[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 157 (Thursday, December 8, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2486]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 4241, DEFICIT REDUCTION ACT OF 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 17, 2005

  Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition 
to the Republican plan to cut billions of dollars in services for the 
most vulnerable people in our country while giving away billions of 
dollars in tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans--the so-called 
``budget reconciliation package.''
  This plan will harm low-income children and seniors, students, 
working parents and local government. It is an appalling plan that I 
oppose on both policy grounds as well as moral grounds. Denying access 
to food stamps to our poorest families is cruel and immoral when we 
live in a generous country of abundance.
  The Republican budget reconciliation bill also makes significant cuts 
to Medicaid, a critical program serving children, the elderly and 
persons with disabilities. The Republicans propose to cut $11.4 billion 
from Medicaid, primarily through imposing increased costs on families 
which will result in decreased access to care. At a time when health 
care costs and the number of uninsured families in our country are 
increasing, this proposal is both unwise and unfair.
  The Republican plan also cuts $14.3 billion from student loan 
programs, which will make higher education more expensive and less 
accessible at a time when our nation should be focused on educating and 
training a highly skilled workforce to compete globally. An investment 
in higher education is an investment in our future. The Republicans 
have chosen instead to ignore this reality and balance their mismanaged 
budget on the backs of students and families. .
  It is also extremely disappointing that the Republicans chose to 
include their punitive reauthorization of Temporary Assistance to Needy 
Families in this bill. This plan increases work requirements and 
sanctions while severely underfunding child care. In order to work, 
families need access to safe, affordable child care. We know that 
Congress needs to fund child care at $7 billion in order match the new 
rigid work requirements, yet this bill provides an inadequate $1.3 
billion. Families want to work but that is not possible if there is not 
safe, affordable child care available. In addition, the leadership has 
included a cut to child support enforcement funding in this package, 
which will make it more difficult for families to access the resources 
they need to care for their children.
  My opposition also extends to the Republican desire to cut $70 
billion in taxes, primarily for investors and the wealthy, while adding 
over $20 billion to the federal budget deficit. Rewarding the rich, 
punishing the poor and passing the cost on to the next generation is a 
disgraceful way to lead this nation. I will vote against this 
Republican reconciliation package and I urge my colleagues to join me.

                          ____________________