ms. kaptur: i rise in opposition.t does haven't take a mental giant that it is the nature of all hazards. the united states suffered more than $260 billion of flod-related damages. flooding accounts for 8 % of all disaster declarations of the country and more people die annually from flooding. i can tell you in the midwest which isn't within of the coastal communities we have more rainfall and more flooding to deal with. the coast dorne by the taxpayer, exceeds any other natral and our national security by straining resources and increasing the frequency and costs. when you look at what fema has to spend from basements to neighborhoods, oh, my goodness. the billions of dollars that go out the door, it's huge. flooding risks are expected to increase due to the flood-prone areas. the impacts of climate commange and other threats. that could be devastating to our roads, and our infrastructure. i actually have traveled to louisiana and my hearts go out to the people of new orleans for what they suffered but i was shocked.

ms. kaptur: i move to strike the last word. ms. kaptur: i'm opposeed to this amendment. everybody us helping to pull. that isn't the case right now. the largest rescission. america eye chief am vulnerability for over a quantity consentry and economic law is energy. it rests in energy. since 2003. or country has spent imported importing petroleum. that is not a country that is skelf-real linet. but depp lie needs help at home. it will be less nefment in helping us to right this hole. can you imagine if that had been spent. the greater almt of income flowing into people's pockets. and moving us babwartsdz, this will be let in water resources and have 62 billion. we have no new stars on this bill. that's a country in retrempment. this amendment, it isn't a 56% cut. i say to the gentlelady as i said to the chairman who walked to the back of the chamber, the wages have been cut and you don't put receive news on the table. some of those blukecrative operations transnational national corporations. they are holding it over there. receive news need to be on the table. he walked a

ms. kaptur: i claim time in opposition. i strongly oppose this damaging rider by my good friend congressman burgess of texas, because it would block the department of energy from implementing or enforcing commonsense energy efficiency standards for light bulbs. this rider was a bad idea four years and even more unsupportable now. every claim has been proven wrong. dr. burgess told us the energy efficiency standards would band incan december ent light bulbs, but that is false. you can go to the store today and see the light bulbs that meet the standards. they are the same as the old bulbs, except they last longer, use less electricity and save consumers money. we heard for the energy efficiency standards restrict choice. if you shop for light bulbs, you know that isn't true either. modern incandescent light bulbs and l.e.d. of every shape, size and color are available. consumers never had more choice. the efficiency standards spurns innovation that expanded options for consumers. they claim they would cost consumers money. i

ms. kaptur: mr. speaker, i rise tonight to bring light to the secretive job-killing global trade pact called the trans-pacific partnership, the t.p.p. supporters want to rush it through congress using a procedure called fast track authority, which forces a vote with no opportunity to amend the deal. this should alarm all americans. in its current form, this deal would outsource even more of america's good jobs out from under our working families, degrade global environmental and working standards and cause investor rights to override worker rights. it propels a global race to the bottom. the trade ambassador and the administration assert that the t.p.p. has strong and enforceable labor standards and environmental commitments. well, the t.p.p. includes four nations mexico, ber nye vietnam and militia, that are notorious labor and human rights violators. they're already out of compliance with the standards supposedly in t.p.p. and frankly our u.s. trade representative has had a bad habit of sweeping tr

ms. kaptur: madam speaker members of congress attend many events. be part of the 125th anniversary celebration of united ally trades local 50 plumbers, pipe fitters and allied trade in northern ohio. 125 years of building america forward. over 1,000 -- over 1,500 people came into this mammoth hall and we remembered those who had come before us and been part of building of plum, of pipe fitting of building america forward in our refinery, in our nuclear power plants in the natural gas lines that are laid. the power of america was before us in the hands and minds of those who have the skills to build for us. the training academy they have built at local 50 is probably the finest in the country at least one of the finest. and i'm just so proud of the younger men and women who are coming up in the trades. they have a decent wage, they can earn enough to join the middle class they have retirement plans. they have health plans including front path that they built from scratch serving thousands and thousands and thousands of people. congratulations at 125

ms. kaptur of ohio, mr. honda of california and mr. lew of kale. the speaker pro tempore: the chair announces the speaker appointment pursuant to u.s.c. 2003 and the order of the house of january 6, 20 15, of the following members on the part of the house to the committee on cooperation in europe. the clerk: mr. hastings of florida, ms. slaughter of new york, mr. cohen of tennessee, and mr. grayson of florida. the speaker pro tempore: the chair lays before the house the following communications. the clerk: the honorable the speaker house of representatives, sir, pursuant to u.s.c. 2081, i am pleased to reappoint the honorable marcy kaptur of ohio to the united states capitol preservation commission. thank you for your consideration of this appointment signed sincerely, nancy pelosi, democratic leader. the honorable the speaker, house of representatives, sir, pursuant to section 4c of house resolution 5 114th congress, i am pleased to reappoint the honorable james t. mcgovernor of massachusetts as co-chair of the tom lantos human rights commission.

ms. kaptur: i rise in strong opposition to the ratcliffe amendment. if anyone has been watching, you've seen russia's invasion of ukraine. now more than ever it's critical to engage with rising stars in the former soviet union because the old tactics of soviet russia are still being employed. this program belongs to congress. yes, it is a legislative branch program. so it is small. it is efficient. it is ours. it is our one tool to reach out to these countries, to their rising leaders to expand accountable governments and the rule of law, and who better to teach it than those engaged those of us who communicate with citizens in these countries that so very much want to be free. open world directly connects us with changemakers in this very, very fluid region of the world. it reaches beyond big city into the country side and i personally have greeted some of the leaders that have come from several countries including moldova and ukraine. let me tell you, it will be our generation and the next that will pay the price if this amendment is passed. we simp