[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 56 (Friday, April 15, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E761-E762]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2012

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. MAZIE K. HIRONO

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 14, 2011

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H. Con. Res. 34) 
     establishing the budget for the United States Government for 
     fiscal year 2012 and setting forth appropriate budgetary 
     levels for fiscal years 2013 through 2021:

  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to H. Con. Res. 
34, the FY 2012 Budget Resolution. Instead of having the wealthiest pay 
their fair share, this budget just helps the ``haves'' at the expense 
of everyone else.
  The Republican majority has brought this bill to the floor for a vote 
today, claiming that this budget will resolve our fiscal crisis and 
lead our country back on the ``path to prosperity.'' Sadly, this path 
to prosperity only applies to those who already have a lot and don't 
need more. Millionaires and billionaires will like the tax breaks that 
they'll get from this budget. The wealthiest Americans will get the 
Bush tax cuts permanently extended to the tune of $1 trillion. Big Oil 
companies will get tens of billions of dollars in subsidies. Special 
interests that send jobs overseas will also like this budget's tax 
giveaways.
  What should scare us most about this FY2012 budget is that it pays 
for all of these tax breaks--over $4 trillion in tax cuts--on the backs 
of working and middle-class people. It asks those who are struggling 
the most to sacrifice even more.
  The recession has increased the child poverty rate in Hawaii to its 
highest level in years. This reverse Robin Hood budget would 
drastically cut food programs for poor children, Head Start, and child 
care for working families. Today, my staff and I are fasting in 
solidarity with the 50 million people in America who don't know where 
their next meal is coming from. HungerFast.org is coordinating this 
effort with over 30,000 people, including Members of Congress, 
Ambassador Tony Hall, faith leaders, MoveOn and SEIU members, Moby, and 
others.
  H. Con. Res. 34 ends Medicare as we know it. All of you under the age 
of 55 will not be able to enroll in the original Medicare program. In 
Hawaii, the under-55 population is slightly less than a million. When 
you are age 67--yes, that's right, Republicans are raising the Medicare 
enrollment age by two more years--you will receive a voucher that you 
will use to buy insurance from a private company. We don't know what 
the amount of the voucher will be or whether it will keep up with the 
rising costs of health care. This scheme privatizes Medicare.
  You're 67 years old. Is trying to buy health insurance with your 
voucher what you want to be doing? Every year? And who knows if the 
doctor you like is even going to participate in your private insurance 
plan. One thing is for certain--privatizing Medicare will mean more 
business for the insurance companies.

  The Republican plan doesn't take on the 48 million Americans already 
on Medicare or those that will enter the program in 10 years because 
the Republicans know that this voucher plan would make these seniors 
mad as hell. Many of you have parents on Medicare. My mom is on 
Medicare. Without Medicare, we would be worried sick about how our 
parents will pay for health care.
  Before Medicare became law in 1965, half of all seniors had no health 
insurance. The Republican budget is not only out of step with the 
priorities of the nation, but it is also a step backwards when it comes 
to health care for those who need it the most.
  This budget also takes away important health care reform benefits for 
seniors who are already on Medicare. It repeals the gradual elimination 
of the Medicare ``donut hole'' in prescription drug coverage. It also 
repeals free access to key preventive services and annual checkups. 
Over 48 million seniors with Medicare, including 208,500 in Hawaii, 
would have to pay more if they want to stay healthy by getting regular 
check-ups.

[[Page E762]]

  Another group most in need of medical care in our country--the poor--
would see cuts of about $771 billion from Medicaid over 10 years. 
Medicaid would be converted into a block grant program, which won't 
reflect the actual need for Medicaid services. Converting Medicaid into 
a fixed funding stream would raise the cost of nursing home care for 
millions of families, potentially reducing the quality of care. It 
would also impact seniors and disabled individuals who want home- or 
community-based support as opposed to expensive institutional care.
  Seventeen governors, including our former colleague and now Governor 
of Hawaii Neil Abercrombie, have written to the Speaker in opposition 
to the Republican plan to block grant Medicaid. They know that this 
would place an unfair burden on the cost of health care on the states. 
Under the Republican plan, Hawaii alone would lose $2.8 billion in 
federal Medicaid dollars over 10 years. This means that 29,600 seniors 
could lose their Medicaid coverage or see reduced benefits due to the 
proposed Republican cut, resulting in 161,500 children losing their 
Medicaid coverage.
  In addition to the problematic changes that this budget makes to 
Medicare and Medicaid, this short-sighted budget prevents us from 
investing in our workforce and growing our economy. The Republican 
budget cuts education and job training by more than 25 percent below 
current levels. Pell grants, funding for low-income elementary and 
secondary schools, and workforce training programs would be targeted 
for steep cuts. The bill also makes drastic cuts to local law 
enforcement and first responder programs at a time when many states, 
including Hawaii, are dealing with severe budget deficits.
  This short-sighted budget also fails to invest in infrastructure or 
create jobs in the transportation sector. While I'm working with my 
colleagues in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to 
approve a new multi-year highway and transit program, this Republican 
budget withdraws about $318 billion in resources from highway, transit, 
and other transportation initiatives over the next 10 years. In the 
meantime, commuters are paying higher gas prices at the pump, seeking 
alternative modes of transportation, and dealing with congestion on our 
nation's roads, which along with our public transportation, were given 
a grade of ``D'' by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
  The resolution offered by the Republicans further fails to make 
critical investments in research and development (R&D) in science, 
health, and renewable energy, undermining our global competitiveness in 
R&D. Hawaii's families pay higher energy costs than anyone else in the 
country. Under this bill, oil companies can continue to get subsidies 
while making record profits. Funding for development of renewable 
energy sources is slashed by 60 percent, ensuring that we will remain 
dependent on imported fossil fuels and sending a signal to the markets 
that clean energy jobs are not a priority.
  Instead of supporting the draconian cuts proposed by this Republican 
plan, I will vote for the fairer and more balanced plans proposed as 
alternatives to H. Con. Res. 34. These alternatives address our deficit 
in a more responsible way by assisting our most vulnerable during a 
time of fragile economic recovery. I will support investments that will 
create jobs and ensure that our country remains the leader in 
innovation and the engine driving the global economy.
  I urge my colleagues to vote against H. Con. Res. 34.

                          ____________________