[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 60 (Saturday, April 12, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E774]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2004

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                               speech of

                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 10, 2003

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the concurrent resolution 
     (H. Con. Res. 95) establishing the congressional budget for 
     the United States Government for fiscal year 2004 and setting 
     forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2003 and 
     2005 through 2013:

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Chairman, it is ironic that we are voting on this 
resolution today when not one of the working people or business leaders 
visiting my office recently has asked me to support this budget or its 
tax cuts. Rather, they want the Federal Government to pass a budget 
that will help jump start the economy and improve our communities in 
Oregon and across the country by investing in transportation 
infrastructure, environmental cleanup, ``hometown'' security, 
education, and health care.
  The concerns I voiced last month regarding the budget resolution 
remain valid and unaddressed in this conference report. It sets the 
stage for the largest budget deficit in our history and without even 
taking into consideration our significant financial commitment to 
rebuild and stabilize Iraq and Afghanistan. As our economy remains 
stagnant, this budget provides little help for our states, which are 
struggling to balance their budgets among decreasing revenues, higher 
Medicaid costs, and colossal homeland security demands.
  Our Nation's cities are paying an estimated $70 million per week on 
additional homeland security as a result of the war and high terrorism 
threat alerts. Instead of helping our communities with these costs, the 
proposed elimination of the dividend tax would reduce Oregon's 2003 
revenue by $91 billion, contributing to Oregon's current budget gap of 
$1.3 billion. I oppose this budget which sacrifices these fundamental 
priorities and long-term fiscal stability.

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