[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 69 (Thursday, May 22, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H3173]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            FIGHTING FOR DEMOCRATIC PRIORITIES IN THE BUDGET

  (Ms. VELAZQUEZ asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, let us be perfectly clear about this 
budget agreement. It is far from over. Now that the framework has been 
decided by this body, it is time to talk about priorities.
  The Democrats' priorities are to educate our children. First we want 
full funding for WIC, then we fought tooth and nail to protect funding 
for Pell grants, bilingual and immigrant education, Head Start, and 
child literacy. Now we must force the Republicans to make good on this 
agreement.
  The Republican agenda is just as clear. They continue to brag that 
their number one concern is cutting taxes for the richest people in 
this country.
  Mr. Speaker, is this what the American people want? When they want to 
know why our schools are crumbling to the ground and our students are 
not learning to read, is there a Member in this Chamber who will look 
them in the eye and tell them that tax cuts for the wealthy are more 
important?

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