[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 154 (Friday, November 18, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2413-E2414]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     DEFICIT REDUCTION ACT OF 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 17, 2005

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, most Americans watching their televisions 
looked on in horror at the extent of the poverty and desperation among 
the victims of Hurricane Katrina. President Bush and congressional 
Republicans apparently looked at these pictures with indifference and 
disdain.
  I am forced to believe this because their budget bill--the so-called 
Deficit Reduction Act--aims to cut more than $50 billion from nearly 
every poverty program this country offers for the sake of later passing 
approximately $60 billion in tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans.
  Sadly, their recent actions fit neatly with their track record. Since 
the Republicans gained control of both the White House and Congress in 
2001, 1.7 million more Americans live in poverty, average median income 
has declined $1,700, and the minimum wage--which has not been increased 
since 1997--has its lowest purchasing power since 1990.
  This budget continues the Republican trend of failing the American 
people in every possible way.
  The Republican budget requires poor mothers with children under age 6 
to double their weekly work hours from 20 to 40 in order to remain 
eligible for job training and vocational education. Yet, it fails to 
provide $10.5 billion for childcare funding which the non-partisan

[[Page E2414]]

Congressional Budget Office estimated would be needed for mothers to 
afford to work the longer hours and maintain their benefits.
  Disgracefully, their proposals don't stop there. The Republican 
budget leads to $24 billion less in child support payments. It also 
cuts $14.3 billion from Federal student aid programs so the average 
student borrowing for college will now pay an additional $5,800. It 
cuts health care for disabled and impoverished people, aid for abused 
and neglected foster children, financial assistance to the aged and 
disabled poor and food subsidies.
  However, they don't cut everything. In true Republican, let-them-eat-
cake fashion, the Republican budget does have one program to help those 
in need. The bill provides two $40 coupons to people so that they can 
buy converter boxes for their television sets, so they can watch 
digital television.
  Together, America can do better than trading crisp, clean digital 
television for food, health care and education. I urge my colleagues to 
vote against this disgrace and not pay for tax cuts for millionaires on 
the backs of the poor.

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