[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 55 (Tuesday, April 17, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E549-E550]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          PEACE AND PROSPERITY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 17, 2012

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, on tax day, remember the ramifications of 
waging wars abroad. In 2011, thirty-nine percent of our income tax 
dollars went to the Pentagon and war; only 9% for trade, commerce, 
education and employment programs.
  The Center for Arms Control-Proliferation estimates that the wars in 
Iraq and Afghanistan have cost the average family of four almost 
$13,000. National unemployment rates continue to be between 9 and 10%, 
while our families struggle to pay their mortgages, send their kids to 
school and feed their families.

[[Page E550]]

  Compared to the approximately $159 billion budgeted in Fiscal Year 
2011 for wars, the $6 billion Congress budgeted for the Workforce 
Investment Act--primary federal program supporting workforce 
development--is paltry.
  We have nearly 23 million Americans either unemployed or 
underemployed, and about 5.5 million who are who have been unemployed 
for 27 weeks or more. Wake up America, wars are ruining our economy.
  On tax day, remember our government has a responsibility to use our 
money wisely, not to waste hard-earned tax dollars on unnecessary wars.
  The answer to war and economic decline is peace and prosperity.

                          ____________________