[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 31 (Thursday, March 3, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E415-E416]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           FURTHER CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS AMENDMENTS, 2011

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                               speech of

                           HON. NITA M. LOWEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 1, 2011

  Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I agree with my colleagues on the other 
side of the aisle that we must get our fiscal house in order. That is 
why Democrats sought to cut more than $40 billion from the President's 
2011 budget request in December. We have a responsibility to our 
constituents to evaluate every program and determine whether it merits 
taxpayer funding.
  Although I will vote for it, I do not support every cut in the 
underlying bill. We must make targeted reductions that make our 
government more efficient while prioritizing critical investments in 
innovation if we are to remain a global leader. Instead of reducing our 
deficit by eliminating education programs, we should find savings by 
ending taxpayer-funded subsidies to large oil companies, which fleece 
taxpayers of tens of billions of dollars.
  However, it is imperative that Congress do everything it can, and 
reach common ground whenever possible, to avoid a government shutdown. 
We cannot allow for the possibility of seniors going without Social 
Security checks or veterans losing access to the health benefits they 
have earned.
  The seven month continuing resolution the House passed in February is 
a dangerous bill that would create not a single job, hurt federal 
programs essential to economic growth, and compromise our security. We 
must adopt this short-term continuing resolution to keep the government 
operating while we negotiate spending for the remainder of the fiscal 
year that will continue economic growth.

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