[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 161 (Thursday, December 15, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2545]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 FURTHER CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 3010, DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH 
AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS 
                               ACT, 2006

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 14, 2005

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this conference 
report and thank Mr. Obey, Ranking Member of Approps Committee, for the 
time.
  This morning I greeted hundreds of faith leaders on the steps of the 
Cannon building. They gathered from across the country to march 
together and pray together and to deliver a message to Congress. Their 
message was simple: the budget is a moral document and we have a moral 
obligation to ensure its priorities reflect our values.
  Mr. Speaker, I have to ask why aren't we listening to them?
  Who better than faith leaders, who serve on the front lines, who feed 
the hungry, who clothe the naked, who house the homeless, to tell 
Congress about the impact of this immoral budget on our families and 
our communities?
  They recognize that the priorities reflected in our budget are not a 
partisan issue, but an issue of who we are as a Nation, and what our 
values are.
  We know that the Republican budget cuts and this conference report, 
which is a critical part of their budget, is nothing more than an 
assault on the least among us--and it does not reflect our values.
  That is why I encourage my colleagues to vote with their values and 
let's defeat this bill just like we did a month ago.
  Don't tell me we can't do better.

                          ____________________