Rosa L. DeLauro
Representative for Connecticut · Democratic · United States
“They have to be involved in a negotiation, which is what we were involved in in April, and we came to a conclusion. That is what we should be doing now: engaging in a negotiation, coming to a conclusion, and fixing what is an error in the drafting of the language of the continuing resolution.”
“Democrats do not want a government shutdown. If I had my way, we would be able to fund the government on a bipartisan basis through the appropriations process, one bill at a time. Unfortunately, it seems increasingly likely that, at some point, a continuing resolution will be necessary.”
“I might add that yesterday afternoon we received a list of the programs that have been compiled by the Federal agencies detailing the additional provisions the agencies believe are necessary to sustain their operations through December 4. Mr. Speaker, we received this late yesterday afternoon.”
“The Homeland bill passed--I am going to mention it again--unopposed in April, a voice vote, because it included the provision to remove all funding for the Border Patrol. This continuing resolution doesn't continue that agreement.”
“Instead, they chose to introduce a bill that would allow Secretary Mullin [[Page H4734]] to transfer billions more taxpayer dollars to the Border Patrol without implementing any of the protections that Democrats have sought since the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good earlier this year, a clear line in the sand that Democrats h…”
“They provide public housing agencies with funding to maintain housing assistance for tens of thousands of households, and they continue programs that provide utility assistance for rural communities. If you ask people today what are the highest costs they are paying for today in an affordability crisis, it is the cost of utilities.”
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“Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays. The yeas and nays were ordered. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this question will be postponed. ____________________”
“Fix the error that was placed in that bill. We said no money for Border Patrol unless there would be the protections. There is an open door to Border Patrol, and there are no protections. I believe the American people have sent us here to do the work on their behalf, to make sure that we address the issues that we care about. We can do that, and it wouldn't take very long. I don't know what the reluctance is to fix the error that would be made and set us on a path to be able to pass bipartisan bills and a continuing resolution that we can all support. It is what I am committed to doing. Mr. Speaker, I encourage a ``no'' vote on this legislation in its current form. I yield back the balance of my time. {time} 1620”
“They have to be involved in a negotiation, which is what we were involved in in April, and we came to a conclusion. That is what we should be doing now: engaging in a negotiation, coming to a conclusion, and fixing what is an error in the drafting of the language of the continuing resolution. Don't hold us up and pass a bill that doesn't meet the needs of the American people. I strongly urge my colleagues to take the time. Let's get it right the first time. Let's come to the table. Let's negotiate an agreement we can all support. Let's work together to fully fund the government for fiscal year 2027. That is what we can do. There isn't any question in my mind that we can do that. All of these obstacles that you want to put forward with arguments about who wants to shut the government down, let's get real: Fix the error that was made.”
“I am disappointed that the apparent error in this measure--which, again, allows the Secretary of Homeland Security to transfer billions of dollars, in direct contravention of the agreement--has not been corrected. I would much rather be standing before you to tout a bipartisan agreement that, in fact, moves us forward through the appropriations process on a bipartisan basis. It is a partisan path that my colleagues have taken us on here, without all the information necessary to draft an adequate funding extension and without consulting anyone else on their proposal. This is a go-it-alone approach. You know what? That is not a way to govern. We know that, especially those of us who sit on the Committee on Appropriations. It is not a go-it-alone approach. My colleagues have to engage.”
“Democrats do not want a government shutdown. If I had my way, we would be able to fund the government on a bipartisan basis through the appropriations process, one bill at a time. Unfortunately, it seems increasingly likely that, at some point, a continuing resolution will be necessary. That does not mean we must rush through an incomplete, hastily constructed, one-sided stopgap measure that fails to adequately meet the government's funding needs. Agencies only came up with their needs yesterday afternoon, over 50 of these needs. I admonish my colleagues on the other side of the aisle: Read it carefully because something that may affect your community and something you care deeply about, and seeing that agency move forward during a period of a continuing resolution, may be in here, but not on what you will vote on this afternoon.”
“The Homeland bill passed--I am going to mention it again--unopposed in April, a voice vote, because it included the provision to remove all funding for the Border Patrol. This continuing resolution doesn't continue that agreement. As I said, we viewed that there was an error that was made because it would allow Homeland Security Secretary Mullin to transfer billions of dollars to the Border Patrol, the same agency responsible for harassing and killing American citizens. Again, what we tried to do was to reach out to our colleagues on the other side of the aisle in good faith. We crafted the language, informed them of the error, and shared the language to fix it. They have refused to do so and continue to refuse to do so. One has to ask the question: Why? Who wants to shut down a government? I certainly don't.”
“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I might add, with all this concern about the folks who were out of work, who were waiting in long lines, about our folks in the Coast Guard and others, it was my proposal that said: Let's fund those agencies. Since there is difficulty about ICE and about Border Patrol, let's fund the agencies and move forward. It took Republicans 79 days to decide that that was the good fix, and, therefore, we could pay those people. They kept them dangling in the wind for those 79 days, all because they would like to continue to fund rogue agencies that are lawless, that are putting at risk people in our communities--and more than at risk with, most recently, two people killed, one in Maine and one in Texas.”
“At minimum, I cannot support this bill without the inclusion of the technical language regarding the Border Patrol that was agreed upon in April. Beyond that, the decision to pursue this path without any bipartisan negotiations gives me serious reservations moving forward. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.”
“Had we been consulted, there are several provisions we would have pushed for to strengthen the measure and to protect congressional prerogatives, including the reversal of a proposed Federal rule from the Office of Management and Budget that allows political appointees--political appointees in the Trump administration to unilaterally block or terminate grant funding if they deemed it not sufficiently in line with the President's policy priorities. If we had taken the time to negotiate this measure, we could be here touting a bipartisan agreement with a plan to fully fund the government for the next fiscal year before the end of this Congress. Instead, we are scrambling--scrambling to jam through a one-sided, stopgap measure 2 days before everyone leaves for the August recess.”
“They provide public housing agencies with funding to maintain housing assistance for tens of thousands of households, and they continue programs that provide utility assistance for rural communities. If you ask people today what are the highest costs they are paying for today in an affordability crisis, it is the cost of utilities. That assistance is not in this bill. It is no surprise that the measure that we are considering failed to include these provisions. After all, the bill was introduced 3 days before we had this information, but that is the problem. Rushing this bill to the floor haphazardly without carefully considering the various needs that must be met is no way to govern, and it is irresponsible. This resolution was dropped on us on Friday afternoon without any bipartisan negotiation.”
“I might add that yesterday afternoon we received a list of the programs that have been compiled by the Federal agencies detailing the additional provisions the agencies believe are necessary to sustain their operations through December 4. Mr. Speaker, we received this late yesterday afternoon. There are over 50 programs listed by the agencies to take some action so they can be protected during a continuing resolution, and many of these provisions are not included in the bill that we are considering today. I asked my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to look through the list. There may be something in your community, in your district, that is very important to you, and it is not in this bill which you are going to potentially vote for today. Among these efforts, there are changes to support wildfire suppression operations.”
“The need for these protections is as urgent as ever. In recent weeks, immigration agents have shot and killed residents in Maine and in Texas, neither of whom were targets of enforcement operations. We cannot in good conscience allow billions of dollars to flow to these agencies without major reforms to keep our constituents safe from further violence. I want to say clearly and plainly that Democrats do not want a government shutdown. There would be no need for one. There are still 2 months before the funding deadline. There is no need to rush through an incomplete extension. We ought to take the time to gather the information we need to get it right the first time.”
“Instead, they chose to introduce a bill that would allow Secretary Mullin [[Page H4734]] to transfer billions more taxpayer dollars to the Border Patrol without implementing any of the protections that Democrats have sought since the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good earlier this year, a clear line in the sand that Democrats have drawn for months. The American people support these protections, protections like mandating the use of body-worn cameras, not just taking the money for them and then refusing to turn them on; prohibiting operations at sensitive locations like schools, hospitals, and houses of worship; requiring agents to get a warrant from a judge before kicking in someone's door; allowing independent investigations into misconduct; ending racial profiling; and taking off the masks.”
“And it was in that direction because it included a provision to remove all of the funding for the Border Patrol. {time} 1600 Chair Cole's bill does not continue that agreement. That prohibition is removed by this continuing resolution, which would allow Homeland Security Secretary Mullin to transfer billions of dollars to the Border Patrol. We assumed that the removal of this language was a mistake--no harm, no foul--so before the bill was introduced, we reached out to our colleagues across the aisle, informed them of the error, and shared language to fix it. Yet, they refused to do so.”
“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, for those of you who may not know and have not been following this process closely, I would like to bring you up to speed on how we came to consider this piece of legislation before us today. On Friday afternoon, after everyone had gone home for the weekend, Republicans released a bill to extend government funding from September 30 through December 4. Republicans introduced the measure with no bipartisan negotiation, little advanced notice, and without any information from the government agencies as to what funding they will actually require to continue their operations for the duration of the bill. The final Homeland Security bill that passed unopposed in April was bipartisan, and it was by a voice vote.”
“On behalf of a grateful Nation, we thank Deborah Weinstein for her lifetime of service and her enduring commitment to ensuring that America lives up to its promise for all its people. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing her remarkable contributions and in celebrating her legacy of leadership and compassion. [[Page E697]] ____________________”
“Weinstein also served during the Obama Administration as a member of the President's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, where she worked with the other Council members to make recommendations related to preventing lead poisoning in children in HUD-assisted housing, and to encourage finalizing new child support regulations. This work exemplifies her efforts to strengthen collaboration between government and community organizations in addressing poverty and human needs. At a time when economic inequality and hardship continue to challenge our Nation, Mrs. Weinstein's work stands as a testament to the power of informed, persistent, and principled advocacy.”
“Throughout her career, Mrs. Weinstein has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to collaboration--bringing together diverse voices to pursue common purpose. She has worked across sectors and with leaders at every level of government, always guided by the belief that effective policy must be rooted in human dignity and real-world impact. She brings together advocates, service providers, and community leaders to speak with a unified voice for those struggling to make ends meet, helping to ensure that the lived experiences of families and children were reflected in policy decisions. Mrs.”
“children out of poverty, to helping organize a broad cross-section of society to advocate for working families in the annual appropriations process, Mrs. Weinstein has been an irreplaceable champion of federal anti-poverty investments and the broader social safety net. She fought to protect Food Stamps, guarantee equal pay for equal work, increase access to paid leave, and invest in our country's health and education, not because it was easy but because it was just. Long before her national leadership, Mrs. Weinstein's work was grounded in a deep commitment to human dignity and the belief that public policy should expand opportunity and reduce hardship. Her efforts have consistently emphasized that economic security is not an abstract goal, but a moral imperative that strengthens communities and the Nation as a whole.”
“Weinstein has been a tireless advocate for policies that reflect our Nation's highest ideals, those of fairness, opportunity, and shared responsibility for our shared prosperity. Her leadership has helped shape national conversations about poverty, economic security, and the role of government in ensuring that all Americans can meet their basic needs. Since 2003, Mrs. Weinstein has served as the Executive Director of the Coalition on Human Needs, where she has led a broad alliance of civil rights, labor, faith-based, and service organizations. Under her guidance, the Coalition has become a respected and indispensable voice in federal policy debates, providing clear-eyed analysis and principled advocacy on behalf of those too often left behind. From fighting for the expanded, monthly Child Tax Credit which lifted half of U.S.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 115 (Wednesday, July 15, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 115 (Wednesday, July 15, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E696-E697] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] RECOGNIZING DEBORAH WEINSTEIN ON AN EXTRAORDINARY CAREER ______ HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO of connecticut in the house of representatives Wednesday, July 15, 2026 Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Deborah Weinstein for her extraordinary career dedicated to advancing the well- being of low-income and vulnerable people across the United States. For more than four decades, Mrs.”
“Continually defunding the institutions that support America's international presence will have serious, lasting consequences. In less than 2 years, the Trump administration has squandered decades of American influence, undermining our ability to persuade other countries to support our values and interests without resorting to the use of force. This bill reduces our ability to reclaim any of that influence for years to come. Mr. Chairman, I encourage my colleagues to oppose this bill.”
“By failing to provide any funding for UNFPA, the conditions under which millions of women around the world live will only become worse. Approximately 260,000 women around the world died during or shortly following pregnancy in 2023. That is 700 maternal deaths every day, one maternal death every 2 minutes. Eliminating this funding is a moral failure. This bill also eliminates funding for the U.S. Institute of Peace, the Inter-American Foundation, and the U.S. African Development Foundation. Each of these programs strengthen our influence abroad, helping to cultivate relationships with the next generation of global leaders, and prevents crises before they arise. This bill surrenders American influence to our adversaries. For every step backward we take, they take a step forward.”
“It is unconscionable. This bill does not provide any funding for the U.N. regular budget, abandoning one of the longest standing institutions devoted to global peace. Undermining the U.N. only erodes our influence. It also shortchanges American businesses who receive upwards of $2 billion in U.N. contracts both here in the United States and overseas, which is more than our dues. The bill threatens women's health around the globe, blocking any funds from going to the U.N. Population Fund, which is dedicated to reducing maternal mortality and violence against women and extending family planning to women and girls everywhere. This includes work to eliminate obstetric fistula, a traumatic childbirth injury that leads to incontinence, infections, kidney disease, and infertility.”
“We are seeing the consequences of this administration's decisions to dismantle the USAID, withdraw from the World Health Organization, and decimate our global health systems in real time, as the current Ebola outbreak in Africa threatens to become the deadliest in history. Because it took so long to detect and due to the challenging conditions, we will likely be working to contain this outbreak for more than a year. Aid workers are working in active combat zones, putting their own lives at risk from both infection and violence to stop this disease from reaching our shores. Here we are debating a bill that would further choke off resources they desperately need to keep all of us safe. Let us not forget the Trump administration's choice to dismantle USAID is a moral tragedy. More than 500,000 children have died as a result of these cuts.”
“Their ballistic missile program is intact. Their nuclear ambitions are unchanged. Their proxies are emboldened, and gas prices are rising. Their leverage is greater than it has been before, and President Trump has not articulated any course of action to bring this conflict to a close that is even remotely intelligible. The Trump Doctrine is failure followed by failure, chaos abroad, and high costs at home. The bill that we are considering today will only set us up for more failures in the future. This bill cuts funding for global health programs, particularly in the areas of reproductive health and global health security, making us more vulnerable to infectious disease outbreaks that originate abroad.”
“After failing to bring this bill to the floor for several weeks, Republican leadership has decided to attach an entirely unrelated measure that would restrict voting access for American citizens. President Trump has insisted on this measure, despite opposition from members of his own party. He is afraid the American people will voice their vehement disapproval of Republican-led government and the failed policies of this administration at the ballot box in November. The President's war with Iran has been a catastrophic failure. It has cost Americans more than $130 billion in higher prices so far. President Trump began this war with no plan, no strategy, no objective, no goal, and no understanding of the consequences. Nearly 6 months into the war, and the Iranian regime is still in place. The Iranian people are not free.”
“Mr. Chairman, I thank Ranking Member Frankel for her leadership and work on this bill. I also extend my appreciation to Chairman Diaz-Balart and Chairman Cole for their partnership. I also thank the subcommittee staff: Erin Kolodjeski, Ed Etzkorn, and Laurie Mignone on the minority side, and their counterparts on the majority: Susan Adams, Craig Higgins, Jamie McCormick, Trey Hicks, John Muscolini, Gabriella Zach, Erin McMenamin, and Clelia Alvarado. I thank them all for their work. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this bill. It undercuts humanitarian assistance, undermines global health programs, threatens women's health, and breaks promises to our partners and our allies, while surrendering influence to our adversaries.”
“His legacy, a legacy of courage and compassion, will live on through the care provided to each and every veteran who walks through its doors. Mr. Speaker, I am so proud to propose this legislation. I urge my colleagues to support it. I hope that we can move it quickly, with the Senate, and bring it to the President for signature.”
“He served on the board of directors of Homes For Our Troops, a veteran service organization that builds and donates specially adapted custom homes for severely injured 9/11 veterans. He also served as chairman of the Advisory Committee on Veterans' Employment, Training and Employer Outreach Services at the United States Department of Labor. Even after his death, Captain Bucha's selflessness lives on. His brain was donated to the Center for Human Brain Discovery at Yale University for research. Naming the West Haven VA Medical Center in his honor is a deserving tribute to a hero who fought for this country. He earned this highest military distinction and then continued to fight for veterans throughout his life.”
“He distinguished himself with extraordinary heroism while leading 89 men on a reconnaissance mission in Vietnam under heavy enemy fire [[Page H4478]] from about 1,500 soldiers. He fearlessly directed our defenses, personally destroyed a machine-gun bunker, and sustained a shrapnel wound. Using flashlights in complete view of enemy snipers, Captain Bucha also directed the medical evacuation of three air ambulance loads of seriously wounded personnel. The captain's dedication to serving others continued after his time in uniform. He served as president of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society from 1995 to 1999. He advised President Obama on foreign policy during his 2008 Presidential campaign.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am honored and grateful for this opportunity to put forward this legislation. It is legislation that honors a man who embodied the highest ideals of service to his country, his fellow soldiers, and his community, Captain Paul W. ``Bud'' Bucha, a longtime resident of Ridgefield, Connecticut, and a Medal of Honor recipient. The bill would rename the West Haven Veterans Affairs Medical Center in West Haven, Connecticut, where Captain Bucha received care for PTSD after his service and neurological care for Alzheimer's disease before he passed away on July 31, 2024. Captain Bucha received the Medal of Honor in 1970 for his heroic service while on Active Duty during the Vietnam war.”
“On behalf of a grateful Nation, we thank Deborah Weinstein for her lifetime of service and her enduring commitment to ensuring that America lives up to its promise for all its people. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing her remarkable contributions and in celebrating her legacy of leadership and compassion. [[Page E697]] ____________________”
“Weinstein also served during the Obama Administration as a member of the President's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, where she worked with the other Council members to make recommendations related to preventing lead poisoning in children in HUD-assisted housing, and to encourage finalizing new child support regulations. This work exemplifies her efforts to strengthen collaboration between government and community organizations in addressing poverty and human needs. At a time when economic inequality and hardship continue to challenge our Nation, Mrs. Weinstein's work stands as a testament to the power of informed, persistent, and principled advocacy.”
“Throughout her career, Mrs. Weinstein has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to collaboration--bringing together diverse voices to pursue common purpose. She has worked across sectors and with leaders at every level of government, always guided by the belief that effective policy must be rooted in human dignity and real-world impact. She brings together advocates, service providers, and community leaders to speak with a unified voice for those struggling to make ends meet, helping to ensure that the lived experiences of families and children were reflected in policy decisions. Mrs.”
“children out of poverty, to helping organize a broad cross-section of society to advocate for working families in the annual appropriations process, Mrs. Weinstein has been an irreplaceable champion of federal anti-poverty investments and the broader social safety net. She fought to protect Food Stamps, guarantee equal pay for equal work, increase access to paid leave, and invest in our country's health and education, not because it was easy but because it was just. Long before her national leadership, Mrs. Weinstein's work was grounded in a deep commitment to human dignity and the belief that public policy should expand opportunity and reduce hardship. Her efforts have consistently emphasized that economic security is not an abstract goal, but a moral imperative that strengthens communities and the Nation as a whole.”
“Weinstein has been a tireless advocate for policies that reflect our Nation's highest ideals, those of fairness, opportunity, and shared responsibility for our shared prosperity. Her leadership has helped shape national conversations about poverty, economic security, and the role of government in ensuring that all Americans can meet their basic needs. Since 2003, Mrs. Weinstein has served as the Executive Director of the Coalition on Human Needs, where she has led a broad alliance of civil rights, labor, faith-based, and service organizations. Under her guidance, the Coalition has become a respected and indispensable voice in federal policy debates, providing clear-eyed analysis and principled advocacy on behalf of those too often left behind. From fighting for the expanded, monthly Child Tax Credit which lifted half of U.S.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 115 (Wednesday, July 15, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 115 (Wednesday, July 15, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E696-E697] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] RECOGNIZING DEBORAH WEINSTEIN ON AN EXTRAORDINARY CAREER ______ HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO of connecticut in the house of representatives Wednesday, July 15, 2026 Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Deborah Weinstein for her extraordinary career dedicated to advancing the well- being of low-income and vulnerable people across the United States. For more than four decades, Mrs.”