[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 13, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H935-H940]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       30-SOMETHING WORKING GROUP

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Ellison). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of January 18, 2007, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Meek) is 
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.
  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it's so good to see my friends on 
the Republican side talking about making sure that we help people and 
help the economy. And today, you know, we had a bipartisan piece of 
legislation that the President signed, which is good, this stimulus 
package. Of course all of the pieces in that package did not turn out 
the way everyone wanted it to turn out, but we knew that we had to get 
it in the hands of American people. It puts hundreds of dollars into 
the hands of almost 130 million Americans, disabled veterans, also 
seniors, who will spend these dollars immediately.
  Mr. Speaker, I must also say, here in the 30-Something Working Group 
we talked a lot about the bipartisanship. And my good colleague, Yvette 
Clarke from the great State of New York represents Brooklyn, and was a 
part of that bipartisanship that we shared here on this floor.
  Here in the 30-Something Working Group, we talk about how we can work 
together on behalf of all Americans, not just Democrats, power 
Democrats or power Republicans, but also independents. And I think it's 
important when we work together we're able to achieve goals on behalf 
of the American people. That's what we're looking for.
  But, Ms. Clarke, one the things that I guess, or two of the things 
we're going to talk about tonight, not only the President's signing the 
stimulus package that the House and Senate worked on in a bipartisan 
way, but we also have to talk about the budget a little bit tonight. I 
was hoping, since it's one of these cold nights in Washington, DC, that 
maybe we can accomplish this in a record time of being able to allow 
folks who, the Federal Government was delayed 2 hours today in opening, 
but pretty much everyone showed up at my office, and we know that folks 
have to get home.
  But I think it's important, because so many Americans, when the tax 
rebate comes in, which will be a separate check, their stimulus check 
will come in and hopefully it will be able to help folks be able to 
make ends meet.
  This tax credit has also offered a one-time rebate of $300 per child. 
I think that's very, very important for those that are eligible to be 
able to get that one-time rebate per child.
  Also, it expands financial opportunities for Americans in danger of 
losing their homes because of the mortgage crisis. And as you know, Mr. 
Speaker and Ms. Clarke, we have to make sure that we bring about the 
comprehensive reform that we need. A number of Americans are losing 
their homes. A lot of us back in our districts, you know, I'm going to 
have not only a workshop, but an ongoing working group in helping the 
folks in my district be able to keep their homes. That's the number one 
investment tool that we use when we do need money. Having that home and 
owning that home and having equity in that home is very, very 
important. Also it promotes small business investment in plants and 
equipment, and it helps create 500,000 jobs by the end of this year.
  And I think that just looking at some of the points in this economic 
stimulus plan, this is a temporary fix. It's not what all of us here 
wanted. But on behalf of the American people and on behalf of our 
economy, we have to make sure that we make these ends meet.
  One other thing I just want to add, and this is an AP story, Ms. 
Clarke, that the President acknowledged today that the country is 
suffering a tough period of economic uncertainty. We're going to talk 
about that when we talk about the Federal budget a little later on, a 
couple of these charts. You know I love charts. But we're going to talk 
about that, this economic uncertainty and how we get there because I 
think it ties into what our colleagues were talking about on the other 
side of the aisle, talking about all and every last tax cut is a good 
tax cut. And some tax cuts, especially when you're borrowing the money, 
I mean, we've got to talk straight to the folks, Ms. Clarke, this 
economic stimulus package that's going to benefit 130 million 
Americans, is borrowed money. Let's just go ahead and put it out there 
now. It's borrowed. I think it's important that we, if we're going to 
stop borrowing so much

[[Page H936]]

money, then we have to be able to set the stage to allow Americans to 
see exactly what's going on, especially during the political scene. 
Folks have all these great proposals. Is it paid for? That's my 
question.
  When I got here, Mr. Speaker and Ms. Clarke, it was, we're selling 
the future generation. Now I can honestly say that we're selling today 
when we talk about some of these charts, especially with the President 
releasing this budget.
  But with those opening statements, I yield to you, Ms. Clarke, at 
this time.
  Ms. CLARKE. Thank you so much, Mr. Meek. It's great to be back here 
once again with the 30-Something Working Group in what I call my 
sophomore year of my freshman term. I wanted to just share some 
reflections on the economic stimulus package, because I think before we 
even get to the point of looking at where our economy is today, there 
should be a moment to pause and look back about 7 years ago when our 
Nation's budget was in surplus. And in such a short amount of time 
we've seen our economy just totally get out of kilter, get out of 
whack, a lot of hocus-pocus being done in the markets, particularly 
around subprime mortgages, in addition to the fact that there's just 
been a slow economic growth in some of the sectors that have 
traditionally provided that economic growth and boost in our economy.
  But it's great to know that we all recognize the writing on the wall, 
and that there wasn't the type of struggle that we have seen around 
other pieces of legislation with regard to economic stimulus. It was 
bipartisan effort, and we recognized that it was important and critical 
that we do this timely, we do it targeted, and we make sure it's 
temporary because, as my colleague, Mr. Meek, has already stated, we're 
borrowing this money. But we know it's important. It's important to 
jump-start our economy. It's on life support right now, and this is 
just the type of jolt that we need. It, as has been stated, gives 
hundreds of dollars to people who will spend it. That is the ultimate 
goal here is that we spend this money, that we get it back into the 
stream of economic growth as quickly as possible.

                              {time}  2015

  And that will be going to 130 million American families and seniors, 
including about 8.3 million families in my home State of New York. And 
what we were able to determine is that the average rebate for New York 
families would be about $807, putting an estimated $6.7 billion into 
the hands of New Yorkers, into the hands of those who really, really 
need it.
  And I think what is so crafty about the stimulus package that the 
Democrats led here in our caucus was the fact that we looked at the 
struggle that our parents are having; that for our children there's 
going to be a rebate for each child in the family; that there will be 
an ability for us to make sure that our small businesses are able to 
invest in new equipment and that workers will have half a million jobs 
by the end of this year.
  We are looking at providing relief for lower wage and part-time 
workers by guaranteeing at least $300 for those who are making at least 
$3,000 in earned income.
  This is phenomenal. It's unfortunate that we have to come to these 
measures, but we know that this stimulus is going to be going directly 
to those who have suffered the most in our economic crises right now. 
And I think that the Democratic caucus has certainly led the way with 
innovation with regard to this stimulus package, and I want to commend, 
to the extent that I can, the folks on the other side of the aisle who 
saw that this was a much needed measure and did not spend a whole lot 
of time debating it but putting it in place, so that by May of this 
year, we should begin to see some of this really kick into effect 
across this Nation. It's extraordinary.
  You know, our Democratic Party worked with our Republican 
counterparts in the House and the Senate and the administration to pass 
this quick relief to help prevent a full-fledged recession, but we 
didn't get everything we wanted. We really didn't just get everything 
we wanted. We got it done quickly.
  I believe that we need to expand upon the stimulus to keep the relief 
coming, because even after the rebate checks come, there are people who 
will continue to be hurting. We need to increase funding for food stamp 
programs and unemployment benefits, then we need to address the 
infrastructure problems in our country, Mr. Speaker, including needed 
repair to our schools, waste water systems, transportation systems, 
which will also create jobs. We need to invest in affordable housing. 
That creates jobs. But it also creates local economic development.
  Creating jobs through many different means, and the buzz word is 
``green'' jobs, which is, of course, looking at renewable energies and 
how we really embed that into our economy, so that as we wean ourselves 
off of the dependency of foreign oil, we see the growth of industry 
across this Nation from the rural parts of our Nation to the urban 
parts of our Nation, like New York City, where green jobs can be a 
major engine for sustainable growth in our Nation.
  Of course, we have looked at summer jobs, which is critical. This is 
a way that we can immediately impact, particularly on our young people 
and their families, is by giving them that opportunity for exposure to 
the workplace in the summer job capacity, job training for our 
workforce, to reorient them to a lot of the emerging industries that we 
have. We just need the jobs.
  So we have a full plate ahead of us. Economic stimulus is just the 
beginning. That is just shocking the system so we can begin to put the 
treatments in place to repair and restructure it, and I'm really 
looking forward to that, because coming out of this Democratic caucus 
had real innovation, real forward thinking, and real focus on the needs 
of our people.
  As has been stated, Mr. Meek, you are struggling with the foreclosure 
crisis in your community. I'm struggling with it in my community where 
we're in the process of rolling out a series of clinics so that people 
will feel free to come forth and have their financial situations 
assessed, their mortgages assessed. Those that can be refinanced, we 
want to get them in the stream right away, because this is predicted to 
be a foreclosure phenomenon that will last a number of years.
  So we want to try to head it off at the pass for those who may be 
struggling today. And this economic stimulus package can at least put 
some funds into the stream by helping homeowners who are struggling 
with their mortgages and who are in danger of losing their homes.
  So I'm excited about the fact that the President signed the package 
today and that we can get the wheels of the bureaucracy moving to get 
this stimulus into the stream, into our communities, into the hands of 
our families as quickly as possible. It's really an important measure, 
and I look forward to seeing it implemented in each of our communities.
  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Well, let me just say, I think it's important 
that you talk about our stimulus package, talk about the realities of 
the stimulus package, this bipartisan package. And I think it's 
important that everyone pay very close attention to not only what we 
are saying but what we must do. This is a perfect example of how we 
worked in a bipartisan way. And I have always said bipartisanship is 
only allowed when the majority allows it to happen. And how we came off 
of the recess, came back here to Washington, DC, to respond to the 
crisis that's facing the country. It is not over. It is a temporary 
fix. You have a Band-Aid box. This is one of the medium-size Band-Aids 
in the box. It is not one of the big Band-Aids that's there.
  I think it's important, and you gave the numbers out, on what happens 
in New York. But we have 8.3 million households on average that will 
receive $819 for those that are eligible for this stimulus package. 
And, Mr. Speaker, it was targeted towards the working families and 
seniors and those that fall under certain thresholds that we will be 
talking about in further detail here on the floor when we can talk 
about the stimulus package and talk about some of the benefits, 
especially for some of the working Americans who are trying to figure 
things out.
  A lot of the folks, they like to sit down at their dining room table 
and kind of work this whole piece out on their taxes. Everyone doesn't 
go into

[[Page H937]]

what you may call an H&R Block or something like that to get their 
taxes done. Some folks sit right there at the dining room table and try 
to work it out themselves.
  So I think it's very important that it's really no secret when we 
provide tax incentives for rebates for small businesses so that they 
can grow, and also when we provide those rebates for those families 
that are eligible, especially the tax child credit, because a lot of 
folks miss out on that. They're not paying attention to what is going 
on. And even sometimes individuals that are preparing your taxes, you 
have to kind of know something when you sit down at that table.
  There are Americans in all parties and those that are nonaffiliated 
parties and those who have not even started voting yet, there are a 
number of people that you sit down with your tax person, you don't want 
to sit there with your mouth hung open not necessarily knowing what is 
going on. You need to know a little bit about what is happening. It is 
almost like walking into a car lot. You want to know something about 
the Blue Book value of the car. You want to know the sticker price. You 
want to know list. You want to know all of those things so that you 
will have at least some level of knowledge and edge on what is 
happening.

  So many Americans leave money on the table, and I think, Ms. Clarke, 
I have asked some of my staff members to get with the Ways and Means 
staff to talk about how much money is left on the table every year that 
Americans are eligible for, working Americans are eligible for, small 
businesses are eligible for that they're not aware of.
  So they sign that tax document, not the person that's preparing. I 
mean, they do, too, but ultimately, the taxpayer has to sign it. And 
you are responsible for what is on it and what comes back to you, if 
you have anything that's coming back.
  Ms. CLARKE. What I found interesting was our commitment to small 
business in the stimulus package. I think that too often small business 
is overlooked and forsaken for the big, megacorporate folks who are 
always getting the tax breaks. But this stimulus package also takes 
into account our small business, our ``mom and pop,'' our emerging new 
start-ups and other organizations in our communities.
  The plan will double the amount small businesses can immediately 
write off their taxes for capital investments made in 2008 from 
$125,000 to $250,000, and for purchases of new equipment up to $800,000 
from $500,000. And that's significant because with the cost rising for 
materials, and there is a rising cost for oil, and people don't 
recognize what the rising cost in oil alone does to small business, 
particularly for those who have to have their goods or their services 
trucked or shipped. All of that goes into the bottom line of someone 
who is trying to operate a small operation. It also provides immediate 
tax relief for all businesses to invest into new plants and equipment 
by speeding up the depreciation provisions so that firms can write off 
an additional 50 percent off of investments purchased in 2008. That is 
extraordinary.
  That is extraordinary because, again, because small business is 
really saddled with the weight of an economy that has been 
skyrocketing, particularly with the cost of oil and with the cost of 
doing business overall just escalating each and every year.
  And we expect that there will be about $7.5 billion sent out to small 
business and small business investments over the next 10 years, close 
to $44 billion in 2008 alone.
  So we have looked at every sector of our economy that may be 
struggling as a result of the sluggishness of the economy at this time, 
and a recession in some areas; some folks would say even depression in 
others. But for our businesses, it's important that we provide that 
buffer so that they're enabled to continue to grow, notwithstanding the 
challenges that they're facing right now.
  So we have covered many bases with this stimulus package. We have 
covered both the home and the family as well as the small business 
environment of our communities. And I hope that, as you've said, 
everyone will take advantage of the rebates and the incentives that 
have been built into this stimulus package because we are counting on 
you to spend it out there. It's important. We want to make sure that we 
can provide the life support to our economy that's required so we don't 
fall in any deeper into economic crisis.
  And this is just the opening salvo. We have a lot more to work out 
for our communities, for our Nation with regard to sustainable job 
development and job growth, and I'm looking forward to that part of the 
conversation, because we are in the 21st century here. We've got the 
talent, the expertise. We've got the ability out there. We have to be 
able to make sure that we drive the process of economic growth right 
here starting from the Hill.
  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I always enjoy when the two of us, 
Ms. Clarke and I, are on the floor because I like that New York-Florida 
thing going on, and I tell a lot of folks, Mr. Speaker, whenever I'm in 
New York, I will always smile at New Yorkers because I think eventually 
they're going to be my constituents one day in Florida. But it's always 
good to work with Ms. Clarke who is a public servant and who has served 
in the local government and where the rubber meets the road as it 
relates to that.
  Mr. Speaker, as we start to talk about the budget, I want the Members 
to have the information that I am providing and Ms. Clarke is providing 
here on the floor. And all of this information can be found on-line on 
www.majorityleader.gov. It is a budget clearinghouse that's there. 
Everything that we show here on the floor will be eligible on 
www.majorityleader.gov. And they will be able to pull this information 
down. And I think it's important to share and have transparency as we 
look at this budget. I think the success of the 30-Something Working 
Group that we have had over the years is that we've shared the good, 
bad, and ugly as it relates to not only budgets, but also to 
initiatives that we are trying to push through Congress.
  But like I said, just 2 weeks ago we were talking about holding the 
line on bipartisanship and making sure the stimulus package passed, and 
I'm glad we were able to do it and we can all stand under one flag.
  I'm going to try to kind of zip through these charts real quick 
because I know Ms. Clarke and I have some back-and-forth to do in 
discussing this budget and what it means, but I just want to frame the 
debate here.

                              {time}  2030

  As you look at this dramatic deterioration in the budget picture, you 
have to look at the deficit in the billions. These numbers you see are 
in the billions. The last Clinton administration, when you look at 
after President Clinton left office, there was a $1.28 billion surplus 
that's there. You can see that right after President Bush took office, 
we automatically started deficit spending. This chart is not a chart 
that was put together by me independently. This is what the Office of 
Management and Budget has put forth. These are the numbers from the 
Office of Management and Budget that is overseen by the President's 
administration, and so these are their numbers.
  When you're looking at $158 billion in 02 deficit; $378 billion in 
'03; $413 billion in '04; and in '05, $318 billion; '06, $248 billion, 
'07, $162 billion; and here we are in '08, for the FY09 budget, the 
President is looking to carry us to $110 billion. And then following in 
'09, $107 billion. This is his proposed budget.
  Now let's just talk about this one chart just for a second. I just 
wanted to shed some light, and then we will move to the next one very 
quickly.
  It's important that Americans understand what we're talking about. So 
when you hear folks on the floor start talking about tax cuts for the 
very wealthy and those who did not ask for tax cuts and saying that has 
to stay alive to be able to help our economy, I want you to reflect 
back to this chart here. This chart can be seen on majorityleader.gov.
  Ms. Clarke, I know you're familiar with this chart. This chart has 
been an ongoing chart in the 30-Something Working Group. We talk about 
President Bush more than doubles the foreign-held debt. It took 42 
Presidents 224 years to build up $1 trillion of foreign-held debt. What 
do we mean by foreign-

[[Page H938]]

held debt? This means that foreign countries like China, OPEC, oil-
producing countries, this means that Taiwan, this means that Japan, 
this means that India, this means that countries that we may have 
issues with, Argentina, a number of countries, they have bought our 
debt and we borrow money from them.
  What does this mean? Forty-two Presidents, $1.01 trillion, 224 years 
of history in the country, from 1776-2000; 7 years of George W. Bush, 
some of it is with a rubber-stamp Congress until recently, until the 
American people spoke in the last election, and we're looking at $1.33 
trillion in foreign-owned debt.
  What does this mean for the country? I can tell you exactly what it 
means. It means that countries now look at America in a totally 
different light. It's almost like you having a friend, Ms. Clarke, and 
you borrowing some money. If I was to come to you and say, goodness, 
Ms. Clarke, Yvette, can I borrow $20? Okay. But you see me 3 weeks from 
now and on your mind, right here in the center of your forehead, you're 
thinking about that $20. You're thinking if I am ever going to pay you 
that money again. So, now my influence as it relates to being a 
``Member of Congress'' has been altered a little bit because you're now 
judging my ability to handle my own finances. We make the same money 
and all that kind of stuff, and you're saying, why does he have to 
borrow $20, and, better yet, has no real will or desire to pay me back? 
So that's where we are right now as it relates to the country. I think 
that people need to pay very close attention to that chart. And that 
was just updated in December of last year.
  What's left out of Bush's budget? The cost of the war beyond 2009. I 
think that's very, very important because when you look at this cost of 
the war, it is not included, and budget analysts have said that it will 
be $489 billion over the next 5 years. But then again, the President 
says he is going to balance it very soon.
  The AMT, which is alternative minimum tax reform, beyond 2008 is not 
there. That means that those middle-class families that you're not even 
recognizing in the President's budget, the spending policy details and 
beyond of 09 as relates to discretionary is not there. So it's kind of 
like saying we're going to balance the budget, but we're going to leave 
major ingredients out to be able to balance it and show how we're going 
to do it.
  The President may only have one more year in office, but the 
responsibility as chief executive officer goes beyond that to be able 
to set the stage. What you want to do when you come into a job or 
you're leaving a job, just for anyone, if you're leaving a job, what do 
you do? You get everything in order for the next person to come in and 
to be able to have something to work with when he or she gets there. I 
think that it's important that the President does that. You're talking 
about the chief executive of the United States of America.
  So look at what he was left with, a $128 billion surplus. And look 
what he is proposing to leave for the next woman or man to take office. 
So he had a very ideal situation. And now I'm not blaming this on the 
President, I'm just saying the Republican majority that we're trying to 
work with to get out of it now proposing to leave for the next woman or 
man that deficit.
  So when we look at the President's proposed deep cuts and key 
priorities, I want to make sure that every law enforcement officer, 
which I used to be a State trooper, Ms. Clarke and Members, when you 
look at the COPS program, that's the Community Oriented Police, these 
are your bicycle patrol, these are your individuals that prevent crime, 
don't show up after it's done, but prevent it, and provide other 
alternatives to youth so that they don't get into trouble. The 
President cuts that 100 percent. And so when you look at that in the 08 
budget, and what we fought for here, we started out with $587 million, 
I think it's important that everyone understands that that has been cut 
100 percent.
  Weatherization, and this is important in Ms. Clarke's area 
especially. This is the home heating and all the things that our 
seniors and financially challenged folk need, 100 percent cut. When you 
look at Department of Homeland Security, State first responder grants, 
78 percent cut. First responders, police officers, pay attention to 
what I'm saying because I want to make sure when folks around here are 
ho-humming and talking about, well, you know, I'm in support of the 
present situation as it relates to the White House, I want you to pay 
attention. This is not my budget. This is the President's budget that 
I'm talking about here that is not reflecting the priorities of the 
American people.
  The EPA clean-up for water grants, 21 percent cut. When we look at 
community development block grants, these grants build fire stations, 
they build community centers that allow local government to be able to 
do something with Federal dollars for the betterment of their 
community, a 20 percent cut. And the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance 
Program, which is again for those that are financially challenged in 
the country, they're receiving these deep cuts.
  I'm coming in for a landing here and I know, Ms. Clarke, you're going 
to take it home for me. What Bush inherited and what Bush is leaving 
behind. I started to tee that up, and that's a golf term, before I got 
to this chart. A record $1.6 trillion surplus. $400 billion annual 
deficits. You've got to look at it from this standpoint, and this is 
available from that Web site I gave you. On track to pay down all 
publicly held debt when he came in. Exploiting debt burden, short term, 
so that folks can understand what's going on. The strongest economy in 
three decades. Economic slowing down sharply, on comparisons. When you 
look at a robust job growth, and then also when you look at what Bush 
is leaving for the next person, the weakest job growth since the Hoover 
administration.
  I think when you look at this, I am teeing this thing up, and the way 
I'm trying to line it up, and Ms. Clarke is going to share with us, 
also, is the fact that the only way we can bring about change is in a 
bipartisan way that Democrats and Republicans work together and do what 
we did in the economic stimulus plan. Everyone didn't get what they 
wanted, but the American people are going to be the short-term winners 
of being able to receive those dollars and being able to make ends 
meet. And it was an emergency situation. But I think as it relates to 
our fiscal situation, that is an emergency. And I think it is something 
that so many folks should be able to pay attention to.
  The costs that weren't there, as I turn it over to Ms. Clarke, the 
$187 million that was left out of the President's budget. Also 
alternative minimum tax costs not included, some $408 billion over the 
next 5 years. The costs for the war not included, $489 billion over the 
next 5 years.
  Again, all of this information is on majorityleader.gov ``budget 
clearing house'' for you to see this information, Democrat, Republican, 
individuals that are concerned about what's going on here in 
Washington.

  Ms. Clarke.
  Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Meek, I think you're being too kind. We have to put 
this where this is. The President released his last budget, and this 
budget is devastating. It's a Republican budget that plunges our 
country deeper into debt, a debt that we will pass onto our children, 
our grandchildren, and maybe even our great-grandchildren if we don't 
turn this situation around and turn it around quickly.
  In the area of health care alone, the types of cuts in Medicare and 
Medicaid for our seniors and to low-income Americans, it's 
unconscionable. Again, we're facing a crisis in health care. And what 
are we seeing? Cuts. Cuts to the SCHIP program that are almost $20 
billion over the next 5 years. After all we've done to try to expand 
the program for all eligible children, the National Institutes of 
Health funding frozen just as we're about to have some breakthroughs in 
research around Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease and cancer 
and other diseases that we're desperately looking for treatment and 
cure for. I mean, in the area of education, and this is supposed to be 
the leave-no-child-behind administration, we see that the budget 
totally eliminates crucial programs that provide to the States for 
technology in classrooms. It eliminates vocational education programs 
altogether. It completely eliminates the supplemental

[[Page H939]]

educational opportunity grants, Perkins loan programs. I mean, our 
commitment to the development of our Nation has to include a robust 
educational system.
  We are in competition with nations from around the world. And in 
other nations they're cranking out their engineers and their scientists 
by the hundreds. We're struggling to keep up. We're struggling to be 
competitive. This Republican budget does nothing to aid in our cause to 
go forward in a robust manner. It reduces the funding for after-school 
programs by over 26 percent.
  These are the areas where our communities, our States across this 
Nation need the support systems in place now that we have a 21st 
century society where parents are working, where they're not going to 
be there necessarily all the time at 3 o'clock to pick up their 
children from school. This is that period of time where all law 
enforcement agencies will tell you that children get into trouble 
between 3 and 6 o'clock. Here we see this Republican budget does not 
take into account the realities of the lives of the constituents that 
we present. So we're going to have to bring that to the table and make 
sure that is a part of the conversation as we move forward to shape 
what has been presented to us, which is really something that is 
devastating to our Nation at this time.
  Homeland security. Now this is an area that really hits home for me. 
Coming from New York City, knowing what has gone into just building out 
a new bureaucracy to address our concerns for safety and for real 
protection of our homeland, to hear after all that our first responders 
have done to really bring themselves up to speed to be able to meet the 
needs of their jurisdictions, to then have the Federal Government 
renege on its commitment to them is a shame and it's a sham. To cut 
assistance to firefighters where local fire departments have needed 
equipment to keep our communities safe is unconscionable, totally 
unconscionable. For example, in New York State where New York City's 
FDNY are considered national heroes, almost $32 million have been cut 
in funding. Where do they get that money from? Where are these 
departments around this Nation going to be able to make up for the 
shortfall of the commitment made to them by our national leader? 
Unbelievable.
  Cuts to homeland security grant programs, which funds every State 
based on risk by $750 million, that's an ounce of prevention there, and 
we see it being pulled away.

                              {time}  2045

  The important Urban Area Security Initiative, UASI, homeland security 
funding received an increase of only $5 million, which is not even 
enough to keep up with inflation. So what are we talking about here?
  I often hear my colleagues on the other side of the aisle and their 
concern about border protection. Well, this is it folks. And it's the 
other side of the aisle that has turned the other way in addressing the 
priorities through this budget. Cuts to port security, critical 
transportation infrastructure, targeted infrastructure protection 
grants programs, and other important homeland security programs, right 
before our very eyes. And one of the areas that I would have thought we 
would have really just taken a little time to get fixed up, the Office 
of Appeals of Redress, which was totally left out of the budget, this 
department is the department that is responsible for enabling us to 
travel across this Nation. And for those who have, unfortunately, been 
put on the terrorist watch list, this is the area where just a little 
bit of funding would have made the difference between how we are 
currently conducting business that has shown a low value for our civil 
liberties and really bringing our processes up to date to meet the 
needs of real Americans.
  So it's devastating. This budget is not reflective of the needs that 
Americans have been talking about, are concerned about, and it's 
unfortunate. But it's my hope that we will push, we will move, we will 
negotiate so that we can get some of this turned around in time for it 
to make a difference in our lives.
  Just think about cuts to child care development block grants, when so 
many parents now need that extra assistance to be able to make sure 
that their families are well taken care of as they earn income to keep 
up with the cost of living. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance 
Program, as my colleague Mr. Meek talked about, this is critical in the 
northeast region where energy costs are skyrocketing and we're seeing 
some of the worst record winters in my lifetime, perhaps in many folks' 
lifetime, and not only here but in the Midwest and up the whole 
northern seacoast.
  Social services block grants, these have been the areas where our 
communities have been just sort of held together by a safety net. It 
continues to be cuts.
  And then of all places, veterans' health care. We talk so much about 
our concern and our gratitude to veterans particularly in this time of 
war, and it is just so hypocritical to see the type of budget cuts that 
are taking place in terms of health care services for our wounded 
warriors. This is unbelievable.
  The Republican budget also assumes that the alternative minimum tax 
is not fixed. This assumes a significant increase in taxes for over 21 
million Americans after 2009, 21 million Americans, and enacting a 
permanent fix to prevent this tax from taking effect will cost about 
$313 billion over the next 5 years, and it is something that we as 
Democrats are committed to doing. Yet nothing, we receive nothing in 
this budget that indicates that we are gearing up to address this very 
important issue for working-class Americans.
  The Republican budget does not contain accurate numbers for the cost 
of the Iraq War, as has been stated by my colleague Mr. Meek, and the 
administration requested $70 billion, but the average monthly cost of 
the war is over $10 billion a month. That means that the true cost of 
the war will be upwards of at least a baseline of $120 billion next 
year.
  So as you can see, we have a real dilemma. The dilemma is do we 
accept the last budget of Mr. Bush, the Republican budget, which 
continues to plunge our country deeper and deeper into debt, or do we, 
as we have in the Democratic caucus, continue to push, to organize, to 
negotiate, to make sure that the needs of all Americans are attended to 
in this upcoming budget? It's a mammoth task, but I believe, Mr. Meek, 
we are up to it. It is critical that we do this. We have to get on good 
ground going forward. I mean, it's going to take a lot to get us out of 
this deficit.
  First of all, we are going to have to bring an end to this war in 
Iraq because that's unfettered spending. That's unfettered spending. 
But, simultaneously, we need to really set priorities for the American 
people. And that priority has to be demonstrated in the budget that we 
pass here. It has to be demonstrated in the way in which we fund the 
critical areas of our growth and our development as a Nation. And, 
believe me, this budget falls far short of that.
  It's time for folks to get their act together. This Republican budget 
plunges this country deeper into debt. We cannot afford that. We must 
become much more sober about our work here and recognize that in order 
for us to grow, we have to make sure our educational system is sound, 
our health care system is sound, and certainly make sure that our 
homeland is protected. And based on what we have received thus far, the 
Republican budget falls extremely short of that, and that is totally 
unacceptable.
  So, Mr. Meek, I know that our time together here is winding down. I 
just wanted to say that this is a very important time for this House. 
And as we look at our priorities going forward, the stimulus package 
gave us a window into where we are right now, and that is we are in an 
economic crisis. And anyone who can't see the writing on the wall is 
walking around with blinders on. When you compound the economic 
distress that we are in with a budget that doesn't account for hundreds 
of billions of dollars that can be spent at a moment's notice, 
particularly in the misadventure in Iraq, and neglects to build the 
infrastructure of the Nation, areas of education where we become 
competitive, our talent is cultivated and developed, providing the 
support systems for working families like child care support, being 
able to make sure that we are healthy enough as Americans to continue 
to do the job and being productive, these areas are very important and 
crucial areas for us to move this Nation in the 21st century.

[[Page H940]]

  I think President Bush has thrown up his hands. This was his last 
budget. This was the best that he could do. And, unfortunately, it fell 
too short.
  I want to thank you, my colleague, for sharing this time. I look 
forward to participating with you further in the future.
  And I want to thank you, Mr. Speaker, for giving me this time during 
the 30-Something Working Group.
  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Ms. Clarke, you are a proud member of the 30-
Something Working Group.
  And, Mr. Speaker, as I mention a lot on the floor, we just don't come 
to the floor and say, hey, let's go to the floor and talk to our 
colleagues, let's give a floor speech. Actually, there are is number of 
meetings that take place in gathering this information to make sure 
that it is factual. And I think the reason why we are a solid tree in 
the forest, the 30-Something Working Group, on both sides of the aisle 
and dealing with the executive branch is that we do our homework. We 
don't just come to the floor to say things that we think sound good. 
It's actually something backed up by fact, not fiction. And I think 
it's important. If we were to play more in the fact versus fiction 
arena, I think we would get a lot more done here in Washington, DC.
  Some of the things that we talked about in the stimulus package, just 
to recap, are things that are not there. There were some unemployment 
issues that folks wanted in there. There were some infrastructure 
issues and putting Americans to work, need it be building bridges or 
building roads or what have, to put Americans to work.
  Also, there was a great discussion about green collar jobs. When you 
talk about green collar jobs, a lot of folks hear that out in the 
political world, but I don't think people really break it down to what 
it really means. And those jobs where we can reduce energy costs in 
many of our communities. For instance, if you have a flat or an angled 
roof, trying to put sod on the top, seal it off and put sod on the top 
to bring that heating and also cooling cost down, that will be a green 
collar job. That won't be an overseas job. That will be a job where 
someone could have dropped out of high school or graduated from high 
school, those that went on and received a 4-year education, those who 
went on to a master's, doctorate's, architect's, all of these folks 
will be employed through those kinds of efforts.
  We have had an economy, Mr. Speaker and Ms. Clarke, that has been 
really based on borrowing, when you think about it. The economy has 
been set towards your taking out that second mortgage to keep the 
economy going, cutting interest rates to encourage more borrowing. Back 
in the old school not too far along, I remember when folks wouldn't buy 
a car unless they could pay for it. Now it's just common to say what's 
that interest rate, or is this the rebate I get back from the company? 
And then now I'm all into this thing for 5 or 6 years, and in some 
instances for some Americans so they can have transportation to move 
their kids around and make it to their job, 9 years. I have some 
constituents that are out there for 9 years on a car loan. So it's a 
serious situation, and it is something that is an accepted practice 
now.
  When you have a home, of course, getting a loan, you know you will 
get some equity. Hopefully, that value will go up. But because of the 
economy, because of the slowdown in the housing market, values are not 
going up on homes. So some people are losing, and that's the reason why 
we have this whole mortgage piece. Folks got excited again with 
subprime mortgages, getting people into homes that they couldn't 
afford, and we are in this situation on a borrowed economy. So I think 
it's important to be able to break that, to be able to have an economy 
based on jobs, not borrowing.
  And that's the reason why it's important that folks pay very close 
attention on whom they elect to be the next President of the United 
States, that they pay very close attention to those they have already 
elected to be able to govern here in this House and in the Senate, 
because you shouldn't forestall this off to January of next year when 
the next President, he or she, raises their hand on the west side of 
the Capitol and swear to uphold the Constitution of the United States. 
We know that the President sets forth the budget. We know we also have 
a say here in the House. The Senate has a say. We should exercise that.
  I think, Ms. Clarke, your presentation was right on target. And I'm 
glad you said that I was being kind, because I am glad that Brooklyn is 
represented once again, making sure that people know what they need to 
know.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, we're going to continue to work on this issue 
of the budget. We want to come back and get into further detail as it 
relates to incentives that are out there for small businesses and also 
for families that are eligible for rebates, working families, and also 
continue to shed light on the Bush tax cuts that are out there. I think 
it's important that people pay very close attention. How did we get to 
those recordbreaking deficits, giving people tax breaks that they 
didn't ask for. And that is not turning over into the economy, because 
if it was turning over into the economy, we would not have had to pass 
a stimulus package. We wouldn't be on the floor talking about some of 
the issues that we are facing right now.
  So we are about solutions. That's why we come to the floor this time 
of night, with the Democratic majority that's willing to work in a 
bipartisan way with the Republican minority to be able to do what's 
best on behalf of the American people.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, we would like to encourage the Members, if 
they have any comments or anyone has any comments based on the 
presentation tonight, to e-mail us at 30SomethingD[email protected].
  With that, Mr. Speaker, it was an honor addressing the House once 
again.

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