[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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