[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 56 (Friday, April 15, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E766]
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. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    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. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chair, I rise today to speak 
in opposition to the Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Resolution that is before 
the House today, H. Con. Res. 34. As a senior member of the 
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and as a Texan that cares 
deeply about adequately providing for our Nation's Transportation 
system, I cannot support the Republican Budget proposal that has been 
brought before us today.
  I share my colleague's concern regarding our national debt but this 
irresponsible bill makes drastic cuts to our Nation's infrastructure 
that will harm the American economy in the long run. This bill cuts 
nationwide funding for highway, safety, and public transportation 
investments over the next six years from $331 billion to $219 billion.
  This drastic cut of more than $100 billion over six years of Highway 
funding means that the State of Texas alone will lose over $1.9 billion 
in Highway funding at a time when revenue from the Highway Trust Fund 
is stretched thinner than ever.
  Additionally, assuming the widely accepted 2007 Federal Highway 
Administration model that every $1 billion of federal highway-aid 
investment creates or sustains 34,779 jobs over a seven-year period, 
this bill would destroy more than 490,000 jobs at a time when Congress 
should be helping grow and strengthen our economy, not stifling it as 
this Republican budget does.
  I am proud to support the Congressional Black Caucus Alternative 
Budget for 2012 that does honor our country's commitment to support and 
invest not only in transportation and infrastructure but also in 
education, job training, and research and development for Science and 
Technology.
  I must emphasize that our future economic growth, and therefore our 
ability to reduce our debt in the future, is tied very strongly to the 
investments we make in science and innovation today.
  Although the cuts to our Nation's Science programs are much less 
severe in the FY 2011 Continuing Resolution than H.R. 1, they still are 
damaging to our Science agencies, especially considering that current 
fiscal year is already half over.
  Across the world, growth in jobs in Science and Technology are 
increasing at a high rate and America should be supplying an adequate 
education and training for talented people to enter these industries.
  We are jeopardizing our country's future by threatening funding for 
programs which are helping American students develop the right 
combination of skills for these jobs.
  Mr. Chair, we cannot afford to shut the doors on America's ability to 
compete in these growing industries and we cannot afford to stifle 
maintaining and growing our transportation system by neglecting much 
needed investment in these sectors. I urge my colleagues to support the 
Democratic alternative budget that is before us and reject the 
Republican budget that destroys jobs and is no plan for the future.