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WHAT OUR BUDGET DOES, IN ORDER
TO PREVENT A DEBT CRISIS FROM
RUINING THE AMERICAN DREAM FOR
AMERICANS.
WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I WILL
RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WISCONSIN
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND, MR.
VAN HOLLEN, IS RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, MR. SPEAKER.
THERE'S AGREEMENT HERE ON TWO
THINGS.
ONE, WE NEED TO REDUCE OUR
LONG-TERM DEFICITS.
THE QUESTION IS NOT WHETHER WE
NEED TO DO THAT, BUT HOW.
SECOND, WE AGREE THAT THE
AUTOMATIC INDISCRIMINANT MEAT
AXE CUTS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN NEXT
JANUARY ARE THE WRONG WAY TO
REDUCE THE DEFICIT.
WE NEED A RESPONSIBLE
ALTERNATIVE.
NOW, THE HOUSE DEMOCRATS PUT
FORWARD A BUDGET AS DID THE
PRESIDENT THAT DEALS WITH THIS
ISSUE OVER 10 YEARS IN A
BALANCED WAY.
BUILDING ON THE MORE THAN $1
TRILLION OF CUTS WE ALREADY MADE
ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS LAST
AUGUST AND INCLUDING ADDITIONAL
CUTS BUT ALSO CUTTING TAX
LOOPHOLES THAT BENEFIT SPECIAL
INTERESTS AND ASKING PEOPLE WHO
MAKE MORE THAN $1 MILLION PER
YEAR TO HELP A LITTLE BIT MORE
TOWARD DEFICIT REDUCTION.
THAT IS THE KIND OF BIPARTISAN
THAT'S BEEN RECOMMENDED
BY BIPARTISAN GROUPS LIKE
SIMPSON-BOWLES.
UNFORTUNATELY THE REPUBLICAN
APPROACH TO THE BUDGET AND NOW
TO THE SEQUESTER ISSUE TAKES
THIS LOPSIDED APPROACH.
NOW, LET'S REMEMBER, 98% OF OUR
HOUSE REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES,
WHILE THEY COME DOWN HERE AND
TALK ABOUT HOW WE HAVE THIS BIG
DEFICIT AND DEBT PROBLEM, THEY
HAVE SIGNED A PLEDGE THAT SAYS,
WE'RE NOT GOING TO ASK FOR ONE
PENNY OF ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTION
FROM PEOPLE MAKING MORE THAN $1
MILLION A YEAR TO HELP REDUCE
OUR DEFICIT.
NOT ONE PENNY.
WE WON'T TAKE ONE PENNY OF
TAXPAYER SUBSIDIES AWAY FROM THE
BIG OIL COMPANIES TO HELP REDUCE
THE DEFICIT.
AND THE MATH IS PRETTY SIMPLE
AFTER THAT.
IF YOU SAY FROM THE BEGINNING
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO ASK PEOPLE
MAKING $1 MILLION A YEAR TO HELP
DO A LITTLE MORE TO REDUCE OUR
COMMON DESELF -- DEFICIT, IF YOU
SAY YOU'RE NOT GOING TO ASK
COMPANIES THAT HAVE THESE TAX
LOOPHOLES THAT ACTUALLY
INCENTIVIZE THEM TO SHIP JOBS
OVERSEAS TO PAY A LITTLE BIT
MORE, WHAT DO YOU DO?
YOUR BUDGET HAS TO WHACK
DID.
EVERYONE ELSE AND THAT'S WHAT IT
THAT'S WHY THEIR BUDGET ENDED
THE MEDICARE GUARANTEE.
THAT'S WHY THEY CUT $800 BILLION
FROM MEDICAID.
2/3 OF MEDICAID SPENDING GOES TO
HELP SENIORS AND DISABLED PEOPLE
IN NURSING HOMES.
THAT'S WHY THEY SLASHED VITAL
INVESTMENTS IN EDUCATION,
RESEARCH, INFRASTRUCTURE, THINGS
THAT HAD BEEN BIPARTISAN
INVESTMENTS TO HELP OUR ECONOMY
GROW.
THAT'S WHAT THEY DID THEN.
NOW ON THE SEQUESTER PROPOSAL
WHAT COULD THEY DO?
THE CHAIRMAN TALKS ABOUT
ELIGIBILITY.
THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE
ELIGIBLE TO GET FOOD AND
NUTRITION ASSISTANCE BECAUSE
THEY'RE STRUGGLING AND THE
NONPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET
OFFICE, WHICH IS OUR REFEREE
AROUND HERE, HAS TOLD US WHAT
THE CONSEQUENCES, THE REAL WORLD
CONSEQUENCES, OF THEIR PROPOSAL
BE.
OVER 22 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS WITH
KIDS WOULD SEE THEIR FOOD AND
NUTRITION SUPPORT REDUCED.
300,000 KIDS KNOCKED OFF THE
SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM.
300,000 KIDS KNOCKED OFF THE
CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE
PROGRAM.
THOSE ARE THE KIND OF CHOICES
THEY MAKE BECAUSE THEY REFUSE TO
TAKE A BALANCED APPROACH TO THIS
DEFICIT ISSUE.
NOW, I WANT TO SAY ONE WORD
ABOUT DEFENSE SPENDING.
LAST AUGUST, AS PART OF THE
BIPARTISAN BUDGET CONTROL ACT,
OUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES
DELIBERATELY CHOSE TO EXPOSE
DEFENSE SPENDING TO DEEP
ADDITIONAL CUTS RATHER THAN ASK
MILLIONAIRES AND BIG
CORPORATIONS TO SHARE GREATER
RESPONSIBILITY FOR PAYING FOR
OUR NATIONAL SECURITY.
NOW OUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES
ARE ON THE FLOOR TODAY SAYING
THESE DEFENSE CUTS WOULD
DEVASTATE OUR NATIONAL SECURITY,
BUT THEY STILL, EVEN TODAY,
APPARENTLY AREN'T CONCERNED
ENOUGH ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THOSE
ASK
MILLIONAIRES TO PAY A LITTLE BIT
MORE FOR OUR COMMON DEFENSE.
THAT'S THE SAME KIND OF
MENTALITY THAT LED US TO PUT TWO
CARD.
WARS ON OUR NATIONAL CREDIT
EVEN AS WE ASKED OUR SOLDIERS TO
SACRIFICE, WE SAID, WE'RE JUST
GOING TO PUT THAT ON OUR
NATIONAL CREDIT CARD.
SO THERE'S A FUNDAMENTAL
QUESTION HERE, FUNDAMENTAL
QUESTION.
IF YOU'RE SO CONCERNED ABOUT
THOSE CUTS TO DEFENSE, WHY IS IT
YOU WON'T CLOSE ONE SPECIAL
INTEREST TAX LOOPHOLE TO HELP
PAY FOR THEM?
WE, THE DEMOCRATS, HAD A
SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT THAT WE
WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DEBATE
AND VOTE ON RIGHT HERE TODAY.
WE TOOK AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH.
CUTS.
WE ALSO PREVENTED THOSE DEFENSE
YOU KNOW HOW WE DID IT?
WE SAID, WE DON'T NEED TO MAKE
THESE BIG AGRICULTURAL SUBSIDIES
AND DIRECT PAYMENTS, WE ALSO
DON'T THINK WE SHOULD HAVE OIL
-- TAXPAYER SUBSIDIES FOR THE
BIG OIL COMPANIES.
WE DID IT IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
AND APPARENTLY OUR REPUBLICAN
COLLEAGUES ARE KIND OF WORRIED
ABOUT WHAT WE WERE GOING TO
PROPOSE BECAUSE THEY BROUGHT A
CLOSED RULE TO THE FLOOR MEANING
DEMOCRATS DIDN'T HAVE AN
ALTERNATIVE.
OPPORTUNITY TO GET A VOTE ON OUR
I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND RESERVES
HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WISCONSIN,
MR. RYAN, IS RECOGNIZED.
I YIELD MYSELF ONE
MINUTE TO SAY, MR. SPEAKER, THAT
THE GENTLEMAN'S SUBSTITUTE
RAISES TAXES $85 BILLION AND
RAISES SPENDING $55 BILLION ON
THE NET TO ACHIEVE SIMPLY $30
BILLION IN DEFICIT REDUCTION.
THIS BILL ACHIEVES $243 BILLION
IN DEFICIT REDUCTION WITHOUT
RAISING TAXES.
THE RATIO OF SPENDING INCREASES,
OF TAX INCREASES TO SPENDING
CUTS GROSS 3-1.
THAT'S WHAT THEY THINK BALANCE
IS.
LET'S LOOK AT FOOD STAMPS.
FOOD STAMPS ARE UP 270% OVER THE
LAST DECADE.
IF THIS PASSES IT WILL HAVE GONE
UP 260%.
LET'S TALK ABOUT MEDICAID AND
SCHIP.
THIS PROGRAM HAS GONE UP 50%
OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS.
IT'S PROBABLIED TO GROW 125%
OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
IF THIS PASSES, IT WILL GROW
123% OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
IF WE CAN'T HAVE A CIVIL DEBATE
ABOUT HOW TO SLOW THE GROWTH OF
SPENDING AROUND HERE, THEN WE'LL
NEVER GET THIS UNDER CONTROL.
MEDICAID ALONE MADE $15.8
BILLION IN OVERPAYMENTS IN 2011
ALONE.
IF WE CAN'T DEAL WITH THIS
WASTE, IF WE CAN'T DEAL WITH
THIS OVERSPENDING, WE CAN'T FIX
THIS PROBLEM.
WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
-- I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
YIELD SEVEN MINUTES OF MY TIME
TO MR. HENSARLING OF THE
FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE AND
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT HE BE
ALLOWED TO YIELD TIME.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, THE GENTLEMAN FROM
TEXAS, MR. HENSARLING, WILL
CONTROL THE TIME.
IS RECOGNIZED FOR SEVEN MINUTES.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WISCONSIN FOR
YIELDING AND, MR. SPEAKER, I
WOULD LIKE TO YIELD ONE MINUTE
TO THE DISTINGUISHED CHAIRMAN OF
THE FINANCIAL SERVICES
COMMITTEE, THE GENTLEMAN FROM
ALABAMA, MR. BACHUS.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ALABAMA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
MR. SPEAKER, THE
FINANCIAL COMMITTEE'S WORK ON
THIS RECONCILIATION PACKAGE
SAVES MORE THAN $35 BILLION.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY IT DOES
WHAT 2,300 PAGES OF THE
DODD-FRANK, 400 NEW REGULATIONS,
OVER 2,000 NEWLY HIRED FEDERAL
REGULATORS, MANY OF THEM LIVING
IN MY MARYLAND COLLEAGUE'S
DISTRICT, AND MORE THAN $24
MILLION WORTH OF COMPLIANCE WORK
REQUIRED OF AMERICA'S COMPANIES,
AT THE COST OF $100 BILLION, IT
ENDS THE BAILOUTS.
A BAILOUT FUND DOESN'T END THE
BAILOUT, IT GUARANTEES THEM.
WE'RE TELLING THE BIG BANKS WHAT
MY DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES DIDN'T
WANT TO TELL THEM.
IF THEY MAKE RISKY BETS AND MAKE
BAD DECISIONS, THEY'RE ON THE
HOOK, NOT THE TAXPAYERS.
NO MORE PRIVATIZING THE PROFITS,
THE LOSSES.
IN SHORT, NO MORE BAILOUTS
PERIOD.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
HEN HEN --
I RESERVE THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
CHAIR RECOGNIZES MR. HENSARLING.
MR. SPEAKER, I
RESERVE.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND IS
RECOGNIZED.
AT THIS TIME I
YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE
GENTLELADY FROM OHIO, MS.
KAPTUR.
THE
GENTLELADY FROM OHIO IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
I THANK RANKING
MEMBER VAN HOLLEN.
WELL, HERE WE ARE AGAIN.
AMERICA STILL RECOVERING FROM
THE WORST ECONOMIC DOWNTURN
SINCE THE GREAT DEPRESSION, AND
THE REPUBLICANS DON'T SEEM TO
UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS
ON JOB CREATION.
OUR ECONOMY HAS BEEN PRODUCING
PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS EACH MONTH
FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, IN STARK
CONTRAST TO THE BUSH YEARS.
BUT TODAY WE'RE NOT DEBATING JOB
GROWTH TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.
WE AREN'T CONSIDERING A
TRANSPORTATION BILL TODAY.
NO, THAT WOULD CREATE THE MOST
NEW JOBS.
MAKING REAL INVESTMENTS IN
AMERICA BY PUTTING PEOPLE BACK
TWO, AND GROWING OUR ECONOMY.
TODAY WE ARE DEBATING NOTHING
MORE THAN THE LATEST POLITICAL
TALKING POINTS FOR THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY.
WE ALL KNOW THAT THIS STRATEGY
IS GOING NOWHERE IN THE SENATE.
SO INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON
ECONOMIC GROWTH AND JOB
CREATION, THE REPUBLICANS
DECIDED TO PROTECT THEIR RICH
FRIENDS AND SLASH THE PROGRAMS
THAT THE MOST NEEDY IN OUR
COUNTRY DEPEND UPON.
WHILE PROTECTING THE WELL,
HERE'S WHAT THE REPUBLICAN BILL
DOES TO ORDINARY FAMILIES.
CUTS HEALTH COVERAGE FOR THE
LEAST AMONG US.
300,000 LOW INCOME CHILDREN.
THE REPUBLICAN BILL SLASHES FOOD
AND NUTRITION SUPPORT FOR THE
UNEMPLOYED.
AND FOR STRUGGLING CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES.
THE REPUBLICAN BILL ELIMINATES
SOCIAL SERVICES BLOCK GRANT
WHICH IS GIVE STATES AND LOCAL
COMMUNITIES FLEXIBILITY TO
TARGET FUNDING FOR ESSENTIAL
SERVICES LIKE MEALS ON WHEEL,
PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE AND
NEGLECT AND PROVIDING CHILD CARE
FOR WORKING PARENTS.
THE REPUBLICAN BILL WANTS TO
REPEAL THE PREVENTION AND PUBLIC
HEALTH FUND ESTABLISHED UNDER
THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.
AND WHAT DOES THAT DO?
IT SUPPORTS CANCER SCREENINGS,
INCLUDING FOR BREAST AND
CERVICAL CANCER, IMMUNIZATIONS,
EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND
PREVENTION, WHICH IN THE END
SAVES THE MOST MONEY.
PREVENTION SAVES MONEY.
IF THE REPUBLICANS WERE SERIOUS
ABOUT PUTTING OUR FISCAL HOUSE
IN ORDER, THEY WOULD PUT FORWARD
A SERIOUS PROPOSAL THAT GROWS
OUR ECONOMY AND CREATES JOBS TO
BALANCE THE BUDGET AND INVOLVE
SHARED SACRIFICE.
THAT'S HOW YOU BALANCE BUDGETS.
YOU GROW THE ECONOMY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT DAY.
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME TO MR. VAN
HOLLEN.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS IS
AT THIS TIME I
YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR.
NEUGEBAUER.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
A LOT OF DISCUSSION HERE THIS
MORNING ABOUT WHO WE'RE
PROTECTING.
REALLY THE REASON WE'RE HERE
TODAY IS TO PROTECT THE FUTURE
OF AMERICA.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE THROWING
AROUND A LOT OF LARGE NUMBERS
HERE BUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS
PUT IN PER SPECTACULAR WHAVE
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY.
I WANT TO TALK -- PERSPECTIVE
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A FAMILY,
THEY'RE SPENDING $37,000 A YEAR
SO THEY'RE SPENDING $13,000 MORE
A YEAR THAN THEY'RE MAKING.
AND THEY JUST GOT THEIR CREDIT
CARD STATEMENT THE OTHER DAY,
MR. SPEAKER, AND THEY FOUND OUT
THEY OWE $157,000 ON THEIR
CREDIT CARD AND PEOPLE OUT THERE
WOULD SAY, THAT'S A FAMILY THAT
DOESN'T HAVE A FUTURE.
UNFORTUNATELY THE FAMILY THAT
I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT HERE, MR.
SPEAKER, IS THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA BECAUSE I TOOK THE EIGHT
ZEROS OFF OF THE FRONT OF THESE
AROUND TODAY.
NUMBERS THAT WE'RE KICKING
SO I THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
OUGHT TO BE EXCITED THAT WE'RE
HERE TODAY, YOU KNOW, MAKING A
START, AND I WANT TO POINT OUT,
THIS IS JUST A START TO
ADDRESSING A VERY LARGE PROBLEM.
AND SO WHEN WE GO INTO SOME OF
THE PROGRAMS OUT THERE LIKE THE
CONSUMER PROTECTION FINANCIAL
BUREAU, BASICALLY THAT WAS
TUCKED INSIDE THE FED, HAS NO
ACCOUNTABILITY, THAT WAS THE
REASON I WAS PLEASED TO
INTRODUCE H.R. 1355, TO BRING
ACCOUNTABILITY TO THAT.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE
ACCOUNTABILITY AND THEY ALSO
DESERVE FOR THIS BODY TO COME
TOGETHER AND WORK ON THIS VERY
LARGE PROBLEM BECAUSE AS HAS
BEEN POINTED OUT, A LOT OF THE
THINGS THAT WE ACTUALLY VOTE ON,
IN FACT THIS $13,000 DEFICIT, IF
WE ELIMINATED THE PART OF
SPENDING THAT WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT VOTING ON IN THESE
APPROPRIATION BILLS, THAT ONLY
ELIMINATE $11,000 OF THAT
DEFICIT.
SO THIS FAMILY WOULD STILL HAVE
A $2,000 BUDGET DEFICIT EVEN
AFTER WE ELIMINATE ALL OF THE
.
PROGRAMS THAT WE VOTE ON.
THIS IS THE BUSINESS WE ARE
SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT.
LET'S WORK TOGETHER AND PROTECT
THE FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN AND
GRANDCHILDREN SO THEY WILL HAVE
A FUTURE, THEY WILL HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE JOBS AND
OPPORTUNITIES IN AMERICA.
WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR.
NEUGEBAUER, YIELDS BARK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR.
HENSARLING --
I RESERVE.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND, MR. VAN
HOLLEN, IS RECOGNIZED.
I'D LIKE TO
RESPOND TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
BUDGET COMMITTEE IN TERMS OF THE
RATIO OF CUTS TO REVENUE.
I THINK THE GENTLEMAN WILL
RECALL ONE OF THE
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE
BIPARTISAN COMMISSION MADE WAS
THE TRILLION DOLLARS IN CUTS
THAT WE MADE AS PART OF THE
BUDGET CONTROL ACT, THAT WAS
100% CUTS.
IF YOU TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT,
THE REALITY IS WHAT WE HAVE DONE
SO FAR WITH OUR PROPOSAL IS 92%
CUTS, 8% REVENUE.
WITH THAT REVENUE GENERATED BY
CLOSING THOSE TAX LOOPHOLES I
TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.
WITH THAT I YIELD TWO MINUTES TO
THE GENTLELADY FROM FLORIDA, MS.
WASSERMAN SCHULTZ.
THE
GENTLELADY FROM FLORIDA, MS.
FOR TWO MINUTES.
WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, IS RECOGNIZED
THANK
YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
I RISE TODAY IN OPPOSITION TO
THE SEQUESTER REPLACEMENT
RECONCILIATION ACT.
THE SECOND PHASE IN THE
PLAN.
REPUBLICAN PATHWAY TO POVERTY
THIS BILL ONCE AGAIN FAILS TO
REACH ANY MEASURE OF FAIRNESS
AND SHARED RESPONSIBILITY.
ALL OF US AGREE THAT THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF SEQUESTRATION
WOULD BE A DAMAGING, HARMFUL
APPROACH TO TAKING AN EFFORT TO
ACHOOVE DEFICIT REDUCTION.
-- ACHIEVE DEFICIT REDUCTION.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DEMOCRATS
AND REPUBLICANS, INSTEAD OF
TAKING A BALANCED APPROACH, THE
BALANCE WOULD REPLACE
SEQUESTRATION WITH TAX BREAKS TO
MILLIONAIRES AND SPECIAL
INTERESTS, WHILE ENDING THE
MEDICARE GUARANTEE, SLASHING
INVESTMENTS THAT STRENGTHEN OUR
ECONOMY, AND SHREDDING THE
SOCIAL SAFETY NET.
NOT SURPRISINGLY IMPORTANT
PROVISIONS OF THE AFFORDABLE
CARE ACT ARE IN THEIR SIGHTS.
THE PREVENTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH
FUND WAS AN UNPRECEDENTED
INVESTMENT IN OUR HEALTH AND
AND CHILDREN.
WELL-BEING, PARTICULAR FOR WOMEN
BY PROVIDING FUNDING FOR VITAL
CANCER, AND THE FIGHT AGAINST
EPIDEMIC, FIGHTING OBESITY, AND
DIABETES, THIS FUND INVESTS IN
OUR NATION'S HEALTH AND IT WILL
PROVIDE SAVINGS DOWN THE LINE TO
HELP CATCH AFFLICTIONS EARLY.
BY SEEKING TO UNDERMINE THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, THIS BILL
WOULD ELIMINATE FUNDING FOR
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
LIFESAVING SCREENINGS.
ALL TO SCORE POLITICAL POINTS
MR. SPEAKER, JUST A FEW YEARS
WITH THEIR EXTREME BASE.
AGO WHEN I WAS 41 YEARS OLD I
FOUND A LUMP IN MY BREAST.
WHICH WAS CONFIRMED TO BE CANCER
AND A SERIES OF SCREENINGS,
INCLUDING A CLINICAL SCREENING,
JUST LIKE THE ONES THAT THIS
FUND PROVIDES.
THESE SCREENINGS SAVED MY LIFE,
BUT THIS BILL WOULD PREVENT
326,000 WOMEN FROM HAVING ACCESS
TO THE SAME SCREENINGS I DID.
IT WILL PREVENT AN ESTIMATED
10,300 WOMEN FROM BEING
DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST AND
CERVICAL CANCER IN THE EARL WILL
I STAGES AND MAY COST THEM THEIR
LIVES.
FURTHERMORE, THIS BILL SLASHES
FUNDING FOR SCREENING FOR BIRTH
DEFECTS, DEVELOPMENTAL
DISABILITY, AND HEARING LOSS IN
CHILDREN.
HOW CAN ANY OF US IN GOOD
CONSCIENCE CUT INVESTMENTS IN
CHILDREN HEALTH?
FRANKLY AS A MOM OF THREE YOUNG
KIDS I'M STUNNED.
YOU DON'T PAY DOWN THE DEFICIT
OUR CHILDREN DIDN'T CREATE BY
COMPROMISING THEIR HEALTH.
OUR CONSTITUENTS DESERVE A
BALANCED APPROACH TO DEFICIT
REDUCTION.
THE REPUBLICANS APPROACH WOULD
DENY WOMEN LIKE ME ACCESS TO
SCREENINGS THAT SAVE LIVES AND
CHILDREN THE SCREENINGS THEY
NEED SO WE CAN KEEP THEM
HEALTHY.
IT'S UNACCEPTABLE AND I ASK
COLLEAGUES WITH A CONSCIENCE TO
VOTE DOWN THIS TERRIBLE BILL.
THE
GENTLELADY'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR.
HENSARLING, IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, I
YIELD MYSELF TWO MINUTES.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
MR. SPEAKER,
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO
REMEMBER WHY WE ARE HERE.
WE ARE HERE BECAUSE THE
PRESIDENT'S POLICIES HAVE
FAILED.
$1 FRILL DEFICIT.
A SECOND $1 TRILLION DEFICIT.
A THIRD $1 THRILL DEFICIT.
AND NOW A FOURTH $1 TRILLION
DEFICIT.
PUTTING THE NATION ON THE ROAD
TO BANKRUPTCY, THAT'S WHY WE
HAVE A RECONCILIATION BILL
BEFORE US.
I HEAR MY FRIENDS ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE AISLE TALK ABOUT
DEEP CUTS.
THE DEEPEST CUTS THAT ARE
HAPPENING IN AMERICA TODAY ARE
TO THE FAMILY BUDGETS OF
BREADWINNERS WHO ARE EITHER
UNEMPLOYED OR UNDEREMPLOYED DUE
TO THE ECONOMIC POLICIES OF THIS
ADMINISTRATION.
WE JUST GOT THE NEWS LAST MONTH,
THIRD MONTH IN A ROW, WHERE JOB
GROWTH IS DOWN.
WE ARE NOT EVEN KEEPING PACE.
THE LOWEST LABOR FORCE
PARTICIPATION RATE IN 30 YEARS
BECAUSE, MR. SPEAKER, PEOPLE
HAVE GIVEN UP.
ON THE OBAMA ECONOMY.
THOSE ARE THE DEEP CUTS THAT
TRULY COUNT.
REPUBLICANS HAVE A PLAN FOR
AMERICA'S JOB CREATORS.
WE WANT TO GET THIS ECONOMY
GOING.
AS WE DO, AS PEOPLE GO BACK TO
WORK, THEY GET OFF OF THE WFL
CHECKS ON TO THE PAYCHECKS.
THAT'S WHAT COUNTS.
AND SO REPUBLICANS HAVE BROUGHT
FORTH A RECONCILIATION PLAN THAT
SAYS YOU KNOW WHAT?
MAYBE WE OUGHT TO QUIT SPENDING
MONEY WE DON'T HAVE AND MAYBE
THIS WILL HELP PROVIDE PART OF
THE CONFIDENCE THAT JOB CREATORS
NEED TO PUT AMERICA BACK TO
WORK.
AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THE WORK
THAT WAS DONE ON THE FINANCIAL
SERVICES COMMITTEE, AMONG OTHER
THINGS, TO END THE PERPETUAL
WALL STREET BAILOUT FUND THAT
WAS PUT IN BY THE DEMOCRATS IN
THE DODD-FRANK BILL.
BECAUSE IF YOU LOSE YOUR ABILITY
TO FAIL IN AMERICA, YOU LOSE
YOUR ABILITY TO SUCCEED AND THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF THE
BAILOUTS.
I'LL CONTINUE TO RESERVE.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND, MR.
VAN HOLLEN, IS RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
BEFORE I TURN TO ONE OF MY
COLLEAGUES LET ME JUST SAY IN
RESPONSE TO MY FRIEND, MR.
HENSARLING.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE WELL
AWARE OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN
THE ECONOMY THE VERY DAY THE
PRESIDENT WAS SWORN IN AS
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
LOSING 800,000 JOBS EVERY MONTH.
THE ECONOMY IN FREE FALL, ALMOST
9% NEGATIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH.
PEOPLE'S RETIREMENT SAVINGS HAD
DROPPED BY 1/3 COMPARED TO WHERE
THEY WERE IN 2007.
INHERITED.
THAT'S THE ECONOMY THE PRESIDENT
AS A RESULT OF THE EXTRAORDINARY
TAKEN BY THE PRESIDENT,
BY THE PREVIOUS CONGRESS, AND
MOST IMPORTANTLY WITH THE
FORTITUDE OF THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE, WHAT WE SEE IS THIS,
AFTER THE DAY THE PRESIDENT WAS
SWORN IN, WHEN THE ECONOMY WAS
IN FREE FALL, THOSE ARE JOBS
LOST, WE BEGAN TO LIFT OURSELVES
SLOWLY OUT.
WE HAVE NOW HAD 25 CONSECUTIVE
MONTHS OF POSITIVE PRIVATE
SECTOR JOB GROWTH.
IS IT ENOUGH?
NO.
OF COURSE WE HAD NO HELP FROM
OUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES IN
WORKING ON THE TURN AROUND.
THE PRESIDENT'S JOBS BILL THAT
HE SUBMITTED TO THIS HOUSE LAST
HERE.
SEPTEMBER, IS STILL SITTING
FORTUNATELY WE FINALLY DID A
PIECE OF IT WITH THE PAYROLL TAX
CUT.
MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES SAYS
THE REPUBLICANS HAVE AN ANSWER,
THEIR ANSWER IS BACK TO THE OLD
TRICKLE-DOWN ECONOMICS.
ANOTHER ROUND OF TAX BREAKS FOR
THE FOLKS AT THE VERY TOP.
SOMEHOW THAT WILL TRICKLE DOWN
AND LIFT EVERYBODY UP.
WE TRIED IT.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
IT DIDN'T WORK.
BUSH ADMINISTRATION.
IT WAS CALLED EIGHT YEARS OF THE
WE HAD TWO BACK-TO-BACK TAX CUTS
EIGHT YEARS.
NET JOB LOSS IN THE PRIVATE
SECTOR AFTER THOSE EIGHT YEARS,
AND BIG DEFICITS.
THE LAST TIME WE HAD A BALANCED
BUDGET HERE WAS 2001 BEFORE
THOSE POLICIES.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO GET
THE HISTORY OF THE PAST RIGHT IN
ORDER TO MAKE SURE WE KNOW HOW
TO MOVE FORWARD PROPERLY IN THE
FUTURE.
I NOW YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE
BLUMENAUER.
GENTLEMAN FROM OREGON, MR.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM OREGON, MR.
BLUMENAUER, IS RECOGNIZED FOR
TWO MINUTES.
I APPRECIATE THE
GENTLEMAN'S COURTESY IN
PERMITTING ME TO SPEAK ON THIS
AS I APPRECIATE HIS SETTING THE
STAGE TURNS UP WHY WE ARE HERE,
IN TERMS OF WHAT PROM INHERITED
WHEN HE WAS ELECT -- WHAT
PRESIDENT OBAMA NHARETTED WHEN
HE WAS ELECTED TO OFFICE, AND
THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP
DOESN'T WANT TO WORK WITH US IN
A BALANCED AND REASONABLE WAY TO
REDUCE THE DEFICIT AND GET US ON
A SUSTAINABLE PATH.
NOTHING IS OF GREATER
ILLUSTRATION OF THIS THAN THE
RESPONSE TO AN AMENDMENT THAT I
THE BUDGET COMMITTEE.
MONDAY WHEN WE WERE DEALING WITH
THIS I OFFERED UP TO MY
COLLEAGUES INSTEAD OF THROWING
-- ELIMINATING FOOD STAMP
BENEFITS FOR TWO MILLION PEOPLE,
FOR CUTTING BENEFITS FOR 20
MONTHS, REDUCING BENEFITS FOR 44
MILLION PEOPLE IN TOTAL, SCHOOL
LUNCHES FOR 280,000 CHILDREN.
I SAID, WAIT A MINUTE, WHY DON'T
WE WORK TOGETHER ON SOMETHING
THAT WE AGREE ON?
I HAD WORKED WITH THE CHAIRMAN
OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE IN THE
PAST TO TRY AND REFORM
AGRICULTURE SUBSIDIES.
WE GOT A RECONCILIATION FROM THE
AG COMMITTEE THAT TAKES IT ALL
OUT OF NUTRITION FOR POOR
PEOPLE.
FOR CHILDREN, FOR STRUGGLING
FAMILIES.
I SAID WHY DON'T WE GO TO WHERE
WE AGREE -- CROP INSURANCE
DIRECT PAYMENTS
GO TO FARMERS WHO DON'T NEED
THEM AND DON'T DESERVE THEM.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT
REASONABLE LIMITS ON THE AMOUNT
THAT GOES TO THE WEALTHIEST
BUSINESS INTERESTS.
WE WORKED ON THAT TOGETHER.
A MAJORITY OF THE BUDGET
COMMITTEE I'M SURE AGREES AND IT
WOULD PASS ON THE FLOOR.
AND WE COULD MEET THIS OBJECTIVE
AND MORE WITHOUT ASSAULTING THE
WELL-BEING OF 44 MILLION
STRUGGLING AMERICANS.
I HAVE LOOKED AT THOSE PEOPLE IN
MY COMMUNITY AND I CAN'T IMAGINE
MY COLLEAGUES WHO ARE PROPOSING
THIS HAVE WORKED WITH THE FOOD
KITCHENS, HAVE WORKED WITH THE
FOOD STAMPS RECIPIENTS.
MAY I HAVE 30 ADDITIONAL
SECONDS?
I YIELD 30
SECONDS.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
THE ANSWER IN
PART WAS WE CAN'T DO THAT
BECAUSE WE DO AGREE ON SOME FARM
REFORM, BUT WE HAVE TO DO IT
WHEN WE REFORM THE FARM BILL.
THAT'S COMING UP FOR
RE-AUTHORIZATION LATER.
HAVE TO DO IT IN THE FARM
BILL, THAT'S WHERE WE DEAL WITH
DIRECT PAYMENTS, THAT'S WHERE WE
DEAL WITH CROP INSURANCE.
HELLO?
WHERE ARE FOOD STAMPS AUTHORSED
-- AUTHORIZED?
THEY ARE IN THE EXACT SAME FARM
BILL AND THE REPUBLICANS HAVE
DECIDED THEY ARE GOING TO IGNORE
THIS OPPORTUNITY, THEY ARE GOING
TO VOTE A BIPARTISAN COMPROMISE
THAT WILL SAVE MORE MONEY AND
PROTECT FAMILIES AND INSTEAD
THEY ARE GOING TO PROTECT
AGRIBUSINESS AND AVOID AN
ON THE FLOOR.
OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYBODY TO WIN
IT'S SHAMEFUL AND SHOULD BE
REJECTED.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
HENSARLING, IS RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR.
I'D LIKE TO
YIELD 30 SECONDS TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR 30
SECONDS.
MR. SPEAKER, I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS FOR
YIELDING.
THE FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE
HAS RESPONSIBLY CONTRIBUTED
ROUGHLY $35 BILLION IN DEFICIT
REDUCTION MEASURES TO THIS BILL.
AND I'M HAPPY ONE OF THESE
MEASURES THAT I SPONSORED, A
REPEAL OF THE OFFICE OF
FINANCIAL SERVICES, WAS ADOPTED
BY VOICE VOTE IN OUR COMMITTEE.
THIS AGENCY CREATED
BY DODD FRANK IS A THREAT TO THE
PRIVACY OF EVERY AMERICAN
CITIZEN AND NO PLACE IN THE
SUCH AS OURS.
SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES
REPEALING THE O.F.R. WILL SAVE
$270 MILLION OVER 10 YEARS AND
AMERICANS WILL BE BETTER OFF FOR
IT.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR.
HENSARLING, IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, I
YIELD MYSELF THE REMAINING
MINUTE AND A HALF.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR A
MINUTE AND A HALF.
MR. SPEAKER, THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE KNOW THAT AFTER
THE NATION'S FIRST, SECOND,
THIRD, AND NOW FOURTH TRILLION
DOLLAR DEFICIT, THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE KNOW AFTER THE WORST
EMPLOYMENT RECORD IN 30 YEARS,
THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE
PRESIDENT'S ECONOMIC POLICIES
AND ULTIMATELY THIS DEBATE COMES
TO THIS.
DO WE HAVE A DEBT CRISIS BECAUSE
WASHINGTON SPENDS TOO MUCH OR
BECAUSE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE
UNDERTAXED?
MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE AISLE SAY A NATION CAN
TAX ITS WAY INTO ECONOMIC
GROWTH, TAX ITS WAY INTO
ECONOMIC PROSPERITY.
THEY WANT TO IMPOSE TAXES FROM
40% OF THE INCOME ON SMALL
BUSINESSES AND SOMEHOW THINK
THEY WILL CREATE MORE JOBS.
MR. SPEAKER, IF YOU GAVE THEM
EVERY JOB HARMING TAX INCREASE
THAT THEY HAVE ASKED FOR, IT'S
ROUGHLY 16% OF THE ADDITIONAL
$11 TRILLION OF DEBT THAT THE
PRESIDENT WANTS TO PUT ON THIS
ECONOMY, OUR CHILDREN, AND
GRANDCHILDREN.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE KNOW WE CAN
DO BETTER.
IT IS TIME TO QUIT SPENDING
MONEY WE DON'T HAVE FOR JOBS,
THE STIMULUS PROGRAM NEVER
CREATES.
I'M PROUD TO BE A PART OF THIS
RECONCILIATION PACKAGE WHICH
WILL SAVE THE DRACONIAN CUTS
THAT ARE AIMED AT OUR WAR
FIGHTERS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND
BE ABLE TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF
ASSURING THAT A GREAT NATION
LIVES WITHIN ITS MEANS AND THAT
WE CAN GIVE THE NEXT GENERATION
GREATER HOPE, GREATER
OPPORTUNITY, GREATER ECONOMIC
GROWTH, AND I URGE ALL MY
COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THIS
RECONCILIATION BILL.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND, MR.
VAN HOLLEN, IS RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I WOULD JUST POINT OUT THAT THE
NONPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET
OFFICE HAS STATED THAT AS A
RESULT OF THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY
BILL, THE EXTRAORDINARY ACTIONS
THAT WERE TAKEN, OVER FOUR
MILLION JOBS WERE CREATED OR
SAVED.
THAT MEANS A LOT TO THE PEOPLE
WHO DIDN'T LOSE THEIR JOBS, THE
PEOPLE WHO WERE LOSING THEIR
JOBS AT THE RATE OF 800,000 PER
MONTH WHEN THE PRESIDENT WAS
SWORN IN.
ARE WE WHERE WE WANT TO BE?
OF COURSE NOT.
ARE WE A LOT BETTER OFF THAN WE
WERE?
WE'RE PULLING OURSELVES UP AND
THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO IS
GO BACK TO WHERE WE WERE.
NOBODY ON THE DEMOCRAT SIDE HAS
SAID, WE CAN DEAL WITH THIS ON
THE TAX SIDE ALONE.
THAT'S NOT TRUE.
WE VOTED ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS
IN AUGUST FOR $1 TRILLION IN
CUTS.
WHAT WE PROPOSE IS WHAT EVERY
BIPARTISAN GROUP THAT'S LOOKED
AT THIS CHALLENGE HAS SAID.
YOU HAVE TO DO THIS THROUGH A
COMBINATION OF CUTS, BUT YOU
ALSO GOT TO GET RID OF ALL THAT
PORK BARREL STUFF IN THE TAX
CODE AND USE SOME OF THAT TO
REDUCE OUR DEFICIT.
ASK THE FOLKS WHO ARE HAVE --
WHO HAVE BEEN MAKING OVER $1
MILLION A YEAR TO HELP PAY FOR
OUR COMMON DEFENSE.
THAT IS JUST COMMON SENSE.
AND WITH THAT I YIELD TWO
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
TEXAS, MR. DOGGETT.
MR. SPEAKER, --
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS IS
DOGGETT.
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES, MR.
MR. SPEAKER,
NORMALLY WHEN WE THINK OF
WE THINK OF A
COMING TOGETHER, OF A FINDING
COMMON GROUND.
THIS IS NOT SUCH RECONCILIATION.
WHETHER THIS IS A BILL THAT
PROVIDES MORE TAX BREAKS TO THE
FEW AND MORE PAIN TO THE MANY,
IT IS IN FACT A WRECK, AS IN A
TRAIN OR AUTO WRECK,
WRECKONCILIATION.
THERE IS LEGITIMATE CONCERN THAT
WE MUST ADDRESS OUR BUDGET
DIFFICULTIES TO AVOID A
LONG-TERM BUDGET WRECK.
BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE
WRECK THAT THIS LEGISLATION
UNDER CONSIDERATION TODAY POSES
TO THE LIVES OF SO MANY
AMERICANS.
IT IS A WRECK FOR EDUCATIONAL
OPPORTUNITY.
THE FAILURE OF THIS BUDGET
COMMITTEE TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS
OF OUR YOUNGEST AMERICANS WITH
HEAD START AND EARLY LEARNING,
THE FAILURE TO EXTEND THE
EDUCATION -- MORE EDUCATION TAX
CREDIT THAT I AUTHORED, FOR MORE
OPPORTUNITY AT THE ALAMO
COLLEGES AT TEXAS STATE AND
COUNTRY.
INSTITUTIONS ACROSS THIS
IT IS A WRECK FOR OUR MOST
VULNERABLE NEIGHBORS, THE TEXAS
SENIORS WHO RELY ON ONE HOT MEAL
A DAY FOR MEALS ON WHEELS.
THEIR DIRECTOR SAYS, IT WILL BE
DEVASTATING TO ELIMINATE THE
SOCIAL SERVICES BLOCK GRANT, A
WRECK FOR THOSE SENIORS.
IT IS A WRECK FOR THOSE WHO ARE
RELYING ON FOOD SECURITY, LIKE
THE 74-YEAR-OLD WHO GAVE ME THIS
PLATE AT THE FOOD BANK IN SAN
ANTONIO.
MY SOCIAL SECURITY CHECK DOESN'T
GIVE ME ENOUGH TO BUY ANY
GROCERIES.
JUST MY RENT AND UTILITIES.
STARVE.
WITHOUT THE FOOD BANK, I WOULD
THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF PEOPLE
FOR WHOM IT IS A WRECK RIGHT
NOW.
NOW, WE HAD A PRESIDENT ONCE WHO
REALIZED THE NEED FOR SHARED
SACRIFICE.
HE HAD ALMOST HALF OF HIS BUDGET
REVENUE BY WHAT HE SAID
WAS CLOSING OFF SPECIAL INTEREST
LOOPHOLES AND HE SAID, THAT IS
FAIRNESS.
JUST A MATTER OF SIMPLE
HIS NAME WAS RONALD REAGAN.
I THINK WE MIGHT FOLLOW THAT
EXAMPLE.
DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER 30 SECONDS?
I YIELD THE
GENTLEMAN ANOTHER 30 SECONDS.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS VOICED FOR
30 SECONDS.
PRESIDENT
CALIFORNIA CANDIDATES SAID THEY
WOULDN'T GIVE -- PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATES SAID THEY WOULDN'T
GIVE FOR SPENDING CUTS.
THIS IS A RECONCILIATION BILL
THAT ASKS NOTHING OF MR. EXXON,
THAT ASKS NOTHING MORE OF HEDGE
FUND MANAGERS, BUT ASKS THOSE
WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR
SOCIETY TO SHARE MORE PAIN.
I THINK WE MUST REJECT THIS
WRECK, A WRECK FOR SO MANY
AMERICAN FAMILIES, AND I YIELD
BACK.
THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND, MR.
VAN HOLLEN, RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WISCONSIN,
MR. RYAN, CONTROLS THE TIME FOR
THE MAJORITY.
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
MYSELF ONE MINUTE TO JUST
ADDRESS A FEW OF THESE.
IF YOU'RE ELIGIBLE FOR FOOD
STAMPS TODAY, YOU'LL BE ELIGIBLE
FOR FOOD STAMPS TOMORROW UNDER
THIS BILL.
WE'RE SIMPLY SAYING, YOU HAVE TO
BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS BENEFIT TO
ACTUALLY GET THE BENEFIT.
THE SLUSH FUND WHICH IS CALLED
THE PREVENTATIVE SERVICES FUND,
IT DOESN'T FUND CERVICAL AND
BREAST CANCER RESEARCH.
IT FUNDED THINGS SUCH AS THE
PIKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA,
FUNDS FOR SIGNAGE TO PROMOTE
RECREATIONAL DESTINATIONS
INCLUDING PUBLIC PARKS, BIKE
LANES AND MORE.
THE CITY OF BOSTON GOT A $1
MILLION GRANT FOR URBAN
GARDENING.
THE NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH USED A $3 MILLION
TAXPAYER-FUNDED GRANT FROM THIS
FUND TO LOBBY FOR A SODA TAX
INITIATIVE.
THE CASCADE BICYCLE CLUB
EDUCATION FOUNDATION RECEIVED $3
MILLION TO USE TAXPAYER DOLLAR
20'S TO QUOTE, IM-- DOLLARS TO,
BIKING ENVIRONMENT.
QUOTE, IMPROVE THE WALKING AND
THIS IS WHERE THE TAX DOLLARS
ARE GOING.
THE CHILD TAX CREDIT.
ONE INVESTIGATION IN INDIANA
SAID, ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
RECEIVING $29,608 FOR 20
CHILDREN THAT THEY CLAIM FOR THE
TAX CREDIT WHO LIVE IN MEXICO
AND HAVE NEVER VISITED THE
UNITED STATES BEFORE.
YIELDING MYSELF 30 ADDITIONAL
SECONDS, MR. SPEAKER.
WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS GOVERNMENT
SPENDING ON THESE PROGRAMS
SHOULD GO TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
INTENDED, NOT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE
INTENDED.
NOT ELIGIBLE AND ARE NOT
IF WE'RE GOING TO DO PREVENTION
FOR HEALTH CARE, THEN DO CANCER
SCREENING, DO CANCER RESEARCH,
DON'T FUND SIGNS FOR BIKE PATHS.
WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
TWO MINUTES TO THE DISTINGUISHED
CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE ARMED
SERVICES COMMITTEE, MR. MCKEON.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I RISE TODAY IN STRONG SUPPORT
OF H.R. 5652.
50% OF THE SAVINGS THAT WE HAVE
ALREADY GENERATED THIS YEAR HAVE
COME FROM THE MILITARY CUTS AND
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ADDING
ANOTHER $500 BILLION TO $600
BILLION ON TOP OF THAT NEXT
JANUARY WITH SEQUESTRATION.
THAT'S OVER $1 TRILLION A YEAR
COMING OUT OF THE MILITARY OVER
THE NEXT 10 YEARS WHILE DEFENSE
SPENDING ONLY ACCOUNTS FOR 20%
OR LESS THAN 20% OF OUR BUDGET
AND WHILE WE'RE FIGHTING WAR IN
AFGHANISTAN AND FACING OUR
UNCERTAINTIES AROUND THE WORLD.
LET ME REMIND EVERYONE HERE OF
THE MAJOR CONSEQUENCES OF
SEQUESTRATION.
200,000 TROOPS WILL BE TAKEN OUT
OF THE ARMY AND THE MARINES,
BRINGING OUR FORCE LEVEL DOWN
BELOW PRE-9/11 LEVELS.
ABILITY TO RESPOND TO
CONTINGENCIES IN NORTH KOREA AND
IRAN AND OTHER PLACES, HOT SPOTS
AROUND THE WORLD, WILL BE PUT IN
JEOPARDY.
A FLEET OF FEWER THAN 230 SHIPS,
A NAVY THAT HAS PROTECTED THE
SEA LANES AROUND THE WORLD, OUR
COMMERCE, 95% OF OUR COMMERCE
TRAVELS ON THE SEA.
THEY PROTECTED THAT SINCE WORLD
WAR II.
THEY'LL BE TAKEN DOWN TO
PRE-WORLD WAR I LEVELS.
WE'LL HAVE A SMALLER AIR FORCE
THAN ANY TIME SINCE THE AIR
FORCE WAS CREATED AND TWO ROUNDS
OF BASE CLOSURE.
THAT'S WHY SECRETARY PANETTA HAS
SAID, IT'S NOT SHOOTING
OURSELVES IN OUR FOOT WITH
SEQUESTRATION, IT'S SHOOTING
THE HEAD.
THAT'S WHY 31 COALITION -- 31
ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTING MORE
THAN 5 1/2 MILLION AMERICAN
TROOPS AND VETERANS HAVE CALLED
ON CONGRESS TO ACT IMMEDIATELY
TO PREVENT THESE CATASTROPHIC
CUTS TO OUR MILITARY.
MR. SPEAKER, I URGE ALL MEMBERS
TO SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, SUPPORT
OUR NATIONAL SECURITY AND
SUPPORT THIS BILL AND I YIELD
BACK.
THE
BACK HIS TIME.
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA YIELDS
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WISCONSIN
RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND IS
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I ALSO URGE ALL OUR COLLEAGUES
TO SUPPORT OUR TROOPS AND
SUPPORT OUR MILITARY.
AND THE DEMOCRATIC SUBSTITUTE
THAT WE OFFERED WOULD HAVE MADE
SURE THAT THE SEQUESTER ON
DEFENSE SPENDING DID NOT TAKE
PLACE.
AND I HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE ARMED SERVICES
COMMITTEE, MR. MCKEON, WHO JUST
SPOKE.
AND HERE'S WHAT HE SAID NOT LONG
AGO.
HE SAYS, QUOTE, WE NEED TO
ADDRESS OUR BUDGET PROBLEMS
COMPREHENSIVELY, THROUGH SMARTER
AND INCREASED REVENUE.
HE ALSO SAID, AND I QUOTE, IF IT
CAME THAT I ONLY HAD TWO
CHOICES, ONE WAS A TAX INCREASE
AND ONE WAS A CUT IN DEFENSE,
OVER AND ABOVE WHERE WE ALREADY
ARE, I WOULD GO TO STRENGTHEN
DEFENSE.
IN OUR DEMOCRATIC SUBSTITUTE, WE
SAID, LET'S CLOSE SOME OF THOSE
TAX LOOPHOLES TO GENERATE A
LITTLE MORE REVENUE TO HELP PAY
FOR DEFENSE.
LET'S ASK PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING
OVER $1 MILLION A YEAR TO GET
RID OF SOME OF THEIR TAX BREAKS
TO HELP PAY FOR OUR COMMON
DEFENSE.
SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A
BUDGET THAT WHACK EVERYBODY ELSE
IN THE COUNTRY.
-- WHACKS EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE
COUNTRY.
I AGREE WITH HIM.
HE GOT BEATEN DOWN BY MANY IN
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AFTER HE
MADE THOSE COMMENTS.
OH, YOU VIOLATED THAT PLEDGE
THAT SAYS WE'RE NOT GOING TO
RAISE ONE MORE PENNY OF REVENUE
TO REDUCE THE DEFICIT.
BUT HE WAS CANDID.
UNFORTUNATELY NEITHER HE NOR ANY
OF US ARE GOING TO HAVE A CHANCE
TO VOTE ON THE DEMOCRATIC SUBS
DUTY THAT MAKES SURE --
SUBSTITUTE THAT MAKES SURE THAT
WE DON'T HAVE THE DEFENSE
SEQUESTER, WE JUST DO IT IN A
BALANCED WAY.
CUTS, AS WELL AS CLOSING
SOME OF THESE TAX LOOPHOLES.
I NOW YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE
GENTLELADY FROM FLORIDA, MS.
CASTOR.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM FLORIDA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
THANK YOU.
I THANK THE RANKING MEMBER.
MR. SPEAKER, TWO OF THE MOST
PROMINENT INDEPENDENT SCHOLARS
ON CONGRESS RECENTLY COMPLETED A
DETAILED RESEARCH INITIATIVE.
THEY'VE NEVER BEEN SHY IN
CRITICIZING EITHER SIDE OF THE
AISLE.
BUT THEIR LATEST RESEARCH
CONCLUDED THAT THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY HAS BECOME SO
IDEOLOGICALLY EXTREME, SCORNFUL
OF COMPROMISE, UNPERSUADED BY
CONVENTIONAL UNDERSTANDING OF
FACTS, EVIDENCE AND SCIENCE, AND
THEY SAID, WHEN ONE PARTY MOVES
THIS FAR FROM THE MAINSTREAM, IT
MAKES IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR
THE POLITICAL SYSTEM TO DEAL
CONSTRUCTIVELY WITH THE NATION'S
CHALLENGES.
THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET IS A
PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THAT.
THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET SHIELDS
SPECIAL INTERESTS FROM
PARTICIPATING IN DEFICIT
REDUCTION AND INSTEAD SAYS, WE
WANT TO END MEDICARE AS WE KNOW
IT, AND WE WOULD LIKE -- WE
TARGET CHILDREN AND OUR OLDER
NEIGHBORS AND MIDDLE CLASS
FAMILIES FOR THE OVERWHELMING
BURDEN OF DEFICIT REDUCTION.
IT'S A POLITICAL PARTY -- IF A
POLITICAL PARTY WANTED TO
UNDERMINE THE HEALTH AND
ECONOMIC SECURITY OF MILLIONS OF
AMERICAN FAMILIES, WELL, THEN
THIS IS THE WAY TO DO IT.
AND IT'S TOO BAD BECAUSE I
BELIEVE DEMOCRATS AND REASONS
AGREE ON THE NEED FOR --
REPUBLICANS AGREE ON THE NEEDER
TO DEFICIT REDUCTION BUT WE HAVE
STARKLY DIFFERENT VISIONS ON HOW
TO GET THERE.
OTHERS HAVE CALLED THIS
REPUBLICAN BUDGET EXTREME,
REVERSE ROBIN HOOD,
DESTRUCTIONIVE AND A THREAT TO
-- DESTRUCTIVE AND A THREAT TO
MIDDLE CLASS SECURITY.
I OFFERED AN AMENDMENT TO SAY,
IT'S TIME, WE DON'T HAVE THE
LUXURY TO BE GIVING BIG OIL
COMPANIES TAX BREAKS ANY LONGER.
INSTEAD LET'S MAKE SURE THAT
CHILDREN ACROSS AMERICA CAN SEE
A DOCTOR, CAN GET THE
IMMUNIZATIONS THAT THEY NEED.
BUT WHAT WAS THE VOTE?
REPUBLICANS REJECTED THAT
COMMONSENSE AMENDMENT.
IT WAS PAID FOR BY ELIMINATING
THESE BIG OIL SUBSIDIES.
THIS IS WHAT THEY MEAN BY THEIR
IDEOLOGICALLY EXTREME.
IT'S NOT IN KEEPING WITH OUR
VALUES AS AMERICANS AND I URGE
MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE NO ON THE
REPUBLICAN BUDGET AND
SEQUESTRATION PLAN.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM FLORIDA'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND
THE GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA,
MR. RYAN, IS RECOGNIZED --
RECOGNIZED.
WISCONSIN, MR. RYAN, IS
I YIELD MYSELF 30
SECONDS TO MAKE THREE POINTS.
THE LINE THE LADY USED ON
MEDICARE WAS RATED THE LIE OF
NUMBER ONE.
THE YEAR.
NUMBER TWO, THE REASONS THE
DEMOCRAT SUBSTITUTE IS NOT BEING
DOCTORED IS IT VIOLATES THE
HOUSE RULES.
IT WOULD HAVE VIOLATED THE HOUSE
RULES THAT THE DEMOCRATS HAD IN
MAJORITY.
PLACE WHEN THEY WERE IN THE
THIRD POINT IS WHEN IT COMES TO
TAX LOOPHOLES, WE'RE PROPOSING
TO CLOSE THOSE IN ORDER TO LOWER
TAX RATES FOR AMERICAN FAMILIES
AND BUSINESSES, TO CREATE JOBS.
THEY WANT TO DO IT TO PREVENT
SPENDING CUTS.
$3 IN TAX INCREASES FOR $1 OF
SPENDING CUTS IS THE MATH AND
THE LOGIC THAT THE OTHER SIDE
CHOOSES TO USE.
WHEN YOU HAVE A SPENDING
PROBLEM, YOU GOT TO CUT
SPENDING.
WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
FIVE MINUTES, I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO YIELD FIVE MINUTES OF
MY TIME TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
COMMITTEE OF AGRICULTURE,
CHAIRMAN LUCAS, AND ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT HE BE ALLOWED
TO YIELD TIME.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
FIVE MINUTES AND CONTROLS THE
TIME.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I RISE IN SUPPORT OF THIS
LEGISLATION.
IT'S NO SECRET THAT WE'RE FACING
A SEVERE DEBT CRISIS RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE ALMOST $16 TRILLION IN
DEBT PILED UP AND IF WE DON'T
ACT QUICKLY WE'LL BE PASSING A
CRUSHING BURDEN ONTO OUR
CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.
REDUCING THE GOVERNMENT
EASY TASK.
SPENDING, THOUGH, IS NEVER AN
WE FACE DIFFICULT CHOICES.
BUT HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE LIVED
UP TO OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO FIND
WAYS TO CUT OUR COSTS SO THAT WE
CAN ONCE AGAIN LIVE WITHIN OUR
MEANS.
THE HOUSE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE
HAS ASKED -- BEEN ASKED TO DO
ITS PART BY FINDING $33 BILLION
IN SAVINGS OVER 10 YEARS.
WE DID THAT BY MAKING CREDIBLE,
COMMONSENSE REFORMS TO THE
SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
OR SNAP.
THESE PROVISIONS REDUCED WASTE
AND ABUSE AND CLOSED PROGRAM
LOOPHOLES.
SNAP, FORM EARLY KNOWN AS FOOD
STAMPS, COMPRISES ALMOST 80% OF
THE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE'S
MANNED SPOIR SPENDING.
OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS, THE COST
OF SNAP HAS NEARLY TRIPLED,
INCREASING BY 270%.
THE CHANGES THAT WE'RE PROPOSING
TODAY CUT ONLY 4% OVER THE NEXT
10 YEARS.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE IT ABSOLUTELY
CLEAR, NONE OF THESE
RECOMMENDATIONS WILL PREVENT
FAMILIES THAT QUALIFY FOR
ASSISTANCE UNDER SNAP FROM
RECEIVING THEIR BENEFITS.
WE ARE WORKING TO BETTER TARGET
THE PROGRAM AND IMPROVE ITS
INTEGRITY, SO THAT FAMILIES IN
NEED CAN CONTINUE TO RECEIVE
.
NUTRITIONAL ASSISTANCE.
OPPONENTS WOULD HAVE YOU BELIEVE
WE ARE DECIMATING THE
NUTRITIONAL SAFETY NET AND
HUNGRY CHILDREN AND SENIORS WILL
BE LEFT TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES.
THAT IS A FALSE AND MISLEADING
SCARE TACTIC.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT
MANY OF THE VERY PEOPLE OPPOSING
THESE CUTS, PROPOSED AND VOTED
FOR SIMILAR MEASURES DURING THE
LAST CONGRESS WHEN THEY WERE IN
CONTROL OF THIS BODY.
NOT ONCE BUT TWICE MY COLLEAGUES
ON THE LEFT VOTED TO CUT THE
TEMPORARY INCREASE IN SNAP
BENEFITS UNDER THE AMERICAN
RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT.
ONE OF THOSE CUTS WAS TO PAY FOR
THE BAILOUT OF A UNION.
NOW THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE
ADVOCATING THAT SAME POLICY,
THOSE ACROSS THE AISLE ARE
CRYING FOUL.
BY ENDING THE ARTIFICIAL
INCREASE IN SNAP BENEFITS, WE
CAN SAVE $5.9 BILLION OVER 10
YEARS.
AND WE WON'T BE TURNING THAT
INTO MORE GOVERNMENT SPENDING,
IT WILL GO TOWARDS DEFICIT
REDUCTION.
THIS LEGISLATION ALSO ENDS BONUS
THAT IS HAVE BEEN AWARDED TO
STATES ON THE TAXPAYER DIME.
STATES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
ADMINISTERING SNAP AND IT'S
THEIR DUTY TO MAKE SURE THE
PROGRAM IS OPERATING IN THE MOST
EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE FASHION.
WE SAVE NEARLY HALF A BILLION
DOLLARS BY ENDING BONUSES THAT
ARE GIVEN TO STATES FOR MERELY
DOING THEIR JOB.
WE ALSO FIND SAVINGS BY CLOSING
LOOPHOLES THAT ALLOW STATES TO
GAME THE SYSTEM WHEN
ADMINISTERING SNAP.
FIRST WE STOP THE STATES FROM
ABUSE -- ABUSING LIHEAP TO
INFLATE SNAP BENEFITS.
STATES ARE EXPLOITING, LONG
SINCE PAST EXPLORING, IT'S
EXPLOITING THE INTERACT BETWEEN
LIHEAP AND SNAP BY SENDING TOKEN
CHECKS TO HOUSEHOLDS WHICH CAN
TRIGGER HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS IN
INCREASED SNAP BENEFITS.
LIHEAP IS A VALUABLE PROGRAM FOR
HOUSEHOLDS IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE
WITH HEATING AND ENERGY COSTS.
IT SHOULDN'T BE ABUSED IN THIS
FASHION.
IN NEW YORK CITY A $1 LIHEAP
CHECK TRIGGERS AN ADDITIONAL
$131 IN SNAP BENEFITS PER MONTH
FOR NEARLY 90,000 HOUSEHOLDS.
IN WASHINGTON STATE A $1 LIHEAP
CHECK TRIGGERS AN ADDITIONAL $4
MILLION IN SNAP BENEFITS -- $43
MILLION IN SNAP BENEFITS.
THAT'S EGREGIOUS AND TAXPAYERS
KNOW IT.
THESE TOKEN CHECKS NOT ONLY
UNDERMINE THE INTEGRITY OF SNAP
AND LIHEAP, BUT THEY ALSO COST
OVERPAYMENTS.
TAXPAYERS BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN
CLOSING THIS LOOPHOLE SAVES
10 YEARS AND
ENSURES THAT BOTH LIHEAP AND
SNAP ARE TARGETED TO THE
ASSISTANCE.
FAMILIES WHO TRULY NEED THE
ANOTHER LOOPHOLE WE HAVE CLOSED
IS CALLED CATEGORICAL
ELIGIBILITY WHICH ALLOWS ANY
HOUSEHOLD THAT RECEIVES A
BENEFIT FROM CERTAIN LOW-INCOME
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS TO BECOME
AUTOMATICALLY ELIGIBLE FOR SNAP.
SOME OF THESE BENEFITS CAN BE AS
SIMPLE AS PROVIDING A HOUSEHOLD
WITH A PAMPHLET OR ACCESS TO
1-800 NUMBER.
WHEN STATES IMPLEMENT
CATEGORICAL ELIGIBILITY, THESE
HOUSEHOLDS DO NOT NEED TO MEET
SNAP ASSET OR GROSS INCOME
TESTS.
THAT'S HOW LOTTERY WINNERS SLIP
THROUGH THE CRACKS AND CONTINUE
TO RECEIVE NUTRITION ASSISTANCE.
WHEN SOMEONE IS CATEGORICALLY
ELIGIBLE FOR SNAP, STATES DON'T
HAVE TO VERIFY ASSETS LIKE
LOTTERY WINNINGS.
IT ISN'T JUST LOTTERY WINNERS
THAT ARE UNFAIRLY COLLECTING
BENEFITS, EITHER.
THE "CINCINNATI ENQUIRER"
REPORTED THAT ONE WOMAN
MONTH IN SNAP
BENEFITS, HAD AN $80,000 --
$80,000 IN SAVINGS, A PAID FOR
HOME VALUED AT $300,000.
LET ME REPEAT WHAT I SAID
EARLIER, THESE PROVISIONS DO NOT
DECIMATE THE PROGRAM AND LEAVE
STRUGGLING FAMILIES TO FEND FOR
THEMSELVES.
WHAT THEY DO IS RESTORE PROGRAM
INTEGRITY.
THEY RESERVE TAXPAYER DOLLARS
FOR FAMILIES THAT ARE IN NEED OF
ASSISTANCE.
EVERY ONE EVER THESE PROVISIONS
REPRESENTS COMMON SENSE AND --
OF THESE PROVISIONS REPRESENTS
COMMON SENSE AND GOOD GOVERNMENT
AT A TIME OF FISCAL RESTRAINT.
THERE'S NO DENYING SNAP PROVIDES
AMERICANS.
IMPORTANT SUPPORT FOR MANY
THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT WE
ENSURE THE INTEGRITY OF THE
PROGRAM, THOSE WHO QUALIFY FOR
SNAP UNDER THE PROGRAM LAW WILL
CONTINUE TO RECEIVE BENEFITS.
BY VOTING FOR THIS PACKAGE WE
ARE NOT ONLY DOING OUR PART TO
REDUCE THE DEBT, WE ARE
IMPROVING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
THIS IMPORTANT PROGRAM WHILE
CONTINUING TO MEET THE
AMERICANS.
NUTRITIONAL NEEDS OF OUR FELLOW
YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND IS
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
FIRST I'D JUST LIKE TO RESPOND
TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BUDGET
COMMITTEE AND POINT OUT THAT THE
RULES COMMITTEE WAIVED THREE
RULES TO BRING THE REPUBLICAN
LEGISLATION TO THE FLOOR.
WAIVED THREE RULES, COULDN'T
WAIVE ONE RULE TO ALLOW A
DEMOCRATIC SUBSTITUTE TO HAVE AN
UP OR DOWN VOTE.
AND THE ONE RULE YOU WOULDN'T
WAIVE IS THE ONE THAT RIGS THE
PROCESS AGAINST CLOSING SPECIAL
INTEREST TAX LOOPHOLES.
TO THE CHAIRMAN OF AGRICULTURE
COMMITTEE, I THINK EVERYBODY
NEEDS TO KNOW THAT THE AG
COMMITTEE DIDN'T REDUCE ONE
SUBSIDY TO AG BUSINESSES.
NOT ONE.
EVEN THOUGH THE OVERALL
REPUBLICAN BUDGET SAYS IT SHOULD
BE $30 BILLION, THERE'S A
BIPARTISAN BILL THAT WOULD DO
THAT, BUT NOT ONE.
INSTEAD THEY TOOK $33 BILLION
OUT OF FOOD AND NUTRITION
PROGRAMS.
NOW, WE SHOULD BE VERY CLEAR ON
THIS.
PEOPLE SAY THAT THEY ARE GOING
TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE WHO IS
ELIGIBLE TO GET FOOD STAMPS WHO
WILL, THEN THEY SAY UNDER SNAP.
SUGGESTING THERE ARE A LOT OF
ARE CHEATING.
PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING IT WHO
THAT'S NOT TRUE.
EM--
ELIGIBLE.
IT'S NOT DEMOCRAT SCARE TACTICS
SAYING ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE
GOING TO LOSE THEIR ACCESS, IT'S
THE NONPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL
BUDGET OFFICE.
THE REFEREE HERE THAT WAS NEVER
CONTESTED BY OUR REPUBLICAN
COLLEAGUES IN THE BUDGET
COMMITTEE, THEY SAY, THEY SAY 22
MILLION AMERICAN HOUSEHOLDS WITH
CHILDREN WILL SEE THEIR FOOD
NUTRITION SUPPORT REDUCED.
TWO MILLION AMERICANS
APPROXIMATELY WILL LOSE ALL
ACCESS TO THE FOOD NUTRITION
PROGRAMS THROUGH SNAP.
300,000 KIDS WILL LOSE THE
SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM.
THOSE ARE OUR FACTS.
THAT'S WHAT THE CONGRESSIONAL
BUDGET OFFICE SAYS.
WITH THAT I YIELD TWO MINUTES TO
THE GENTLELADY FROM OREGON, MS.
BONAMICI.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN OREGON IS RECOGNIZED
FOR TWO MINUTES.
I RISE TODAY IN
STRONG OPPOSITION TO HOUSE
RESOLUTION 5652, THE SEQUESTER
REPLACEMENT RECONCILIATION ACT.
NOT LONG AGO WE WERE HERE
MISGUIDED BUDGET
RESOLUTION AND TODAY WITH THIS
HOUSE RESOLUTION, THE LEADERSHIP
HAS DECIDED TO DOUBLE DOWN ON
THAT BUDGET.
THE DRACONIAN CUTS CONTAINED IN
WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO COME
TOGETHER AND HAVE A FRANK
DISCUSSION ABOUT DEFICIT
REDUCTION.
THAT IS WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
EXPECT AND THAT'S WHAT THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE.
BUT INSTEAD, HERE WE ARE TODAY
CONSIDERING ANOTHER RESOLUTION
AND HERE WE ARE TODAY WITH
ANOTHER MISSED OPPORTUNITY.
CONSIDER A BALANCED ALTERNATIVE
THERE IS NOT EVEN THE ABILITY TO
TODAY.
AND THIS IS OF PARTICULAR
CONCERN BECAUSE OF WHAT IS
ACTUALLY IN THIS BILL.
INSTEAD OF CUTTING BACK GENEROUS
AGRICULTURE SUBSIDIES, THIS BILL
IS CUTTING FOOD STAMPS,
SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.
THIS MEANS A REDUCTION IN
BENEFITS FOR AN ESTIMATED 47
MILLION PEOPLE AND A LOSS OF
BENEFITS FOR ALMOST TWO MILLION
PEOPLE.
AND INSTEAD OF CLOSING LOOPHOLES
FOR OIL COMPANIES, THIS BILL
THE SOCIAL SERVICE
BLOCK GRANT, NOT REDUCES, NOT
TWEAKS, ELIMINATES THE SOCIAL
SERVICE BLOCK GRANT.
GRANTS THAT ASSIST STATES IN
PROVIDING A WIDE RANGE EVER
SERVICES FROM SUPPORT TO MEALS
ON WHEELS, TO FOSTER CARE.
THESE ARE PROGRAMS THAT FEED
STRUGGLING SENIORS AND PROTECT
ABUSED CHILDREN.
AND THESE ARE JUST TWO EXAMPLES.
NOW, WE HAVE A MORAL
RESPONSIBILITY TO GET THIS
RIGHT, MR. SPEAKER.
THIS BILL YET AGAIN ATTEMPTS TO
BALANCE THE BUDGET ON THE BACKS
OF THE MOST VULNERABLE, OUR
SENIORS, OUR CHILDREN, THOSE WHO
ARE STRUGGLING.
WHILE NOT ASKING THE MOST
FORTUNATE IN OUR SOCIETY TO
CONTRIBUTE ANYTHING MORE.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO REJECT
THIS LATEST MISGUIDED EFFORT BY
VOTING AGAINST HOUSE RESOLUTION
5652, I YIELD BACK, MR. SPEAKER.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM OREGON YIELDS
BACK HER TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WISCONSIN
CONTROLS THE MAJORITY TIME AND
IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
MYSELF 30 SECONDS SIMPLY TO SAY
THAT THE SOCIAL SERVICES BLOCK
GRANT ACCORDING TO THE GENERAL
ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE IS A
TEXTBOOK EXAMPLE OF OVERLAP AND
DUPLICATION OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS.
IT'S ONE OF 69 PROGRAMS TO FUND
EARLY EDUCATION.
ONE OF 200 PROGRAMS SERVING
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES.
ONE OF 49 PROGRAMS FOR --
PROVIDING EDUCATION SERVICES.
IT PROVIDES NO MEASURE OR MEANS
TO MEASURE THE IMPACT OF THE
PROGRAMS.
MR. SPEAKER, WE'VE GOT TO END
DUPLICATION AND WASTE IN
GOVERNMENT.
WE ARE SAYING ALSO ON THE TAX
SIDE, CLOSE LOOPHOLES FOR TAX
REFORM NOT TO FUEL MORE
SPENDING.
WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
FIVE MINUTES -- I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO YIELD FIVE MINUTES TO
MR. PITTS, A MEMBER OF THE
ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE,
AND ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT
HE BE ALLOWED TO YIELD TIME.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. PITTS:MR. SPEAKER, --
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA
CONTROLS THE TIME AND IS
RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
THE RECONCILIATION PACKAGE WE
BRING TO THE FLOOR TODAY
SENSIBLY REDUCES SPENDING SO
THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO
ADEQUATELY DEPEND OUR NATION.
THE FIRST RESPONSIBILITY OF THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS TO KEEP
OUR NATION SAFE FROM FOREIGN
THREATS.
BY CUTTING WASTEFUL SPENDING AND
REFORMING PROGRAMS, WE CAN
CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN A MILITARY
THAT KEEPS US SECURE AT HOME AND
MAKES THE WORLD A MORE PEACEFUL
PLACE.
I'M PROUD TO REPORT THAT THE
ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE
EXCEEDED THE BUDGET INSTRUCTIONS
BY $17 BILLION TO SAVE A TOTAL
OF $114 BILLION OVER 10 YEARS.
IN THREE TITLES WE CUT WASTEFUL
PROGRAMS CREATED BY OBAMACARE,
REFORM THE MEDICAID PROGRAM, AND
REFORM OUR BROKEN MEDICAL
LIABILITY SYSTEM.
WITH THE NATION STRUGGLING WITH
TRILLION DOLLAR DEFICITS, THE
PRESIDENT CHOSE TO INCREASE
GOVERNMENT SPENDING BY MORE THAN
TRILLION WITH HIS
HEALTH CARE LAW.
THIS WASN'T REFORM, IT WAS A
GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER OF 1/6 OF
THE U.S. ECONOMY THAT WILL
INCREASE DEPENDENCY AND BANKRUPT
THE NATION.
WE CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR FULL
REPEAL, BUT ALSO DO EVERYTHING
WE CAN TO STOP WASTEFUL AND
UNWISE SPENDING IMMEDIATELY.
THE PREVENTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH
FUND IS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF HOW
THE GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRATS FAIL
TO SPEND PUBLIC FUNDS WISELY.
THE HEALTH CARE LAW PROVIDED AN
ADVANCED APPROPRIATION OF $16
BILLION AND CALLED FOR A
PERMANENT ANNUAL ALLOTMENT OF $2
BILL PERFECT -- $2 BILL -- $2
BILLION PER YEAR IN PERPETUITY.
SO IN 2036, 2037, 2057 THE
SECRETARY OF H.H.S. HAS COMPLETE
AUTHORITY OVER THIS $2 BILLION
TO SPEND ON WHATEVER HE OR SHE
WITHOUT CUTTING BACK FOR
APPROPRIATIONS AUTHORIZATION
FROM CONGRESS.
LET'S CALL THIS WHAT IT IS.
IT'S A SLUSH FUND FOR THE
SECRETARY OF HEALTH EVEN HUMAN
SERVICES.
ALMOST ANY PROGRAM CAN MAKE A
CLAIM THAT IT IS PREVENTIVE.
THE SECRETARY HAS THE SOUL --
SOLE ROLE OF CONTROL OF THE FUND
AND SO FAR HAS FOUND SOME QUITE
INTERESTING WAYS TO SPEND IT.
FOR EXAMPLE IN PITT COUNTY,
NORTH CAROLINA N., A RECIPIENT
USED THE MONEY TO PROVIDE
LANES.
SIGNAGE FOR PARKS AND BIKE
IN BOSTON, SPENT $1 MILLION ON
URBAN GARDENING.
ONE OF THE SUCCESSORS OF THE
PROGRAM WAS GETTING THE CITY OF
GOLDEN PARK, CALIFORNIA, TO PUT
A NINE-MONTH MORATORIUM ON
CONSTRUCTION OF FAST FOOD
RESTAURANTS.
GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE ENCOURAGING
JOB CREATION NOT FINDING WAYS TO
STOP IT FOR A FEW MONTHS.
NEW YORK, SPENT $3 MILLION TO
LOBBY FOR A SODA TAX INITIATIVE.
PHILADELPHIA SPENT MONEY TO PUSH
FOR HIGHER STATE CIGARETTE
EXCISE TAXES.
WHY ON EARTH IS THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT PAYING FOR CAMPAIGNS
TO LOBBY STATE GOVERNMENTS?
THESE ARE ALL EXAMPLES FROM JUST
THE LAST TWO YEARS.
WHO KNOWS WHAT PROJECTS WILL GET
MONEY IN THE FUTURE.
WE HAVE NUMEROUS PUBLIC HEALTH
AND PREVENTION FUNDS THAT COULD
BE MANAGED THROUGH THE YEARLY
APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS.
A PERMANENT SLUSH FUND WITH
LIMITED OVERSIGHT GUARANTEES
THAT MONEY WILL BE WASTED EVERY
YEAR.
WE ALSO REPEAL THE UNLIMITED
AUTHORITY TO FUND THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF STATE HEALTH
INSURANCE EXCHANGES.
OBAMACARE GAVE THE SECRETARY A
CREDIT CARD WITH NO LIMIT.
A BOTTOMLESS DIRECT
APPROPRIATION.
THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED AND
UNWISE.
AGAIN, WE NEED OVERSIGHT IN
ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
PUBLIC'S MONEY IS BEING WISELY
SPENT.
CONGRESS NEVER SHOULD HAVE
ABDICATED ITS AUTHORITY IN THIS
AREA AND NOW WE NEED TO RECLAIM
IT.
WE DEFUND THE CO-OP PROGRAM
BEFORE BILLIONS OF PUBLIC
DOLLARS CAN BE LOST.
THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND
BUDGET ESTIMATES THAT A
SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE FUNDS
GIVEN TO UNPROVEN CO-OPS WOULD
NEVER BE RETURNED TO THE
TREASURY.
WE WOULD STOP THIS FUNDING
BEFORE H.H.S. CREATES ITS OWN
SOLYNDRA.
THE PRESIDENT'S HEALTH CARE LAW
PLACES A DRAMATICALLY INCREASED
BURDEN ON STATE MEDICAID
PROGRAMS.
THE MAINTENANCE PROVISIONS
RESTRICTS STATES FROM MAKING
COMMONSENSE REFORMS TO STOP
FRAUD AND ABUSE.
WE KNOW THAT MEDICAID IS RIPE
WITH FRAUDULENT CLAIMS.
IN 2011 THERE WERE $15 BILLION
IN IMPROPER PAYMENTS.
WE NEED TO GIVE STATES THE
FLEXIBILITY TO RUN THESE
PROGRAMS SUFFICIENTLY AND TO
HELP THE TRULY NEEDY.
WE ALSO REPEAL AN UNWISE BONUS
PROGRAM THAT ENCOURAGES STATES
THE PROGRAM.
TO UNDERMINE THE INTEGRITY OF
WE SHOULD NOT PLACE UNSESS
BARRIERS TO QUALIFYING FOR
MEDICAID, BUT NEITHER SHOULD WE
ENCOURAGE STATES TO OVERSIMPLIFY
REVIEWS OF ELIGIBILITY.
WE DO NOT HAVE UNLIMITED FUNDS.
AGAIN, MEDICAID COVERAGE NEEDS
TO BE OPENED ONLY TO THE TRULY
NEEDY.
FINALLY, WE INCLUDE REAL MEDICAL
LIABILITY REFORM IN THIS
RECONCILIATION PACKAGE, THE
PRESIDENT'S HEALTH CARE LAW GAVE
A PITIFUL 50 MILLION -- MR.
RYAN: ADDITIONAL 30 SECONDS.
PROJECTS.
THIS IS PAYING LIP SERVICE TO
THE $200 BILLION PROGRAM AND I
RECENTLY HEARD FROM A DOCTOR WHO
HAS BEEN PRACTICING IN MY
DISTRICT FOR DECADES, HE
BEKNOWNED DEFENSIVE MEDICINE BUT
MORE CONCERNED THAT DOCTORS
BEING TRAINED IN TODAY'S CLIMATE
DON'T REALIZE THEY ARE
PRESCRIBING UNNECESSARY TESTS.
DEFENSIVE MEDICINE IS SIMPLY
BECOMING THE NORM.
MEDICAL LIABILITY REFORM MEANS
AND THE GOVERNMENT.
SAVING FOR CONSUMERS, DOCTORS,
MR. SPEAKER, I'M PROUD OF THE
JOB WE HAVE DONE, ENERGY AND
COMMERCE COMMITTEE AND I NOW NOT
ONLY URGE ALL MY COMMITTEE'S
SUPPORT THE RECONCILIATION
PACKAGE BUT YIELD TO THE
.
DIAZ-BALART.
GENTLEMAN FROM -- FLORIDA, MR.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
I YIELD THE GENTLEMAN
AN ADDITIONAL MINUTE.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I RISE TODAY TO ENGAGE IN A
COLLOQUY WITH MY FRIEND FROM
PENNSYLVANIA, MR. PITTS,
CHAIRMAN OF THE ENERGY AND
COMMERCE HEALTH COMMITTEE.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I AM CLEARLY NO
FAN OF OBAMACARE AND I KNOW THAT
YOU ARE NOT AS WELL.
AND YOU AND YOUR COMMITTEE HAVE
DONE SOME REALLY EXCELLENT WORK
IN THIS RECONCILIATION PROCESS
IN ELIMINATING SOME OF THE MAJOR
SPENDING ABUSES IN THIS LAW.
I DO HAVE A CONCERN, HOWEVER,
WITH ONE OF THESE PROVISIONS
THAT WOULD AFFECT PUERTO RICO.
AND IN FACT WHAT PUERTO RICO
RECEIVES IN MEDICAID FUNDING.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT
THE QUESTION REGARDING MADE CADE
FUNDING FOR THE TERRITORIES --
MEDICAID FUNDING FOR THE
TERRITORIES HAS BEEN SEPARATE
FROM MANY ISSUES THAT MANY OF US
ON THIS SIDE OF THE AISLE FIND
SO OBJECTIONABLE IN OBAMACARE.
FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE INDIVIDUAL
MANDATE, THE RAID ON MEDICARE
AND THE SLOUGH OF JOB-KILLING
NEW TAXES AND REGULATIONS.
THAT ARE AT LEAST PARTIALLY
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE UNACCEPTABLE
UNEMPLOYMENT SITUATION,
INCLUDING 10% UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG
HISPANICS IN THE UNITED STATES.
AS YOU KNOW, THE BILL BEFORE US
RETURNS MEDICAID FUNDING CAP AND
FEDERAL MATCH TO PRE-OBAMACARE
LEVELS FOR THE U.S. TERRITORIES.
FOR YEARS, THE TERRITORIES HAVE
-- AN ADDITIONAL 30 SECONDS IF I
MAY.
ADDITIONAL 30 SECONDS.
I HAVE THREE OTHER COMMITTEES.
YES.
FOR YEARS, THEY HAVE EXPRESSED
CONCERNS WITH THE FUNDING LEVELS
AND I BELIEVE THAT THE PPACA WAS
A VEHICLE TO TRY TO ALLEVIATE
SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS.
MR. CHAIRMAN, MY HOPE IS THAT WE
CAN WORK TOGETHER ALONG WITH THE
GOVERNOR WHO HAS BEEN THE MOST
FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE GOVERNOR IN
PUERTO RICO, TO LOOK INTO THE
FUNDING LEVELS IN MEDICAID SO
THAT WE CAN PROPERLY ADDRESS THE
NEEDS OF THE MILLIONS OF U.S.
CITIZENS IN THE TERRITORIES.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I VERY
MUCH APPRECIATE THE GENTLEMAN'S
CONCERNS, WANT TO ASSURE HIM
THAT THESE ISSUES DESERVE THE
ATTENTION OF MY HEALTH
SUBCOMMITTEE AND AS WE CONTINUE
TO LEGISLATE THE PROCESS, I'LL
GLADLY WORK WITH THE GENTLEMAN
TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS FOR THE
MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS IN THE
TERRITORIES.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND IS
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I KNOW IT MAKES OUR REPUBLICAN
COLLEAGUES FEEL BETTER WHEN THEY
PRETEND THAT THESE CUTS DON'T
HARM REAL PEOPLE.
BUT THE REALITY IS THEY DO HARM
REAL PEOPLE.
AND THE CUTS THAT WERE MADE IN
THE ENERGY AND COMMERCE WILL
MEAN THAT 300,000 CHILDREN WILL
NO LONGER GET HEALTH CARE
THROUGH THE CHILDREN'S HEALTH
INSURANCE PROGRAM.
THAT'S NOT MY FACT, THAT'S THE
NONPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET
OFFICE.
WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THE FACT
THAT THE CUTS TO THE HEALTH
PREVENTION FUND, THE PREVENTION
FUND TO HELP PROVIDE FOR
HEALTHIER STARTS, THAT THAT
WON'T HAVE ANY IMPACT.
AND WE HEAR THESE STORIES COMING
UP, I WOULD JUST ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO PUT IN THE RECORD
INFORMATION FROM THE CENTERS FOR
DISEASE CONTROL THAT REFUTES
THIS URBAN LEGEND THAT SOMEHOW
THESE FUNDS WERE USED FOR
SPAYING OR NEUTERING DOGS.
THESE THINGS JUST AREN'T TRUE.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
THE REALITY IS, THE REALITY IS
IT WILL MEAN THAT 326,000 WOMEN
WILL NOT GET BREAST CANCER