[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 53 (Wednesday, April 2, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E655-E656]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS ON THE BUDGET

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 2, 2003

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the 
budget. When the President took office two years ago the Congressional 
Budget Office (CBO) projected a ten-year budget surplus of $5.6 
trillion. Now CBO projects a $1.8 billion deficit over the same time 
period.
  As our nation's men and women are on the frontlines of a war in Iraq, 
the Republican budget cuts funds for the nation's veterans. As we talk 
about rebuilding and constructing schools in Iraq through the Wartime 
Appropriations Supplemental, we have not fully funded our own 
educational priorities here at home. This budget, in particular, hurts 
African Americans.
  The Members of this Congress must not forget about the neediest 
Americans who will see services simply erased under the Republican's 
budget. In my district, as in so many others, the unemployment rate is 
not improving.
  Yet the Republican budget proposal provides no extension of 
unemployment benefits for the one million Americans who have run out of 
federal benefits. The Republican plan also fails to create new jobs 
that would allow the currently unemployed to take care of their 
families.
  Republicans are short changing vital priorities. With their budget 
proposals the President and the Republicans have shown their dedication 
to cutting taxes for the very wealthy.
  The posture of the Republican majority decrees that there should be 
an end to Federal responsibility for domestic programs and an end to 
safety net compassion as we know it.
  The Republican majority has snatched off their mask of patronizing 
charity and phony concern. Contempt for the poor is no longer 
camouflaged. By their current actions the Republicans have thrown a 
searing spotlight of exposure on their deep-seated belief that the 
nation, the government is primarily a structure for the protection of 
the privileges and interests of the rich. For Republicans the tax cuts 
have suddenly become the mission and purpose of this 2004 budget and 
this nation.
  Our domestic priorities: Medicaid, Medicare, education, and benefits 
for veterans are underfunded in this budget. We must invest in people 
capital--our children, our poor, and our ill.
  We do not know how much the war will cost, how long our soldiers will 
be fighting in the region, and how this war will impact our economy. 
Already, oil prices have risen and the stock market is uncertain in the 
face of this crisis.
  We have been presented with a budget that cuts key domestic 
priorities and once again includes irresponsible accounting methods. It 
cuts domestic programs in a Draconian fashion.
  We must make a commitment and investment in the education of our 
nation's children. Programs like Title I, which provides funds to 
impoverished school districts across the nation, would be cut under 
this budget.
  We passed a landmark education law last year to reauthorize the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act--now it is time to fund these 
programs fully, if we are serious about improving our nation's schools.
  This budget cuts important higher education programs like the Pell 
Grant. The budget provides only $22.6 billion for programs under the No 
Child Left Behind Act, which is $9 billion below the amount authorized 
for 2004 and $199 million below the amount needed to maintain programs 
and services at the 2002 level.
  The budget continues the theme of the previous budget by eliminating 
many education programs, freezing most others at the level in the 2003 
continuing resolution and increasing funding for just a few programs 
such as special education and Title I. Education is critical to our 
country's growth.
  In my 18th Congressional District in Houston, some of the nation's 
most under-funded schools rely on Title I funds to supplement state and 
local funding. It is absolutely unconscionable to cut this program.
  The Republican budget cuts $215 billion in Medicare, Medicaid, school 
lunches and student loans, agriculture, and veterans' programs.
  As the nation's unemployment rate remains at critically high levels, 
millions of Americans lack access to health care, education continues 
to be woefully underfunded, and veterans' benefits are cut, we must 
remember our moral obligation to our poor, disabled, children, and 
veterans. This Republican budget does not.
    

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