since the end of World War II. Our Federal Government should be sending a strong, unified message to Vladimir Putin that we stand united with our European allies. As chair of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, I want to highlight a critical life, health, and safety provision in this CR for our brothers and sisters in Hawaii. The fuel leak that occurred at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in Hawaii last November is nothing short of an environmental catastrophe, one that has impacted thousands of residents. This spill should have never happened. Congress will hold the Department of Defense accountable to make this right.…
