[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 36 (Tuesday, March 28, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E433]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E433]]
         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET, FISCAL YEAR 2001

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 23, 2000

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the concurrent resolution 
     (House Concurrent Resolution 290) establishing the 
     congressional budget for the United States Government for 
     fiscal year 2001, revising the congressional budget for the 
     United States Government for fiscal year 2000, and setting 
     forth appropriate budgetary levels for each of fiscal years 
     2002 through 2005:

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Chairman, today I rise in strong 
opposition to the Budget Resolution for FY 2001 (H. Con. Res. 290). For 
the third consecutive year Republicans have chosen to provide large tax 
breaks for the wealthy. This Budget Resolution provides at least $200 
billion in tax breaks over the next five years for the financial elite 
of America. Furthermore, this resolution is a major down payment for 
George W. Bush's proposed trillion-dollar tax scheme. I will not 
standby while our children's future is bankrupted to fund this 
irresponsible Budget Resolution.
  This budget contains deep cuts in domestic spending by $114 billion 
over the next five years; fails to provide anything to strengthen 
Social Security or Medicare; cuts nondefense discretionary spending by 
$19.7 billion in 2001 and $138 billion over the next five years below 
the level needed to maintain purchasing power after adjusting for 
inflation; and pretends to reserve $40 billion for a Medicare 
prescription drug benefit contingent upon essentially turning Medicare 
into a voucher program. Republicans have used slight of hand to hide 
the facts of their irresponsible budget by showing the effects of 
proposed tax cuts for only the first five years and not the full ten 
year projections commonly used during the last four years.
  I am disappointed in the Budget Resolution because I do not believe 
that it provides adequate investment in our nation's future. America's 
future depends on that of her young people--in providing them adequate 
resources and opportunities to become our future leaders including 
providing them education and access to adequate health care.
  The Budget resolution provides inadequate resources for the education 
of our young people. I firmly believe that we must focus our attention 
and our energy on one of the most important challenges facing our 
country today--revitalizing our education system. Strengthening 
education must be a top priority to raise the standard of living among 
American families and to prolong this era of American economic 
expansion. Education will prepare our nation for the challenges of the 
21st century, and I will fight to ensure that the necessary programs 
are adequately funded to ensure our children's success.
  We must provide our children access to superior education at all ages 
from kindergarten to graduate school. Recent studies emphasize the 
importance of quality education early in a child's future development. 
And yet despite these studies, the Budget Resolution still inadequately 
funds programs that would provide for programs targeting children in 
their younger years.
  In addition, we need to open the door of educational opportunity to 
all American children. It is well known that increases in income are 
related to educational attainment. The Democratic budget alternative 
rejects the Republican freeze on education funding and allocates $4.8 
billion more for education for FY 2001, than the Republican budget. 
Over five years, the Democratic Party demonstrates its commitment to 
education by proposing $21 billion more than the Republican Budget 
Resolution.
  The Congressional Black Caucus (``CBC'') will offer an amendment in 
the nature of a substitute that promises to invest for the future of 
our nation. The CBC substitute is a budget that maximizes investment 
and opportunity for the poor, African Americans, and other minorities. 
This Budget for Maximum Investment and Opportunity supports a moderate 
plan to pay down the national debt; protects Social Security; and makes 
significant investments in education and training.
  The CBC budget requests $88.8 billion in FY 2001 for education, 
training, and development. This is $32 billion more than the Republican 
budget provides. The CBC substitute will propose a $10 billion increase 
over the President's Budget for school construction. Other projected 
increases include additional funding for Head Start, Summer Youth 
Employment TRIO programs, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, 
and Community Technology Centers. In an age of unprecedented wealth the 
CBC has the vision to invest in the American family and not squander 
opportunities afforded by a budget surplus.
  I will not support the failed policies of the past. Senator McCain 
has best characterized this Budget Resolution as one that is ``fiscally 
irresponsible.'' I support a budget that invest strengthening Social 
Security; provides an affordable prescription drug benefit for all 
seniors; helps communities improve public education with quality 
teachers, smaller classes, greater accountability and modern schools; 
and pay down the national debt. These are the policies that invest in 
our children and in the future of our nation in the 21st century.

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