[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 154 (Friday, November 18, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2404-E2405]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     DEFICIT REDUCTION ACT OF 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. JAMES R. LANGEVIN

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 17, 2005

  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 
4241, the Reconciliation Spending Cuts. This bill attempts to reduce 
the Republican-created budget deficit on the backs of those who can 
least afford it. H.R. 4241 does not reflect the values of Rhode 
Islanders and it takes from the poor to give tax cuts to the rich. As 
early as tomorrow, the same people who are voting to cut Medicaid, 
student loans, and food stamps will offer $57 billion in additional tax 
cuts for the richest Americans.
  While Republicans claim this bill is necessary to offset the costs 
incurred by Hurricane Katrina, their actions do not match their words. 
Months before Hurricane Katrina struck, Republicans in the House voted 
for a budget that cut $15 billion more than the bill we are voting on 
today. The programs the Republicans are attempting to cut, like 
Medicaid and food stamps, are the very programs that benefit those who 
have been affected by the hurricanes. Not a single dollar cut in H.R. 
4241 will actually go towards offsetting hurricane costs and reducing 
the deficit. Instead, today's cuts will fund the upcoming tax cut, but 
in typical Republican fashion, the spending cuts won't even cover the 
entire cost of the tax cuts they have planned.
  While I am disappointed that we are voting on this bill at all, I am 
especially upset by a few specific provisions. First, this budget 
reconciliation will have a devastating impact on millions of low-income 
seniors, children, and people with disabilities across the country. 
This bill proposes billions in cuts to Medicaid, and Rhode Island alone 
will lose more than $66 million. Ultimately, these cuts are paid for by 
raising prices for those on Medicaid. Imposing cost sharing 
requirements on people who simply can't afford them will not save 
money. Instead, these cuts will result in patients waiting longer to 
seek care, longer lines in our emergency rooms, and greater burdens on 
doctors and hospitals, who will struggle to provide for this 
population. In the end, we will all pay for this mistake in some form. 
The Medicaid program provides access to health services for more than 
51 million Americans--most of whom are among the most vulnerable 
members of our society. Now is the time to strengthen America's safety 
net, not weaken it with arbitrary and harmful cuts.
  I am also appalled by the message this bill sends to the millions of 
American students

[[Page E2405]]

who rely on financial aid and federal student loan programs to gain 
access to higher education. By cutting spending on student loan 
programs by more than $10 billion, we are reneging on a commitment to 
these young Americans. At a time when college costs are rising faster 
than inflation, the bill proposes the largest cut in the history of the 
student loan programs.
  Food stamps are an important layer of protection to ensure the very 
poor are able to feed themselves and their families, the most basic 
necessity. However, today's bill will reduce food stamp assistance by 
approximately $800 million over five years, and more than 200,000 
people will lose their eligibility.
  I am pleased to see that Republicans have removed the provision 
permitting drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. 
However, this was not a response to the public's overwhelming 
opposition to ruining this pristine wilderness area. Rather, it is a 
cynical ploy to gain a few votes from Members who would not otherwise 
vote for this bill.
  I have outlined only a few of the many reasons every Member should 
oppose this legislation. So many of its other cuts would have negative 
impacts on our communities, such as reduced child support enforcement, 
which means more than $50 million in lower payments for Rhode Island's 
single parents.
  If Republicans want a balanced budget, which this bill does not even 
begin to provide, they should learn from the past and reinstate what 
works: PAYGO budget rules and responsible tax and spending policies. 
Together, America can do better. We should be working together to 
address true priorities, like access to health care and soaring energy 
prices. I urge my colleagues to reject this travesty and instead focus 
on meaningful deficit reduction based on fairness and shared sacrifice.

                          ____________________