[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 63 (Friday, May 19, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E891]
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. JAMES R. LANGEVIN

                            of rhode island

                    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:

  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Chairman, today I rise in support of the Spratt 
budget substitute and in strong opposition to H. Con. Res. 376, the 
Republican budget.
  Our son, daughters, and neighbors are bravely fighting wars abroad. 
Unfortunately, when they return home, they will find a country that has 
lost its way. We pay lip service to shared sacrifice, but while they 
risk their lives for us, Republicans in Congress are providing tax cuts 
for the richest 1 percent of Americans, slashing programs for working-
class families and turning their backs on the middle class. The budget 
before us today continues these misguided policies. It does not 
represent the priorities of the American people, nor does it respect 
the values our soldiers are fighting to protect.
  For too long, Republicans have racked up charges on the national 
credit card, while passing the bill on to future generations. Now is 
our chance to set this country on the proper course to ensure America's 
economic success and protect our grandchildren from having to pay for 
today's irresponsible decisions.
  There is a better way. Despite the horrible fiscal outlook facing our 
Nation due to Republican policies, the Spratt substitute still manages 
to balance the budget in 6 years, cut taxes for the middle class, and 
provide realistic funding for education, health care, and veterans 
programs, all of which are shortchanged by the Republicans.
  The Spratt substitute has a better bottom line than the Republican 
budget every year. Fiscal responsibility today will lead to lower 
deficits, smaller interest payments, and less national debt in the 
future. Most significantly, after the budget is balanced, we can 
finally begin to pay off the trillions of dollars in debt that have 
accumulated since President Bush took office.
  Unfortunately, the budget proposed by House Republicans does nothing 
to improve the quality of life in America. It would add more than $350 
billion to the national debt next year alone. Under Republican 
stewardship, the five years between fiscal year 2003 and 2007 will 
provide us with the five largest deficits in American history. This is 
not a legacy worth continuing. We cannot afford to borrow additional 
money to continue paying for failed economic policies.
  Not only does the Spratt substitute match the President's request for 
defense spending, but it also includes additional needed funds for 
homeland security programs, including port security. As a member of the 
Homeland Security Committee, I am concerned that the Republican budget 
closely mirrors the President's, which proposes to eliminate several 
programs important to the safety of all Americans. Programs on the 
chopping block include the COPS Interoperability Grant Program, the 
SAFER Program for firefighting equipment, the Metropolitan Medical 
Response System, the Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program, and 
Justice Assistance Grants. In 2005, these programs provided more than 
$13 million in grants to help Rhode Island's first responders keep my 
constituents safe. Since September 11, we have asked our police and 
firefighters to do so much more, but this budget fails to provide the 
resources they so badly need.

  In addition, the budget would freeze or cut all non-homeland security 
discretionary spending. If the Republicans have their way, 5 years from 
now, education and health programs will receive even less than they do 
today. Cuts to social programs would place a larger burden on the 
working class at a time when they can least afford it.
  Even with all of these cuts, the Republicans still have no plan to 
balance the budget. Instead, they want to give away the savings to the 
wealthy by making permanent tax cuts on investment income. As a recent 
New York Times article indicated, ``Americans with annual comes of $1 
million or more, about one-tenth of 1 percent of all taxpayers, reaped 
43 percent of all the savings on investment taxes in 2003.'' At the 
same time, those earning less than $50,000 saved an average of only $10 
on the same capital gains and dividend tax cuts. The wealthiest 
Americans are doing fine on their own, and we should not be borrowing 
money to give them more special favors.
  Deficit spending has stymied job growth and is plaguing our economy. 
No Rhode Islander would write a check without sufficient funds to cover 
it. Neither should the government. I urge my colleagues to join me in 
supporting the Spratt budget substitute and opposing the underlying 
Republican plan.

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