[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 28 (Monday, February 28, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H1377-H1382]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Duffy). Under the Speaker's announced
policy of January 5, 2011, the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands
(Mrs. Christensen) is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the
minority leader.
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, it is really an honor for me to join
my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus here this evening to
recognize Black History Month and some of the people who have written
that history through their life contribution, but also to talk about
how the cuts the Republicans are proposing to everything except taxes
for the wealthy threaten to take us back decades, if not centuries, to
a place where America was
[[Page H1378]]
not in her finest hour, a time when the poor, the rural, and people of
color were denied equal opportunities to education, health care, jobs
with decent wages and protections, and the possibility of
homeownership. We cannot and must not go back there.
I'd like to invite to start this hour with us a leader in his
district in South Carolina, a leader of his faith, of this Congress,
and of this country, the assistant minority leader, Congressman James
Clyburn.
Mr. CLYBURN. I thank the gentlelady for yielding me this time, and I
want to thank her for organizing this Special Order in honor of Black
History Month. But I want to take a few minutes to talk about the
future.
Last December, when faced with the prospect that tax rates for the
richest 2 percent of Americans would rise to where they were in the
1990s, when we balanced the budget and enjoyed unprecedented
prosperity, Republicans decided that extending these unnecessary and
unaffordable tax cuts was their number one priority.
As we all remember, they held much-needed relief to the middle class
hostage, and they got their tax cut for millionaires and billionaires.
According to the Joint Committee on Taxation, this tax is adding $39
billion to the deficit this year and will add even more next year.
Speaker Boehner has said that our national debt is a moral issue, and
I agree with him. We need to act to curb our exploding deficits and
mounting debt. But Republicans and Democrats have different approaches
to the problem. The Republicans' approach is the irresponsible
continuing resolution that was passed by this House 10 days ago.
Republicans would cut $600 million from the COPS program and $256
million from the State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance Program,
which would make our streets less safe. Republicans would cut $75
million from the Legal Services Corporation, which would deny legal
services to the victims of domestic violence. Republicans would cut $53
million from the Food Safety and Inspection Service, which would
threaten public health.
Republicans would completely eliminate family planning funding, which
would result in more unplanned pregnancies and more abortions. Adding
insult to injury, Republicans would cut $758 million from Women,
Infants and Children, which would deny these mothers and children the
nutrition they need to begin life on the right track.
Republicans would cut Pell Grants by 15 percent, which would deny
young people the opportunity to get a college education. I could go on,
but I think you get my point: The cuts in the Republican continuing
resolution are shortsighted, counterproductive, and the wrong way to
cut the deficit. And the one community, or the communities, that will
suffer the most are minority communities in this country, and that
includes the black communities, black students, black mothers, and
black infants, as well.
Mark Zandi, the former economic adviser to the McCain campaign, said
that these cuts will destroy 700,000 jobs and stall our economic
recovery, which would lessen future revenues and further exacerbate the
debt problem. And a Goldman Sachs' economist warned that the Republican
plan could reduce our Nation's economic growth by 1.5 to 2 percent in
the second and third quarters of this year.
{time} 1930
Maybe I should amend my previous statement: the cuts in the
Republican CR are shortsighted, counterproductive, and may not even cut
the deficit.
We need a smarter approach. We need an approach of shared sacrifice,
not sacrifice by the most vulnerable. We do need to cut the deficit.
But there are different ways to cut the deficit, and I believe the
Republicans have chosen the wrong way.
Democrats offer a better approach. We can cut the deficit by at least
$61 billion in such a manner that helps, doesn't hurt, struggling
Americans, our economy, and our shared future. First, as I mentioned
before, we need to get rid of, once and for all, the tax cuts for the
richest 2 percent of Americans. It is too late to save the $39 billion
that we wasted this year, but we could save more than that next year.
Next, I think we need to get rid of special tax preferences for oil
and gas companies, many of which were instituted by Republicans the
last time they were in the majority. This would save $44 billion over
the next 10 years.
There is no good reason to keep these subsidies in place. The oil
companies have said themselves that they don't need them. John
Hofmeister, the former CEO of Shell Oil, said on February 11, ``In the
face of sustained high oil prices it was not an issue--for large
companies--of needing the subsidies to entice us into looking for and
producing more oil.''
Next, Defense Secretary Gates has called for $78 billion in defense
cuts over the next 5 years, saying that these funds can be cut without
putting national security at risk. We should listen to him.
I want to thank my friend from the Virgin Islands for allowing me to
speak here this evening. I do believe that if we focus on these
continuing resolutions that we have been debating, we can have a much
better future than the history has been for African Americans in this
country.
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Thank you, Mr. Clyburn, and thank you for raising
what Zandi reported today. I just want to quote Mark Zandi, the chief
economist at Moody's Analytics, who said today, ``Significant
government spending restraint is vital, but given the still halting
economic recovery, it would be counterproductive for that restraint to
begin until the economy is creating enough jobs to bring down the still
very high unemployment rate.''
Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to yield to the immediate past
president of the Congressional Black Caucus who led us with great
distinction, Congresswoman Barbara Lee of California.
Ms. LEE. Let me thank the gentlelady for yielding. I also thank you
and your staff for coordinating not only this Special Order but each
Special Order each and every Monday night, or the first night when we
are in session, but especially tonight as we close out Black History
Month. This is such an important time for this discussion. I also thank
you, Congresswoman Christensen, for your visionary and bold leadership
as you continue to make history. Truly, you have done remarkable work
here in this body.
It is really especially poignant that this year during Black History
Month, the Republican leadership has proposed a budget for fiscal year
2011 that will fall most heavily on the backs of the most vulnerable in
our society: African Americans, Latinos, and the poor, those who have
been shut out of the American Dream.
At a time when we should be remembering and uplifting the
accomplishments and contributions of African Americans to the history,
culture, civil rights and economy of America, we are literally during
this month debating steps that will severely undercut and undermine
that legacy.
Can we, Mr. Speaker, cut nearly $750 million from the special
supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children, the WIC
program, while we have a record high unemployment rate throughout our
country, but especially among African Americans? We can't do that. The
unemployment rate among African Americans is over 15 percent. Many
African American women rely on WIC while they seek jobs which we are
trying to hopefully create.
How can we cut $317 million in funding for vital family planning
health services provided through a network of clinics throughout the
country that serves nearly one in five women? These programs are vital,
not just in saving lives through cancer screening, HIV and STD testing
and contraceptive services, but for providing a link for the many poor
and low-income women in terms of their link to the public health
system. Many of these women are African American women.
And how can we cut nearly $1.1 billion from the Head Start program,
which will effectively knock out 200,000 children from participating in
this critical early education program which helps provide health,
nutritional and support services to prepare children for school? Many
African Americans who were part of the Head Start program are now
making history in our country because of this great early childhood
education program.
The other side has made it clear that no matter who is impacted by
these
[[Page H1379]]
cuts--women, infants, children, the working poor, people of color,
African Americans--their response consists of only three words: So be
it.
So be it if 800,000 jobs are lost. So be it if people are put out on
the street with no access to homeless assistance grants or temporary
housing. So be it if people don't get enough nutritional support or if
kids have to go hungry. So be it.
That is not what the civil rights movement was about. We should be
working together to build up a nation, instead of tear down the very
programs and institutions that have contributed to our Nation's growth
and success.
We should be working together to reduce inequality, help the
unemployed, and get our economy moving again. Above all, we should be
working to create jobs. That's what so many prominent African American
leaders have fought for over the years--from those who are well known
the world over, like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to people who are
sometimes well known just in their own neighborhood.
Tonight there is one person I want to mention who influenced my life
and the direction I took, our late beloved former Congresswoman Shirley
Anita Chisholm.
In 1968, Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm was the first African
American woman elected to Congress, and she was a founding member of
the Congressional Black Caucus. We celebrate, this year, 40 years of
this great institution in our Congress, the conscience of the Congress.
It is the 42nd anniversary of the election of Congresswoman Chisholm
who represented her Brooklyn-based congressional district with grace
and distinction for 14 years, earning a reputation as one of the
House's most eloquent orators and greatest champions of human rights,
social and economic justice.
In 1972, Congresswoman Chisholm again made history when she became
the first African American to run for the Presidential nomination of a
major party. That campaign captured the imagination of millions and
inspired countless individuals to engage in the political process for
the first time. And I know for a fact that Congresswoman Shirley
Chisholm paved the way for our great President Obama to be able to win
the Presidency 2 years ago.
Congresswoman Chisholm was a catalyst for change, giving voice to the
overlooked and underrepresented members of our society: people of
color, women, children, and the African American community. And she
fought for the unemployed. She fought for those who wanted to work; for
those who were seeking the American Dream. I can't help but wonder what
she would say right now if she knew this was taking place. I'm sure she
does know this is taking place, and I can feel her telling us that we
have to fight the good fight because her legacy is so important within
the context of creating jobs that we are trying to do for our country.
Later this week, I will be introducing two pieces of legislation to
honor the work of Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm. The first would
recognize and celebrate the 42nd anniversary of her election to
Congress, and the second would call on the Postal Service to issue a
commemorative stamp honoring the life and accomplishments of
Congresswoman Chisholm. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle
to support these bills.
As we work to finalize funding for the 2011 fiscal year, let us
remember that budgets are moral documents. And as Congresswoman
Chisholm said: ``When morality comes up against profit, it is seldom
that profit loses.'' So we have to stand up for morality.
Reverend Jim Wallis and Sojourners challenged us. They asked us: What
would Jesus cut? Programs to help the poor or wasteful weapons systems
at the Pentagon? Ending the war in Afghanistan or programs to feed and
shelter the poor?
This weekend, once again, I will be participating in the Faith and
Politics Civil Rights Pilgrimage. We are going to Selma, Montgomery,
and Birmingham, Alabama, the epicenter of the civil rights movement. We
will be led by our hero, a warrior, a great civil rights leader, our
colleague, Congressman John Lewis, who sacrificed so much for civil and
human rights and economic justice.
I have participated in this pilgrimage many times, and I always feel
a sense of gratitude to Congressman Lewis and to Rosa Parks and to Dr.
King, to Shirley Chisholm, to all of those who fought so hard for
equality and jobs and freedom.
{time} 1940
This year, however, I feel that many of these gains, mind you, that
all of our great civil rights leaders fought for are about to be eroded
due to the increasing income inequality and the reckless budget cuts,
which will gut so much in the way of our country's response to the
civil rights movement. So, as Republicans fight us so hard to enact
budget cuts that will destroy nearly 800,000 jobs, be assured that, in
honoring the legacy of our great black leaders, we will fight back.
Thank you.
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Thank you very much, Congresswoman Lee, for your
leadership and for joining us this evening.
General Leave
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, before I recognize the next Member, I
ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to
revise and extend their remarks and to add extraneous material to the
subject under discussion this evening.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands?
There was no objection.
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Now it is my honor to yield to the gentleman from
Texas, a person who has long been a fighter for equality, fairness and
justice, not only in his own State but for this country, the Honorable
Al Green of Texas.
Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Thank you very much, the Honorable Donna
Christensen. I appreciate greatly your organizing this opportunity for
us to speak this evening on something that is exceedingly important to
this country, and that is the history of African Americans in America.
African Americans are no different than any other Americans. We are
all the same. There is only one race--the human race.
To a certain extent, I always have some degree of consternation
whenever we have a black history celebration or occasion such as this.
I have this degree of consternation because I really think we should
just have one history, and it really should be American history; but we
have these occasions because some of the accomplishments of some
Americans have not been properly acknowledged, and as a result, we want
to make sure that American history includes the history of all
Americans.
So we talk about the history of African Americans, the history of
Africans in the Americas--in the United States of America, if you will.
Many names come to mind. We always mention Thurgood Marshall. We always
mention Rosa Parks. We always mention the great heroes and heroines who
have been on the forefront of making America great.
Today, I would just like to mention nameless faces, persons who have
never made headlines, who work full time, who take care of the family,
who pay taxes, who have never complained by way of a protest, a march.
They have done their duty as citizens in this country, and I want them
to know that there are those of us who pay attention to the fact that
they, too, have made America great. They are nameless faces in the
crowd, but they have made a great statement by being honorable,
hardworking, law-abiding citizens.
To those who continue to do their duty as citizens, we thank you for
what you have done. We want you to know that we who have been honored
to serve in the Congress of the United States of America will not allow
the rollback of the clock on many of the programs that are of benefit
to all Americans. This will include, of course, those of benefit to
African Americans.
We will fight to protect the Department of Education. It means
something to have a Department of Education in this country, especially
to persons who at one time were lawfully denied the right to get an
education. We will fight to protect laws that fight discrimination.
Lilly Ledbetter v. Goodyear involved an Anglo lady, but that case had
implications far beyond any given ethnic group. We will fight to make
sure
[[Page H1380]]
all persons are treated equally on jobs, and this includes African
Americans.
So, to those of you who work in the trenches, who never or who
rarely, if ever, complain, I want you to know that there are people in
this Congress who are working every day to make sure that your status
as an American is always protected and will always be honored. You,
too, deserve the rich and noble history associated with you that we
associate with Rosa Parks, that we associate with Dr. King, that we
associate with Thurgood Marshall. You are as much a part of this
history as they are. We honor you and we love you.
God bless you and God bless all Americans. God bless the United
States of America.
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Thank you, Congressman Green.
At this time, I would like to yield to one of our newer Members. We
are so pleased that he has joined not only the Congressional Black
Caucus but the Congress. He represents New Orleans and brings welcomed
insights and energy to the CBC and to the Congress.
Congressman Cedric Richmond of New Orleans.
Mr. RICHMOND. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the distinguished
gentlelady from the Virgin Islands, who I have the pleasure of serving
with and who has done a remarkable job in planning our hour today,
which not only celebrates and reflects but which also charts a path for
this future that includes everyone.
As we come to the close of Black History Month, it is appropriate
that I remind our leadership and the American people of the sacrifice
and determination of great American heroes to make this country a
better place and the land of opportunity for all Americans. I would
also like to remind our leadership that we don't honor Dr. King because
of his dream. We honor him because of his hard work and his dedication
in pursuing his dream. His last call was for economic justice.
Here we are in 2011 with a 9.6 percent unemployment rate in this
country. However, in the African American community, that unemployment
rate is 15.8 percent. We must ask why such a huge gap and what we are
going to do to close that gap and bring unemployment down for everyone.
At this time and at this moment, we need King-like determination; we
need King-like courage; and we need a King-like vision to create jobs
in this country, not more campaign rhetoric.
My colleagues on the other side of the aisle, show me the jobs. Show
the American people the jobs.
The continuing resolution that the Republicans offer will not lower
the unemployment rate in this country. It will do quite the opposite.
The continuing resolution will eliminate 700,000 jobs. If their plan
passes, then 700,000 more Americans will face financial uncertainty.
That's 700,000 more families who will depend on unemployment benefits
to make ends meet. That's 700,000 more families who will turn to
safety-net programs to make it through the tough times. That's 700,000
more families who might now face bankruptcy.
Those 700,000 Americans are demanding that we show them the jobs. I
am here and willing to do that. I now invite my Republican colleagues
to join my colleagues on my side of the aisle to do just what the
American people are asking.
The House Speaker recently stated that the deficit is a moral threat
to the Nation, and I agree. I would also add that abandoning the 24
million Americans who are unemployed or underemployed is a moral crime.
Cutting 700,000 jobs in one fatal swoop is a moral crime. Balancing the
budget on the backs of working folks is a moral crime.
Mr. Speaker, this Republican continuing resolution is not only a path
to family bankruptcies; it is, in itself, an irresponsible plan that is
morally bankrupt.
{time} 1950
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Thank you, Congressman Richmond, for your
contribution to this Black History Month Special Order and for pointing
out the injustice in H.R. 1 and the proposed stopgap measure for the
next 2 weeks.
At this time, I would like to yield to the gentlewoman from Texas, a
person much admired by everyone across this country, who represents her
district, this Congress, and this country with outstanding distinction,
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.
Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. I thank the gentlelady from the Virgin
Islands. And I will join the accolades of my fellow colleagues to
express my appreciation for her leadership, and as well to thank her
for leading this 1-hour on the celebration of African American History
Month.
I stand to acknowledge that all of us who have this wonderful
heritage--and those who do not, who count African Americans as an
integral part of the fabric of American culture and society--should
really commemorate the history of all people--and certainly, in this
instance, of African Americans--the entire year because we are a very
relevant and elaborate, if you will, part of American history.
I stand in the United States Capitol, which was built by slaves.
Today, Congresswoman, I was in Austin, Texas, this morning, at the
Texas Black Legislative Caucus where some 2,000 people gathered under
the leadership of the Texas Black Legislature chaired by Representative
Sylvester Turner and some members, total members of the Texas Black
Legislative Caucus, combined of the House and the Senate. They were
there to express their commitment to the values of this country and to
lobby the State legislators to do the right thing as it relates to
education. And I heard a Member stand up and say that the Texas Capitol
was built by slaves. Representative Thompson said that. And so,
clearly, our history goes everywhere.
And as I spoke, I mentioned Texans like Jack Johnson, the first
African American heavyweight champion; Dorie Miller, who won the Naval
Cross in World War II, a Texan; Bessie Coleman, the first African
American to receive a pilot's license; Heman Sweatt, who was the reason
for the establishment of Texas Southern University when African
Americans--Negroes--could not go to the University of Texas.
So we have a place in this country, a place in this society. And what
we do, as we work in the United States Congress, we have become part of
the fabric of this Nation and we fight for all people. And so as we
begin this budget fight, it is part of our history that causes us to be
part of the challenge to make the right decisions on the continuing
resolution and to ask our Republicans to read what Mark Zandi has said,
the economic advisor to John McCain--not to President Obama, but to
John McCain first--who said clearly that we would lose 700,000 jobs if
we move in the direction that they want to move in.
Why do you have to have your way or the highway? Why can't you read
the data that says--the fiscal bipartisan commission said there is no
value to cutting funding in 2011, that we must work together to cut the
funding and work together on how it should be cut in 2012 and 2013;
that you actually will lose jobs; and that you will stop the moving of
the economy, the rebirth of the economy in its tracks. It doesn't make
sense to simply be driven and shackled to campaign promises. It doesn't
make sense to be able to speak campaign speeches and yet not understand
the distinction of governing.
When you come into this body--yes, we have districts, the Senators
have States, but we must realize that we come to govern for all of the
people. And so if you stop us in our tracks, you deny the richness of
diversity of people who are in need in this country. You deny the
descendants of slaves. You deny the families of soldiers who are on
food stamps and are in Iraq and Afghanistan the opportunity to be able
to survive. You take some $758 million from WIC, women and infant
children. You deny dollars going to economic development for minority
businesses. You cut COPS by 600 or so million dollars. You take away
some $2 billion from programs that would generate economic opportunity.
You cut the legal services. And you are obviously not concerned about
how we balance this. This is in the middle of the budget year of 2011.
And so this is not befitting of the final day of African American
history, a generation of people who came through the Civil War,
Reconstruction, Jim Crow, the second reconstruction--which is the civil
rights movement. And now they have traveled a journey,
[[Page H1381]]
being Americans, fighting in wars, and not yet 150 years away from
slavery, and here we are fighting to equalize opportunities for all
Americans. Because if you cut education, if you cut women and infant
children, if you cut small business opportunities, minority and women-
owned businesses, you are cutting into the future of this country.
We know this is a lopsided process; 16 to 18 percent of the budget
and you're trying to get a way to bring down a $1 trillion-plus
deficit, if you will--trillions-plus deficit. And so my plea in this
process as we go forward is to remember some of our heroes. Barbara
Jordan was a Member of this body. Her birthday was celebrated on
February 25. Her 75th year we are celebrating in Houston. And she
reminded us that the people drive the Constitution, but that those of
us of African American heritage were not in fact citizens as this
Constitution was written, nor did women have an opportunity to vote
during that time, but now we come asking that we do work together and
that we be reminded of her words, ``we the people.'' And ``we the
people'' includes all people. It is not the Democratic Party, the
Republican Party, the tea party. It's all the people doing what is best
for all of the people. That's the message of African American history,
striving to make America better as we cite these great icons who went
against the odds.
I pay tribute, in closing, to Ruth Carroll, who passed just a few
days ago, a friend of my dear friends, Dr. Natalie Carroll Dailey and
Warren Dailey. As I read her obituary--she'll be funeralized tomorrow--
close to 93 years old; born in 1918; born to two parents who died 1
year and 2 years after her birth; raised by grandparents; blinded at a
very early age by an ophthalmologist who I guess accidentally put acid
in her eyes. And then she had to go to the deaf, dumb, and blind
school. She graduated magna cum laude--it might have been summa if I'm
recalling correctly--but she went on to become a premier educator. She
went to the University of Denver in Colorado, worked at the University
of Texas, places that were segregated, got her graduate degree and
became involved in library science, cataloged large libraries; someone
who overcame obstacles.
Congresswoman, my tribute tonight is for African Americans who every
day overcome obstacles. That is because they believe in the values of
this country. And that is because they believe that, through any
mountain or any valley, as Martin Luther King told us about the
Promised Land, that we could overcome.
I'm asking my colleagues, as we begin to debate this CR, don't look
at us as outsiders, people who are always talking of something that you
might not understand or comprehend. Look at us as Americans who have a
stake in this country, whose history is embedded in this country. Let
us work together. Don't lopside a cut that hurts one population versus
the other. Remember, 150 years--minimally--out of slavery, African
Americans, new immigrants who are working every day, who are in the
United States military.
So let me just thank the gentlelady for yielding, and thank you for
allowing me to speak to the warriors who overcame adversity and
contributed to this society. My commitment to them is that we will
fight for fairness and justice in this House and a way to reduce the
deficit, but fight for those who cannot speak for themselves.
I salute African American History Month, and I yield back.
{time} 2000
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Thank you. And I'm sure they are inspired by the
eloquence of your tribute to them.
And before I speak briefly on the proposed 2-week CR, I want to tell
my colleagues and my fellow Americans about the first black
millionaire. It's my contribution to the Black History Month Special
Order this evening. His name was William Alexander Leidesdorff, and he
was born in my home island of St. Croix, which was then part of the
Danish West Indies. The bicentennial of his birth was celebrated last
year.
His family started out poor. He ended up having to go to Denmark to
get an education, and he was an immigrant to this country which had not
yet bought the Virgin Islands. Yet through education, enterprise, and
the opportunity to use that enterprise, he is credited with not only
having become the first black millionaire but, more importantly, was
named the African Founding Father of California. He also specifically
played a major role in the development of the city of San Francisco.
Today, if one is an immigrant, there is no welcome in this country of
immigrants, and they are denied access to programs that would help them
to transition into this country.
Today, if one is poor, the cuts in the Republican-passed H.R. 1, the
cuts to community programs, health centers, access to higher education,
job training, and the support for the health of mothers and babies
would ensure that the uneducated, the unhealthy, the jobless, and the
poor stay that way. There will be few, if any, Leidesdorffs. Not even a
black ``thousandaire'' if the tea party-led Republican majority has
their way.
What has happened to the inalienable right to life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness? Does the Republican majority plan to cut that,
too, out of the Declaration of Independence?
So here we are just 5 days away--4, really--from a government
shutdown if we can't agree on how to pay to keep the government open
for the next 7 months. The best, the simplest, and the fairest way to
do that, in my opinion, in the middle of a fiscal year when departments
are carrying out plans and programs to improve and protect the lives of
those who live and work in this country is to continue the spending at
last year's levels--no increases, just last year's levels. That
essentially adds nothing to the deficit, and most importantly, it does
not destroy the small gains we have been making in bringing this
country out of a deep and painful recession.
Countless reputable economists, like Zandi, who's been quoted
frequently here this evening, have told us over and over again now is
not the time to cut the spending that's required to stabilize and begin
to grow our economy again. If the Republican majority is successful
with the cuts they want to make, they will destroy hundreds of
thousands of jobs and make the already bad situation that they and
President Bush created even worse for the American people who are
depending on us to bring them relief.
What's happening is that the majority is pretty much demanding that
the rest of us accept $4 billion in cuts over the next 2 weeks in order
to keep the government from shutting down. And they do have the votes,
especially in this body.
In that $4 billion, education takes an over $500 million cut in
funding in just 2 weeks. Some of these programs the President plans to
end next year. And while I'm withholding judgment on that decision,
ending them now means the people working in those programs may be out
of work if these cuts are continued. These programs include school
improvement, safe schools, and higher education programs. Other cuts
are proposed for reading and literacy programs and some that work to
improve academic achievement.
I suspect that these programs really need a ``mend but don't end''
approach, because we need to improve literacy and achievement if we are
to produce the number of scientists, engineers, and other workers and
entrepreneurs this country will need to win the future.
Given the instability in the Middle East and the terrible turn that
pirating has taken, can we afford to cut $245 million in the Homeland
Security programs even for just 2 weeks? I don't think so. And I am
sure the American people we have sworn to protect don't think so
either. Coast Guard operations? Customs and Border Patrol salaries and
construction projects? All of that sounds like less security and the
possibility of more people out of work to me.
FEMA disaster mitigation grants? Emergency operations money? We were
to have 70-mile-per-hour winds here in Washington this evening. Storms
and tornadoes will not necessarily stop for 2 weeks because the
Republicans have to kowtow to the tea party.
In just 2 weeks, there would be an almost $200 million cut in HUD
neighborhood and economic development grants. Just in the 2 weeks. And
almost $50 million in job training and unemployment services will be
cut. With over 9 percent unemployment in many places, some in the
double digits, and
[[Page H1382]]
in the middle of a recession that has shown no mercy to the poor and
the middle class, I guess there will be no mercy from this body's
leadership either.
I left health for last on this stopgap measure where I count over
$460 million in cuts in these 2 weeks. Close to $400 million of that
comes from the agency that provides services, treatment, and trains
health professionals. And if the cuts to WIC and Maternal and Child
Health were not enough in H.R. 1, children's programs have again been
the targets of cuts, including programs in special education. And there
would be a $6 million cut from the Administration on Aging.
I don't understand it. If we're not placing a priority on taking care
of our children and elderly, what kind of country are we?
So I say to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle: This
country's in trouble. It's time to end the politics and do not only
what the economists tell us we ought to do, but, more importantly, we
need to come together and do what is right. These cuts are not right--
not for 2 weeks and not for the rest of this year.
We really need to put the welfare of the American people in our
country ahead of party politics. The times require it, and our people
expect it.
You know, I think we ought to change the word ``spending'' and call
it ``investment,'' because that's what it really is. Investment is
something that's understood and supported, and it's what is on the
chopping block.
Investing, not just spending for spending's sake, is what Democrats
began to do in the last two Congresses--to invest in health for all
Americans, in equal opportunity to a quality education; investing in
restoring jobs and building a healthier economy; investing in cleaning
up a polluted and unhealthy environment; investing in a better future
for us and our children and in a better, stronger, more competitive
United States in this world.
We want to win the future.
The Republican agenda looks to the past, not the future. It looks to
the past to continue the economic policies that ran our economy into
the ground in the first place. It looks to the past to focus on the
programs they have long hated: EPA regulations, health care reform that
is finally making it possible for many to become insured and secure in
that insurance, community programs that help poor areas of our country
have a fair shot of just surviving, programs that lift our spirits and
call forth our better selves--the arts, the humanities, public
broadcasting.
And believe it or not, they're cutting programs like WIC, Head Start,
and Maternal and Child Health. We had to fight for these programs every
year during the administration of George W. Bush, and so it's no
accident that we're fighting for them again.
This whole agenda is not about cutting spending at all. It's a facade
for what they are really trying to do; that is, gutting the programs
they and their supporters love to hate. And in pursuing this agenda,
they are putting the slow recovery that still has to reach urban and
rural Main Street in jeopardy, putting us in jeopardy of reverting back
to where we started earlier this year, to where their policies took us
in 2009, a place that no one wants to go back to.
And my friends, not one thing has this Republican majority done about
the biggest crisis facing our country and its families: the economy and
jobs.
Talk about the job-killing act of 2011. Well, that was not health
care reform, which is actually the biggest job creator we have passed
in recent years. The winners in that category clearly are the CR that
was forced through this Congress 2 weeks ago and this 2-week stopgap
that would cut the Federal budget by $4 billion.
What we need is a clean CR at 2010 levels to the end of this fiscal
year so that we can begin to focus on the 2012 budget, which is the
more appropriate place to look at deficit reduction and which is due in
less than 2 months.
Let me say a word about what their Governors are doing. It doesn't
take 20/20 vision to see that this is a coordinated effort. Unions,
which created our middle class in the first place, have always been one
of the Republicans' targets. The war against the poor and middle class
is not just being fought in Washington, my friends, but also in the
States by Republican Governors.
{time} 2010
Lastly, please don't let our Republican colleagues fool anyone into
thinking that Social Security or Medicare needs to be addressed as part
of our need to reduce the deficit. They do not. But they too have
always been in their bull's-eye. We need to do what is necessary to
protect them for the future generations.
But colleagues on the other side of the aisle, we have seen some of
your plans to weaken these vital programs. But seniors, the disabled,
and we Democrats want to make sure that the tea party and the
Republicans keep their hands off Social Security and Medicare.
Black history is not just the commemoration of how far African
Americans have come, but also how far this country has come. Most
importantly, it is a reminder that we both still have more to do and
further to go. Today's Republican agenda for this country threatens to
erase all of the gains we celebrate this month, to put up roadblocks in
our road to progress, roadblocks to a better future for all Americans,
and to ensuring that this country we love regains and retains its
number one position in the world. It's time to stop the madness and
time to work together to continue to build a stronger America, one
child, one family, one community at a time.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker I rise today to honor
Black History Month.
In February of each year, we recognize the many contributions of
African Americans throughout this Nation. It brings to life a rich and
vibrant history that was all too often left untold.
Although African Americans were an integral part of the founding of
this Nation, it was not until the 20th century that they gained any
respectable recognition in our history books. Prior to Carter G.
Woodson's passionate efforts to write African Americans into the
history of the United States, books largely ignored the African
American population except in the context of slavery. That is why it is
so important that the full history of African Americans continues to be
taught and preserved in order that future generations from all reaches
of America will understand our rich heritage.
African Americans have made significant contributions throughout
history, and it is clear that we continue to build that rich legacy
today. As our nation moves forward, we must never forget the great
pioneers of scientific innovation, writing, music, philosophy, and
politics. Honoring these contributions through Black History Month has
allowed us to expand educational opportunities, enhance economic
stability, workforce advancement and training, and community
involvement.
Today, we find ourselves facing economic uncertainty. However, we
must not lose sight of our current accomplishments and continued
progress. The current budget proposal led by Republicans seeks to cut
spending without any regard to our economy or the needs of the American
people. The proposed budget diminishes our investments in education,
job creation, and future innovation. I believe that we can and must do
better to serve all Americans. We must fight against immoral and unwise
cuts to our budget in order to preserve the heritage of African
Americans as well as the United States as a whole.
Black History Month has not only set a precedent by honoring the
achievements of African Americans, but it has also paved the way for
other nationwide celebrations honoring the contributions of other
important races and cultures. Now, we must look to our youth to carry
on our history and to create their own legacy.
Long before the election of more than a hundred African Americans to
the U.S. Congress, African Americans made a large contribution to our
Nation's Capitol by building the Capitol itself as slaves.
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
____________________