[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 16, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E244-E245]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             FULL-YEAR CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2011

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. LINDA T. SANCHEZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 15, 2011

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under

[[Page E245]]

     consideration the bill (H.R. 1) making appropriations for the 
     Department of Defense and the other departments and agencies 
     of the Government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
     2011, and for other purposes:

  Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong 
opposition to H.R. 1, which takes America a step backward, jeopardizes 
our fragile economic recovery, and does absolutely nothing to create 
jobs.
  This funding plan leaves American working families behind.
  You'll hear promises of ``fiscal discipline'' and ``down payment on 
the debt'' from my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, but these 
promises are empty. This bill does little more than strike at the heart 
of critical programs that invest in our communities, our workers, and 
our children.
  Moreover, by irresponsibly taking a slash and burn approach to budget 
cutting, this bill fails to present a thoughtful blueprint that we can 
use to slowly but surely chip away at the budget deficit while still 
allowing us to out-educate, out-innovate, and out-build our foreign 
competitors.
  We often compare building the federal budget to balancing a family 
budget. There are certainly some relevant similarities. But I know one 
thing, if I found my family's budget in as serious trouble as the 
federal budget, I would not simply take a machete to my various 
expenditures.
  I would carefully study them, and continue most or all of my 
productive and useful investments while eliminating unnecessary items 
and carefully paring back in other areas until I knew enough about how 
the cuts would affect my future income.
  Would a family with money troubles immediately pull their children 
out of college? I don't think so. Then why does this proposal reduce 
Pell grants that make college more affordable and kick 200,000 children 
out of Head Start?
  Why does it reduce investments in science research, job-creating 
high-speed rail, and the popular COPS program to assist local police?
  Why does it cut worker training when unemployed Americans--especially 
those in places like Lynwood and South Gate in my district--need new 
skills now more than ever?
  It is shameful that the House Republican Majority proposes to 
eliminate a program for homeless veterans, those who have selflessly 
served our nation.
  Certainly, to get the federal budget on the path toward balance, we 
must find cuts we can all agree on. Tough decisions will have to be 
made. But these are not those cuts. Just as our economy is starting to 
recover is no time to leave our children, our veterans, or our workers 
behind.
  I urge my colleagues to oppose this funding bill and reject its 
priorities. We must do better for American families.

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