[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 27 (Friday, February 18, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E271]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             FULL-YEAR CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2011

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                               speech of

                            HON. LOIS CAPPS

                             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 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:

  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 1.
  This deeply flawed bill does nothing to create jobs or promote 
economic growth. In fact, it actually undercut these critical 
priorities, threatening to destabilize our fragile economic recovery.
  The bill cuts billions of dollars from programs that increase 
transportation and housing choices, reduce traffic on our highways, and 
lower energy costs for American families. It cuts Community Development 
Block Grants that empower local cities and counties to prioritize the 
housing and infrastructure projects that make the most sense for them. 
And it eliminates funding for the Sustainable Communities Initiative--a 
program that strengthens local economic competitiveness and reduces 
commutes to jobs, shops and schools.
  These proven programs are already creating jobs and stimulating 
economic growth. They help local communities attract new businesses and 
jumpstart their economies. They help improve local business districts 
and provide affordable housing options nearby. And rather than build 
expensive new roads and highways, these programs focus on fixing what 
we already have.
  In short, these programs create jobs. High tech jobs. Clean energy 
jobs. Construction jobs. High quality, local jobs that pay well and 
can't be shipped overseas.
  Rather than enhancing these proven job creators, the Majority is 
eliminating them. The irrational spending cuts in this bill completely 
undermine these proven programs and threaten to cripple our fragile 
economic recovery. It makes no sense.
  But I suppose we shouldn't be surprised, given the Majority's record 
on the issue. It's been nearly two months and we have not voted on a 
single bill to create jobs or promote economic growth. Not one.
  Mr. Chair, we can't simply cut our way to economic prosperity.
  This CR is nothing more than a negligent political gimmick. But this 
gimmick has real consequences. Real consequences for our local 
communities whose crumbling infrastructure will only deteriorate 
further; real consequences for the millions of unemployed Americans 
whose search for a job will only get longer; and real consequences for 
Middle Class families whose struggle to stay afloat will only get 
tougher.
  It's time this Congress starts doing what our constituents sent us 
here to do--create jobs. I urge my colleagues to support jobs creation 
and oppose H.R. 1.

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