[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 50 (Tuesday, April 1, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E461-E462]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2009

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 13, 2008

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the concurrent resolution 
     (H. Con. Res. 312) revising the congressional budget for the 
     United States Government for fiscal year 2008, establishing 
     the congressional budget for the United States Government for 
     fiscal year 2009, and setting forth appropriate budgetary 
     levels for fiscal years 2010 through 2013:

   Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to support the Fiscal 
Year 2009 Democratic Budget Resolutions.
   Once again this year, the President's budget proposal made a number 
of cynical choices and cut or eliminated programs that make a real 
difference in people's lives. The President's budget calls for more 
than $1 trillion in tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans over 10 
years at the expense of vital domestic programs that benefit millions 
of people. The President's cuts include $479 billion of Medicare cuts, 
and $94 billion in cuts to Medicaid over 10 years; more than $18 
billion over 5 years in new fees for veterans and military retirees; 
cuts to EPA grants that help protect public health and maintain 
environmental quality; and the elimination of several state and local 
law enforcement programs, including Byrne Grants and COPS funding.
   The President has already taken a projected 10-year surplus of $5.6 
trillion and turned it into a $3.2 trillion deficit. Now the President 
wants to slash funding for crucial domestic programs while he continues 
to spend $10.3 billion a month for the war in Iraq--a war that has 
already cost more than $495 billion and which may cost more than $3 
trillion by the end of our involvement. This war has cost Americans far 
too much--most importantly, in terms of lives.
   The President's budget also misses the boat by choosing not to fund 
programs which would stimulate economic growth and benefit all 
Americans. For example, the President's budget does not include much-
needed increases for things such as rehabilitating our Nation's 
crumbling schools and highways, securing our ports, investing in 
renewable energy, and helping lower the cost of healthcare for millions 
of children and seniors. And I was also dismayed to see the number of 
cuts in the President's budget that come at the expense of our Nation's 
poorest citizens. To cite just one example, the budget eliminates the 
Community Services Block Grants which reduce poverty and provide 
assistance for individuals dealing with housing, health, nutrition, 
energy, and substance abuse problems.
   I am proud that the Democratic budget resolutions restore sanity to 
our Nation's fiscal policy. Our budget increases veterans funding for 
2009 by $3.6 billion (8 percent) above current services; provides 
additional resources to address long-standing domestic priorities 
within a fiscally responsible framework, including increased funding 
for scientific innovation and energy initiatives, and education, 
training, and social services; and it rejects the President's

[[Page E462]]

proposed cuts, including cuts to environmental protection, first 
responders, and Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. It also 
makes room for the expansion of children's health insurance coverage, 
and includes reforms to improve Medicare for beneficiaries and reforms 
of the Higher Education Act to make college more affordable.
   H. Con. Res. 312 is not perfect. I wish it included less spending on 
unnecessary, outdated weapons programs, and more spending on domestic 
priorities for relief for the millions of Americans who are struggling 
to make ends meet amidst higher energy, healthcare, and food costs; and 
for the people in our society who need the most help. However, I am 
grateful to Chairman Spratt for crafting a budget that rejects the 
President's cuts.
   I am also proud to support the Congressional Progressive Caucus 
substitute, which provides over $550 billion for domestic non-military 
discretionary spending in FY09--over $130 billion above President's 
request--to restore the President's harmful cuts. This budget contains 
a second economic stimulus package that would include an extension of 
unemployment insurance, an increase in assistance for food stamps, 
Medicare payments to states, and foreclosure relief, as well as over 
$300 billion to rebuild our Nation's crumbling schools and roads. It 
also provides $1.22 trillion to cut the poverty rate in half over the 
next decade, starting with redress and reconstruction for Gulf Coast 
victims of Hurricane Katrina. It does this by cutting down on waste, 
fraud in the Pentagon and by eliminating certain cold war weapons 
systems; as well by closing egregious corporate tax loopholes and 
rolling back the President's tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.
   Mr. Chairman, the President's last budget is no more than a sad 
continuation of his failed fiscal policies. I'd like to thank Chairman 
Spratt once again for all of his hard work on the budget, and am proud 
to stand with my Democratic colleagues to support a budget that rejects 
the President's cuts and reinvests in our domestic priorities.

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