[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 42 (Thursday, March 21, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E370-E371]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2014

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 20, 2013

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the concurrent resolution 
     (H. Con. Res. 25) establishing the budget for the United 
     States Government for fiscal year 2014 and setting forth 
     appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2015 through 
     2023:

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chair, as a proud member of the Congressional 
Progressive Caucus, CPC, I rise in strong support of the CPC's 
alternative to H. Con. Res. 25. This alternative budget, more 
appropriately known as the ``Budget for All'' Substitute invests in 
America, reforms corporate and individual taxes in a balanced manner, 
and adopts sensible, modern defense spending. Simply put: the CPC is an 
egalitarian and effective budget for all of America.
  The CPC's ``Budget for All'' wisely invests the hard earned peace 
dividend resulting from the successful end to the war in Iraq and the 
winding down of the war in Afghanistan to promote economic growth and a 
healthier and cleaner environment.
  In addition, this budget puts Americans back to work, charts a path 
to responsible deficit reduction, enhances our economic 
competitiveness, rebuilds the middle class and invests in our future. 
The CPC budget makes no cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security 
benefits, and asks those who have benefited most from our economy to 
pay a sensible share. It is only fair.
  The CPC budget addresses America's persistently high unemployment 
levels with more than $2.9 trillion in additional job-creating 
investments, which frankly will help depressed economies in inner-city 
communities across America, including those in my hometown of Houston, 
Texas. This plan utilizes every tool at the government's disposal to 
get our economy moving again, including:
  Direct hire programs that create a School Improvement Corps, a Park 
Improvement Corps, and a Student Jobs Corps, among others.
  Targeted tax incentives that spur clean energy, manufacturing, and 
cutting-edge technological investments in the private sector.
  Widespread domestic investments including an infrastructure bank, a 
$556 billion surface transportation bill, and approximately $2.1 
trillion in widespread domestic investment.
  The Budget for All achieves $6.8 trillion in deficit reduction, hits 
the same debt to GDP ratio as the Republican budget with lower deficits 
in the last five years; and does so in a responsible way that does not 
eviscerate vital services Americans want preserved.
  These benchmarks are achieved by focusing on the true drivers of our 
deficit: unsustainable tax policies, the wars overseas, and policies 
that helped cause the recent recession--rather than irresponsibly 
putting the middle class's social safety net on the chopping block.
  The budget also taxes fairly, because it:
  Ends tax cuts for the top 2% of Americans on schedule at year's end.
  Extends tax relief for middle class households and the vast majority 
of Americans.
  Creates new tax brackets for millionaires and billionaires.
  Eliminates the tax code's preferential treatment of capital gains and 
dividends.
  Abolishes corporate welfare for oil, gas, and coal companies.
  Eliminates loopholes that allow businesses to dodge their true tax 
liability.
  Calls for the adoption of the ``Buffett Rule''.
  Creates a publicly funded federal election system that gets corporate 
money out of politics for good.
  The CPC budget demonstrates that we have been listening to the 
American people because we responsibly and sensibly end our military 
presence in Iraq and Afghanistan, leaving America more secure at home 
and abroad; and modernizes our military to address 21st century threats 
and stop contributing to our deficit problems. This is the peace 
dividend. With this dividend, the CPC budget:
  Provides a Making Work Pay tax credit for families struggling with 
high gas and food cost's 2013-2015.
  Extends Earned Income Tax Credit, and the Child and Dependent Care 
Credit.
  Invests in programs to stave off further foreclosures to keep 
families in their homes.
  Invests in our children's education by increasing Education, 
Training, and Social Services.
  Mr. Chair, the federal budget is a moral document, with meaning, 
fiber, and a unique texture. Sometimes we lose sight of this fact given 
the preoccupation by many with, I could wax on and on today on the 
Floor about the ``baselines,'' ``benchmarks,'' and ``extrapolations and 
projections of future budget conditions,'' based on the assumptions 
that may or may not turn out to be accurate.
  But real people living, struggling with real problems in the real 
world are not interested in such esoteric discussion. They want us to 
focus on their lives and their problems. They want to know that we 
understand the necessity of making taxes fairer, simpler, and 
economically reasonable.
  Most economists agree, Mr. Speaker, that entitlement policy must be 
evaluated and progressively modified to achieve sustainability. Unlike 
discretionary spending, mandatory spending grew rapidly from 5% of GDP 
in 1962 to a range of 9% to 10.5% of GDP from

[[Page E371]]

1975 to 2007, peaking in recession years because of automatic 
stabilizers.
  Let me be clear: I am unalterably opposed to any entitlement reform 
that deprives seniors, like the ones that reside in the 18th 
Congressional District of Texas, of benefits they have labored long and 
hard to earn. To do otherwise would break a promise to prior 
generations who faithfully paid into the current system. These are not 
entitlements; they are earned benefits. And they must not be taken 
away.
  And speaking of Texas; recently my hometown of Houston was forced to 
lay off nearly one thousand municipal employees. When these employees 
are put on the unemployment line, libraries close, schools cut back on 
essential after-school programs, community centers lose personnel, 
police hours are trimmed, and the truly destitute become an 
afterthought.
  Those tough budget decisions had a human cost and I hear from my 
constituents every day about them. Frankly, I do not want tax cuts for 
the wealthy at the expense of jobs for working and middle class 
families in Texas.
  The CPC fiscal year 2014 budget alternative stands in clear contrast 
to the budget that our Republican colleagues have put forward. This 
budget will reduce the deficit in a balanced and credible way, making 
difficult choices while providing investments that help create jobs now 
and build an even stronger economy for the future.
  But unlike the Republican budget--which ends the Medicare guarantee 
while providing enormous tax breaks to millionaires--we ask the very 
wealthy and special interests to share responsibility for reducing the 
deficit. We must embark on a truly shared sacrifice.
  I ask my colleagues to support the CPC Budget for All Substitute.

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