[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 63 (Friday, May 19, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E882]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2007

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                               speech of

                       HON. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 17, 2006

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration of the concurrent 
     resolution (H. Con. Res. 376) establishing the congressional 
     budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2007 
     and setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal 
     years 2008 through 2011:

  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to the 
Republican Budget Resolution.
  Today, this Congress has the opportunity to send a clear message of 
hope for a better future to American families by investing in critical 
programs that enhance our children's ability to go to college, protect 
our public health against diseases and epidemics, and protect our 
public safety from gang violence and terrorist attacks.
  Regrettably, the Republican leadership has chosen to squander this 
opportunity in order to make way for additional tax breaks for the 
wealthiest Americans.
  The negative impact of this unnecessary and misguided budget is that 
programs essential to the safety, health and well-being of American 
families are cut and even eliminated.
  Please permit me to cite examples that illustrate my point.
  First, this Republican Budget Resolution sacrifices services vital to 
women and families by eliminating the funding for the National Resource 
Center on Workplace Responses. This Center was included in last year's 
reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). It provides 
critical support to help employees who are victims of domestic violence 
maintain job security as they empower themselves to end the violence in 
their lives. It also provides employers with valuable information and 
expertise needed to make their workplace safe from abusers who often 
stalk their victims at the workplace.
  Second, this Budget Resolution eliminates the funding for the 
National Institutes of Health's crucial National Children's Study. This 
study is examining the effects of environmental influences on the 
health and development of our nation's children. When completed, this 
national study could answer critical questions that will enable us to 
more effectively protect our children's health and future well-being.
  By eliminating this important program, the Republican budget once 
again chooses giving tax breaks to the wealthiest individuals in 
America at the expense of our children.
  Third, this budget resolution jeopardizes the future of millions of 
America's children by recommending the elimination of 42 education 
programs designed to provide our Nation's disadvantaged and middle-
income children with the opportunities for a better and more fulfilling 
life.
  Some of the programs the Republican budget proposes to eliminate are 
the Even Start program, which promotes family literacy in low-income 
areas; the School Drop-out Prevention Program, which helps at-risk 
children stay in school; and the Education Technology Block Grant, 
which integrates technology into the classroom to help students and 
teachers succeed in today's 21st Century workforce.
  Once again, in order to pay for the $70 billion tax cut primarily for 
the wealthy, this Republican budget strips away the safety net needed 
to protect the future of our children who must be prepared to compete 
in our ever-growing and highly technical global economy.
  I urge my colleagues to put the future of our children and our 
country first and vote against this misguided Republican Budget 
Resolution.

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