[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 63 (Friday, May 19, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E883-E884]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. ALLYSON Y. SCHWARTZ

                            of pennsylvania

                    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:

  Mrs. SCHWARTZ of Pennsylvania. Mr. Chairman, this chamber is in the 
final stages of the annual budget process--a process that provides an 
important opportunity to discuss the things we value as a Nation.
  Before we cast our votes, each of us should consider the following:
  1. Does the Republican budget value fiscal discipline and honest 
budgeting? And, did the Republican leadership make the tough choices 
needed to balance the budget and pay down the debt?
  No. The Republican budget continues the majority party's borrow-and-
spend policies. As a result, it not only fails to balance the Federal 
government's checkbook, but will actually run a deficit of $348 billion 
for 2007--further increasing the mounting debt being, passed onto our 
children and grandchildren.
  2. Does the Republican budget value our shared economic future? And, 
did the Republican majority make wise investments in education, 
workforce development and alternative fuels that will favorably 
position us in the highly competitive global marketplace?
  No. The Republican budget cuts education funding by $2.2 billion, 
reduces support for renewable energy and energy-efficiency initiatives, 
and impedes access to health care for women and children.
  3. Does the Republican budget value enhanced security at home and a 
strong defense? And, did the Republican majority provide for the men 
and women who protect us, both while they are on the front lines and 
after they have fulfilled their duties and return home?
  No. The Republican budget cuts funding for veterans' health care by 
$6 billion, and will reduce our ability to maintain current homeland 
security efforts due to a lack of consistent and reliable funding.
  4. Is the Republican budget based on sound, fair tax policies to 
recognize the priorities of everyday Americans?
  No. The Republican budget has one purpose: to provide tax cuts to the 
wealthiest Americans. In fact, this budget provides $228 billion in new 
tax cuts--90 percent of which will go to the wealthiest ten percent of 
taxpayers.
  This budget fails to meet sound fiscal principles, and it sets us on 
an irresponsible path for years to come--with mounting annual deficits, 
and an increasing national debt. In fact, the Republican majority went 
to great lengths to mask the fact that their spending plan does not 
include some of our Nation's largest financial commitments--commitments 
that we must meet.
  Their plan almost completely ignores the cost of ongoing military 
operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, which according to the 
Congressional Budget Office will be at least $298 over 10 years. Except 
for a one year fix, it does nothing to address the Alternative Minimum 
Tax, which will increase taxes for middle class families by an 
estimated $844 billion over the next ten years.
  Even with these cuts, omissions, and gimmicks, the majority's budget 
will add another $2.3 trillion to our national debt by 2011--or nearly 
$1 million of debt per minute. Under President Bush, and his Republican 
Congress, our Nation has incurred more debt than it did under the 42 
presidents before him.
  But there is a better way.
  As a member of the House Budget Committee, I assisted Ranking Member 
Spratt in the creation of a fiscal year 2007 budget that makes the 
necessary tough, fiscally disciplined choice. This Democratic 
alternative meets the basic budgetary principles of meeting our 
obligations, working within the resources we have, and making smart 
investments that will ensure the Nation's current and future fiscal 
well-being.
  The Democratic budget will put our nation back on the right track by 
closing tax loopholes that provide incentives to companies to ship jobs 
overseas, by cracking down on tax cheats that avoid paying nearly $350 
billion a year in taxes, by rescinding the tax breaks and subsidies for 
the oil and gas industry, and by rolling back Medicare overpayments to 
HMOs. We would then reinvest these savings in the priorities that 
matter to most Americans: national and homeland security, energy 
independence, education, and health care. And, it will do so while 
balancing the Federal Government's budget within 6 years, and begin to 
pay down the debt by 2013.
  Our plan would secure our homeland through investments in our 
military and defense networks. Our plan would ensure that we are 
prepared here at home, while also pursuing smart foreign policies that 
encourage stability in nations throughout the world. And, our plan 
would meet our obligations to the men and women who have fought to 
protect our Nation.
  Second, our plan would help secure our economic future by educating 
our children for the twenty-first century economy, promoting the 
development and innovation of small businesses, upholding environmental 
protections, and advancing the production of alternative sources of 
energy to end our dependence on foreign oil.
  And, third, our plan would expand access to affordable health care 
for all Americans and improve retirement security with particular 
attention to the dramatic and costly needs of the baby boomers who will 
begin to reach retirement in 2007.
  Mr. Chairman, I believe that we have a responsibility to meet our 
obligations and balance the budget. I am also well aware that the 
Federal Government's budgets have consequences. If the majority's 
budget passes, it will hurt State and local budgets by forcing them to 
cover the shortfalls--likely through increased local taxes. If the 
majority's budget

[[Page E884]]

passes, small businesses will be on their own as they fight to compete 
in the global marketplace in the face of rising health care and energy 
costs. If the majority's budget passes, senior citizens will risk 
losing the benefits they have been promised.
  Unless we change course, the negative consequences of the Republican 
budget will be felt by every American.
  My colleagues, Americans are seeking to meet their obligations to 
their families, their communities and to the Nation. We must honor 
their commitment and we should not, and I cannot walk away from our 
obligations to them. Vote ``no'' on this irresponsible Republican 
budget, and support the Democratic alternative.

                          ____________________