The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“REFLECTIONS ON THE 115TH CONGRESS” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the in the Extensions of Remarks section section on pages E1748-E1751 on Jan. 3, 2019.
The Department is primarily focused on food nutrition, with assistance programs making up 80 percent of its budget. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the Department implements too many regulations and restrictions and impedes the economy.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
REFLECTIONS ON THE 115TH CONGRESS
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HON. GRACE MENG
of new york
in the house of representatives
Thursday, January 3, 2019
Ms. MENG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the 115th Congress. While I am disappointed that the current spending impasse could not be resolved this Congress, I am hopeful that we will remedy our current predicament after the swearing-in of the new Democratic majority. The historic House takeover by a once-in-a-generation incoming Democratic class of lawmakers is nothing short of inspiring. I wish them all the luck in the world.
This Congress, Mr. Speaker, it was an honor to be named the 8th Most Effective Democrat in the House by the Center for Effective Lawmaking at the University of Virginia. It was also an honor to receive 100 percent ratings from the ACLU, the Human Rights Campaign, and Planned Parenthood. I am proud of the fact that, according to Govtrack, the legislation I introduced in 2017--we are still awaiting the results for 2018--placed me in the top 10 percent of all Members with respect to the number of cosponsors secured, and the top 20 percent of all Members with respect to the number of bipartisan cosponsors secured.
Additionally, Mr. Speaker, it was also a pleasure serving on the House Appropriations Committee this Congress, particularly under the leadership of my good friend, Ranking Member Lowey. The work that went into crafting legislation totaling more than $1.2 trillion in discretionary spending each year was staggering, as was my own learning curve on my two subcommittees--the Commerce, Justice, Science Subcommittee and the Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations. Drafting measures on those subcommittees that accounted for a combined
$109 billion in discretionary federal spending each year was an unforgettable experience, as was securing $1.4 billion for personal spending priorities.
I would like to take this opportunity to include in the Record some of the legislative achievements that were signed into law this Congress as the result of work performed by my office on behalf of the people of the Sixth Congressional District of New York:
1) H.R. 423, the ``Anti-Spoofing Act of 2017'', which criminalizes acts of spoofing (the practice of disguising one's phone number) during the commission of crimes, as section 503 of Division P of Public Law 115-141, the
``Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018''.
2) H.R. 7043, the ``Better Airplanes Noise Standards Act'', which requires the Federal Aviation Administration to complete evaluations of alternative aircraft noise measurement metrics within one year, as section 173 of Public Law 115-254, the ``FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018'' (via amendment no. 90 to H.R. 4).
3) H.R. 7044, the ``Unmanned Aircraft Systems Collegiate Training Initiative Program Act'', which authorized the Collegiate Training Initiative Program for Unmanned Aircraft Systems, as section 632 of Public Law 115-254, the ``FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018'' (submitted as amendment no. 66 to H.R. 4 to the House Rules Committee).
4) H.R. 7045, the ``Aircraft Avionics Systems Cybersecurity Act'', which requires the Federal Aviation Administration to consider and address cybersecurity concerns for avionics systems--including software components, as section 506 of Public Law 115-254, the ``FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018''
(submitted as amendment no. 65 to H.R. 4 to the House Rules Committee).
5) H.R. 754, the ``Anwar Sadat Centennial Celebration Act'', which I co-authored with Rep. Chris Stewart from Utah, awarded a Congressional Gold Medal to Anwar Sadat and permitted it to be presented to his widow, Jehan Sadat, and a representative of the government of Egypt.
6) Section 407 of Public Law 115-254, the ``FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018'', which requires the Government Accountability Office to review airlines' training policies for employees and contractors regarding racial, ethnic, and religious nondiscrimination and requires the Secretary of Transportation to develop and disseminate best practices based upon the findings of the report (via amendment no. 37 to H.R. 4).
7) Section 182 of Public Law 115-254, the ``FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018'', which requires the FAA to review the North Shore Helicopter Route to address the noise impact on affected communities, improve altitude enforcement, and assess alternative routes that include an all-water route over the Atlantic Ocean (via Zeldin, Meng, Suozzi H. AMDT. 568 to H.R. 4).
8) Section 188 of Public Law 115-254, the ``FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018'', which requires a new FAA study--in addition to ongoing studies--of alternative aircraft noise metrics (via Panetta, Meng, et al. amendment no. 62 to H.R. 4).
9) Section 612 of Public Law 115-254, the ``FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018'', which created the FAA Women in Aviation Advisory Board to promote organizations and programs that provide education, training, mentorship, outreach, and recruitment of women into the aviation industry (via Esty, Meng, et al. amendment no. 58 to H.R. 4).
10) Section 558 of Public Law 115-91, the ``National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018'', which improved childcare services for military families by enhancing the hours of operation at DOD childcare centers and established childcare coordinators for military installations
(via amendment no. 39 to H.R. 2810).
11) Section 544 of Public Law 115-91, the ``National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018'', which extended the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program, a suicide prevention and resilience initiative for members of the National Guard and Reserves, for two years (submitted as amendment no. 429 to H.R. 2810 to the House Rules Committee).
12) $500 million for U.S.-Israel missile defense programs funded by Section 8070 of Public Law 115-245, the
``Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019''. These funds will be used for the Iron Dome defense system, David's Sling system components, and the Arrow-3 system.
13) $373.8 million for Israeli Cooperative Programs with the U.S. Department of Defense, which appears on page 85D of the Joint Explanatory Statement for Division C of H.R. 1625, the ``Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018''.
14) $269 million for USAID Biodiversity Conservation Programs, which is provided in section 7060(c)(2)(A) of Public Law 115-141, the ``Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018''.
15) $130 million for small business development under Entrepreneurial Development Programs provided for on page 233 of Public Law 115-141, the ``Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018''. This increase in funding will allow the establishment of a new Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to be opened in New York's Sixth Congressional District.
16) $90.7 million for programs to combat wildlife trafficking, which appears on page 68 of the Joint Explanatory Statement for Division K accompanying Public Law 115-141, the ``Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018''.
17) $1 million for programs to combat anti-Semitism abroad, which appears on page 44 of the Joint Explanatory Statement for Division K accompanying Public Law 115-141, the
``Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018''.
18) $300,000 increase for the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, which appears on page 56 of the Joint Explanatory Statement for Division G accompanying Public Law 115-31, the ``Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017''. These funds more than tripled the Center's resources to develop programs and expand outreach to promote a better understanding of the Asian Pacific American experience.
19) A conference report provision accompanying Public Law 115-91, the ``National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018'', which directs DOD to review the design, material, sizing, price, availability, quality, and utility of maternity uniforms for pregnant members of the military
(consistent with amendment no. 28 to H.R. 2810).
20) Page 26 of House Report 115-673--''Veterans who participated in nuclear clean-up activities in Palomares, Spain and on Enewetak Atoll.'' (Incorporated by reference into the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying H.R. 5895, the ``Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2019''). This provision directs the VA to determine, using scientific and medical data, whether 38 CFR 3.309(d) should be modified in order to allow veterans who participated in nuclear clean-up activities in Palomares, Spain and on Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands to be presumed to be exposed to radiation for disability benefits purposes.
21) Page 27 of House Report 115-673--
``Cholangiocarcinoma.'' (Incorporated by reference into the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying H.R. 5895, the
``Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2019''). This provision directs the VA to report to Congress on its current research into this rare cancer that appears in Vietnam veterans at higher rates than the general population, and to explain why less than one-third of the claims for service connected disabilities related to the disease have been granted by the VA.
22) Page 36 of House Report 115-673--``Female medical staff.'' (Incorporated by reference into the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying H.R. 5895, the ``Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2019''). This provision directs the VA to report to Congress on the number of female health care professionals hired by the Veterans Health Administration each year over the last five years, including information pertaining to job type and employment location, so that additional female health care professionals can be hired in order to provide the growing number of female veterans greater opportunities to choose the gender of their health care provider.
23) Page 93 of House Report 115-697--``Carbon Capture.''
(Incorporated by reference into the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying H.R. 5895, the ``Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2019''). This provision directs the Department of Energy to ``explore carrying out a prize competition to advance the research, development, or commercialization of technologies that capture, sequester, or utilize carbon.''
24) Page 97 of House Report 115-697--``Energy Information Administration, Puerto Rico.'' (Incorporated by reference into the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying H.R. 5895, the ``Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2019''). This provision urges the Energy Information Administration to publish information for Puerto Rico and other territories in its state profiles section in a manner that is consistent with the information furnished for states.
25) Page 150 of House Report 115-862--``Free Application for Federal Student Aid.'' (Incorporated by reference into the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying H.R. 6157, the
``Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019''). This provision encourages the Secretary of Education to translate the Free Application for Federal Student Aid into additional foreign languages.
26) Page 55 of House Report 115-862--``Gynecologic Cancer Clinical Trials.'' (Incorporated by reference into the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying H.R. 6157, the
``Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019''). This provision directs the National Cancer Institute to provide Congress with information on access to gynecologic cancer clinical trials in order to increase future access to these life- saving trials.
27) Page 156 of House Report 115-862-''Data for Puerto Rico.'' (Incorporated by reference into the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying H.R. 6157, the ``Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019''). This provision directs the National Center for Education Statistics to collect and publish data for Puerto Rico in the same manner it collects and publishes data for states so that Puerto Rico has meaningful data that can be used to compare its students' academic progress with students across the rest of the United States.
28) Page 58 of House Report 115-862--``Hepatitis B (1).''
(Incorporated by reference into the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying H.R. 6157, the ``Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019''). This provision directs the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) to pursue improved treatments and a cure for Hepatitis B and to report to Congress on its progress in the 2020 Congressional Budget Justification submitted by the agency.
29) Page 70 of House Report 115-862--``Hepatitis B (2).''
(Incorporated by reference into the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying H.R. 6157, the ``Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019''). This provision directs the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities
(NIMHD) to fund research into model programs that increase Hepatitis awareness, knowledge, testing, and treatment among disproportionately impacted communities such as Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
30) Page 37 of House Report 115-862--``Viral Hepatitis.''
(Incorporated by reference into the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying H.R. 6157, the ``Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019''). This provision directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to report to Congress within 90 days its plan to achieve the goal of elimination of Hepatitis B and C--particularly within opioid users.
31) Page 67 of House Report 115-232--``Feminine Hygiene Cosmetics.'' (Incorporated by reference into the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying H.R. 1625, the
``Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018''). This provision strongly urges the FDA to issue appropriate guidance to consumers on the use of unsafe colorants by manufacturers in feminine hygiene cosmetic products.
32) Page 16 of House Report 115-769--``Minority Outreach and Officer Accessions.'' (Incorporated by reference into the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying H.R. 6157, the
``Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019 and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2019''). This provision directs the Secretary of Defense to improve diversity among military officers.
33) Page 285 of House Report 115-219--``Military Medical Professionals and the Department of Veterans Affairs.''
(Incorporated by reference into the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying H.R. 1625, the ``Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018'') . This provision directs DOD to work with the VA to encourage DOD medical professionals who are being discharged or are separating from the military to pursue employment with the Veterans Health Administration.
34) Page 30 of House Report 115-230--``Continuing Authorities Program (CAP).'' (Incorporated by reference into the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying H.R. 1625, the
``Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018''). This provision encourages the Army Corps of Engineers to pursue projects to address ice floes in regions comprised of cities whose historic flooding has been predominately caused by winter snowmelt--cities such as those in Western and upstate New York.
35) Page 83 of the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying H.R. 1625, the ``Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018''--
``Asian Pacific American Initiatives and Outreach.'' This provision continues the previous year's Congressional support for the Smithsonian Institution's Asian American and Pacific Islander outreach and programming.
36) Page 17 of House Report 115-199--``Expanded Availability of Tours in Foreign Languages'' (Incorporated by reference into the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying H.R. 1625, the ``Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018''). This provision encourages the Capitol Visitor Center to explore the feasibility of making listening devices used for Capitol tours available in additional foreign languages.
37) Page 55 of House Report 115-188--``VA Retail Immunization Care Coordination Program'' (Incorporated by reference into the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying H.R. 1625, the ``Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018''). This provision encourages the VA to build upon the success of the flu immunization program at retail locations and to expand the program to also cover immunizations such as pneumococcal and zoster vaccines.
38) Page 14 of House Report 115-253--``Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL)'' (Incorporated by reference into the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying H.R. 1625, the
``Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018''). This provision urges the Secretary of State to appoint a Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism as quickly as possible given the global rise in anti-Semitic incidents.
39) Page 49 of House Report 115-253--``Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)'' (Incorporated by reference into the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying H.R. 1625, the
``Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018''). This provision directs the USAID Administrator to submit a report to Congress within 90 days outlining how the provision of feminine hygiene products is included in both the design and implementation of WASH programs. This report will allow additional directed work to be pursued to address this important issue in the lives of vulnerable women and girls.
40) Page 14 of House Report 115-237--``Noise Health Effects Research'' (Incorporated by reference into the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying H.R. 1625, the
``Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018''). This provision resulted from a joint Quiet Skies Caucus (which I am proud to have co-founded and chaired) appropriations request letter. It directs the FAA to continue to prioritize the research being conducted at the Center of Excellence for Alternative Jet Fuel and Environment, the Aviation Sustainability Center
(ASCENT) on the impact of aviation noise on both sleep and cardiovascular health.
As Appropriations Taskforce Chair for the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), I was proud to lead joint appropriations request letters for the Caucus that resulted in the following provisions being signed into law:
41) Page 31 of House Report 115-231--``Profiling.''
(Incorporated by reference into the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying H.R. 1625, the ``Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018''). This provision expresses Congress's concern about reports of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders being profiled by Department of Justice investigators and prosecutors on the basis of race and national origin, including in espionage and trade secret cases. It directs an Office of Inspector General investigation be conducted into the matter.
42) Page 32 of House Report 115-231--``Civil Rights Division, Voting Section.'' (Incorporated by reference into the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying H.R. 1625, the
``Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018''). This provision requires the submission of a report by the Voting Section of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice to Congress containing the number of section 203 cases investigated in the past year broken out by language, including the number of such investigations opened and the number closed--as well as the reasons for closure.
43) Page 15 of House Report 115-234--``CDFIs in U.S. Insular Areas.'' (Incorporated by reference into the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying H.R. 1625, the
``Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018''). This provision notes the absence of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) serving American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and other insular areas, and recommends that the CDFI Fund use its Capacity Building Initiative to expand service to these areas.
Additionally, I am proud to have secured passage of the following legislation through the U.S. House of Representatives prior to today, and will continue to fight to secure passage of these provisions into law in the future:
1) H.R. 382, the ``100 Years of Women in Congress Act'', which seeks to rename the Women and Minorities in STEM Fields Program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture the ``Jeannette Rankin Women and Minorities in STEM Fields Program'' in honor of the 100 year anniversary of the election of the first woman to Congress--Jeannette Rankin.
2) Section 1(5) of H.R. 6846, ``To require the United States Postal Service to establish new Zip codes, and for other purposes,'' which would designate a single, unique ZIP Code for Glendale, New York. This section stems from my bill H.R. 803, ``To direct the United States Postal Service to designate a single, unique ZIP Code for Glendale, New York'', an effort that originated with former-Representative, and Vice Presidential candidate, Geraldine Ferraro almost 40 years ago.
3) Section 7(a)(2) of H.R. 6199, ``Restoring Access to Medication and Modernizing Health Savings Accounts Act of 2018'', which would permit the purchase of menstrual hygiene products with health flexible spending accounts.
4) Section 504 of H.R. 5515, the ``John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019'', which would allow any member of the armed forces who gives birth to be exempt from deployment for up to 12 months following childbirth.
5) Section 566 of H.R. 5515, the ``John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019'', which would require the Secretary of Defense to permit military parents flexible (non-continuous) maternity and paternity leave, allowing this time off to be spread out over time instead of being used all at once.
6) Section 717 of H.R. 5515, the ``John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019'', which would authorize the Secretary of Defense to develop a burn patient transfer system. This system would include military and civilian burn centers that could be used in mass casualty events.
7) Section 220F of H.R. 5515, the ``John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019'', which would authorize the Jet Noise Reduction Program within the U.S. Navy's Office of Naval Research in order to reduce noise produced by high performance military jets.
8) Section 595 of H.R. 5515, the ``John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019'', which would require the Department of Defense to create exit surveys on attrition levels for members of the military in order to better understand why attrition rates are higher for women than for men.
9) Section 921(b)(3) of H.R. 5515, the ``John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019'', which sought to add oversight responsibilities to the DOD Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Policy and Oversight Council. The newly created Council currently has no oversight requirement in its mandate. The Council will be responsible for overseeing the research, development, and deployment of artificial intelligence and autonomous machines used by the military. The provision was cosponsored by Rep. Darren Soto of Florida.
10) Section 3(a)(7) of H.R. 1638, the ``Iranian Leadership Asset Transparency Act'', which would require an assessment of the effectiveness of U.S. economic sanctions against Iran.
11) Section 2 of H.R. 1367, ``To improve the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to hire and retain physicians and other employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs and for other purposes'', which would assist the VA Secretary in filling Veterans Health Administration positions for which there are severe staffing shortages. Under current law, the Inspector General (IG) of the VA must issue an annual report on which positions within the agency are severely understaffed. The VA Secretary is then granted expedited hiring authority to fill those positions. This provision would have permitted the IG to report on additional shortages than those currently allowed by law so that the VA Secretary could fill those positions more quickly as well.
12) Section 13 of H.R. 1367, ``To improve the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to hire and retain physicians and other employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs and for other purposes'', which would require the Secretary of the VA to establish a program that encourages members of the Armed Forces serving as health professionals to pursue jobs with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) upon their discharge or separation from the military.
Mr. Speaker, there is no greater honor than serving my neighbors, family, and friends in the United States Congress. I thank them for the opportunity during the 115th Congress. I wish you well in your retirement
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